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Exporting InDesign HTML for a Coding Website

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
November 1, 2024
4 replies
1018 views

Is it possible to export HTML content from InDesign for use on a coding website? I'm looking for the best methods to ensure the design translates well to web format, especially for responsive layouts.

Import and export

Correct answer Robert at ID-Tasker

For simple layouts - built-in HTML export might be OK.

But you should rather look for some 3rd party - paid - solutions.

Not sure about responsiveness of the in5 - but if you don't need solution right now, my ID-Tasker tool will do it.

mrmhiklop3

Participant

Thanks for the clarification, Robert. I agree that the built-in HTML export can work for very simple layouts, but once responsiveness and cleaner front-end structure become important, third-party solutions definitely seem more practical.

A lot of developers underestimate how much cleanup exported InDesign HTML usually requires before it’s production-ready. Having tools focused specifically on responsive output and modern web workflows could save a huge amount of development time.

Your ID-Tasker project sounds interesting, especially if it plans to improve responsive handling and automation for web-ready exports. It’ll be interesting to see how it evolves compared to existing solutions like in5 and other publishing tools.

E

emmataylor

Participant

Hi,
I’ve tried exporting HTML from InDesign for a few projects too. The built-in export works fine for basic layouts, but for responsive designs it usually needs some manual cleanup afterward.
Things that helped me:

Removing extra inline styles

Compressing images before upload

Checking the layout in different screen sizes and fixing spacing manually

It takes a bit of tweaking, but the result turns out much better.

James Gifford—NitroPress

Legend

I have had good luck exporting well-stuctured ID documents to what is now called Legacy HTML, especially with judicious use of CSS on export.

That said, ID is not and never will be a web-page design tool, so expecting the results you'd get from direct coding or DreamWeaver or such, including responsive code etc., isn't reasonable. But you can get a pretty decent... content draft? HTML manuscript? content block? to drop into a fully formed web page structure.

The new HTML5 export is... worth looking at, as it combines Publish Online's detailed conversion of ID layouts with plain HTML viewing (not requiring the PO host and and platform). I deeply dislike its technical approach of extensively mapping every element into place, like FXL EPUB, and thus being all but un-editable after export. But it might be a (partial) solution for you.

B

brook_4359Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks Mate! for your kind reply.

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

Do you need to export some example code placed in the InDesign document - placed as text - or rather complete InDesign document?

B

brook_4359Author

Participating Frequently

I'm looking to export the complete InDesign document, ensuring the design elements and layout translate well to HTML, especially for a responsive format.

Robert at ID-TaskerCorrect answer

Legend

For simple layouts - built-in HTML export might be OK.

But you should rather look for some 3rd party - paid - solutions.

Not sure about responsiveness of the in5 - but if you don't need solution right now, my ID-Tasker tool will do it.

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