Performance improvements for processing InDesign layouts

Context

The feature applies to the censhare Client and the censhare Render-Client. It affects InDesign layouts that reference placed InCopy stories via VFS file links.

The feature is enabled by default in the censhare Client. The feature is not enabled by default in the censhare Render Client.

Prerequisites

An InDesign layout asset must have been created. InCopy assets must have been placed on the InDesign layout.

Introduction

When opening an Adobe InDesign layout in censhare, InDesign reads every VFS file link that references an Adobe InCopy story which is stored as an asset. As of censhare 2018.2, these VFS links are automatically converted when opening a layout. They are then embedded as (inlined) text stories and permanently stored as such. After that, no VFS file links exist in the layout anymore. After the conversion, a layout document containing multiple InCopy stories will now open much faster. For reading an InCopy file from an asset, there is no check out necessary.

When placing assets, these will be embedded as well. When opening the layout for the next time in InDesign, placed assets do not have to be read anymore. The initial relations to the placed InCopy assets are retained as actual (element) relations that are stored in story link URLs.

Impacts for users

Re-opening an InDesign layout with the embedded InCopy stories will take less time as all VFS file links are replaced. The preview of all assets in the layout is thus completed much faster.

To adjust a layout, that is, to edit any stories, text or styles in the layout, users will need to check out the respective assets, as usual. To avoid interactions during content or geometry updates, content is still locked and cannot be unlocked. The actions "Remove/Restore content lock" in the censhare Client are not available.

Note: Checking out a placed text inside the layout causes the text to reappear in the native Adobe link palette until it is checked in again. If a text is placed more than once, checkout inside the layout is not possible as the placed text will be opened in Adobe InCopy or the InCopy editor depending on the preferences.

Note: XML content, which is placed in Adobe InDesign documents via an XSL transformation can still be edited, see

Settings in censhare Client

In the censhare Client, the embedding of InCopy stories is enabled by default. This means: In the "Client Preferences", for the element "indesign", the attribute "inline-vfs-text-placements" is set to "true" by default.

Note: Do not change the default setting "inline-vfs-text-placements=true" in a productive environment! Otherwise, the full functionality of your censhare system is no longer guaranteed.

Note: Setting "inline-vfs-text-placements" to "false" is only recommended in a debugging/test environment!

Settings in censhare Render-Client

In the censhare Render-Client, the embedding of InCopy stories is disabled by default. This means: In the "Render-Client Preferences", for the element "indesign", the attribute "inline-vfs-text-placements" is set to "false" by default.

Note: When working in a productive environment, we recommend that you set "inline-vfs-text-placements=true". Otherwise the full functionality of your censhare system in no longer guaranteed.

Note: Setting "inline-vfs-text-placements" to "false" is only recommended in a debugging/test environment!

Proceed as follows:

1. Open the censhare Admin-Client.

2. Go to "Module", "Clients", "Render-Client" and select "Render-Client Preferences".

3. Under "General Preferences" click "Edit XML" to open the XML file.

4. Go to element "indesign" and set the attribute "inline-vfs-text-placements" to "true".

Result

Performance of InDesign layouts with VFS links to InCopy stories is improved. This is achieved by using embedded stories instead of VFS file links.