Supports InDesign 2024 and higher. For older versions of InDesign, please go here.
This tool helps you with threading of text frames in InDesign 2024 or higher. It is particularly useful in conjunction with InDesign’s Data Merge feature.
There are three main functions: Auto-Stitch, Auto-Unstitch and Quick-Stitch.
Auto-Stitch will automatically thread all unthreaded text frames it finds, in a logical order (roughly left-right, top-down, page order).
Auto-Unstitch, will break text threads.
Quick-Stitch, allows you to ‘stitch’ multiple text frames together with just a single click per frame.
Installing TextStitch
TextStitch is free, but you can donate towards the effort to maintain this tool by way of PluginInstaller.
If you decide TextStitch works for you, and you want to help keep this tool alive, see below for a clickable link that will add a bookmark for TextStitch 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, TextStitch still needs to be installed through a manual process.
Downloads
To install TextStitch, you first need to download three different items.
- TextStitch. This download contains the TextStitch plug-in.
- APID ToolAssistant. This download contains a shared software component called APID ToolAssistant. To make TextStitch work, this plug-in needs to be installed.
Important note: you do NOT need to purchase a license for APID ToolAssistant to make TextStitch 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 TextStitch
https://www.rorohiko.com/downloads/TextStitch.1.0.9.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 TextStitch…zip file.
Move the plug-in file TextStitch.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 TextStitch…zip file and select Extract All…
Move the plug-in file TextStitch.spln into the Rorohiko folder inside the InDesign Plug-Ins folder.
You can now launch InDesign.
Usage
The main function of TextStitch is Auto-Stich.
You can find out about the other two functions (Auto-Unstitch & Quick-Stitch) by following the link to the TextStitch manual below.
Auto-Stitch will automatically thread all unthreaded text frames it finds, in a logical order (roughly left-right, top-down, page order).
This can be particularly helpful when a Data Merge creates numerous unthreaded text frames.
You can Auto-Stitch these frames, and then delete all frames, bar the very first one.
That will collate all individual records into a single InDesign text story.
TextStitch can be configured to either skip over non-empty text frames, or instead indiscriminately stitch empty and non-empty frames alike into the story thread.
It will always ignore any frames that have already been threaded.
When frames are positioned in irregular positions, it’ll try to guess a logical order.
This function can be performed either on the current spread, or throughout the complete document.
There is a configuration dialog under the API – Text Stitch – Configure… menu item which allows you to change the setting for the various options.
For more detailed information on TextStitch, go to:
https://www.rorohiko.com/wordpress/manuals/textstitch-manual/
Donating for TextStitch
TextStitch 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 TextStitch 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 a TextStitch Bookmark:
Add a bookmark for TextStitch into PluginInstaller by clicking the following link:
Add TextStitch Bookmark into PluginInstaller
Alternatively, you can use the Browse the Store for Software window in PluginInstaller and find the TextStitch 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.
