Is it possible to package an indesign document that has linking indesign documents?

Hello,

Re: "One time consuming option is to package the individual InDesign files and then house the folders in one But there has to be a better way."

You can give the script Package for Archive 4.1.jsx written by Kasyan Servetsky a try for your needs.

You will need to have the catalogue document and the all the linked indesign documents together in one folder, when you run the script it will create a separate package folder for each document so you wouldn't have to package them individually.

// Package for Archive.jsx
// Script for InDesign CS3--CS6 -- packages all InDesign documents in the selected folder. Simplified version.
// Version 4.1
// January 29, 2012
// Written by Kasyan Servetsky
// http://www.kasyan.ho.com.ua
// e-mail: askoldich@yahoo.com
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
const gScriptName = "PackageForArchive";
const gScriptVersion = "4.1";

var myInDesignVersion = Number(String(app.version).split(".")[0]);

var myFolder = Folder.selectDialog("Select a folder for package");
if (myFolder == null) exit();
var myFilelist = [];
var myAllFilesList = myFolder.getFiles();

for (var f = 0; f < myAllFilesList.length; f++) {
	var myFile = myAllFilesList[f];
	if (myFile instanceof File && myFile.name.match(/\.indd$/i)) {
		myFilelist.push(myFile);
	}
}

if (myFilelist.length == 0) {
	alert("No files to open.", "Package for archive script");
	exit();
}

var myDialogResult = CreateDialog();
if (myDialogResult == undefined) {
	exit();
}

if (myDialogResult.createLogCheckBox) {
	WriteToFile("\r--------------------- Script started -- " + GetDate() + " ---------------------\n");
	WriteToFile("\rSelected folder -- " + myFolder.fsName.replace("/Volumes/", "") + "\n");
}

var myOutFolder = new Folder( myFolder.fsName + "/Archive/" );
VerifyFolder(myOutFolder);

var myBackUpFolder = new Folder( myFolder.fsName + "/BackUp/" );
VerifyFolder(myBackUpFolder);

if (myFolder.fsName == myOutFolder.fsName) exit();

var myCounter = 1;
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.NEVER_INTERACT;

	// Progress bar
	if (myInDesignVersion >= 5) {
		var myProgressWin = new Window ( 'window', 'Packaging files' );
		var myProgressBar = myProgressWin.add ('progressbar', [12, 12, 350, 24], 0, myFilelist.length);
		var myProgressTxt = myProgressWin.add('statictext', undefined, 'Starting packaging files');
		myProgressTxt.bounds = [0, 0, 340, 20];
		myProgressTxt.alignment = "left";
		myProgressWin.show();
	} // Progress bar

for (var i = myFilelist.length-1; i >= 0; i--) {
	var myCurrentFile = myFilelist[i];
	var myNewName = GetNameWithoutExtension(myCurrentFile);
	
	try {
		var myDoc = app.open(myCurrentFile, false);
		var myDocName = myDoc.name;

		// Progress bar
		if (myInDesignVersion >= 5) {
			myProgressBar.value = myCounter;
			myProgressTxt.text = String("Packaging file - " + myDocName + " (" + myCounter + " of " + myFilelist.length + ")");
		} // Progress bar
	
		UpdateAllOutdatedLinks();
	
		var myNewFolder = new Folder(myOutFolder.fsName + "/" + myNewName);
		VerifyFolder(myNewFolder);
		
		if (myInDesignVersion == 5) {
			var myPackageOk = myDoc.packageForPrint(myNewFolder, myDialogResult.copyFontsCheckBox, myDialogResult.copyGraphicsCheckBox, false, myDialogResult.updateGraphicsCheckBox, myDialogResult.ignorePreflightErrorsCheckBox, myDialogResult.createReportCheckBox);
		}
		else if (myInDesignVersion > 5) {
			var myPackageOk = myDoc.packageForPrint(myNewFolder, myDialogResult.copyFontsCheckBox, myDialogResult.copyGraphicsCheckBox, false, myDialogResult.updateGraphicsCheckBox, myDialogResult.includeHiddenLayers, myDialogResult.ignorePreflightErrorsCheckBox, myDialogResult.createReportCheckBox);
		}
																			
		if (myPackageOk && myDialogResult.createLogCheckBox) {
			WriteToFile(myCounter + " - " + myCurrentFile.fsName.replace("/Volumes/", "") + " -- Ok\n");
			myCounter++;
			CatchMissingLinks(myDoc);
		}
		
		myDoc.close(SaveOptions.NO);
		
		myCurrentFile.copy( myFolder.fsName + "/BackUp/" + myCurrentFile.name );
		myCurrentFile.remove();
	}
	catch(e) {
		if (myDialogResult.createLogCheckBox) WriteToFile(myCounter + " - ERROR  -- " + myCurrentFile.fsName.replace("/Volumes/", "") + " - " + e + "\n");
		myCounter++;
		continue;
	}

	} // end For loop

		// Progress bar
		if (myInDesignVersion >= 5) {
			myProgressWin.close();
		} // Progress bar

app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.INTERACT_WITH_ALL;
if (myDialogResult.createLogCheckBox) WriteToFile("\r--------------------- Script finished -- " + GetDate() + " ---------------------\r\r");

alert("Done.", "Package for archive script");

// ------------------------------------------------- FUNCTIONS ------------------------------------------------- 
function UpdateAllOutdatedLinks() {
	for (var j = myDoc.links.length-1; j >= 0; j--) {
		var myLink = myDoc.links[j];
		if (myLink.status == LinkStatus.linkOutOfDate){
			try {
			myLink.update();
			}
			catch(e) {
				if (myDialogResult.createLogCheckBox) WriteToFile("\tCAN'T UPDATE LINK  -- " + myLink.name + "\n");
			}
		}
	}
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function WriteToFile(myText) {
	myFile = new File("~/Desktop/Package for Archive Report.txt");
	if ( myFile.exists ) {
		myFile.open("e");
		myFile.seek(0, 2);
	}
	else {
		myFile.open("w");
	}
	myFile.write(myText); 
	myFile.close();
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function GetDate() {
	var myDate = new Date();
	if ((myDate.getYear() - 100) < 10) {
		var myYear = "0" + new String((myDate.getYear() - 100));
	} else {
		var myYear = new String ((myDate.getYear() - 100));
	}
	var myDateString = (myDate.getMonth() + 1) + "/" + myDate.getDate() + "/" + myYear + " " + myDate.getHours() + ":" + myDate.getMinutes() + ":" + myDate.getSeconds();
	return myDateString;
 }
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// GetNameWithoutExtension and VerifyFolder functions were written on basis of Bob Stucky's
// extensions to object prototypes found in his Script Library
function GetNameWithoutExtension(myFile) {
	var myFileName = myFile.name;
	var myIndex = myFileName.lastIndexOf( "." );
	if ( myIndex > -1 ) {
		myFileName = myFileName.substr(0, myIndex);
	}
	return myFileName;
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function VerifyFolder(myFolder) {
	if (!myFolder.exists) {
		var myFolder = new Folder(myFolder.absoluteURI);
		var myArray1 = new Array();
		while (!myFolder.exists) {
			myArray1.push(myFolder);
			myFolder = new Folder(myFolder.path);
		}
		myArray2 = new Array();
		while (myArray1.length > 0) {
			myFolder = myArray1.pop();
			if (myFolder.create()) {
				myArray2.push(myFolder);
			} else {
				while (myArray2.length > 0) {
					myArray2.pop.remove();
				}
				throw "Folder creation failed";
			} 
		}
	}
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function CatchMissingLinks(myDoc) {
	var myMissingLinks = new Array; 
	var myLinks = myDoc.links;
	var myHeader = false;
	for (var i = 0; i < myLinks.length; i++) { 
		if (myLinks[i].status == LinkStatus.linkMissing) { 
			var myLinkName = myLinks[i].name;
			if (!myHeader) {
				WriteToFile("\tMISSING LINKS:\r");
				myHeader = true;
				WriteToFile("\t" + myLinkName + "\r");
			}
		} 
	}
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function CreateDialog() {
	var mySettings = GetSettings();
	var myDialog = new Window('dialog', 'Package for Archive');
	myDialog.orientation = 'column';
	myDialog.alignChildren = 'top';
	
	var myFolderPanel = myDialog.add('panel', undefined, 'Folder to package:');
	myFolderPanel.alignment = 'fill';
	var myFolderPanelStTxt1 = myFolderPanel.add('statictext', undefined, myFolder.fsName.replace("/Volumes/", ""));
	var myFolderPanelStTxt2 = myFolderPanel.add('statictext', undefined, '(Found ' + myFilelist.length + ' files)');
	
	var myCheckBoxPnl = myDialog.add('panel', undefined, 'Options');
	myCheckBoxPnl.orientation = 'row';
	
	var myCheckBoxGroup1 = myCheckBoxPnl.add('group');
	myCheckBoxGroup1.orientation = 'column';
	myCheckBoxGroup1.alignChildren = 'left';
	var myCheckBoxGroup2 = myCheckBoxPnl.add('group');
	myCheckBoxGroup2.orientation = 'column';
	myCheckBoxGroup2.alignChildren = 'left';
	
	var myCopyFontsCheckBox = myCheckBoxGroup1.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Copy fonts');
	myCopyFontsCheckBox.value = mySettings.copyFontsCheckBox;
	myCopyFontsCheckBox.helpTip = "If checked, copies fonts used in the document to the package folder.";
	
	var myCopyGraphicsCheckBox = myCheckBoxGroup1.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Copy linked graphics');
	myCopyGraphicsCheckBox.value = mySettings.copyGraphicsCheckBox;
	myCopyGraphicsCheckBox.helpTip = "If checked, copies linked graphics files to the package folder.";
	
	var myUpdateGraphicsCheckBox = myCheckBoxGroup1.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Update graphics');
	myUpdateGraphicsCheckBox.value = mySettings.updateGraphicsCheckBox;
	myUpdateGraphicsCheckBox.helpTip = "If checked, updates graphics links to the package folder.";
	
	if (myInDesignVersion > 5) {
		var myIncludeHiddenLayersCheckBox = myCheckBoxGroup1.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Include hidden layers');
		myIncludeHiddenLayersCheckBox.value = mySettings.includeHiddenLayers;
		myIncludeHiddenLayersCheckBox.helpTip = "If checked, copies fonts and links from hidden layers to the package.";
	}
	
	var myIgnorePreflightErrorsCheckBox = myCheckBoxGroup2.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Ignore preflight errors');
	myIgnorePreflightErrorsCheckBox.value = mySettings.ignorePreflightErrorsCheckBox;
	myIgnorePreflightErrorsCheckBox.helpTip = "If checked, ignores preflight errors and proceeds with the packaging. If not, cancels the packaging when errors exist.";
	
	var myCreateReportCheckBox = myCheckBoxGroup2.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Create report');
	myCreateReportCheckBox.value = mySettings.createReportCheckBox;
	myCreateReportCheckBox.helpTip = "If checked, creates a package report that includes printing instructions, print settings, lists of fonts, links and required inks, and other information.";
	
	var myCreateLogCheckBox = myCheckBoxGroup2.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Create log file on the desktop');
	myCreateLogCheckBox.value = mySettings.createLogCheckBox;
	myCreateLogCheckBox.helpTip = "If checked, creates a log file on the desktop that includes error messages";
	
	var myOkCancelGroup = myDialog.add('group');
	myOkCancelGroup.orientation = 'row';
	myOkCancelGroup.alignment = 'center';
	var myOkBtn = myOkCancelGroup.add('button', undefined, 'Go', {name:'ok'});
	var myCancelBtn = myOkCancelGroup.add('button', undefined, 'Quit', {name:'cancel'});
	
	var myShowDialog = myDialog.show();
	
	if (myShowDialog== 1) {
		var myResult = {};
		myResult.copyFontsCheckBox = myCopyFontsCheckBox.value;
		myResult.copyGraphicsCheckBox = myCopyGraphicsCheckBox.value;
		myResult.updateGraphicsCheckBox = myUpdateGraphicsCheckBox.value;
		if (myInDesignVersion > 5) myResult.includeHiddenLayers = myIncludeHiddenLayersCheckBox.value;
		myResult.ignorePreflightErrorsCheckBox = myIgnorePreflightErrorsCheckBox.value;
		myResult.createReportCheckBox = myCreateReportCheckBox.value;
		myResult.createLogCheckBox = myCreateLogCheckBox.value;
		
		myResult.folder = myFolder;
		app.insertLabel("Kas_" + gScriptName + gScriptVersion, myResult.toSource());
	}
	return myResult;
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
function GetSettings() {
	var mySettings = eval(app.extractLabel("Kas_" + gScriptName + gScriptVersion));
	
	if (mySettings == undefined) {
		mySettings = { copyFontsCheckBox:false, copyGraphicsCheckBox:true, updateGraphicsCheckBox:true, includeHiddenLayers:true, ignorePreflightErrorsCheckBox:true, createReportCheckBox:false, createLogCheckBox:true };
	}
	return mySettings;
}
//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regards,

Mike

What if you save the AI file as PDF? That's what you're placing anyway.

> Any suggestions welcome!

You should suggest to Adobe that when linked files are included, InDesign should process them recursively to include links inside linked files. Please log a request at https://indesign.uservoice.com

P.

You're correct: If you have placed AI files in an InDesign file, and if you've then placed that InDesign file (the source) into a second InDesign (the destination) the AI files within the source file will not be packaged with the destination InDesign file.

You'll have to manually copy those AI files into the package. InDesign cannot read the AI files in the source document. I don't know of a workaround to do it automatically.