SkillFoxx

indesign-cli

A Windows CLI for agents: 150 Adobe InDesign tools, JSX runs, export checks and HTML to layout conversion.

  • 60 ★ on the repository
  • Last commit
CLI

Broad access

Why this level

  • Running JSX scripts inside InDesign executes arbitrary code with access to document and system files.
  • Telemetry is written to the author network by default until you turn it off with a variable.
All reasons and checks

zhanglongxiao111/indesign-cliAuthor:zhanglongxiao111

Install

In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI

npx skillfoxx add cli/indesign-cli

Detects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.

Other ways to install

Access and checks

How we review

Broad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.

  • Running JSX scripts inside InDesign executes arbitrary code with access to document and system files.
  • Telemetry is written to the author network by default until you turn it off with a variable.

This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.

What it does

indesign-cli wraps Adobe InDesign automation in commands an agent can use. The registry fixes 150 tools: documents, pages, spreads, masters, layers, text, images, styles, export, books and presentations. On top of them sit `server`, `session`, `script.run` for JSX, `export.verify` for checking the finished file and `tool.batch` for batches. Token saving works like this: an agent first reads the short `tool domains` summary, then loads what it needs through `tool search`, `tool list` and `tool schema`. Output defaults to compact JSON and `--pretty` is for humans. The project targets photo books, architecture presentations, brand books and HTML to InDesign conversion.

Who it is for. Designers and studios automating InDesign layouts through an AI agent: albums, brand books, presentations and templates.

Good fit when

  • An agent builds a presentation or brand book from HTML and moves it into InDesign.
  • You must check that the exported file is really created and correct.
  • The task needs hundreds of InDesign commands and reading them all into context is costly.
  • Layouts follow a slot template and an agent fills the slots from data.

Not a fit when

  • Work happens on macOS or Linux: only Windows is supported.
  • You need manual layout by a person: this is an agent interface, not a human one.
  • InDesign runs in another Windows session: the CLI must run in the same one.

Example request

Show the InDesign tool domains, find the PDF export tool and check the finished file with the verification command.

Limitations

Windows and an installed Adobe InDesign are required, with 2024–2026 recommended; connection goes through COM and works depending on registration on the machine. InDesign and the CLI must run in one user session. The `indesign-cli-agent-setup.exe` installer puts everything in `%LOCALAPPDATA%` without administrator rights. For outside users the author advises turning telemetry off with `INDESIGN_CLI_TELEMETRY=off`: by default events are written to the author studio network. The CLI does not install the skill, its folder is copied into a project by hand.

How to disable. Delete the installed folder from `%LOCALAPPDATA%` and its PATH entry. If you copied the skill, remove the `skills/indesign-cli` folder from the project.

FAQ

How do I check the InDesign connection works?

Run `indesign-cli-agent server health --deep --connect-indesign`. A reply with `ok: true` and `data.indesign_com.checked: true` means the COM link works.

How do I turn off telemetry?

In PowerShell set `$env:INDESIGN_CLI_TELEMETRY="off"`. The event folder can be redirected with `INDESIGN_CLI_TELEMETRY_DIR`.

Do I need Node and npm?

No. The installer bundles the CLI, Node, `winax` and the HTML plugin and nothing needs compiling.

How do I add the skill?

Copy the whole `skills/indesign-cli/` folder, for example into the project `.codex/skills/indesign-cli/`: `SKILL.md` alone is not enough because references and templates would be lost.

How do I find the right tool among 150?

Start with `tool domains`, then `tool search`, `tool list --domain <name>` and `tool schema` for one tool description.

Discussion

No questions or reviews yet.

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README in short

The CLI makes InDesign predictable for an agent: instead of guessing coordinates and hand written scripts it calls stable commands and gets structured replies. The installer is self-contained and the skill is published separately.

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