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Participant
December 11, 2023
Question

Importing odd size PDFs into InDesign - automate the process

  • 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?

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2 replies

leo.r
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 12, 2023
Participant
December 12, 2023

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
December 11, 2023

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?

 

Participant
December 11, 2023

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. 

Participant
December 12, 2023

Correct. Ads for a newspaper. All the pdf's would be placed in one folder and the script would pull them and place them by size for best fit.
Currently, I place everything manually. I am hoping there is a script out there that can place the pdf's like this in the document. Does such a thing exist?