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Apply Flex Layout in existing documents

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      1. Work with Flex Layout
      2. Flex Layout panel overview
      3. Create a team page using Flex Layout
      4. Apply Flex Layout properties using object style
      5. Apply Flex Layout in an existing document
      6. Auto-detect Flex Layout in InDesign
      7. Manage Flex Layout conflicts
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Learn how to transform static designs into flexible and dynamic layouts.

You don’t need to rebuild a design from scratch to use Flex Layout. With just a few adjustments, existing layouts can be transformed into flexible, rule-driven structures. 

Simply start by identifying groups of objects that logically belong together and convert them into Flex Layout containers. Then, move up the hierarchy step by step to progressively transform your entire document into flexible, adaptive sections.

  1. Identify logical groups.

    • Look for base elements, like an image, a heading, and a description of a product card.

  2. Convert groups to Flex Layout. 

    • For groups: Right-click the selected group and select Convert to Flex Layout. 
    • For multiple objects: Right-click the selected objects and select Add to Flex Layout.

    By default, InDesign auto-detects the direction and properties for Flex Layout. To turn on/off auto-detect, navigate to Preferences > General > Auto-detect and apply Flex Layout settings.

    Three images are converted into a Flex Layout container using Flex Layout properties.
    Convert the selected groups or objects into Flex Layout

  3. Refine Flex Layout properties.

    • Adjust direction (row/column), justification (between/around/evenly), spacing, wrap, and alignment.
    • Choose whether the container should be Auto or Fixed size.
    All the three images have been modified using the Flex Layout properties in the Flex Layout panel.
    Refine Flex Layout properties using the Flex Layout panel

  4. Move up the hierarchy. 

    • Convert parent elements into Flex Layouts to build nested structures. For example, each product card can be a Flex Layout (image + text), while the row of cards is another Flex Layout, and the whole page body could be a Flex container.

  5. Test and iterate.

    • Add or remove items to see how the layout responds.
    • Refine until it adapts smoothly without manual adjustments.

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