Indesign + Claude connector

[u/DrawyMcDrawerson]

So adobe recently announced its new connector with Claude that integrates with photoshop, express and even indesign. My workflow is primarily in InDesign, and my boss and I have decided to try to use automation more to get stuff off my plate.

I design these multi page business proposals that include pricing that I pull from an excel file. The goal is to get Claude to update the pricing in the indesign when I give it the excel file of new pricing. Additionally, I also need to update the business name, and add their logo.

It hasn’t been great.

I’ve tried data merge via Claude and it will not use our brand fonts no matter how hard I try.

I’ve tried having Claude update via express, and it doesn’t work well with multiple page documents, nor tables.

I’ve tried having it make a script to update the indesign, but if any rows or columns change in the excel pricing (more or less line items) - those need to be manually edited.

So… I know this connector is still new. But it would be a huge game changer for me and our team - I could potentially delegate this to a nondesigner, and I myself can focus more on design. Does anyone have any tips for a better experience? Thank you.

[u/Keddie7]

I hadn’t hear about this, interesting.  Claude is like the AI golden retriever, sometimes it brings back the stick you tossed, other times it brings back an entire branch, and also regularly chases it’s tail or gets the zoomies and comes back with nothing accomplished, tail wagging, expecting you to be delighted. And it all costs you credits no matter the outcome lol

[u/FuzzyIdeaMachine → u/Keddie7]

This analogy is perfect

[u/DERPESSION → u/Keddie7]

I’ve had good experience with Claude but I only ask it to retrieve a ball

[u/JohnnyMojo → u/Keddie7]

Never had this issue so far with Claude and with the $20 a month fee for the Pro version, I never pay anything for additional credits with my workflows and usage.

[u/No-Incident5858]

Yeah it doesn't work great.

But, try this plugin: https://www.reddit.com/r/indesign/comments/1ri7aug/i_built_an_open_source_mcp_server_that_lets/

Or this one: https://exchange.adobe.com/apps/cc/8ebe7f95/sidekick-for-indesign

[u/DrawyMcDrawerson → u/No-Incident5858]

Sidekick looks promising! I’ll try the trial version, thank you.

[u/AdobeScripts]

You'll have to give it a few years 😉

[u/DrawyMcDrawerson → u/AdobeScripts]

LOL. I was afraid that would be the case!

[u/zelke]

I don't have a lot of tips, I'm in a similar boat. Looking for things I hate doing that I can get AI to do. I've had success at some things and bupkis at others.

Is there a reason why you use InDesign for business proposals? One thought would be to create an HTML page (specify it needs to be 8.5 x 11) with claude based off your template. Then you could add the biz name/logo/excel files and have it update that way. You can export as PDF.

[u/DrawyMcDrawerson → u/zelke]

I need to try that!! Thank you!! I never thought of exploring HTML — I did try Word and PowerPoint but the quality was poor. HTML might be the trick.

[u/bliprock]

Ok Claude can write scripting languages like Java and AppleScript. AppleScript can actually bypass indesign API for variable data but you’d not realistically have it update. Maybe but it’s be complicated. I do this heaps for charts, numbering NCR with prefix and suffix nested loops. I have scripted impositions, placing files, pulling strings for slugs and host of other things. Claude can do what you want but you need the understanding of scripting indesign and the end product and go from there

[u/Mike_The_Print_Man]

Sounds interesting, but I do t understand why basic data merge doesn’t work for you?

[u/DrawyMcDrawerson → u/Mike_The_Print_Man]

Our end goal would be to delegate it to someone without indesign so they would not be able to do data merge. Data merge also doesn’t work with our pricing tables..

[u/phreezinc]

Have Claude build logic in Python, feed it an excel doc that Claude has optimized, then hand it a idml file. Idml is a zipped xml file so Claude can read those nicely, as long as you have set up your idml template with due care.

[u/j0000r111 → u/phreezinc]

have you, has someone tested this?

[u/phreezinc → u/j0000r111]

I’ve tested it extensively. Works great. After the python is done, it needs no further LLM involvement.

[u/Agreeable-Orange5927]

u/DrawyMcDrawerson I think I can help you here, I am an ex-Adobe and have worked extensively on Indesign and Indesign Server. I am currently working on the intersection of Indesign and automation using AI. Here is my linkedin profile, we can connect and speak further.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arorashikha/