How to create our own plugins

[Pads_Balan]

Hi All,

I want to create my own plugin, Is there any tutorial available. I want to do it in java.

Thanks in Advance.

[Eugene Tyson]

You might want to try posting on the Scripting or SDK forums?

As far as I know, creating plugins for InDesign is difficult and requires knowing C languages and also intricate knowledge of the program workings or something?

What is this plugin you want to create going to do for you? Perhaps there is already a plugin or a suitable alternative not requiring a plugin?

[Jongware]

The only way to write a custom plugin is with C++. You cannot use any other language, because you need the custom framework Adobe uses.

Perhaps it's possible to write a script that does what you need? To write a script you can use AppleScript or VBScript (platform dependent), or Javascript -- Javascript is not Java -- platform independent, for the largest part. You can even use any other language that supports InDesign's COM object interface (http://www.manuelabadia.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,d57337b5-b4da-4cb0-ad22-595379ca24ad.aspx).

Through scripting you can manipulate every single object inside InDesign; to "step out of the box" and actually add functionality, you need a "real" plugin.

[Pads_Balan]

Thanks for ur reply, I have used "Adobe InDesign Plug-in Editor for InDesign CS3" and created the sample from given sdk, it was successfully built, but I didnt get any "plugin" menu in Indesign as specified in the following link http://labs.adobe.com/wiki/index.php/InDesign_Plug-in_Editor. I have tried in Mac with CS4 and CS5 and I dont have CS3. I am not able to download CS3, when ever I try to download CS3 I am getting the link to download CS5 only.

Can you please tel me how to create the plugin using javascript or c++, Is there any tutorial (like Lets get started) available?

Thanks in advance.

[Jongware]

The disadvantage of "real" plugins, as created by the SDK, is that they are version dependent. You can not create a plugin for CS4 or CS5 using the CS3 SDK (and the reverse as well).

Can you please tel me how to create the plugin using javascript or c++[?]

As I said, you will have to choose: either write a plugin (using C++ and the SDK), or write a script (using Javascript). These are two very different things!

Writing plugins is so complicated that there is an entire sub-forum dedicated to it: InDesign SDK. You might want to go through the messages (look for 'beginner's help' in the titles), and post any questions in there.

[Harbs.]

Depending what you are trying to do, the CS SDK might be what you are looking for (in CS5)...

http://forums.adobe.com/community/creativesuites/cs_sdk

Harbs

[Barb Binder]

Actually, it should be here: FrameMaker Scripting

I'll take care of moving it. In the future, Pads Balan, please specify which application you are using when you post questions on the community forums. There are lots of forums, and each forum is monitored by experts on that specific product. Even if you can't find the right forum, telling us which application you are using allows us to move it to the right one for you to ensure a timely response.

~Barb

[Jongware]

(Barb: Pads Balan was the original poster and posted in the InDesign (general) forum so it was appropriate to delegate him towards the InDesign SDK forum. The resurrection of this almost-decade old InDesign thread and its link to FrameMaker is from himanshuy.)

[Barb Binder]

Hi Jongware:

I see that now and will branch this to a new thread.

~Barb

[Laubender]

Hi Barb,

technically the FrameMaker Scripting forum would be the wrong one, but since there is no special forum on FrameMaker C++ devolpment it would be ok, I think.

Best,
Uwe