This is a free download (see further down); it supports Mac & Windows versions of InDesign CS, CS2, CS3 or CS4.

Goal

This simple tool offers an alternative method to using the layers palette for moving objects between layers.

It also has an optional feature to nudge all items on the layer throughout the whole document or across the current spread.

First select one or more objects on a spread, and then right-click (Win) or control-click (Mac), and pick a destination layer from the LayerLifter context menu.

There’s also an optional layer shifter feature for people who have purchased an APID ToolAssistant license.

The layer shifter allows you to shift all items on a particular layer – either throughout the whole document, or across the current spread.

You can select either option via API – LayerLifter – Preferences – click the checkbox in front of Drag Attached Layer On All Spreads to get a document-wide layer shift.

Now select any page item that resides on the layer you want to shift, and select API – LayerLifter – Attach To Layer. A small paperclip should appear next to the page item to show it is attached to its layer. When you now shift this page item, it will ‘drag’ its whole layer along. Any other page items on the same layer will shift by the same amount.

Don’t forget to use API – LayerLifter – Detach From Layer to release the page item afterwards.

Download

This is a free download. Before you can use the LayerLifter plug-in you also have to install our free APID ToolAssistant plug-in, which is available as a second, separate download.

Download the LayerLifter plug-in (version 1.0.1. Free download. For InDesign CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4 on Mac or Windows; does not include the APID ToolAssistant. Don’t worry about the icon of the .spln file: it might not be a ‘regular’ icon, and that’s OK)

• Macintosh APID ToolAssistant:
  • Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign CS4 for Macintosh
  • Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign CS3 for Macintosh
  • Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign CS2 for Macintosh
  • Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign CS for Macintosh
• Windows APID ToolAssistant:
  • Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign CS4 for Windows
  • Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign CS3 for Windows
  • Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign CS2 for Windows
  • Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign CS for Windows

You don’t need to purchase a license for APID ToolAssistant (but we’re always grateful if you do – it helps us fund further development). The LayerLifter plug-in will work fine with an unlicensed APID ToolAssistant.

There’s something in it for you too: when you purchase a license for APID ToolAssistant, you will get access to an optional feature in LayerLifter – the layer shifter feature.

To encourage us by purchasing the US$25 optional license, select the API – APID ToolAssistant… menu item, select the ‘APID ToolAssistant’ entry in the list, and click the Get License… button. Purchasing a license helps us fund further development of cool stuff!

If you don’t purchase a license, APID ToolAssistant will show itself as ‘Demo’ for the first 20 days after it was first installed, and after the 20 days are up, it will change to ‘Unlicensed’. Don’t be alarmed by this. It will not stop working. LayerLifter works with an unlicensed version of APID ToolAssistant, and purchasing a license is optional.

Let us know if this tool is useful to you, at pluginsupport@rorohiko.com. Thanks!

Installation

Please make sure you have a copy of the APID ToolAssistant plug-in installed.

Make sure you install the proper plug-in for your version of InDesign. InDesign CS, CS2, CS3 and CS4 plug-ins are mutually incompatible.

If you already have an APID ToolAssistant plug-in installed (e.g. because you use one of our other plug-ins), make sure it is up-to-date.

APID ToolAssistant used to be called ‘Active Page Item Runtime‘ – if you have any copies of Active Page Item Runtime or Active Page Item Developer installed, please remove them, and replace them with APID ToolAssistant.

When installing plug-ins make sure you copy plug-in files, not the folders they are contained in.

The LayerLifter tool consists of two files: LayerLifter.spln and com.rorohiko.layerlifter.clip.png.

Copy both the LayerLifter.spln and the com.rorohiko.layerlifter.clip.png file into the same folder as the APID ToolAssistant plug-in you installed previously (typically that will be the InDesign Plug-Ins folder). Don’t worry about the icon of the .spln file: it might not be a ‘regular’ icon, and that’s OK.

Version history

30-October-2009 Version 1.0.1:

• Added optional layer shifter feature for people with an APID ToolAssistant license

8-October-2007 Version 1.0 Beta:

• Initial Beta Release

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