InDesign/InCopy off-site setup

[Kristian33826553ikcf]

Hello all

I have a InDesign project coming up with a client who needs to work with the document through InCopy. Since I am a consultant I am not part of the companies file servers and I also work remotely. Are there any preferred ways to do this avoiding VPN? I have always done this inhouse before so I am a bit stumped on how to approach the situation. I have used VPN before (a few years ago) but it has been prone to crash InDesign so it always felt risky to work this way. 

Thanks!

[BobLevine]

Put it all in a Dropbox or OneDrive folder, and share the folder. Works like a charm.

The only caveat is that InDesign lock files do not sync so it's important to know who's working with the INDD file using InDesign. The InCopy lock file do sync so other users will see that stories are checked out.

[Kristian33826553ikcf]

Forget my ignorance, but how do you open the InDesign file from Incopy or InDesign when it's on Dropbox/OneDrive? I have only downloaded files from those services. I mean the files aren't on a mapped network drive when on dropbox?

All users on Windows clients. 

[BobLevine]

You need to install the Dropbox client. That will sync all of you files to your local drive.

InDesign will see them exactly the same as any other local files with the exception of the INDD lock files.

And one more caveat. Dropbox has a smart sync feature that will show your Dropbox files on your local drive but they will only be available on demand.

DO NOT USE THAT FEATURE!

[Kristian33826553ikcf]

Ok I think I got it. And for the INDD caveat, if I am the only Indesign user, the rest being on InCopy, that shouldn't present any problems?

[BobLevine]

That is correct.