Spreadulator
This download supports Mac & Windows versions of InDesign CS , CS2, CS3 or CS4.
Goal
The Spreadulator is a tool that saves time and effort by allowing the editing of all the page items in a document at the same time. The tool copies all pages to a single large spread, which can then be modified. After the required changes have been applied, everything is copied back to their respective pages.
Download
You can download a 20 day time-limited, alpha version here.
In order to use the Spreadulator plug-in you also have to install our free APID ToolAssistant plug-in, which is available below as a second, separate download.
Download the Spreadulator plugin (version 0.0.1b alpha; . 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:
- Windows APID ToolAssistant:
To install, you need to add two items to your InDesign Plug-Ins folder. Quit or exit InDesign before beginning the installation.
Both downloads contain separate Windows and Macintosh versions – make sure to open the proper version for your computer.
You need to install the proper version of APID ToolAssistant – there are a number of different versions provided (Mac/Win and CS/CS2/CS3/CS4) and you need to make sure to pick the proper one. Move this plug-in into the InDesign Plug-Ins folder (or a subfolder thereof).
Second, you need to copy the Spreadulator.spln file into the same folder as where the APID ToolAssistant plug-in resides.
Make sure you move just the APID ToolAssistant plug-in and the Spreadulator.spln file to your plug-ins folder – don’t drag whole folders or .zip files into your plug-ins folder – that won’t work.
Restart InDesign, and open or create a document.
P.S. Do not double-click the various plug-in icons you see – they are not meant to be double-clicked. Instead you need to move them into the InDesign Plug-Ins folder.
Usage
To use Spreadulator, proceed as follows:
- Open a document of your choice.
- Check the API menu item that should sit on the menu bar for the new Spreadulator menu.
- Apply Spreadulator
- Apply Despreadulator
- Preferences
The first option, Apply Spreadulator, will copy all pages onto a single large spread, where modifications can be applied.
The second option, Apply Despreadulator, will do the reverse: convert the large spreadulated page back into smaller individual pages.
The third option, Preferences, allows you to set options such as whether to auto-save.
Let us know if this plug-in is useful to you, at pluginsupport@rorohiko.com. Thanks!
Limitations
- deleted overridden master page items are not yet supported
Version history
20-April-2009 Version 0.0.1b:
- Added overridden master page item support
20-February-2009 Version 0.0.1a:
- Initial alpha release
It does not 'do' anything apparent, but you need it installed for most of our tools to function.
Output selected color pictures as pure black (K) without having to modify the original JPEG or TIFF.
Track time of last document modification, and keep a log of who has worked on a document.
Shows information about page items without having to hunt for the 'Info' palette; helps navigation in complex documents.
Automatically resize/refit frame content when resizing an image frame.
Floating palette filled with images from designated folders. Much faster than Adobe Bridge, uses standard InDesign library palette.
Efficient method to move page items between layers via context menu with layers.
Automatically expand your selection to encompass items that are similar to a single selected 'sample' page item. Much faster than shift-click-click-click...
Attach objects to guides and use the guides to concurrently pull or stretch all attached objects. Great for structured layouts like forms, photo-grids...
Auto-scale pixel images as they are placed so that all effective resolutions conform to a preset value.
Helps you handle overly cluttered layouts with ease. Temporarily move obscuring elements out of the way and later put them back exactly where they came from.
Generate brand new, copyright-free Sudoku puzzles straight into placeholder frames. Great for newsletters, puzzle books,... - do the layout once, and 'inject' fresh new puzzles
as many times as you want.
Export all text from an InDesign document into a single combined RTF or text file.
Automatically thread unattached text frames into a single, logical thread. Cut a long, multi-frame story into separated text frames without visually affecting the layout.
Transparently manage multiple installed versions of applications. Automatically open documents in the most appropriate version (e.g. InDesign CS3 documents open in InDesign CS3
even if CS4 is installed).
Move text out and back into InDesign documents, to allow translation or editing of text without need for additional licenses of InDesign or InCopy.
