Performing a full installation of Studio for InDesign and InCopy – Help Center

A full installation of Studio for InDesign and InCopy is an installation on a system on which Studio for InDesign and InCopy is not yet installed.

The installation consists of the following steps:

Installation
Configuration
Licensing
(Optional) Setting up templates
Testing the installation

Note: Studio for InDesign and InCopy connects to Studio Server which provides workflow functionality and access to the files that users need to work on. It is assumed here that a fully working Studio Server is set up, including Brands and Issues.

Before you start

Before starting, check the compatibility of Studio for InDesign and InCopy, with InDesign, InDesign Server, InCopy, and Studio Server. For more information, see the Compatibility Matrix.

Upgrading InDesign and InCopy

When you are upgrading to a new version of Adobe InDesign or InCopy, keep the following in mind:

All InDesign and InCopy users should use the same Adobe version. This is because documents created in a newer version cannot be opened in a previous version.
Convert any InDesign and InCopy templates to the new version of InDesign and InCopy. Do this by opening the file and re-saving it.

What is installed?

During the installation, the following is installed:

Plug-ins in the plug-in folder of InDesign, InDesign Server, or InCopy respectively. These contain all the functionality of Studio for InDesign and InCopy.

For an overview of what is added, see:

Notes:

Some of the functionality that is added by these plug-ins conflicts with existing InDesign and InCopy functionality. To resolve these conflicts, various menu commands are disabled, renamed, or removed. For more information, see Why menu options are missing after installing Studio for InDesign and InCopy.

Some of the default plug-ins are prevented from being loaded when InDesign, InCopy, and InDesign Server is started. A reference to these plug-ins is kept in a file named PluginConfig.txt which is stored in the application folder of InDesign, InDesign Server, and InCopy.

The WoodWing Studio IDP application. This identity provider (IDP) application is used for the communication between a Web browser and the Studio for InDesign and InCopy plug-ins. It is used in the following cases:

Single Sign-On (SSO). When a user successfully logs in to the authentication provider, the Web browser sends a URL with a specific URI scheme. The application intercepts this URI and lets Studio for InDesign and InCopy know that the log on was successful by calling a script.
Opening layouts and articles from Studio. When a user opens a layout or article from Studio into InDesign or InCopy, Studio calls a URL with a specific URI scheme. The used protocol defines the application that is called (InDesign or InCopy), and the version of that application.

Notes:

The application is only installed on macOS (in the /Applications folder); on Windows, the functionality is provided via the registry and scripting.

When two versions of InDesign are installed on the same system (for example for Adobe 2022 and Adobe 2023) and Single Sign-On is used, make sure that the highest version of Studio for InDesign and InCopy is installed last. If the lowest version is installed last, the Studio IDP application of that lower version is installed which does not support the Single Sign-On protocol for the higher version of Studio for InDesign and InCopy. This means that when installing Studio for InDesign and InCopy for a lower version of Adobe while a higher version also exists on the system, Studio for InDesign and InCopy for the higher version needs to be re-installed as a final extra step.

1. Installation

Installing Studio for InDesign and InCopy can be done in the following ways:

By manually running the installer. This method is aimed at end users who want to install Studio for InDesign and InCopy on their system.
By running the installer silently via a command prompt. (silent installation, Windows only) This method is aimed at system administrators who want to remotely control software installations.

Info: Use the filter to only show information for one method:

Running the installer manually

In this method, the installation is done by manually running the installer and following all steps on screen.

Step 1. Download the installer from the Software Releases page.

Step 2. Double-click the installer and follow the steps on screen.

Note for installing on macOS 10.14 Mojave and higher

Due to the security features of MacOS, notifications may appear during the installation such as:

"Installer" would like to access your calendar
"Installer" would like to access your photos

Click OK to continue the installation.

Please note that personal data such as your calendar or photos is not actually accessed. The messages appear because these applications are located in a folder or store data in a folder that has an increased protection. The installer actually needs access to the common folder but not the applications or folders that reside in that folder. This is not clearly explained in the message that appears.

Also note that each message only appears once, so if you see a message appear when installing one application it will not appear again when installing another application.

Controlling these settings can be done in System Preferences > Security and Privacy > Privacy.

Step 3. When done, click Close to close the installer.

Running the installer silently via a command prompt (silent installation)

In this method, a silent installation is performed by running a command prompt. This is typically aimed at system administrators.

Info: This method is available for Windows only.

Step 1. Download the installer from the Software Releases page and make it available in a central location.

Step 2. Use the following command to perform the installation:

msiexec.exe /i "<path to installer>" /qn ADDLOCAL=<name of plug-in to install> <application ID>_PATH="<path to application>"

The following parameters are used:

ADDLOCAL: The name of the plug-in to install. Use one of the following parameters:
InCopy
InDesign
InDesignServer

application ID_PATH: The ID and path of the application into which the plug-ins need to be installed. Use one of the following application IDs:
IC for InCopy
ID for InDesign
IDS for InDesign Server

Example: Here, Studio for Adobe 2020 is installed for InDesign:

msiexec.exe /i "C:\Studio for Adobe 2020.msi" /qn ADDLOCAL=InDesign ID_PATH="C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign 2020"

Note: Multiple plug-ins can be installed simultaneously. Here, the plug-ins for InDesign and InCopy are installed:

msiexec.exe /i "C:\Studio for Adobe 2020.msi" /qn ADDLOCAL=InDesign,InCopy ID_PATH="C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign 2020" IC_PATH="C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InCopy 2020"

2. Configuration

The way that Studio for InDesign and InCopy can be used is controlled by configuring Studio Server and Studio for InDesign and InCopy. For more information, see Configuring Studio for InDesign and InCopy.

3. Licensing

Before Studio for InDesign and InCopy can be used, a license needs to be activated for it. For more information, see the following articles:

4. (Optional) Setting up templates

A new article or layout is typically based on a template that matches the styling of the publication of which the article will be part.

Make sure that such templates exist. See Working with article templates in Studio for InCopy.

5. Testing the installation

As a final step, test the working of Studio for InDesign and InCopy by logging in and performing tasks such as creating a new layout, placing files that are stored in Studio Server, checking-in the layout, and so on.