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When I draw guides in InDesign, there are two possible end results: the guide covers the entire pasteboard, or it stops at the page edge.

example of different guide types

I know that I can control this difference by the location of my cursor when I release my click-drag for creating or editing the guide.

Is there a way to toggle a guide from the one type to the other without having to click and drag it again? I find that my click-dragging usually moves the guide by a little, and I like them in the location I put them.

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  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – curious
    Nov 17, 2018 at 13:00

2 Answers 2

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Run this JavaScript:

app.selection[0].fitToPage ^= true;

… with a guide selected, of course.

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  • You shot faster than me ^^ Nice one!
    – Vinny
    Nov 15, 2018 at 16:35
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I am unaware of a command to systematically convert guides between page-only and drawing board guides without direct users interaction with the guide itself. That doesn't mean one doesn't exist, merely that I'm completely unaware of such a command.

The only way I know to covert existing guides is to click them. As you know, were you release makes all the difference. You can click a page-only guide, drag the mouse outside the page and release, then it's a drawing board guide (or see the hot key below for page-only guides). And vice versa - click a drawing board guide, have the cursor over the page, and release, it becomes a page-only guide.

I am aware this does not solve the "Damn! I moved that 2pts" issue. Which is annoying to me as well.

When dragging guides, if you are letting go on the page, holding Command/Ctrl when you release the guide will make it a drawing board guide, as opposed to a page-only guide. You'll see it extend as soon as you hold Command/Ctrl. I don't think there's a command when dragging and creating a drawing board guide to restrict it to the page though.

And holding Option/Alt key while dragging a guide will rotate the guide 90°, making a horizontal drag create a vertical guide and vice versa.

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  • That's lots of flowery language :) Thanks, Scott.
    – Vincent
    Nov 15, 2018 at 16:08
  • indeed it is :)
    – Scott
    Nov 15, 2018 at 16:13

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