Participant

Question

Importing odd size PDFs into InDesign - automate the process

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
December 11, 2023
2 replies
521 views

Is there a script to be able to flow different size PDF's into an InDesign doc with rules/conditions?

The document can vary in page count, but is never less than 16 pages. The pages are 6 columns wide, have half inch margins, and the PDF's are sized exactly from 1 col wide to 6 col wide and the height can vary.

I am needing to import the PDF's from one folder and have them dynamically place on the pages from the bottom up so that 55% of the page is filled before the PDF's flow to the next page and so on.

Is there a way to do this through InDesign? Does anyone know of a script that can intelligently place PDF's onto a page?

This topic has been closed for replies.

leo.r

Community Expert

Are you looking for something like this:

https://cognitiveinc.io/adforcex/

https://www.newspapersystems.com/layout-8000-dummying.html

P

productionWesternAgAuthor

Participant

Thank you for the links! Yes, that is something that I will explore, however I would like to add or change my workflow that wouldn't cost more money. I would like to know what the instructions are from Robert Tkacyk

Right now my process is I manually place all the PDF's and arrange them by sight where they would fit together on each page. I can select multiple at once and scroll through the pages and click where I want them placed. Can you describe how you would place them instead to be faster? Thank you

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

You say, that PDF's - I assume one page per PDF - can be from 1 to 6 columns wide - what if there will be 1C and 3C wide PDFs?

Then:

# ###

or

#

###

Can you show few example screenshots?

P

productionWesternAgAuthor

Participant

Sure. Here is an example of a couple 2 page spreads with the layout that I would need to automate. The sizes of the boxes are random each week, but tend to all be around this size. Larger PDF's need to be at the bottom and outside, smaller pdfs need to be on top or on the inside.

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

Ads for the newspaper?

What would be the key? Because you've said "PDFs from one folder" - so who - you or script - will decide which PDF should be placed on which page?

Alphabetically?

Are they pre-grouped for each page?

Or "best fit"? So largest for each page then topped up with smaller ones?

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded