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Add DAM Assets and Manage Links in InDesign
The Relayter InDesign plugin lets you place Assets from Relayter's digital asset management (DAM) system directly into a Publication Item. You can also add your own files as attachments and manage the linked files in your layout.
Asset linking basics
When you place an asset with the plugin, the plugin creates a link to that asset. This means:
- The asset file is downloaded to the Publication Item's local Links folder on your computer and linked in the InDesign document.
- Relayter records right away that the asset is part of the Publication Item's content.
- The plugin keeps an eye on the links in your document. When they change, for example because you add a file from your computer or edit one of your own files, the plugin asks what to do. You can also run this check yourself at any time with Check Links in the plugin panel.
Place a new asset from Relayter
A new asset is an Asset in Relayter's DAM that is not linked to this Publication Item yet. Use this when you want to add one to your layout:
- With a Publication Item open in InDesign, click Add new Asset in the Relayter InDesign plugin panel.
- The Place and add Asset to publication item content dialog opens and shows the images in Relayter, most recently updated first.
- Type in the Search images... field and click Search (or press Enter) to find the image you need. Click More to load more results, or use the grid icon to switch between grid and list view.
- Click Place and add to layout on the image you want.
- The plugin downloads the image and places it in a new frame in your document.
- Move and resize the frame to where you want the image.
The plugin also adds the asset to the Publication Item's content in Relayter. When you Upload your work, team members who open the Publication Item get the image as well.
Keep in mind
The dialog only shows images (PNG, JPG, PSD, TIFF, EPS, GIF and AI files). If Add new Asset is greyed out, you don't have permission to change the content of Publication Items. Ask your administrator if you need it.
Place an existing linked asset
An existing linked asset is a Relayter asset that is already linked to this Publication Item, either in its content or through its Briefing Items. You can place these again:
- Click Add linked Asset in the plugin panel.
- The Place existing linked publication item asset dialog shows only the Relayter assets that are already linked to this Publication Item. Files you added yourself as attachments are not listed.
- Use the Search linked assets... field to find the asset you want, and click Place Linked Asset.
- The plugin places the asset in a new frame. Move and resize the frame as needed.
The plugin reuses the file that is already on your computer, and only downloads it when it's missing. Nothing changes in Relayter.
Use this when you want to place the same asset several times, or when an asset that was removed from the layout needs to be added back.
Understand linked asset status
The InDesign Links panel (go to Window → Links) shows the status of all linked files:
- Normal link (no icon) — The file is available and unmodified. No action needed.
- Missing link (red icon) — The file cannot be found. Troubleshoot Missing Images in InDesign explains how to recover or replace it.
- Modified link (yellow icon) — The file was changed on your computer, for example because you edited it in Photoshop. For files you added yourself, the plugin asks whether to upload your changes (see Handle modified attachments). The plugin does not upload changes to Relayter assets. To change an asset for everyone, update it in Relayter, then open the Publication Item in the plugin again to download the updated asset.
Replace a linked asset
To swap a placed image for a different file:
- In InDesign, select the placed image.
- In the Links panel, right-click the link and choose Relink (or Replace).
- InDesign opens a file browser. Navigate to the new file and select it.
- Click Open.
InDesign updates the link. The plugin treats the new file as one of your own files and offers to upload it as an attachment, as described in Add your own files as attachments.
To use a different asset from Relayter instead, delete the current image and place the new one with Add new Asset.
Add your own files as attachments
You can also use files that are not in Relayter, for example by dragging an image from your computer into the layout. The plugin uploads these files to Relayter as attachments of the Publication Item, so everyone who works on it has the same files.
- With a Publication Item open in InDesign, place or drag one or more files into your layout.
- The plugin notices the new links and copies the files into the Publication Item's local Links folder.
- The Link management dialog appears: "The following files are not in Relayter. Do you want to link and upload the files to the Publication item in Relayter?", followed by a list of the files.
- Click Upload & Link. The dialog shows the upload progress for each file.
- The plugin adds the files to this Publication Item as attachments.
- When you're done, click Upload in the plugin panel to save your layout in Relayter.
After you upload, team members who open this Publication Item get the attachments downloaded together with the document, so the images are not missing for them.
If you click Cancel, the files stay linked in your InDesign document but are not uploaded to Relayter. The plugin asks again the next time the links in the document change. You can also click Check Links in the plugin panel at any time to find files that are not in Relayter yet and upload them.
If a file with the same name already exists
If the Publication Item already has an attachment with the same file name, but a different file, the Asset already exists dialog appears: "The asset you are about to add already exists in your Relayter Publication item."
- Keep existing — Uses the file that is already in Relayter, and links your layout to it.
- Replace — Uploads your new file and replaces the attachment in Relayter. When there are several files, the button is called Replace all.
Remove attachments you no longer use
When you click Check Links and some attachments are no longer used in your layout, the Remove attachments dialog lists them: "The following attachments no longer exist in the InDesign file. Do you want to delete them from the Relayter Publication item as well?"
- Delete attachments — Deletes these attachments from the Publication Item in Relayter, and removes the unused files from your local Links folder.
- Cancel — Keeps the attachments in Relayter.
Keep in mind
Your workflow step must allow it. If the current workflow step is not set up to upload files to a Publication Item, the plugin shows Unable to upload and link assets in Relayter instead. The files are still linked in your InDesign document, but they are not uploaded. Ask your administrator to adjust the workflow if you need this.
Tip
For images your team reuses across Publication Items, Upload Assets to Relayter first and then place them from the plugin, as described in Place a new asset from Relayter.
Handle modified attachments
When you edit one of your own files after it was uploaded as an attachment, for example by opening it in Photoshop and saving your changes, the plugin notices the next time the links change, or when you click Check Links. The Modified Assets dialog then lists the changed files: "The following asset has been modified:"
- Upload and link to Relayter — Uploads your edited file to the Publication Item, so team members get your changes.
- Use and keep it local — Keeps your edits only on your computer and doesn't upload them. When several files changed, the button is called Use and keep them local. The plugin asks again at the next check.
Choose Upload and link to Relayter if your team should see the updated file. Choose Use and keep it local if your edits are a draft or only meant for your own copy.
This only applies to attachments. Changes you make to Relayter assets on your computer are not uploaded.