FrameReporter for Adobe InDesign

What does FrameReporter do?

Simple answer: FrameReporter shows essential information about your selected frames directly on your document, eliminating the need to hunt through multiple panels.

Instead of constantly opening and closing panels to check frame properties, FrameReporter displays key details right where you’re working.

Stop the panel shuffle

The old way: To check basic frame information, you constantly:

  • Open the Transform panel to check size and position
  • Switch to the Links panel for image details
  • Check the Info panel for color information
  • Jump to Story panel for text overflow
  • Move your mouse all over the interface
  • Lose focus on your actual work

The new way: Select any frame and instantly see all relevant information displayed as small labels right next to the frame.

What information does it show?

FrameReporter can display a selected combination of details directly on your document:

For Image Frames:

  • File name – Quickly verify you placed the right image
  • Scaling percentage – Ensure consistent image scaling across layouts
  • Effective resolution – Check if images will print clearly
  • Color space – RGB, CMYK, or grayscale identification
  • File path – Know exactly where the image is stored

For Text Frames:

  • Overset text warnings – See immediately if text doesn’t fit
  • Character count – Monitor text length for editorial requirements
  • Story threading – Understand how text flows between frames
  • Language settings – Verify correct language for spell-checking

For All Frames:

  • Frame dimensions – Width and height at a glance
  • Position coordinates – Precise X/Y placement
  • Rotation angle – Check for unwanted frame rotation
  • Layer information – Know which layer objects are on

Perfect for these workflows

  • Image placement verification – Ensure alphabetical order or correct image sequence
  • Consistent scaling – Verify all product photos are scaled identically
  • Editorial layouts – Track character counts and text overflow
  • Forms design – Align multiple elements with precise positioning
  • Quality control – Spot check document consistency quickly
  • Template creation – Verify precise measurements and specifications

Real-world example

Imagine placing 50 similar product images that need to be:

  • In alphabetical order by filename
  • Scaled to exactly 85%
  • At 300 ppi effective resolution

Without FrameReporter: Click each image → open Links panel → check filename → open Transform panel → check scaling → calculate effective resolution. Repeat 50 times.

With FrameReporter: Select all images and instantly see filename, scaling, and resolution displayed on each frame. Spot problems immediately.

Smart and unobtrusive

  • Labels auto-hide when they would be too wide for the zoom level
  • Non-printing – Labels never appear in your final output
  • Customizable – Choose which information to display
  • Context-sensitive – Shows relevant info based on frame type

System requirements

  • InDesign 2024 or newer (for older versions, use legacy FrameReporter)
  • Windows or Mac
  • APID ToolAssistant (free supporting plugin)
  • PluginInstaller (free tool for installation and licensing)

Pricing

  • 20-day free trial – Full functionality, no restrictions
  • $29 per computer per year (excluding tax)
  • Annual renewal required
  • Purchase through PluginInstaller

Installation (current manual process)

Step 1: Download required files

Step 2: Install PluginInstaller

In case you had not already installed it before:

  1. Download PluginInstaller (free tool for script management)
  2. Extract and place in convenient location (Applications, Desktop, etc.)
  3. Run PluginInstaller – it configures itself automatically
  4. If you don’t have an account yet, create one. WRITE DOWN YOUR UNLOCK CODE.
  5. After relaunching PluginInstaller, always check the Accounts window and verify your account is unlocked! If it is not, nothing will work.

Step 3: Install APID ToolAssistant

In case you had not already installed it before:

  1. Close InDesign completely
  2. Find your InDesign Plug-Ins folder (usually in the InDesign application folder)
  3. Create a Rorohiko subfolder inside Plug-Ins
  4. Extract APID ToolAssistant files to the Rorohiko folder

Step 4: Install FrameReporter

  1. Extract the FrameReporter download
  2. Copy FrameReporter.spln, FrameReporterLib.spln, and the Labels folder to the Rorohiko folder
  3. Restart InDesign

Below some screenshots similar to how the Rorohiko folder should look:

Step 4: Configure preferences

  1. Open or create an InDesign document
  2. Go to API → FrameReporter → Default Preferences or Current Document Preferences
  3. Choose which information to display
  4. Select frames to see labels appear

Step 5: Purchase license (after trial)

  1. Open PluginInstaller. Verify your account is unlocked.
  2. Use the Store window in PluginInstaller, browse the catalog and find FrameReporter. Click the link in the Store window to add the bookmark into the Installing and Ordering window.
  3. Purchase license for $29/year
  4. Activation happens automatically

Usage tips

Labels too wide? Zoom in more – labels appear when there’s enough space to display them clearly.

Too much information? Use the preferences to turn off info types you don’t need.

Working on complex layouts? FrameReporter is especially valuable when working with data merge, forms, or template documents.

Navigation bonus features

FrameReporter also adds helpful navigation tools:

  • Jump to named stories – Quickly locate specific text stories
  • Jump to named frames – Find specific frames by their script labels
  • Story overview – See overset status across multi-frame stories

Who should use FrameReporter

  • Production designers – Speed up quality control and consistency checks
  • Template creators – Verify precise measurements and specifications
  • Data merge specialists – Monitor frame properties across variable layouts
  • Publications teams – Track text overflow and image specifications
  • Forms designers – Ensure precise alignment and consistent sizing
  • Anyone who regularly checks frame properties in InDesign

What users say

“I didn’t think I needed it at first because it seemed like interface noise. But now working on a 236-page book rebuild, I’m getting true benefits from the little pieces of information FrameReporter gives me.”

Ready to fight panel fatigue? Download the files above and start your free 20-day trial today!