After installation, Smart Connection will have added the following components to InDesign:
- Panels
- Tools
- Menu items
- Workflow dialog boxes
- Frame icons
- Text variable brackets
- Preferences
- User colors
- Keyboard shortcuts
Panels
- The Smart Connection panel. This panel is the direct link to the files that are stored in Enterprise and is therefore the main panel that you will be working with. It is accessed through Window > Smart Connection > Smart Connection.
For more information about using the panel, see:
- Using the Smart Connection panel in InDesign or InCopy
- Searching and locating files using Smart Connection
- The Elements panel. In the same way that the default InDesign Links panel provides an overview of all (local) images that are placed on the layout, the Elements panel shows which articles, Layout Modules and graphics — stored in Enterprise — have been placed. It is accessed through Window > Smart Connection > Elements.
For more information, see Using the Elements panel of Smart Connection for InDesign.
- The Editions panel. A print publication such as a newspaper can have several Editions: a morning Edition and an evening Edition, or different Editions for different regions. In InDesign you can specify which components on a layout (such as adverts or news articles) belong to an Edition. The Editions panel is used to assign, show, or hide these Edition specific components. It is accessed through Window > Smart Connection > Editions.
For more information about Editions, see Working with Editions in Smart Connection.
- The Element Label panel. The Element Label panel is used for assigning a label to a frame. This indicates what the content of the frame is used for: as a header, an intro, the body text, and so on. Layout designers use this information to style the frame correctly, and copy writers to write appropriate content. The panel is accessed through Window > Element Labels.
For more information, see Working with Element Labels in Smart Connection.
- The Sticky Note panel. (Not available for Smart Connection CC 2017 and any other higher version of Smart Connection for Adobe CC. See How to check the version of Smart Connection that is installed.) Sticky Notes are short messages or reminders that can be placed on a layout. The Sticky Note panel shows you all Sticky Notes that have been placed on an opened layout and is used to filter on status, change the status and reply to a Sticky Note. It is accessed through Window > Extensions > Sticky Note.
For more information about working with Sticky Notes, see Working with Sticky Notes in Smart Connection.
- Dossier panel. The Dossier panel is a variation of the Smart Connection panel and shows the Dossiers (and their content) that the layout that you are currently viewing belongs to. When switching to another layout, the Dossiers to which that layout belongs are shown. It is accessed through Window > Smart Connection > Dossier.
For more information about using the Dossier panel, see Working with Dossiers in Smart Connection.
Tools
- The Smart Jump tool. This tool is used for linking articles on different pages and/or on different layouts, for example an article that is started on the front page of a newspaper which continues on a later page. For more information, see Working with Smart Jump in Smart Connection for InDesign.
- The Sticky Note tool. This tool is used for placing a Sticky Note — a short message or reminder — on the layout. For more information, see Working with Sticky Notes in Smart Connection.
Figure: Smart Connection adds the Smart Jump tool (A) and the Sticky Note tool (B) to the toolbar of InDesign.
Menu items
Smart Connection makes changes to existing menus and adds a new menu.
InDesign menu (macOS) / Help menu (Windows)
A command named 'About WoodWing Plug-ins...' is added. Clicking it opens the About WoodWing dialog box which is used for verifying version numbers of installed WoodWing plug-ins (including Smart Connection) and activating these plug-ins or transferring the activation to another system.
Figure; The About WoodWing Plug-ins dialog box.
File menu
Because Smart Connection comes with its own way of checking in and checking out files, the default command 'Check In...' is disabled in the File menu.
Type menu
The Type > Text Variables > Insert Variable menu contains an additional list of Enterprise text variables. These can be used to insert Enterprise-specific variables into your text.
Object menu
The Object menu contains a submenu named 'Smart Jump', containing commands for the Smart Jump feature (the ability to jump an article from one layout to another with automatic placement of Continued On... and Continued From... elements).
View menu
Two new commands are added to the View menu:
- Extras > Show/Hide Element Labels. For showing Element Labels as part of the frame on the layout. For more information, see Working with Element Labels in Smart Connection.
- Sticky Notes. For showing or hiding Sticky Notes and their Pins.
Smart Connection menu
The Smart Connection menu is located between the View menu and the Window menu. Together with the Smart Connection panel, it is your main tool for managing layouts such as saving them in different ways, creating articles and images, and more.
Window menu
In the Window menu, various commands are added for accessing the Smart Connection toolbars and panels:
- Window > Element Labels. For accessing the Element Labels panel.
- Window > Extensions > Sticky Note. For accessing the Sticky Note panel.
- Window > Smart Connection >
- Dossier. For accessing the Dossier panel.
- Editions. For accessing the Editions panel.
- Elements. For accessing the Elements panel.
- Smart Connection. For accessing the Smart Connection panel.
Context menu
When right-clicking a placed item on the layout — either the frame itself or the icon in the top left corner — commands appear for managing the item, such as checking-out an article, creating an article, accessing the properties, and more.
Quick Apply panel
Many Smart Connection commands are also available via InDesign's Quick Apply panel for easy access.
Workflow dialog boxes
When performing a particular action such as save or copy, Smart Connection will bring up its own dialog box. This dialog box — referred to as a 'workflow dialog box' — is used for setting properties such as the name of the file, the location in Enterprise where it should be saved, the Workflow Status, and so on.
Figure: The dialog box for saving an article.
Frame icons
Various icons are used for identifying articles and images that are placed on a layout:
Icon | Description |
---|---|
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Slashed pencil. Shown for an article that is checked-in. |
![]() |
Pencil. Shown for an article that is checked-out. |
![]() |
Chain. Shown for images and Layout Modules. |
![]() |
Warning. Shown for placed Enterprise files (images, Layout Modules, and spreadsheets) when a newer version of the file is available. (Requires Smart Connection 13.0.2 for Adobe CC 2018, or any other higher version of Smart Connection.) |
Note: To see these icons, choose View > Screen Mode > Normal.
Text variable brackets
Smart Connection contains features which make use of text variables:
- Enterprise Fields. Text variables holding Enterprise specific content such as the Brand name, Publication date and so on.
- Smart Jump. Linking articles on different pages and/or on different layouts can be done by using the Smart Jump feature. Text variables are used in the automatically created Continued On... and Continued From... text elements.
The text that is inserted by each feature is enclosed by orange brackets.
Figure: Text variables that are inserted by Smart Connection appear between orange brackets. Shown here are the text variable for the name of the Jump story (A) and the text variable for the page number reference (B).
Preferences
Smart Connection adds the following groups of preferences:
- Preferences for Smart Image
- Preferences for Smart Connection
- Preferences for Smart Jump
- Preferences for Element Labels
User color
Your user profile that has been set up in Enterprise Server for you by your administrator contains a User Color option. It is used to distinguish specific changes that have been made by you from other users (who typically have another color defined).
This color is used in the following areas:
- Sticky Notes The color is shown in front of the name of the user who created a Sticky Note or replied to a Sticky Note.
- Track Changes When tracked changes are turned on in InDesign, these changes are color-coded based on the user color.
If you want to change your user color, contact your administrator.
Keyboard shortcuts
Smart Connection adds an additional set of keyboard shortcuts to InDesign with which you can control many Smart Connection features.
For more details, see Keyboard shortcuts for Smart Connection for InDesign.
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