Editing InDesign layouts containing links to Elvis 4

Imagine that you have a layout stored in Elvis with placed images that are also stored in Elvis. Or, you might have a layout that is stored locally but contains links to images that are stored in Elvis.

Using the Elvis InDesign Client plug-in, you can easily edit such layouts while automatically maintaining or — when needed — restoring the links to the images.

Note: The Elvis InDesign Client plug-in replaces the Adobe Drive integration that was made obsolete with the release of Elvis Server version 4.6.

Tip: When opening a layout that contains placed images that are stored in Elvis but you don't have the Elvis InDesign Client installed, it is easy to re-link these images when these are locally stored: Select the image, go to the menu of the Links panel and choose Relink or Relink to Folder.

How it works

Choose your scenario:

What you need

For opening the InDesign layouts from Elvis and checking them back in:

• The Desktop Client for Elvis 4 or for Elvis 5, depending on the version of the Elvis Server you need to connect to.

For working with the layout in InDesign and ensuring that links to images are maintained:

• The Elvis InDesign Client plug-in. For information about existing versions, compatibility with InDesign and installation steps, see Installing the Elvis InDesign Client.

Note for Smart Connection users: Working on an InDesign layout that is opened in the ways described above is a completely separate workflow from that of working with layouts from Enterprise using the WoodWing Smart Connection plug-ins. This means that in these scenarios it is not possible to create an Enterprise image from an image that was directly placed from Elvis, nor is it possible to add such an Elvis image to an Enterprise article.

Logging in to/out of Elvis Server

Before you can start working, you need to log in to the Elvis server. This makes sure that InDesign is able to maintain or — when needed — restore the links to images that are placed on the layout and stored in Elvis.

Enter the URL to the Elvis DAM Server, your user name and your password.

Tip: Select "Log in automatically" to automatically log in each time you start InDesign.

Logging out

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

How links to images are handled

As mentioned, the Elvis InDesign Client plug-in automatically takes care of linking any images that are placed on your layout and that are also stored in Elvis. Should any links be missing then these are also automatically restored.

Note: (Elvis InDesign Client 1.x only) To have this working correctly all placed images must have an Elvis asset ID embedded in their metadata. When editing an image in an image tool which removes this XMP metadata from the file, the auto resolving will break. Example: This can occur when editing the image on Mac OS X using Preview.

Local folder

A local folder on your system is used for storing the files from Elvis when needed.

• When using the Elvis InDesign Client 2.x, linked files are only downloaded when needed.

Examples: Files are downloaded when: Exporting the layout to PDF Creating a package of the layout Displaying the image in High Quality Opening the layout and a newer version of the file is available

• When using the Elvis InDesign Client v1.x, all linked files are downloaded when opening the layout.

When a layout is closed, the downloaded images will be removed from this folder.

Editing placed images that are stored in Elvis

Images that are stored in Elvis can be easily opened for editing and stored back into Elvis.

Step 1. Open the image in your favorite editor.

Note: (Elvis InDesign Client 1.x only) Make sure not to use an editor that removes XMP data from the files (such a Preview on Mac OS), else the link between the InDesign layout and the placed image will break.

During this process, the images are checked-out: no other users can modify them.

Note: Users of the Elvis Desktop Client can see that the image is checked-out.

Step 2. Make your change, save and close the file and return to InDesign.

The image will be checked-in automatically (or, when no changes have been made to the image, the check-out is canceled): other users can now modify the file again. The changed image is automatically displayed on the layout.

Placing images from Elvis

To place an image from Elvis onto the layout, simply drag it from the Elvis Desktop Client onto the layout.

During this process, the image is downloaded onto your local drive (in the ~/Documents/Elvis Checkouts/<username> folder). It remains checked-in in Elvis.