Indesign document preview in Finder

[Sprucetree]

I view Photoshop, Illustrator, PDF etc files within the Apple OS Finder. Whenever you select these file icons in 'column view' you are given a preview of what the content of the document looks like.

However, when I select an Indesign file icon all I see is a blown-up Indesign icon. Is there a preference somewhere that I have to select so that a preview is generated?

[Kanikas]

Moving to InDesign​

[Om Nath Jha]

Hi Sprucetree,

That's an expected behavior with InDesign file on Mac OS. You can say this is an OS related issue. It happens the same with us as well.

Regards,

Om

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

It can be done with a third-party product: Art View 2 from Code Line:

Art View 2 – Code Line

[simongr100]

It's now incompatible with 10.13.3

[Steve Werner]

It works in 10.13.2, the latest release macOS version. 10.3.3 is a beta.

If you're having problem with the beta, report it to Code Line Support here:

Art Files Support – Code Line

[simongr100]

Yep, I know it's a beta, but the way Apple are churning these out now it's likely to be a non-beta in a day or three. Thanks for the link 🙂

[Steve Werner]

It will be up to the developer to deliver an update but you want them to know about it (if they're not working on it already). Open a case with that link.

[awn2be]

I really think Adobe needs to provide a preview for Finder.  The lack of such a preview shows that Adobe cares little about the end user!

[BobLevine]

Use Bridge

[awn2be]

1) Thumbnails are too small in Bridge. 

2) Finder should have preview. 

Issues are old, Adobe has done nothing.

[BobLevine]

Then let Apple take care of it or follow the link to the app that Steve linked to. It appears to have been updated for High Sierra and CC2018.

Problem solved!

[awn2be]

Hi,

I’m sorry but why would I pay a third-party company for the functionality that should be built into the Adobe product I am already over-charged for?  On the same note, I do not have a problem with Apple.  Why would I contact them about an Adobe product?

For clarity, Adobe needs to own up to this!  This is an Adobe product.  Don’t push this off onto a 3rd party company AND ESPECIALLY not onto the manufacturer of the operating system YOUR users choose.  This is an Adobe issue, plain and simple.

Thanks,

- Disgusted

[BobLevine]

MY users? I don’t work for Adobe but this is an operating functionality. Take it up with Apple. It’s apparent that after 20 years of not having these previews, it’s not a priority.

[awn2be]

Woops, I thought you were an Adobe chap.

Still, I would not contact Apple regarding an Adobe product.

Note: Your advice will cause most folks to think that you work for Adobe since your advice is a huge cop-out that ultimately avoids true responsibility.  Or perhaps you are a big Windows proponent who only wishes to stir up problems for Apple.

Cheers!

[Steve Werner]

This is the way it is.

You can make feature requests here:

Feature Requests/Bugs

We are volunteers. Users like you. You're not hearing from an Adobe person unless you see a red Staff badge.

[awn2be]

Thank You,

I added the feature request as follows:

InDesign Preview For Finder

There really should be an InDesign preview for Mac Finder. This should be a requirement for your software and should not be considered a feature request.

You may vote for it here: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/33291841-indesign-preview-for-finder

Sincerely,

AWN

[BobLevine]

You're going to need more than that. In order to be considered for a feature request, you'll need to state a case for how a majority of users will benefit and why the engineers should allocate resources to such a feature.

Good luck.

[darrylz]

Quick Look is a "new" thing from Apple that gives OS X users the ability to see a quick preview of the document without taking 10 minutes to open super-slow-launch InDesign every single time just to view a preview.

Maybe Adobe should ask Apple for this document, and then read it, then make a Quick Look Generator.

It's only 2018, we can wait.

/sarc

Quick Look and the User Experience

[BobLevine]

Or you could use Bridge.

[Steve Werner]

Bridge is free for all Creative Suite and Creative Cloud users.

[darrylz]

I'm sure I'm not the only person who just wants a preview (a "quick look", for lack of a better term...) of an Indesign file while doing other work, and don't care to use an InDesign Finder replacement like Bridge just to cover up for the lack of a working Quick Look generator.

Even Microsoft has no trouble providing Quick Look for their Office programs.

FYI, I'm using CC 2008

[BobLevine]

There’s no native way of doing this. There probably never will be unless Apple does it. There’s simply no motivation for Adobe to provide a capability that already exists in Bridge.

[awn2be]

Sorry,

I just dished out the money for Art View 2 from Code Line & wish I had not.

I get a preview, from a 3rd party provider other than Adobe.

Obviously enough people want this or the solution would not be provided by a 3rd party vendor.  It is apparent that Adobe simply does not care.

Lets be clear about one thing to avoid confusion... This is not an Apple problem!  This is an Adobe problem!  Another 3rd party provider has has already responded when Adobe has not.

You point out Adobe Bridge, but that isn't want people are asking for... they want a preview from their native file browser be it Mac's Finder or Window's Explorer.  People don't want more bloat.  Bridge is not the answer.

Please stop blaming Apple and listen to what people are asking for.

Sincerely,

AWN

[Steve Werner]

It's not that it wouldn't be a good addition, it's just that the product managers have a list of literally hundreds and thousands of worthy additions to InDesign! That's why it's important to make a good case for it here:

Feature Requests/Bugs