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reliable_Dream0D4D
Participant
Oct 24, 2026 2:06 PM UTC
Answered

InDesign SDK 21.9 sample projects cannot link: missing packagefolder libraries

Hello Adobe InDesign team,

I am André Coelho from Brennimark Fonts. We downloaded and installed the InDesign Plug-in SDK 21.9 for macOS and are validating an official sample before creating any product plug-in.

On macOS with Xcode 27.1, the official CustomActionFilter.sdk.xcodeproj target Debug_Cocoa64 compiles the sample sources and SDK headers up to the link step. The link fails because the downloaded SDK does not contain the package folder that the sample project references:

- libPublicPlugIn.a
- InDesignModelAndUI.framework

The missing paths are under build/mac/debug_cocoa64/packagefolder/contents/macos. I also inspected the other Xcode sample projects: they reference the same debug_cocoa64 or release_cocoa64 packagefolder structure, so choosing another sample does not avoid this dependency.

I checked the local Adobe InDesign 2026 installation. It contains the app framework but not libPublicPlugIn.a or the package folder expected by the SDK examples.

Could you please indicate the official package, installer, or setup step that provides this package folder for SDK 21.9 on macOS / Apple Silicon? If the current download is incomplete or requires access to a particular portal area, please share the correct instructions or link.

Separately, we have requested a Plug-in Prefix ID for Brennimark Fonts. This question is only to make an official sample compile and link before we generate our own plug-in.

Thank you,
André Coelho
Brennimark Fonts

    Dirk BeckerCorrect answer
    Legend
    Oct 25, 2026 9:09 PM UTC

    InDesign SDKs for a major version (e.g. 21) are mostly upwards compatible, meaning you should be able to use a plug-in built with the 21.0 SDK for all 21.x applications.

    “mostly” means the application version 21.5 had a little trouble with that and was quickly replaced with 21.5.1 .

    For development, check your installed application version and use the matching SDK. Unlikely that you see a 21.9 on a Mac. Then check compiler requirements in the SDK (as already mentioned by Leo), then check the compiler’s OS requirements. Then get the matching Mac - e.g. set up a virtual machine.

    As you mention debug libraries, these only work with debug builds of the application.

    Also prefix IDs are obtained via email to wwds at … , not by posting to a user to user forum.

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    2 replies

    Dirk BeckerCorrect answer
    Legend
    Oct 25, 2026 9:09 PM UTC

    InDesign SDKs for a major version (e.g. 21) are mostly upwards compatible, meaning you should be able to use a plug-in built with the 21.0 SDK for all 21.x applications.

    “mostly” means the application version 21.5 had a little trouble with that and was quickly replaced with 21.5.1 .

    For development, check your installed application version and use the matching SDK. Unlikely that you see a 21.9 on a Mac. Then check compiler requirements in the SDK (as already mentioned by Leo), then check the compiler’s OS requirements. Then get the matching Mac - e.g. set up a virtual machine.

    As you mention debug libraries, these only work with debug builds of the application.

    Also prefix IDs are obtained via email to wwds at … , not by posting to a user to user forum.

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      leo.r
      Community Expert
      leo.rCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Oct 24, 2026 7:04 PM UTC
      On macOS with Xcode 27.1


      As far as I understand, InDesign SDK 21.9 is not compatible with Xcode 27. At least that’s what a brief search suggests.

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