Favorite InDesign Plug-Ins
EasyCatalog
www.65bit.comEasyCatalog has been designed to aid the production of catalogs, brochures, price lists, and most other types of data or design-driven publications. You've got a file, or database, and need to publish its content using Adobe InDesign software. How do you do it? What happens if the details in the file or database change at the last minute? What if you're using complex page designs for each record in the file or database? EasyCatalog has the answer.
EasyHistory
www.65bit.comTrying to find the history panel in InDesign? It's here! Introducing the history panel for InDesign - view all of the available undo and redo steps in one convenient palette. As another option, it will automatically take snapshots of the current spread when the document is saved.
PlanSystem3
www.vangennep.comPlanSystem3 is a third-generation planning, process, and workflow management system with unparalleled enterprise-wide function integration capabilities and process management tools. These include real-time content/asset management, edition/product planning, production status and deadline monitoring, and element tracking of all files in production. In addition to its superb flatplanning and automation tools, PlanSystem3 integrates InDesign and InCopy with popular databases in a cross-platform environment, along with the ability to manage intangibles and any type of file, such as a Microsoft Word document or Excel spreadsheet, and connect to advertising and third-party systems like Fotoware, Mediabank or Chuckwalla. PlanSystem3 provides a unique collaborative workflow management solution for magazine publishers, book publishers, catalogers, retailers, and design firms.
J2SCatalog
www.j2s.netJ2SCatalog is a document tagging and generation solution for publishing recurrent pieces of information associating texts and images from XML files. This plug-in for InDesign CS and CS2 should prove useful to those who need to set up catalogues, directories, ads, portfolios, etc. with a creative layout starting from XML input.
J2SAutodata
www.j2s.netCount your InDesign document or book pages! J2SAutodata is a plug-in designed to insert the total number of pages of a document and keep this number up to date as pages are added or removed. J2SAutoData also works with InDesign books.
Scale Alert - a free plug-in!
www.knowbody.dkIf you are interested in high-quality image output from InDesign, you might want to limit how much you scale images - both up and down. Using Scale Alert, you will see a warning every time you print the document with images scaled outside your requests. You can define scaling based on DPI or percentage. This plug-in is free after registration.
Q2ID
www.markzware.comQ2ID (QuarkXPress to Adobe InDesign) offers users a quick and easy way to convert QuarkXPress content into a new Adobe InDesign document. Conversion is enabled with a single click by selecting Open in InDesign. The majority of the intricate details of the document are instantly re-created within InDesign. Items converted include: page positioning, color models, fonts and styles, images, and text attributes as well as tables, layers, blends, runarounds, linked text boxes and anchored boxes, Pantone colors and other color models. Q2ID can convert QuarkXPress documents created on either the Windows or Mac OS platform into a new InDesign file. Q2ID conversion technology saves countless hours of scanning or rekeying and reformatting documents.
TableStyles and CellStyles 1.1 Pro
www.teacupsoftware.comTableStyles and CellStyles 1.1 Pro features enhanced functionality, as well as two new enterprise features that provide sophisticated control and continuity when working with spreadsheets and XML files. Now, styled tables and cells can be tagged automatically for XML export with the "Map Table/CellStyles to Tags" feature. Plus, importing XML files into InDesign tables is made much easier with the "Map Tags to Table/CellStyles" feature. In addition, associating a paragraph style with a cell style is a breeze - when the cell style is applied, the paragraph style will be as well.
RoboCatalog Builder
www.robocatalog.comRoboCatalog Suite integrates an SQL database, specifically configured for catalog publishing, directly inside Adobe InDesign. The software supports complex attribute schemes, XML integration with popular digital asset management systems, inline graphic substitutions (for color swatches, logos, callouts, and other visuals), and tight integration with Adobe Acrobat annotations to streamline the review and approval process. There's even roundtrip editing between the layouts and a visual Manager module that keeps the product development, marketing, and merchandising staff on the same page as the layout artists.
Smart Connection Enterprise CS
www.woodwing.comIf you have a more demanding workflow and need tighter security control or flexible database queries, Smart Connection Enterprise CS is the answer. It covers access and user rights and complex queries that are available only in database-driven environments. The Smart Connection Enterprise CS edition relies on a three-tier architecture to ensure scalability and flexibility. All business logic is centralized on the application server. The database ensures document security, rapid document search and retrieval, and all the advantages related to database use. The client is a traditional InCopy/InDesign setup or a remote setup where a compressed version of the InDesign document is embedded in an InCopy file the editor can work with from home.