To export text from InDesign, follow these steps:
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Select the Text: Using the Type tool (T), click within the text frame or story you want to export. This specifies which portion of your document you're extracting.
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Initiate the Export: Go to File > Export. This opens the Export dialog box.
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Choose a File Name and Location: In the Export dialog box, specify a name for the exported file and choose a location to save it.
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Select a Text File Format: Under "Save as Type" (Windows) or "Format" (macOS), choose the appropriate text file format. Common options include:
- Plain Text (.txt): Exports the text without any formatting.
- Rich Text Format (.rtf): Exports the text with some basic formatting (like font, size, and bolding).
- Tagged Text: Exports the text with InDesign tag information, allowing for reimport with formatting. InDesign's help files offer comprehensive information about tagged text.
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Save the File: Click Save to export the text file in the format you selected.
Further Considerations:
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Exporting the Entire Document: If you want to export all the text in your document, make sure no text frame is selected (deselect all elements before exporting). This will export all stories in the document.
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Formatting: Be mindful that plain text (.txt) will strip all formatting. If you need to preserve formatting, RTF or Tagged Text are better options. However, RTF might not be supported by all applications, and Tagged Text is primarily useful when you intend to re-import the text back into InDesign or another application that understands InDesign's tagging.
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Troubleshooting: If you encounter issues, ensure that you have selected a valid text frame or that no objects are inadvertently selected if you intend to export the whole document's text.
