Skip to main content

InDesign Plugin: Install & connect

Step-by-step instructions for installing and connecting the plugin

Updated over 3 months ago

In order to be able to use the InDesign Plugin, a superordinate installation in the 4ALLPORTAL is required. All active 4ALLPORTAL users can then install and set up the plugin on their local computer.

The InDesign Plugin can be used on Windows and Mac.

The connection requires https.

Prerequisites

The following steps are required for installation:

  • Install 4App 'InDesign Plugin' in your 4ALLPORTAL (version 4 system)

    alternatively: Install 4App 'DAM' in your 4ALLPORTAL (version 3 system)

  • Download and install the plug-in file on a local computer

  • Connect InDesign and 4ALLPORTAL (https)

  • Establish a network share (if not already in place)

Please note the following compatibilities:

version 4 system:

  • InDesign version 16.4 or higher

version 3 system:

  • Core & DAM 3.10.2 or later: InDesign version 16.3 or 17

  • Core 3.9.19 or later & DAM 3.9.9 or later: InDesign version 16.3 or 17

The following requirements must be met on the local computer:

  • administrator privileges

  • a ZXP tool to extract the plug-in file (e.g. 'Anastasiy's Extension Manager')

  • active network share

  • access to an InDesign license

Users must have the following rights in the 4ALLPORTAL:

  • Read and write access to the 'Files' module

  • Read permissions for the 'Folders' module

  • Read rights for the 'Markups' module

Install the 4App 'InDesign Plugin'

The InDesign Plugin is available as a separate 4App for Core/DAM version 4.0 or higher.

  1. Go to the Admin Snap-in 'General system configurations > App management > Apps'.

  2. Download the 4App InDesign Plugin (4allportal-indesign-plugin).

  3. Activate the application and restart the system.

After installing the 4App, the InDesign Plugin can be downloaded by each user via their profile ('Profile > Downloads').

Please note

If you are using the 4ALLPORTAL in a version 3 system, the plugin is already installed as part of the 4App 'Digital Asset Management'. The installation file is then available in the same version as the 4App itself in the user's download area.

Install the plugin locally

💡This step requires administrator rights on the local computer

Users who wish to work with the InDesign plug-in must install it locally on their computer.
In addition to administrator rights, they will need a ZXP tool to install (and uninstall if necessary) the plugin.

1. Download the installation tool

If a ZXP installation tool is not installed on the local computer, make sure that the user has permission to download and install one (e.g. 'Anastasiy's Extension Manager').

Please note

4ALLPORTAL makes no explicit recommendations and accepts no liability for damage caused by third party software.

2. Download the plugin

Users can find the ZXP installation file '4AP_InDesign_Plugin.zxp' in their user profile ('Profile > Downloads'):

Click the button to download the ZXP file.

3. Close InDesign

Make sure that InDesign is closed before installing the plug-in file.

4. Install the plugin

Users should follow the steps below:

  • launch the ZXP installer

  • add the file '4AP_InDesign_Plugin.zxp'.

  • wait for the success message (e.g. "Your extension has been installed. Please restart your Adobe application.")

  • close the ZXP installer

  • restart InDesign

In all supported versions of InDesign, the plugin should now be available.

Users can then set up the connection data for the 4ALLPORTAL.

Tip

If you encounter problems during installation, you can alternatively use the Adobe command line tool 'ExManCmd' for installation, details of which can be found on the Adobe website.

Connect InDesign with the 4ALLPORTAL

In order for the InDesign Plugin to communicate with the 4ALLPORTAL, the 4ALLPORTAL connection data must be stored locally in InDesign.

A user can then log in with their 4ALLPORTAL username and password to use the plugin.

Set up, activate and manage connection data

To set up the connection, users must follow the steps below:

  1. Open InDesign.

  2. Start the plugin via 'Windows > Extensions > 4ALLPORTAL - InDesign Plugin'.

    The connection menu opens automatically the first time the plugin is started.

  3. Click on the button to create a new connection.

    If there is a network share, you can use the 'Detect' button to automatically search for the 4ALLPORTAL.

  4. Select a name for the connection (e.g. 4ALLPORTAL DAM).

  5. Enter the correct URL of the 4ALLPORTAL (including 'https://').

  6. Click on the button to save the connection.

  7. Select the connection to activate it. The 'Continue' button appears.

  8. Clicking on 'Continue' will take you to the 4ALLPORTAL login screen and allow you to connect to the 4ALLPORTAL.

The connection menu is now available on the plugin's login screen:

Via ‘Connections’, users can view, (de)activate, edit, delete or add further connections at any time.

Please note

To connect, you must use the same URL that you use in your browser.

Connect file system | Network share

The InDesign Plugin opens InDesign documents and original files in the background. In order to access the file system, a file system connection in the form of a network share must be set up on the local computer.

Further information

Help Center article: Connect the file system as a network drive

Did this answer your question?