Different ways to develop Plug-ins for InDesign

InDesign is a powerful desktop publishing software that enables users to create a variety of print and digital media. InDesign supports plug-ins, which are additional modules that extend the functionality of the software. In this article, we’ll discuss different ways to develop plug-ins for InDesign along with some code samples.

1. ExtendScript

ExtendScript is a JavaScript-based scripting language that can be used to create plug-ins for InDesign. It allows developers to access and modify InDesign’s internal objects, such as documents, pages, and text frames. Here’s an example of an ExtendScript code snippet that creates a new document in InDesign:

javascript

				
					  var myDocument = app.documents.add();

2.InDesign SDK

The InDesign SDK is a C++ based software development kit that enables developers to create plug-ins for InDesign using C++. This approach offers more control and flexibility over the plug-in’s functionality and performance. Here’s an example of a C++ code snippet that adds a new menu item to InDesign’s menu bar:

				
					  #include "InDesignSDK.h"
  void MyPlugin::AddMenuItem() { 
    CAlert::Information("MyPlugin: Adding menu item"); 
    InterfacePtr panelData(
      Utils()->CreatePalettePanel(
        kApplicationWorkspaceBoss, kMyPluginPanelWidgetID, kMyPluginPanelTitleKey, kVerticalLayout, kPluginMenuGroup, kPluginMenuItemID
      )
    ); 
    panelData->AttachToMenu(
      kApplicationWorkspaceMenu, kBeforeAdobeOnlineServicesMenuItem
    ); 
  }

3.InDesign Server

InDesign Server is a server-based version of InDesign that enables developers to create plug-ins for InDesign using scripting languages such as JavaScript, VBScript, and AppleScript. InDesign Server also offers more advanced features such as automation and batch processing. Here’s an example of a JavaScript code snippet that imports a CSV file and creates a table in InDesign:

				
					  var myCSVFile = File.openDialog("Select a CSV file to import", "comma-separated values (*.csv)");
  var myTable = myDocument.pages[0].textFrames.add().tables.add();
  myTable.convertTextToTable(myCSVFile);

4.InDesign Scripting DOM

InDesign Scripting DOM (Document Object Model) is a set of JavaScript-based objects and methods that provide access to InDesign’s internal components, including documents, pages, text frames, and graphics. It offers a high-level scripting interface and is ideal for developers who are more familiar with scripting languages. Here’s an example of a JavaScript code snippet that changes the color of a text frame in InDesign:

				
						  var myTextFrame = app.activeDocument.pages[0].textFrames[0];
  myTextFrame.fillColor = "Red";

5.InDesign Plugin Builder

The InDesign Plugin Builder is a tool that simplifies the process of creating InDesign plug-ins using the InDesign SDK. It provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows developers to create custom plug-ins by simply dragging and dropping components. Here’s an example of how to use the InDesign Plugin Builder to create a plug-in that adds a new menu item to InDesign:

Open the InDesign Plugin Builder and select “New Plug-in Project”
Select the location and name of the new plug-in project
Select “Add Menu Item” from the “Add New Component” dropdown menu
Enter the name and ID of the new menu item
Save the project and build the plug-in
InDesign HTML5-based Extensions

InDesign Plugin development services also supports HTML5-based extensions, which can be developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This approach allows developers to create cross-platform extensions that can be used on both desktop and mobile devices. HTML5-based extensions can also be easily deployed through Adobe’s Creative Cloud Marketplace. Here’s an example of an HTML5-based extension that adds a new panel to InDesign:

html:

				
					  <!DOCTYPE html>
  <html> 
    <head> 
      <meta charset="UTF-8"> 
      <title>MyPanel</title> <script defer src="MyPanel.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="MyPanel.css">
    </head> 
  <body> 
    <div id="myPanel"></div> 
  </body> 
  </html>

javascript:

				
					  var panel = document.getElementById("myPanel");
  var myButton = document.createElement("button");
  myButton.innerText = "Click me!";
  myButton.onclick = function() { 
    alert("Button clicked!"); 
  }; 
  panel.appendChild(myButton);

6.InDesign Scripting with Python

InDesign also supports scripting with Python, which is a popular high-level programming language. Python can be used to automate tasks and create custom plug-ins for InDesign. Here’s an example of a Python script that changes the color of a text frame in InDesign:

				
					  import win32com.client
  app = win32com.client.Dispatch("InDesign.Application")
  myDocument = app.ActiveDocument
  myTextFrame = myDocument.Pages[0].TextFrames[0]
  myTextFrame.FillColor = app.RGBColor(255, 0, 0)

7.InDesign CC Libraries

InDesign CC Libraries are a way to share design assets between Creative Cloud applications and collaborate with other users. Developers can create custom plug-ins that interact with CC Libraries and automate the process of adding, updating, and deleting assets. Here’s an example of a JavaScript code snippet that adds a new graphic to a CC Library:

				
						  var myLibrary = app.libraries.itemByName("MyLibrary");
  var myGraphic = myLibrary.assets.add(app.activeDocument.pages[0].graphics[0], "MyGraphic");
  alert("Graphic added to CC Library!");

8.InDesign Third-Party Libraries

InDesign also supports third-party libraries that can be used to create custom plug-ins. These libraries offer additional functionality and can save developers time and effort when creating plug-ins. Examples of third-party libraries for InDesign include:

Adobe ExtendScript Toolkit SDK: a set of tools for developing and debugging ExtendScript code
ScriptUI for ExtendScript: a library that simplifies the creation of user interfaces for ExtendScript scripts
InDesign JS Library: a library that provides additional functionality for InDesign Scripting DOM
InTools: a collection of tools and utilities for InDesign

Conclusion

InDesign offers a variety of ways to develop plug-ins, including ExtendScript, InDesign SDK, InDesign Server, InDesign Scripting DOM, InDesign Plugin Builder, HTML5-based extensions, InDesign Scripting with Python, InDesign CC Libraries, and third-party libraries. Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses, and developers can choose the one that best suits their skills and project requirements. With the ability to create custom plug-ins, developers can enhance the functionality of InDesign, automate tasks, and improve productivity for
users.