Adobe InDesign Extension

The HIVO Adobe InDesign plugin simplifies digital asset management for creatives, offering seamless search, import and uploading functionality directly within the InDesign interface.

With the HIVO plugin, users can easily locate, import, and upload media assets, making their creative workflows more efficient. This simplifies version control and allows users to focus on their design work.

Installing the InDesign extension

For customers who have purchased the integration, the HIVO InDesign extension can be downloaded from Adobe Exchange here.

1. Open Adobe InDesign on your computer.

2. Go to the Extensions menu in InDesign to open the Adobe Exchange, or visit the listing page on Adobe Exchange here.

Browse Plugins in INnDesign

1. Search for the HIVO extension.

Search "HIVO Connector for Adobe InDesign"

1. Click the Install button, then follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Install "HIVO Connector for Adobe InDessign"

1. Opening the HIVO Extension in InDesign

• Go to the Plugins tab in the top menu. Then select HIVO Connector.

Opening the HIVO Extension in InDesign

Login to HIVO via your InDesign extension

• In the HIVO extension panel, go to the Login tab and enter your HIVO credentials (username and password).

Login to your HIVO account

• If you have purchased Single Sign-On (SSO), you can log in using the passwordless option. If you log in via email and password, ensure you enter the email linked to your HIVO account with the purchased InDesign connector.

Login using the passwordless option

Browsing and Searching HIVO assets in InDesign

The HIVO Adobe InDesign plugin offers a search function to help users find media assets stored in the HIVO library directly from within the InDesign interface.

1. In InDesign, click on the Assets tab in the HIVO extension.

2. Users can browse HIVO files that they have permission to access by clicking on the Assets tab within the InDesign connector. You can search for assets by:

   • Using the search bar.

   • Navigating through tags.

   • Browsing through folders in your HIVO library.

HIVO library

Importing and Swapping HIVO asset versions in InDesign

You can import assets from the HIVO library directly into your InDesign project:

1. Locate the assets you need in the HIVO Connector.

2. Select the version of the asset you wish to import. The asset will appear in your project and be ready to use.

Asset versions can easily switched out making it seamless to keep your InDesign project file light weight by using low-res versions and then swapping to high-res versions when you are ready to export or go to print for example. To swap between different asset versions:

1. Just click on the image that you have imported

2. Click on the new version you want to use and the connector will swap the versions for you.

Importing and Swapping HIVO asset versions in InDesign

👉 Note: Asset Permissions in the InDesign Plugin

User permissions in the HIVO plugin match those in the main HIVO platform. When a user logs in through the InDesign extension, they can only view and use the assets they have access to in HIVO.

Example Asset Permissions in HIVO

Importing InDesign Pages as Templates in HIVO

HIVO assets exist as a linked HIVO url within InDesign, as opposed to the asset being stored on your desktop. If there are any missing links, please click Download Missing links in the Document tab.

Once the missing links have been reconnected, follow these steps:

🔹 Step 1: Click the Save to HIVO as Template button.

🔹 Step 2: Configure image and color settings:

• Ensure you have selected the Rasterize images in places option.

• Select the appropriate Print export setting to preserve the CMYK color profile.

🔹 Step 3: Click Save to New Template to complete the upload process.

You'll have two main choices for how to save the template to HIVO:

• Save to New Template: Select this option if you want to save your current InDesign page as a completely new template in HIVO's template library.

• Overwrite Existing Template: Choose this option if you want to update an existing template in HIVO with the current version from your InDesign page.

🔹 Step 4: View your Template in HIVO after Import

• Once the processing is complete, click 'Click to View Template' button.

• Click 'Allow' to open the design template in your web browser.

How to manage Layers and Publish Template on HIVO

Once the template is open in HIVO, you can prepare it for light users to access by naming, re-ordering, and locking layers.

🔹 Layer Setup Process

Follow these steps (Interactive demonstration included below):

• Select the Layer menu.

• Click the corresponding layer on the main canvas.

• Scroll down to Layer setting.

• Rename layer.

• Click the lock icon next to the layer name. This action will lock all other settings for that layer while keeping it editable for light users.

• Repeat these steps for all other layers.

👉 Note: To hide a layer and prevent it from being edited by a light user, click the lock icon at the top of the Layer menu, right next to the name.

🔹 Publishing the Template

After completing the layer setup, follow these steps to publish:

• Click the Details icon (the 4th icon from the top, located on the right side) and select 'Edit Details' button.

• Click Publish Template, then set the Category and Limit the export format options.

• When publishing a design template, to protect the file structure:

  • Check the box "Prevent adding, moving or deleting of layers."

  • This setting only applies to users who have been assigned the "Must use Image Editor Templates" permission by Admin.

👉 Note: For template restrictions to take effect, the Admin must ensure the Light user group has been granted the correct permissions:

• Access the permission settings for the Light User group.

• Navigate to the Asset Editor section.

• Check the permission: "SETTING. Must use Image Editor Templates".

• When this option is enabled, users can only select and edit from templates already saved in the Image Editor.

Exporting and Uploading assets from InDesign extension to HIVO Library

The plugin allows users to export new assets directly to the HIVO library:

1. In the HIVO Extension in InDesign, go to the Export tab.

2. Click Export as New Asset.

3. Select "Approval Template", if you need.

4. Choose the folder in your HIVO library.

5. Click Export as New Asset again to complete the upload.

Exporting assets from InDesign extension to HIVO Library

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, we're always here to help!