Storing InDesign Articles as Library items using Studio for InDesign

Studio for InDesign makes it possible to place a multi-component article into multiple frames in one single action.

It depends on the page design though how these multiple frames in which the article is placed are sized and arranged: it could be a frame for the header together with a single frame for the body text, a 5-column article which includes a 3-column image, a 4-column article with no image, and so on.

For an efficient workflow, such placeholders can be prepared, stored as a Library item, shared among users and used when needed.

Because InDesign Libraries do not support storing an InDesign Article as a Library item by default, Studio for InDesign adds this functionality to InDesign.

Using an InDesign Article as a Library item

Step 1. Select one or more frames on the layout.

Step 2. Access the Articles panel by choosing Window > Articles.

Step 3. Drag the frames onto the panel (or click the '+' icon), type a name and click OK.

An InDesign article is created containing the selected frames.

Step 4. Add the selected frames to a Library.

Step 5. Drop the Library item onto the same layout or onto another layout.

Notice that the frames are placed as part of an InDesign Article.

Some notes about the behavior

• The Library item will only contain the frames that were selected when the Library item was created, even when the InDesign Article on which the Library item is based contains more frames.

Example: An InDesign Article contains 3 frames: A, B and C. Frames A and C are selected when a Library item is created. The Library item will therefore contain an InDesign Article consisting of frames A and C, not B.

• Each time a Library item is placed, a new InDesign Article is created on that layout.

Example: A Library item contains an InDesign Article named 'Article 1'. When placing it on a new layout, it is placed as an InDesign Article named 'Article 1'. When placing it a second time on that layout, it is placed as an InDesign Article named 'Article 2', and so on.

• When selecting frames that belong to more than one InDesign Article, the same number of InDesign Articles are stored in the Library item.

Examples: A frame is selected that belongs to InDesign Article 1 and to InDesign Article 2. When turning the frame into a Library item and when placing the Library item, the Articles panel will show 2 InDesign Articles, even though only 1 frame is placed. A frame is selected that belongs to InDesign Article 1 and another frame is selected that belongs to InDesign Article 2. When turning the frames into a Library item and when placing the Library item, 2 frames are placed and the Articles panel will show 2 InDesign Articles.

• Grouped frames within an InDesign Article are also supported.