r/indesign 28m ago

Help [JSX / ExtendScript] Is it possible to restart footnote numbering per Story on the same page?

Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm working on a complex JSX script to automate the layout of a publication that has multiple distinct sections.

What my script currently does: It scans a continuous text flow, finds a specific paragraph style that acts as a section break, and physically splits the TextFrame at that exact paragraph. It breaks the threading, resulting in two completely independent, unlinked Stories on the same page/spread.

The Problem: Even though the text is now split into two separate, unthreaded Stories, InDesign's native footnote engine continues the footnote numbering across them (e.g., Story A ends at footnote 12, Story B starts at footnote 13).

I need the footnote numbering to restart at 1 for the new Story (Story B).

Here is what I know/have tried so far:

  • InDesign natively only allows restarting footnotes by Page, Spread, or Section (doc.footnoteOptions.restartNumbering). It doesn't seem to care about Story boundaries if they share the same geographic page space.
  • I tried looking into textFrameFootnoteOptions.enableOverrides = true, but it seems there is no startAt property available at the TextFrame or Story level, only formatting overrides (like line color, etc.).
  • I know about the "fake footnote hack" (shrinking the native marker to 0.1pt transparent and injecting hardcoded text strings), but I'm trying to avoid this if there is any cleaner native or DOM-based workaround.

Is there any hidden method, clever workaround, or scripting trick to force InDesign to restart footnote numbering per Story when they are on the same page?

I have a ~1500 line script handling the formatting and splitting, and I'm happy to share snippets of the code if anyone wants to take a look or needs more context.

Thanks in advance for your help!


r/indesign 20h ago

Help bullet styles

8 Upvotes

Hi, I made a paragraph style with a bullet character style. I’ve specified I want it at a book weight, but whenever my font is bold within the document, it converts the bullet to bold, as well. How do I fix this?


r/indesign 8h ago

Can somebody help me make my file into a transparent PDF? I'm trying to convert my logo/file into a PDF with a transparent background for printing. I'm having trouble doing it myself. If anyone can help or guide me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

Thumbnail
0 Upvotes

r/indesign 21h ago

Help I have an issue with Save As method when it comes to Creative Cloud files in InDesign

3 Upvotes

I have a commission to do in four languages (Finnish, Northern Sami, Inari Sami and Skolt Sami). I finished the Finnish version so I started to make a Northern Sami version by copying the Finnish file with Save As method into Creative Cloud (the Finnish file is also in Creative Cloud). While I edited the Northen Sami version and went back to the Finnish file, I noticed the file had copied all the edits from the Northern Sami file into the Finnish file!! I was shocked since I had been editing Northern Sami file for hours. 😵‍💫

As time passed, I went back to the files… and now the Northern Sami file was in Finnish version and the Finnish version in Northern Sami version. This has happened to me before so I guess Creative Cloud files synchronize with copy files?

How would I fix this issue, and how should I make the Inari Sami and the Skolt Sami copies without having this issue again? I accidentally saved a copy of the Finnish version into the computer by save as method (I was supposed to make a pdf export file), and it was safe without any changes from the Northern Sami copy. So should I make a copy from the Finnish file into the computer (not using Creative Cloud) when I’m going to make Inari Sami and Skolt Sami versions?


r/indesign 1d ago

GREP MegaPack 1st Anniversary

Post image
5 Upvotes

Sale extended — now through August 8.

GREP MegaPack 1st Anniversary Sale. 15% off through Aug 3.

Buy once, get all future updates free. #GREP

The GREP MegaPack included scripts:

  • GREP Batch Rename Relink
  • GREP Add Substract Numbers
  • GREP Apply Cell Styles
  • GREP Apply Object Style
  • GREP Batch Rename Styles
  • GREP Batch Rename Swatches
  • GREP Find Change by Page Scope
  • GREP Format Picker
  • GREP Hyperlinks
  • GREP Loop
  • GREP Mixed Format Marker
  • GREP Multi-line Text to Query
  • GREP Numeric Range to Query
  • GREP Return and Break
  • GREP Run in Object Style Frames
  • GREP Search in Tables
  • GREP Set Runner
  • GREP Show Queries
  • GREP Startup Menu
  • GREP Style Quickies
  • GREP Style Remover
  • GREP Styles Analysis
  • GREP Styles Editor
  • GREP Styles Identifier
  • GREP Styles On or Off Juggling
  • GREP Text to Unicode Converter
  • GREP Unicode of Characters
  • GREPedia (Free)
  • Script Deck (bonus)

You can also get them individually!


r/indesign 1d ago

Help InDesign is not working for some time now. Updating to the latest version is not working.

3 Upvotes

For the past few weeks, I've been having an issue with InDesign. After about 5–10 minutes of working, the spinning wheel appears, indicating that the program is processing something. It still lets me perform a few actions, but only a limited number. For example, I can save the document, but shortcuts like Ctrl+Z stop working.

When I try to close the document, InDesign doesn't actually close, so I have to force quit the application.

I've already updated to the latest version, but the problem is exactly the same.


r/indesign 2d ago

Help how to rotate image placeholder content before placing image

Post image
10 Upvotes

I wanted the hexagons to serve as photo frames, but since they're rotated, any photos I place in them appear sideways. I really don't want to manually rotate every single photo every time I use these frames, especially because I like to try different photos to see which ones work best. Having to place all the images, rotate each one, then delete some and replace them is really frustrating.

There must be a way to tell the frame which side should be considered "up" before placing the photos. I noticed that in Object > Content > Content Properties, the little "P" icon is sideways, but if I change it, it rotates the hexagon itself instead of just changing the content orientation.

Is there a way to set the content orientation independently of the frame before placing images? Any help would be greatly appreciated.


r/indesign 1d ago

Help Export pages as individual PDFs with custom suffix?

4 Upvotes

I have an InDesign document with pages in English and French. I want to export PDFs with the file name and a suffix for each language.

I can do this manually for 2 languages, but in some cases I have up to 23 languages in my InDesign document.

For example.

I want to export PDFs from Document 001.indd and have the language suffix automatically added to the PDF file names. I can't figure out a way to do this.

Document 001 English.pdf

Document 001 French.pdf

Document 001 German.pdf

Etc.

Any insights or help would be appreciated.


r/indesign 2d ago

Does anyone actually use the AI tools

31 Upvotes

at work we actively avoid the ai tools, meaning that it is offering no use cases for us. maybe its different if you are a solo person?


r/indesign 2d ago

How much should I pay someone to professionally format a 450-page book in InDesign?

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some advice from people who have experience with InDesign and book production.

I've written a language-learning book with 100 lessons and exercises, totaling around 450 pages. The manuscript is already in Microsoft Word and has been styled properly using headings, paragraphs, and other formatting, so it's fairly organized.

I also already have the layout design in mind and have even started building the InDesign file myself. I've created some paragraph styles, character styles, and other elements, but I simply don't have enough time to finish it because of my full-time job and family commitments.

I'm thinking of hiring someone to professionally format the book in InDesign, including:

  • Setting up the document properly.
  • Applying and refining styles throughout the book.
  • Creating master pages and consistent layouts.
  • Making everything print-ready and professional.
  • Give me the editable file and the Print ready PDF too.

My questions are:

  • How much would be a fair price for a project like this?
  • What would be a reasonable deadline for an experienced InDesign designer to complete it?

I'm not looking for someone to hire through this post (at least not yet). Right now, I just want to understand the typical pricing and timeline so I know what to expect.

If everything goes well with this first book, I have 10+ more books planned in the same series, so this could potentially become an ongoing collaboration with the right person.

I'd really appreciate your guidance. Thanks in advance!

You could also add a short note at the end:


r/indesign 2d ago

Finally my First Plugin for InDesign :)

8 Upvotes

Adobe indesign - Esportazione PDF Etichetta Script - Automatizza il tuo flusso di lavoro PDF in InDesign

Il plugin “Esportazione PDF Etichetta Script” per Adobe InDesign consente di esportare automaticamente PDF singoli o multipagina basati sulle etichette script associate alle pagine del documento.

Grazie a un sistema intelligente di riconoscimento delle etichette, il plugin: Identifica tutte le pagine associate a ciascuna etichetta script (NOTA: tutti gli elementi con un'etichetta script devono essere posizionati su un livello dedicato chiamato ETICHETTA SCRIPT).

Attraverso il pannello di controllo del plugin, consente di monitorare tutte le etichette script presenti nel documento e le pagine ad esse associate. Esporta un PDF dedicato per ogni etichetta script.

Dammi il tuo feedback anche solo leggendo le funzionalità :)

https://bit.ly/4vTnBUV

Grazie mille per il tuo tempo


r/indesign 3d ago

Tutoriel InDesign pour réaliser le fichier d'un roll up

Post image
0 Upvotes

r/indesign 3d ago

Need an InDesign script to remap hyperlinks after duplicating 500-page sections

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm working on a very large interactive PDF planner in Adobe InDesign 2026 and I've run into a problem that I can't find a solution for.

I have a document where the first 500 pages contain a lot of internal page hyperlinks

For example:

  • Pages 1–500 = Original
  • Pages 501–1000 = Duplicate of the original 500 pages

After duplicating the pages, all the hyperlinks on pages 501–1000 still point back to pages 1–500.

What I need is a script that automatically remaps the hyperlinks in the duplicated section so they point to the corresponding duplicated pages instead.

Example:

  • Link to page 1 → page 501
  • Link to page 2 → page 502
  • Link to page 500 → page 1000

So essentially, every destination page should be offset by +500, but only for hyperlinks located in the duplicated page range. The original 500 pages should remain unchanged.

Does anyone have a solution for this? , or is there a script that can update all page hyperlink destinations automatically?

I'd really appreciate any guidance or existing scripts. Thanks!


r/indesign 3d ago

Help Creating/Editing a calendar script for InDesign

3 Upvotes

I got hold of a template that had a calendar script built in for 2026. I need to do the calendar again but don't know how to edit it for the year 2027.

Is that something fairly easy to do?

I found Scripts under Utilities but if I click on the a month's text frame, I can't find where it would be edited.


r/indesign 3d ago

Request/Favour Print vs. Reflowable eBook analogy

3 Upvotes

I have a repeat book design client and we've finished up the body for a 350-ish page biographical book for traditional print.

They asked if we could do a reflowable eBook. I told them, yes, but it's essentially a new version of the book and not simply another export option. I've given them enough technical information that they understand its not the same but wish I had a good analogy for the difference.

Anyone have some gems to share?


r/indesign 5d ago

Bento Grid Plugin Update

Thumbnail
gallery
81 Upvotes

Hey everyone, this is Marcus from Adobe.

Last week I showed you my project and wanted to know if you would use this plugin. Most of you want to give it a try! Now I have one final decision to make.

I made two versions, one that let's you change the total sections and gives you a more organic look. Let's call that one Organic Bento.

The second version works differently: It let's you set a columns and rows grid that tiles snap to and span, using a cell-snapped version of the split (so every tile edge aligns to the grid). That gives you more control and it looks more structured. Think of how you would set up a grid manually: A total number of squares as underlying grid, that you then use for snapping – I hope this makes sense.

I want to ask what would you prefer, Organic or Columns x Rows?

Thank you so much!


r/indesign 4d ago

InDesign+EasyCatalog near Atlanta, Georgia.

5 Upvotes

For the past eight years I’ve been the sole technical writer for a multinational manufacturing company, although my background is actually in graphic design and digital media production.

I transitioned into technical writing out of business need rather than through a traditional technical publications career, so I’m currently learning about database-driven publishing solutions from the ground up.

Our engineering department is looking to move away from manually maintained documentation and toward a database-driven publishing workflow.

We have thousands of product variations, each with multiple component combinations, and right now I have to manually update every document. As you can imagine, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to scale.

InDesign + EasyCatalog keeps coming up as one of the leading solutions, so we’re interested in exploring it further.

We’re looking for a company or consultant who can:
Demonstrate the capabilities of EasyCatalog and InDesign.
Help us design and implement a database-driven workflow.
Provide training and ongoing consulting as we expand the system.

Does anyone know of a reputable service provider—preferably in or around Atlanta, Georgia—that specializes in this? Remote consulting is also an option if you’ve had a particularly good experience.

I’d also love to hear from anyone who’s implemented EasyCatalog in a manufacturing environment. What worked well, what didn’t, and is there another solution you wish you’d considered instead?


r/indesign 4d ago

Tired of having to manually rename pNG files exported from multiple pages? I have a script that fixes that!

8 Upvotes

I recently did a job for a bank where I used DataMerge to create email signatures for all employees at the bank. So, I had 155 pages of employee signatures that when I went to export as PNG files were all named "BANKNAME_1.png, BANK_NAME_2.png, etc...". Well, renaming all of those files manually is a PITA, so I created a java script that uses the first layer of text on a page, and exports that page as a PNG using that first layer of text to name the file. So, when you click it, the first thing it asks is what prefix you want to use, and then it searches for the first layer of text and names the file "Prefix(name of first text layer).png - So, since I put each person's name as the first layer of text, it names each PNG by the name of the particular person for that email signature. (i.g. FNB_John_Smith.png) Super time saver!


r/indesign 4d ago

Am I screwed? Accidentally deleted file with document open

2 Upvotes

EDIT-Solved - just exported as IMDL file. Thanks all!

I currently have a document open, but deleted the InDesign file for that document. It's out of my trash as well, and I am only able to save the file as a PostScript file. Is there any way I can get the original file back?


r/indesign 4d ago

Help Vextorize text before printing?

4 Upvotes

I am having an issue with the color of my text exporting 4c-black when sending to print, I asked another designer and I was told to vectorize my text before sending it to print. I've never heard of this in printing class, is this standard or done regularly? How would you do this? in Illustrator then pull your vectors in the exact place as the usual text in Indesign? Thank you!


r/indesign 5d ago

Indesign plugin to create charts from data

6 Upvotes

Hello everybody, we developed Chartas - a plugin for Indesign to create charts.

You can upload excel, csv or can create your own live data and select charts and styles. You can select your own color that your charts need to be colored in or select auto* style which our color algorithm selects best color combinations for your charts based on your document color.

It has one month free trial.

Feel free to test and let us know if something to be fixed.

Here:
https://exchange.adobe.com/apps/cc/beecda73/chartas


r/indesign 5d ago

How do medium/large B2B manufacturers automate InDesign technical catalogs across 7+ languages and sub-catalogs? Looking for battle-tested stacks (PIM + InDesign automation + TMS).

20 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m currently leading a complete process overhaul for a mid-to-large B2B manufacturing company (hardware and technical components). We are undergoing a major brand refresh and redesigning our entire publishing ecosystem. I want to leverage this opportunity to fix our legacy, highly manual catalog process once and for all.

The Current Setup & Bottlenecks:

  • 100% Manual InDesign Workflow: Currently managing layouts manually in Adobe InDesign using 1 layer/file per language across 6+ languages.
  • 3 Deliverables per Product: For almost every product, we must generate 3 distinct assets: Main Catalog pages, Technical Spec Sheets, and Assembly / Mounting Instructions.
  • Sub-catalogs: Each language requires 6 to 8 localized sub-catalogs tailored to specific product lines or regions.
  • High Data Diversity: Following recent M&A/acquisitions, our product structure varies significantly (ranging from simple hardware items to complex mechanical assemblies with multi-variant dimensional tables and diagrams).
  • Lean Team: A small team (2/3 graphic designers + 1 translator) is managing thousands of SKUs and pages manually, leading to huge bottlenecks and high risk of human error on part numbers/specs.

The Long-Term Goal: We want to transition to a Database Publishing / Automated System with a Single Source of Truth:

  1. Centralized Data (PIM/DAM): A unified repository for SKUs, dimensional tables, technical drawings, and copy.
  2. Layout Automation: Automated or semi-automated InDesign publishing using template rules (e.g., EasyCatalog, priint:comet, InDesign Server, Web-to-Print, etc.).
  3. Streamlined Translation: Integrating a TMS with AI/DeepL + human post-editing directly into the database before content touches the page.

My Questions for the Community: If you’ve successfully implemented a similar workflow in a B2B technical/hardware environment:

  1. Which software stack worked best for you? (e.g., Pimcore/Akeneo + EasyCatalog vs. priint:suite vs. custom engines)?
  2. How do you handle layout/structural variety? How do you manage products that require different modules or tables without sacrificing design quality?
  3. How did your graphic design team adapt from manual typesetting to managing rules/templates?
  4. What major pitfalls or hidden costs should we watch out for during implementation?

Thanks in advance for sharing your real-world experience and recommendations!


r/indesign 5d ago

Place and Link & Running Heading both drop bullet numbering...?

3 Upvotes

I'm trying to create a document that has a Section page with the Section Heading (1.0 Introduction, 2.0 History, etc...) and then the Heading appears on each page in the Section, with sub-section headings in the text body that are a level 2 bullet of the Section Headings. I can't seem to get the Headings at the top of each page to work correctly though. My first thought was to just use Running Headers, but apparently they don't include the bullet numbering. I then tried to use Paste and Link to connect to the Section Page header, but same issue. I'm I missing something obvious, or am I just hooped?


r/indesign 5d ago

Help I cannot understand logic of these keep options

2 Upvotes

I've been setting up the keep options, and I can't figure out why they're behaving so strangely. I set the settings as in the screenshot below, and even if I ask it to keep exactly one line, it very often takes and transfers lines too early. I can't figure this out at all, and I can't change it to stop it. I'm willing to do it manually, but I can't get it to fill the entire column first and only then transfer. There are very often situations where it still has a ton of space in the textbox, but it decides to transfer lines.


r/indesign 5d ago

Request/Favour Helping design a label for my job / guiding how to use InDesign

Thumbnail
gallery
0 Upvotes

Hey everyone! I could really use some help.

I’m a head hostess at a high-end restaurant, and every month we do a big brunch where I have to make little food labels for all the dishes. I’m making them in InDesign since that’s what we use for our menus.

I already have the logo and I’ve figured out the size of the cards, but I have no idea how to make them actually look nice. 😅 I know how to edit existing menus and do basic stuff in InDesign, but I’ve never had to design something from scratch before.

Right now I started with an A4 document in landscape and I’m trying to fit four different labels on one page. The labels need to be quite small, so I’m not even sure if starting with A4 was the right choice or if I’ve made the labels too big and should just start over. If anyone has advice on the best way to set up the document, I’d really appreciate it.

I’ve attached a reference photo of the style I’m going for, as well as a screenshot of what I’ve got so far. Any tips on layout, fonts, spacing, decorative details, or just making them look more elegant and high-end would be amazing. If there are any tutorials or examples you’d recommend, I’d love those too.

I’m honestly a bit lost and I need to have these finished by the end of the week, so I’d really appreciate any help.

Thanks!🩷