Supports InDesign 2024 and higher. For older versions of InDesign, please go here.
APID ToolAssistant is a runtime plug-in for Adobe InDesign. You can use most of the free tools from Rorohiko Workflow Resources without purchasing a license. Purchasing the optional license unlocks some useful extra functionality in some of our freebies.
See https://www.rorohiko.com/licensing for more details.
By itself, APID ToolAssistant does not ‘do’ anything apparent.
Instead it helps other plug-ins to do their job. You need the APID ToolAssistant plug-in installed to use most of the free InDesign tools you can find on the Rorohiko web site.
When you want to use any third-party (non-Rorohiko) tools which are built around APID ToolAssistant, purchasing a license becomes a must.
Things won’t continue to work beyond the demo period without a proper license.
Make sure you check the third party’s web site for more info.
Don’t purchase a license to APID ToolAssistant unless explicitly instructed to do so.
Installing APID ToolAssistant
You can try out the licensed version of APID ToolAssistant for 20 days, free of charge: simply install it as per the instructions below.
If you know you need a fully licensed APID ToolAssistant, and you want to purchase a license, see further below for a clickable link that will add a bookmark for APID ToolAssistant into PluginInstaller.
At some point into the future, PluginInstaller will also handle downloading and installing of all of our plug-ins, but for the time being, APID ToolAssistant still needs to be installed through a manual process.
Downloads
To install APID ToolAssistant, you first need to download three different items.
- APID ToolAssistant. This download contains the APID ToolAssistant plug-ins.
- PluginInstaller. This item is a shared application which handles activation and purchasing of our software tools. Make sure you update to the latest version – re-download if in doubt.
1. Download links for APID ToolAssistant
Pick the correct link, depending on your computer and version of InDesign:
1.1. Mac, InDesign 2024
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/apid/APIDToolAssistant_Mac_2024.1.0.73.zip
1.2. Mac, InDesign 2025
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/apid/APIDToolAssistant_Mac_2025.1.0.73.zip
1.3. Windows, InDesign 2024
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/apid/APIDToolAssistant_Win_2024.1.0.73.zip
1.4. Windows, InDesign 2025
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/apid/APIDToolAssistant_Win_2025.1.0.73.zip
2. PluginInstaller
Installing on a Mac
You need to have a user account with Admin privileges on your computer.
If you don’t have such an account, you need to talk to your I.T. department – they will need to help you install the plug-ins.
Make sure InDesign is not running.
Using the Finder, navigate to the InDesign Plug-Ins folder for your version of InDesign.
On most computers this will be on a path similar to /Applications/Adobe InDesign 202x/Plug-Ins
Create a folder called Rorohiko – this is not absolutely necessary, but if you also use plug-ins from other companies, it’s better to put them into separate folders, nested below the Plug-Ins folder. You will probably need to provide your computer login password in order to create this folder.
Decompress the APIDToolAssistant_Mac_20xx…zip file and move the contents into the Rorohiko folder. Once installed, it should look similar to the screenshot below:
You can now launch InDesign.
Installing on Windows
On your computer, you need to have a user account with Admin privileges.
If you don’t have such an account, you need to talk to your I.T. department – they will need to help you install the plug-ins.
Make sure InDesign is not running.
Using the Explorer, navigate to the InDesign Plug-Ins folder for your version of InDesign.
On most computers this will be on a path similar to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign 202x\Plug-Ins
Create a folder called Rorohiko – this is not absolutely necessary, but if you also use plug-ins from other companies, it’s better to put them into separate folders, nested below the Plug-Ins folder. You will probably need to provide your computer login password in order to create this folder.
Right-click the APIDToolAssistant_Win_20xx…zip file and select Extract All…
Move the two plug-in files and the two plug-in folders into the Rorohiko folder. Once installed, it should look similar to the screenshot below:
Usage
After you have installed the plug-ins, you can re-launch InDesign.
If APID ToolAssistant is correctly installed, you will see an API menu has been added on the InDesign menu bar.
Purchasing a License
The fully licensed APID ToolAssistant is free to try for 20 days. This allows you to try out third-party plugins that rely on APID ToolAssistant without having to purchase a license.
After the trial period, APID ToolAssistant will revert to an unlicensed state.
All Rorohiko plugins (e.g. Color2Gray, SudokuGenerator, TextStitch…) will continue to work – they don’t need a licensed APID ToolAssistant to function.
For third-party plug-ins you will probably need to purchase a license for US$25.00 per seat, per year (excluding tax) by way of PluginInstaller.
You will need to renew the license every year.
If you have purchased a Personal Activation Code or Workgroup Activation Code in the past, you can convert these into PluginInstaller-based licenses at no cost.
Start the PluginInstaller, which you downloaded in installation step 3 above.
Then go through the following steps.
Create an Account:
If this is your first time using PluginInstaller, you’ll need to create a new account and register it within PluginInstaller.
If you already have an account listed in the Accounts window, you can skip ahead.
Add an APID ToolAssistant Bookmark:
Add a bookmark for APID ToolAssistant into PluginInstaller by clicking one of the following links:
Add APID ToolAssistant Bookmark into PluginInstaller (US$25.00/seat/year)
Add Personal Activation Code Conversion Bookmark into PluginInstaller (free)
Add Workgroup Activation Code Conversion Bookmark into PluginInstaller (free)
Alternatively, you can use the Browse the Store for Software window in PluginInstaller and find the APID ToolAssistant entry in the Rorohiko Catalog, then click one of the links provided.
Purchase or Convert License:
Once the bookmark is listed in the Installing and Ordering window, select it and fill out the Ordering section at the bottom.
Adjust the seat count if need be, and add a reference if desired, then click Purchase.
No payment will be required when converting a Personal or Workgroup Activation code.
Note: Personal and Workgroup Activation Codes can only be converted once.
Activation may take some time to process; keep an eye out for updates in the Licenses, Activations, and Pending Orders window in PluginInstaller.
The status of the order in this window will change once the license has been approved.
Transporting Licenses Between Computers
For transporting licenses between computer (e.g. when using a multi-seat license), you can use the export/import buttons on the Licenses, Activations and Pending Orders window.