Detaching and linking master pages

Detaching breaks the connection between the master page and its elements, so you can transform frames and other objects, and alter frame properties (change the number of columns, add a frame stroke, etc).

Linking lets you edit the master page directly from a page to which it is applied. This updates the master page and other pages to which it is applied.

Alternatively, an applied master page can be locked to prevent its objects on the target page from being edited at all.

Detach master page — Master page (top) with placeholder frames (brown). Publication page (bottom) shows frames detached (green) to allow resizing and frame property adjustment and text frame (blue) with edited content.

To detach or link a master page:

On the Layers panel:
1. Select the master page's layer entry (e.g. 'Master A - 2 Pages').
2. Tap Merge and Rasterise, then select either:
  - Edit Detached—changes to inherited content will affect only the current page/spread. The master page and other pages to which it's applied are unaffected.
  - Edit Linked—changes to inherited content will also affect the master page and other pages to which it is applied.
Tap the cross on the turquoise information bar (top left of the document view) to commit your edit. The applied master page returns to the default 'Edit Content' behaviour.

To lock an applied master page:

On the Layers panel, do one of the following:

Swipe left on the master page's entry, then select Lock.
Select the master page's entry, select Layer Options, then select Lock.

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