Adobe InDesign CC Server / Buying guide

Buying guide

Are you considering building or selling a solution that is powered by Adobe® InDesign® CC Server software? If so, moving from the idea to a working solution usually involves four steps: evaluate, download, develop, and license.

Evaluate

Your first step is to evaluate InDesign Server to see if it’s the right technology for your solution. Plug-ins and scripts can be prototyped on InDesign software first. You should make sure you have the appropriate development skills, including a working knowledge of C++ and scripting and, ideally, some experience developing publishing tools or plug-ins for the desktop version of InDesign. If you don’t have these skills, you may want to contact a partner for consultancy, training, or licensing of existing technology.

To aid your evaluation, you can also download and review the following resources.

Technical introduction to InDesign Server

This document, which is part of the InDesign Server Software Development Kit (SDK), gives an overview of InDesign Server. It details how to install and run InDesign Server in a simple environment and briefly describes how to communicate with InDesign Server through SOAP.

Introduction to InDesign Server

InDesign Server SDK

Because InDesign Server shares the same codebase as InDesign, many developers find it useful to start developing with the desktop version of the application. They use it to prototype their ideas before making the jump to InDesign Server.

On the SDK page, you can also find several free introductory webcasts on developing with InDesign Server.

Learn more about the InDesign Server SDK ›

InDesign Server Scripting Guide

This handy reference, also part of the InDesign Server SDK, provides important background information on creating scripts for InDesign Server. It offers simple examples of common scripting operations and discusses the conversion of InDesign scripts for use with InDesign Server.

InDesign Server Scripting Guide

Solution partners who want to develop their own solution should:

• Join the Adobe Solution Partner Program
• Get access to Debug InDesign Server, InDesign, the Adobe InCopy® desktop version, and the nonexpiring, watermarked version of InDesign Server

Partners who wish to resell InDesign Server as an integrated component should work with their Adobe representative. Adobe offers discounts to partners through FLP distributors. InDesign Server is also sold through Adobe Volume Licensing.

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Download

If you’re ready to start writing code for InDesign Server, the next step is to download the debug and runtime versions of the software. To do so, follow these steps.

Download InDesign Server

Download a free 90-day trial version of InDesign CC Server. Downloading and reviewing the free technical documents listed above with your trial version of InDesign Server is also recommended. The SDK can be downloaded at any time.

Try InDesign CC Server ›

Commercial developers: Join the Adobe Technology Partner Program

The Adobe Partner Connection Technology Partner Program gives commercial developers access to Adobe products (including InDesign Server release and debug versions) and to development support. Basic membership begins at the Bronze level. Silver membership includes seven development support cases and is strongly recommended for commercial developers. In-house developers can purchase packs of development support cases as required.

Learn more about membership ›

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Develop

Now it’s time to start developing your solution powered by InDesign Server. During the development process, you can consult the following resources.

Developer Center

Find additional developer resources to get answers to your questions fast.

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License

Adobe InDesign CC Server can be licensed for use by systems integrators and third-party developers as well as in-house development teams. If you purchase a broader solution from an Adobe partner, pricing can vary greatly according to the specific configuration and other components of the solution.

Pricing of the InDesign Server engine varies according to the nature of the solution, its usage, and how it is deployed. When you talk to your Adobe representative or solutions partner, be prepared with answers to the following questions:

• How many people do you expect to use the solution, both concurrently and in total?

• What server hardware will be used to deploy the solution, and how many CPU/cores and servers do you intend to use?

• Are you a partner planning to offer a hosted service or an organization planning to offer a web-based solution that you want to make available to people outside your own network?

Adobe offers a number of licensing models, depending on how the server is used within your publishing solution. For more details, click the Licensing tab on this page.