ImageLibraryLoader

WARNING: OLD VERSION

WARNING

This page is for an old version of ImageLibraryLoader, which is not supported any more. This page is for the benefit of existing users with InDesign 2023 or older. If you are using InDesign 2024 or higher, please visit https://www.rorohiko.com/imagelibraryloader_pi

Intro

This tool gives you a floating library-palette filled with images that are automatically retrieved from one or more folders.

Point the tool to a folder, and in return it will offer you a floating palette containing the images stored in that folder, ready to be drag-dropped into your document.

This is very useful in a structured environment, for example in the design of advertisements for a newspaper. This plug-in is based on a suggestion from Tony (thanks, Tony!), who works in an environment where a designer receives a folder which contains

1. An empty template document with the correct size for the ad
2. A collection of images that can used in the design of the ad

This tool makes managing that a bit easier: simply open the template and select ‘Reload Image Library From Document Folder’. That fills up your image template library with the images that are available in the same folder as the document template.

Installation

Before you start installing, exit out of InDesign.

Please make sure you have a copy of the APID ToolAssistant plug-in installed. Make sure you install the proper plug-in for your version of InDesign since the plug-ins are mutually incompatible. The Windows CS5.x plug-ins also come with an additional folder with a parenthesised name which needs to be copied along.

If you already have an APID ToolAssistant plug-in installed (e.g. because you use one of our other plug-ins), make sure it is up-to-date.

You will be installing two separate, but related software products: ImageLibraryLoader and APID ToolAssistant. ImageLibraryLoader will continue to work when the APID ToolAssistant demo expires.

i.e You do NOT need to purchase a license for APID ToolAssistant.

Copy the ImageLibraryLoader.spln into the same folder as the APID ToolAssistant plug-in (typically that will be the InDesign Plug-Ins folder). Don’t worry about the icon of the .spln file: it might not be a ‘regular’ icon, and that’s OK.

Usage

Make sure you have a document open – the API menu will not be fully populated until you open or create a document.

Click the API menu, there should be five menu items:

• Reload Image Library From Document Folder…
• Add To Image Library From Document Folder…
• Reload Image Library…
• Add To Image Library…
• Refresh Image Library

Use the Add To Image Library From Document Folder… or Add To Image Library… options to cumulatively add images to the palette from a folder. The second option uses your current document folder.

Use the Reload Image Library From Document Folder… or Reload Image Library… options to replace the images in the palette with the images from a folder. The second option uses your current document folder.

Use the Refresh Image Library option to refresh all the images in the palette.

More Info

For more detailed information on ImageLibraryLoader, go to:

https://www.rorohiko.com/wordpress/manuals/imagelibraryloader-manual/