Supports InDesign 2024 and higher. For older versions of InDesign, please go here.
This free tool helps you quickly select a bunch of similar items that are scattered all over a page or a spread.
Instead of having to shift-click-click-click to select a number of scattered frames of the same type, you can now select a single frame, and then use the Select All Similar function (preferably via a keyboard shortcut) to select all the other similar frames in one go.
Installing LikeFindsLike
LikeFindsLike is free, but you can donate towards the effort to maintain this tool by way of PluginInstaller.
If you decide LikeFindsLike works for you, and you want to help keep this tool alive, see below for a clickable link that will add a bookmark for LikeFindsLike into PluginInstaller. This bookmark then allows you to donate for the project.
At some point into the future, PluginInstaller will also handle downloading and installing of all of our plug-ins, but for the time being, LikeFindsLike still needs to be installed through a manual process.
Downloads
To install LikeFindsLike, you first need to download three different items.
- LikeFindsLike. This download contains the LikeFindsLike plug-in.
- APID ToolAssistant. This download contains a shared software component called APID ToolAssistant. To make LikeFindsLike work, this plug-in needs to be installed.
Important note: you do NOT need to purchase a license for APID ToolAssistant to make LikeFindsLike work. - PluginInstaller. This item is a shared application which handles activation and purchasing of or donating for our software tools. Make sure you update to the latest version – re-download if in doubt.
1. Download link for LikeFindsLike
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/LikeFindsLike.1.0.4.zip
2. Download links for APID ToolAssistant
Pick the correct link, depending on your computer and version of InDesign:
2.1. Mac, InDesign 2024
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/apid/APIDToolAssistant_Mac_2024.1.0.73.zip
2.2. Mac, InDesign 2025
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/apid/APIDToolAssistant_Mac_2025.1.0.73.zip
2.3. Windows, InDesign 2024
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/apid/APIDToolAssistant_Win_2024.1.0.73.zip
2.4. Windows, InDesign 2025
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/apid/APIDToolAssistant_Win_2025.1.0.73.zip
3. 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:
Decompress the LikeFindsLike…zip file.
Move the plug-in file LikeFindsLike.spln into the Rorohiko folder inside the InDesign Plug-Ins folder.
You can now launch InDesign.
Now scroll further down, past the Installing on Windows section, to the Usage section.
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:
Right-click the LikeFindsLike…zip file and select Extract All…
Move the plug-in file LikeFindsLike.spln into the Rorohiko folder inside the InDesign Plug-Ins folder.
You can now launch InDesign.
Usage
A typical example usage is to manage pages that have multiple copies of a few intermingled frame types – for example, there are image frames for some pictures, and each of those image frames is accompanied by a caption frame right underneath.
The first step is to tell LikeFindsLike that we want to select similar frames based purely on size – i.e. we don’t want to differentiate between text frames and image frames.
Select the API – Like Finds Like – Configure… menu item
This brings up a configuration dialog box.
By default, the Same frame type as selected checkbox will be checked. Uncheck it so LikeFindsLike knows not to look at the frame type (image frame vs. text frame).
Now select a single image frame and then right-click (Win) or control-click (Mac) the selected frame to bring up the context menu.
Pick the API… – Select All Similar option. And presto… all frames are now selected, ready to be manipulated.
In the configuration dialog for LikeFindsLike you’ll also notice a Comparison Tolerance percentage – this allows you to have slight deviations between frames, yet still have them considered as being similar.
By increasing this percentage, you can have LikeFindsLike select frames that have a slightly different size, angle, tint,…
As long as the differences are below this tolerance level, they will be considered ‘close enough’.
It is strongly recommended that you use the Edit – Keyboard Shortcuts… option in InDesign to assign a shortcut key to the Select All Similar function. This makes the usage very efficient: click to select a single page item, then hit the shortcut key to select all similar. You’ll find Select All Similar under the Active Page Item product area in the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog.
For more detailed information on LikeFindsLike, go to:
https://www.rorohiko.com/wordpress/manuals/likefindslike-manual/
Donating for LikeFindsLike
LikeFindsLike is free.
If you can afford to support the effort to keep this project alive, please do so!
There are ongoing costs associated with keeping LikeFindsLike updated and supported, and we’re grateful for any help you can give us in this regard.
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 LikeFindsLike Bookmark:
Add a bookmark for LikeFindsLike into PluginInstaller by clicking the following link:
Add LikeFindsLike Bookmark into PluginInstaller
Alternatively, you can use the Browse the Store for Software window in PluginInstaller and find the LikeFindsLike entry in the Rorohiko Catalog, then click the link provided.
Donate
Once the bookmark is listed in the Installing and Ordering window, select it fill out the Ordering section at the bottom.
Fill in a donation amount, and add a reference if desired, then click Purchase.
