InDesign

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Create and send packages (InDesign)

Under ideal circumstances, all InDesign and InCopy users on the team have access to a server where assignment files are stored. However, if one or more users don’t have access to a common server, you can create and distribute compressed assignment packages. After working on the assignment, the InCopy user repackages the assignment and returns it to be integrated into the InDesign document. Package files created in InDesign include the .incp extension; the return package files created in InCopy include the .indp extension.

There are two commands for packaging files: Package and Package And Email. Use Package to create a compressed package that you can distribute manually; use Package And Email to create a compressed package that is attached automatically to an e-mail message.

Create a package for manual distribution

  1. Create an assignment and add the content you want to include in the package.

    Only content that is checked in can be included in the packaged assignment.

  2. In the Assignments panel, select the assignment and choose Package For InCopy from the panel menu.
  3. Specify a name and location for the package file, and click Save.

You can attach the package file to an e-mail message, upload it to an FTP server, or copy it to a disk or other external media.

Note: Choosing Edit > Undo after you create a package cancels the package and unlocks the items in the assignment, but it doesn’t delete the package file from your computer or unsend the e-mail.

Create a package for e-mail (InDesign)

  1. Create an assignment and add the content you want to include in the package.

    Only content that is checked in is included in the packaged assignment. If any content is checked out, you’re prompted to check in content.

  2. In the Assignments panel, select the assignment and choose Package For InCopy And Email from the panel menu.

    A compressed assignment package is created and attached to an e-mail message of your default e-mail application.

    Note: If you want to use a different e-mail application, change the default e-mail application. See your system documentation for details.
  3. Edit the e-mail message by adding a recipient and providing any instructions. Send the message.

All items in the assignment are checked out to the assigned user. However, the contents of the package itself aren’t locked, so anyone can open the package and edit them.

Cancel a package

In some cases, the package you send isn’t returned. For example, the message may have gotten lost, or the recipient may no longer work on the project. In such a situation, you can cancel a package.

  1. In the Assignments panel, select the packaged assignment, and choose Cancel Package from the panel menu.
  2. Click Yes to cancel the package.

Canceling a package doesn’t remove the package file from your computer.

When a package is cancelled, the package’s contents are available for editing. Be aware that if someone returns a package that has been cancelled, conflicts may occur.

Update a package

After you create a package, you may want to add, remove, or resize items.

  1. Add, remove, or resize one or more stories to the packaged assignment.
  2. Do one of the following:

    • Choose Update Package from the Assignments panel menu. Specify the name and location of the file. Make the updated package available to users by placing it on a shared server or by e-mail. Remember to notify InCopy users that the package has been updated.

    • Choose Update Package And Email from the Assignments panel menu, and then send the message.

When InCopy users open the updated package, only new content is added automatically to the assignment; InCopy users can decide whether to overwrite existing content, allowing them to preserve previous edits.