MagnetoGuides for InDesign

Supports InDesign 2024 and higher. For older versions of InDesign, please go here.

This tool helps anyone who needs to lay out structured, repetitive documents, for example, paper forms. It allows to automatically coordinate adjustments to the positioning and size of multiple page items that are scattered over the spread.

Online demo:

 

Installing MagnetoGuides

You can try out MagnetoGuides for 20 days, free of charge: simply install it as per the instructions below.

If you decide MagnetoGuides works for you, and you want to purchase a license, see below for a clickable link that will add a bookmark for MagnetoGuides 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, MagnetoGuides still needs to be installed through a manual process.

Downloads

To install MagnetoGuides, you first need to download three different items.

  1. MagnetoGuides. This download contains the MagnetoGuides plug-in.
  2. APID ToolAssistant. This download contains a shared software component called APID ToolAssistant. To make MagnetoGuides work, this plug-in needs to be installed.
    Important note: you do NOT need to purchase a license for APID ToolAssistant to make MagnetoGuides work.
  3. 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 link for MagnetoGuides

https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/MagnetoGuides.1.0.9

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

https://plugininstaller.com

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 MagnetoGuides…zip file.

Move the the plug-in MagnetoGuides.spln and the small image file com.rorohiko.magnetoguides.lilmagnet.png  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 FrameReport…zip file and select Extract All…

Move the the plug-in MagnetoGuides.spln and the small image file com.rorohiko.magnetoguides.lilmagnet.png  into the Rorohiko folder inside the InDesign Plug-Ins folder.

You can now launch InDesign.

Usage

MagnetoGuides allows you to ‘magnetize’ one or more guides. Magnetized guides are special: they push or pull any ‘snapped’ items along when they are moved.

To better understand how these magnetic guides help the design of structured documents, I suggest you work through the cookbook section of the magnetoguides.pdf user manual that is included with the downloaded files.

If a page item is ‘snapped to’ a magnetic guide at only one side, then the page item simply moves along when the guide is moved.

If a page item is ‘snapped to’ more than one magnetic guide, then the page item will stretch or shrink as needed so it can stay ‘snapped’ to all magnetic guides.

This allows you to reposition and resize multiple page items concurrently without having to group them.

Purchasing a License

MagnetoGuides is free to try for 20 days. After the trial period, you need to purchase an activation code for US$29.00 per seat, per year (excluding tax) by way of PluginInstaller.

You will need to renew the license every year.

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 a FrameReporter Bookmark:

Add a bookmark for MagnetoGuides into PluginInstaller by clicking the following link:

Add MagnetoGuides Bookmark into PluginInstaller

Alternatively, you can use the Browse the Store for Software window in PluginInstaller and find the MagnetoGuides entry in the Rorohiko Catalog, then click the link provided.

Purchase License

Once the bookmark is listed in the Installing and Ordering window, select it fill out the Ordering section at the bottom.

Adjust the seat count and add a reference if desired, then click Purchase.

Activation may take some time to process; keep an eye 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.