Using Elvis 6 with Adobe InDesign

This article is part of a series that describes how to use Elvis 6 with Adobe InDesign. An overview of all articles in the series is given at the bottom of the page.

As a start, a general overview is given.

Working with Elvis and InDesign

By combining Elvis with Adobe InDesign, files that are stored in Elvis can be used in InDesign.

This makes it possible to open layouts in InDesign that are stored in Elvis and place files that are stored in Elvis on a layout in InDesign.

When changes are made to the files in Elvis, these changes are visible in InDesign. Similarly, any changes that are made in InDesign are saved back to Elvis.

It is also possible to use Elvis in a version of InDesign in which WoodWing's Smart Connection is installed to make the files part of a WoodWing Enterprise workflow.

How it works

Connecting InDesign with Elvis is done by using a plug-in which needs to be installed in InDesign.

As a user you connect to Elvis by logging in to Elvis Server using an account with a required license.

Accessing the files in Elvis is done by using the Elvis Pro client. The Pro client runs in a Web browser so you would have that open together with InDesign.

Various ways of working with the files that are stored in Elvis exist (see below).

Figure: Dragging images from the Elvis Pro client onto a layout in InDesign.

Logging in

Before you can start working, you need to log in to the Elvis server on which the files are stored that you want to work with.

The process for logging in depends on how Elvis Server is configured: with or without Single Sign-On (SSO) implemented.

Notes: Single sign-on is a process that automatically logs you in to an application or system by using credentials that you entered when logging in once to an authentication provider that manages your user credentials. Once logged in to that authentication provider, each subsequent log-in to an application that is connected to that provider is automatically handled by that system. This drastically reduces the number of times you manually have to log in on a daily basis. It is not possible to log in from Elvis for InDesign to an instance of Elvis Server for which SSO has been set up by using a user account that is defined locally in the internal-users.properties.txt file of Elvis Server.

Step 1. Sign in using the Pro client so that you have access to the files that you want to use.

Step 2. Also sign in to Elvis in InDesign so that it can communicate with Elvis and update or restore any links to the files in Elvis. In InDesign, choose Elvis > Log In... .

You will be guided through the process by various messages that appear on screen. Follow the steps until the process is completed.

Notes: When logging in to Elvis without SSO support: Make sure to use the same credentials for logging in to the Elvis Pro client as for logging in to Elvis in InDesign. To automatically log in the next time you start InDesign, select the 'Log in automatically' check box during the log-in process. The URL for the Elvis server that is logged in to is stored in InDesign Preferences > Elvis and can be changed there if needed. Once changed, use Elvis > Log In to log in to that server. When logging in to Elvis with SSO support: SSO support is available for InDesign CC 2018 or any higher version of InDesign CC. Part of the process takes place in your Web browser. The URL for the Elvis server that is logged in to is stored in InDesign Preferences > Elvis and can be changed there if needed. Once changed, use Elvis > Log In to log in to that server.

Logging out

To log out of the Elvis Server, choose Elvis > Log Out.

Note: When logged in to Elvis with SSO support, logging out of Elvis in InDesign will not log you out of the authentication provider.

Working in InDesign

When working with Elvis in InDesign the following scenarios can exist:

1. The layout is saved locally while some or all of the placed files are stored in Elvis.
2. The layout and some or all of the placed files are stored in Elvis.
3. The layout is stored in WoodWing Enterprise and some or all of the placed files are stored in Elvis.

The following tasks can be performed:

• Opening layouts
• Placing files from Elvis on to a layout in InDesign
• Editing, changing the file format, relinking, or updating placed files that are stored in Elvis

Using Elvis with WoodWing Enterprise

Elvis can also be used in InDesign with WoodWing's Smart Connection installed. This way, the files in Elvis can be used in a workflow environment for producing publications such as newspapers, magazines, books, and more.

The layout is then stored in Enterprise while some or all of the files that are placed on the layout are stored in Elvis.

Layouts are therefore opened from within the Smart Connection workflow. Files can be placed and edited in the same way as described above.

Note: To make Elvis files part of Enterprise — for example by including an image in an article, or by storing the file in Enterprise — Elvis needs to be fully integrated in Enterprise.

Additional information

• Installing or uninstalling the InDesign plug-in
• Automate working with Elvis and InDesign by using scripting
• Using Elvis 6 with Adobe InDesign – Managing cached files

Document history

• 11 June 2020: 1 June 2020: Updated the note in section 'Logging in' with information about logging in with a locally defined user.