PlaceAutoSynchronizer

Intro

Create an auto-updating text or image frame.

You can use this plug-in for a wide range of solutions – a few ideas:

• Automated publishing: copy new images and text descriptions over the previous ones and have the layout auto-update.
• Synchronized text: multiple boxes can ‘subscribe’ to the same boilerplate text. Each time the text changes, all subscribing boxes auto-update.

Installation

Before you start installing, exit out of InDesign.

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 since the plug-ins are mutually incompatible. The Windows CS5.x plug-ins also come with an additional folder with a parenthesised name which needs to be copied along.

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.

You will be installing two separate, but related software products: PlaceAutoSynchronizer and APID ToolAssistant. PlaceAutoSynchronizer will continue to work when the APID ToolAssistant demo expires.

i.e You do NOT need to purchase a license for APID ToolAssistant.

Copy the PlaceAutoSynchronizer.spln into the same folder as the APID ToolAssistant plug-in (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.

Usage

To place a synchronized image or text file, create a text or image box. Then select the box, and give the box the script label: subscribe (all lowercase). A file selection dialog should pop up – pick and choose a placeable file to place into the box (an image, a text file, an RTF file, a PDF file…).

Click here for more information on setting a script label

If you want styled text, you can use RTF files. Make sure you always use fonts that are both available in your text editor and in InDesign.

This operation creates a ‘live’ placed file: each time the placed file changes or gets overwritten, the box contents will be updated automatically. Also keep in mind that it is allowed to have multiple boxes subscribe to the same disk file – so you can have multiple boxes that display the same, synchronized data.

To later disable the automated place for a particular box: select the box, open the Script Label palette again and delete the label to disable any future ‘Place Auto-Synchronization’ for the box.

Limitations

The PlaceAutoSynchronizer is not terribly smart, and only handles unlinked text boxes – it does not work if you link multiple boxes together. Let us know if this is an important issue for you, at pluginsupport@rorohiko.com. Or post a message on our Message Board! Thanks!

More Info

For more detailed information on PlaceAutoSynchronizer, go to:

http://www.rorohiko.com/wordpress/manuals/placeautosynchronizer-manual/