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: It is assumed here that a fully working Studio Server is set up, including Brands and Issues.
Before you start
Please 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 CC 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.
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 via a command prompt. (Windows only) This method is aimed at system administrators who want to remotely control software installations.

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:
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.

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" |
Functionality conflicts with existing plug-ins
Some of the plug-ins of Studio for InDesign and InCopy that are installed contain functionality that conflicts with default plug-ins in InDesign, InDesign Server, and InCopy.
To make Studio for InDesign and InCopy work, 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.
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 articles about activation.
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.
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