Is there a way to auto-name doucments created from an INDT file?

Question

Is there a way to create a default naming structure for files created from an InDesign template file?

What I mean is, intead of the document opening as "Untitled-4," the document name is something specifically set for this template. For example, if I'm making a monthly marketing postcard for a client using a template to start, I'd like it open up with the name pre-set as "Mary Smith - Date - XL Postcard" so that when I go to save it, I can just re-type the "Date" portion of the name for the month I'm making it. This way, I don't have to retype the whole file name every time and I can maintain standard naming conventions.

My current work around is going back to the last month as if I'm saving over the file, clicking on the file name, and then navigating to the new month's folder to change the date and save. It's not terrible, but it's about 5 extra steps I wish I didn't have to do all the time. If this was for just one client, it wouldn't be terrible, but I do this for about 60+ clients every month.

Is this something that I can already change somewhere in the template's settings? Or is it something I should suggest?

Joel Cherney · Answer

I actually have a very similar workflow when saving one client's template-derived files. I'm saving with a new language name instead of a new date, but otherwise my file-saving worklow matches yours quite closely.

I have toyed around with a script that would grab the filename off of a frame on the pasteboard of the template with my desired filename. I've never actually put much effort into that script, because I came up with a simpler solution. I put a dummy INDD in the top level of the folders-of-INDDs-filed-by-month-or-language-or-whatever. That way, I can pick up my desired filename by clicking on one of the DATEHERE dummy files as I am on the way to the target month folder.

I know, it's not nearly as cool as a script. However, doing it this way was faster than anything else I could come up with.

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