Convert XML to IDML

[kavisaran]

Hi Experts,

I am new to InDesign Development, I was an InDesign(CS2) Template Designer few years before.

We are going to develop XML to IDML from the scratch for the simple journal, Please any one advice me for the below questions:

1. Is InDesign SDK tool must for XML to IDML?

2. Will I be able to run Java application developed in Windows Desktop, in Mac as well?

3. What are the Plugins required?

4. Any free library is available?

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Saran

[daitranthanhoa]

1. zip all files and folders (xml)

2. Rename file zip to file idml.

[Manan Joshi]

Hi Saran,

The IDML standard is in public domain and hence can be studied if you want to implement your own solution for XML to IDML, https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/Adobe/en/devnet/indesign/cs55-docs/IDML/idml-specification.pdf

I suppose what you want is that you have a XML representing the InDesign document and want to convert that to an IDML. If i am correct in my assumption, please read below for my answers to your queries.

I don't see a need to use any InDesign tool to convert XML to IDML, if your XML contains all the info you need for creating the IDML you should be able to create your solution without basing it on any library or sample shipped with InDesign.

Yes a Java application should be executable in MAC and Windows as well, at the most you may require some tweaks. But yes it should work on both platforms

The requirement of Plugin will depend upon the need to extract information that you have to export out of InDesign. If that can be done using InDesign scripting, that should be better and quick way to achieve your goal

Not really looked into IDML libraries, but i am aware that a JAVA library is released by Adobe itself i suppose. Not very confident about it. You could google it out, sorry not able to help you on this one.

-Manan

[vinothr · Accepted solution]

Hi Kavisaran,

Please find below my comments:

1. Is InDesign SDK tool must for XML to IDML?

InDesign SDK is not a must but it is recommended for following reasons: contains IDML schema and IDML tools.

- Contains the RNC schema for IDML (<SDK>/docs/references/idml-schema.zip/idml-schema/package)

- Contains utility jar files to ease development (idmltools.jar, etc.)

- Contains Sample java code

- Contains jing jar to validate your IDML against the schema

2. Will I be able to run Java application developed in Windows Desktop, in Mac as well?

Of course, yes, provided you have Java installed on Mac.

3. What are the Plugins required?

Which plugins? For converting XML to IDML, no InDesign plug-in is required.

4. Any free library is available?

The IDML tools, schemas, and sample code should be enough for you.

Adobe is already providing the above for free.

References:

IDML (InDesign Markup Language)

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/indesign/documentation.html#idml

[kavisaran]

Hi Vinoth,

Thanks for prompt reply, Sorry for very delay response. I have moved to other projects, so not able reply to you.

The IDMLRead Me PDF showing "IDMLTools contains Java and XSLT-based tools, APIs, and samples for working with IDML. This support is

implemented in several Java classes. The package can be used from the command line or within Java

programs." - Where can I download IDMLTools? Do you have any idea?

I prefer to read/write by DOM model, instead of xml read/write.