How can I develop a website that uses Adobe InDesign?

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

Hi, I want to develop a website that uses Adobe Indesign to sync data in real time. I don't know where I should begin. What should I study? How do I connect my website to Adobe InDesign? please advise me

[rob day]

Hi @kurama_uzumaki6225 , InDesign is not a web editor. You would use a content management system backend like WordPress to handle data updates

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

I mean the sync between the web and adobe indesign, the sync between the data. I know I can. I've seen websites like this. But I don't understand how it works.

[rob day]

There's the Publish Online feature, but it is not dynamic--you have to Export any changes--and the pages get served by Adobe. You would not be able to connect to your web server

[rob day]

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/publish-online.html

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

How do I start? What tools are needed? Which extension, and is Adobe Indesign Server involved?

[rob day]

Read the helpx page I posted.

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

Sorry, I didn't notice what you attached.
Thank you for the recommendation.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I mean the sync between the web and adobe indesign, the sync between the data. I know I can. I've seen websites like this. But I don't understand how it works.

By @kurama_uzumaki6225

In order to do something like this - you should rather use InDesign Server - as, according to EULA - you can't expose InDesign to outside world "directly". 

[rob day]

I know I can. I've seen websites like this.

Maybe you could provide a link to a site that was made and managed with InDesign?

[BobLevine]

I hate to throw cold water on this, but based on the questions you're asking here I can't see this happening for you. If it's truly something you need, then I think the only way forward is to hire a professional web developer. This is not something for the faint of heart unless you're okay embedding Publish Online documents which are not in any way shape or form, responsive.

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

This is very new to me. I want to study and do it before I give up.

[rob day]

InDesign is primarily a print page layout application. It has a very limited set of web related export tools. Other than the Publish Online Export there is an Interactive PDF Export, a very limited HTML Export, and an ePub Export—that’s all.

[BobLevine]

You can spend your time any way you'd like, but it sounds like you're not only inexperienced with InDesign but web authoring tools as well. You have years of learning ahead of you and I would strongly suggest you pick something and focus on it.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@kurama_uzumaki6225

What exactly is your end goal? What are you looking to achieve?

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

I want to create a website where I write content such as news. I want the content I write on the website to be combined with frames in Adobe Indesign in a format that I have specified.
My problem is syncing data from my website database with Adobe Indesign. The sync on both sides is in real time. As I've described, I've seen it done before. But I don't know what to do.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I want to create a website where I write content such as news. I want the content I write on the website to be combined with frames in Adobe Indesign in a format that I have specified.
My problem is syncing data from my website database with Adobe Indesign. The sync on both sides is in real time. As I've described, I've seen it done before. But I don't know what to do.

By @kurama_uzumaki6225

Then, I'm affraid, you need to use InDesign Server. 

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

So what advantages and disadvantages does it have? If interested, want to use it.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

So what advantages and disadvantages does it have? If interested, want to use it.

By @kurama_uzumaki6225

It costs more - $15k+/year for starters. 

And you still need to know how to use "regular" InDesign and how scripting works. 

You are trying to build a skyscraper - but you've never even build a birdcage. 

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

thank you for your advice

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

thank you for your advice

By @kurama_uzumaki6225

I'm sorry if it sounds too harsh - just trying to save you time and money. 

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

I understand, I don't think badly of you. My communication may be poor. I use Google Translate to communicate with you.
I hope you understand me

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

No worries. 

You just set your bar extremely high. 

Trust me, without knowing how to use InDesign - what to click, when and why - you won't be able to create working scripts. 

You could use ChatGPT for a simple stuff - but again, without knowing how to use InDesign - you won't be able to diagnose problems. 

Of course, you can always come here and ask questions - but you still need to know how to use InDesign. 

I'm pretty sure, that all of us here, who know how to script InDesign, first learned how to use it - then started to automate it. 

[kurama_uzumaki6225]

Your advice helped me a lot. I will follow your advice.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Your best approach for this goal would be a CMS platform, which is designed to do nearly everything you've laid out. InDesign is in no way a good fit or proper tool for any of it.