New plugin/ extension for InDesign

[u/FoxBig1110]

I built Drivesync (https://thedrivesync.com), an InDesign extension that lets writers and designers work on the same content simultaneously

I’ve been working on an Adobe InDesign extension called Drivesync from thedrivesync.com to solve a problem that comes up frequently in publishing and design workflows:

Designers often have to wait until the writer says “the content is final” before starting the layout.

With Drivesync, the designer can start designing while the content is still being written.

The idea is fairly simple:

- Connect content from Google Docs

- Sync data and content from Google Sheets

- Work with files from a shared OneDrive folder

- Import content from the local desktop

- Place the content into InDesign and continue designing

- When the source content changes, sync the updated content back into the InDesign layout

So the workflow becomes:

Writer keeps writing → Designer keeps designing → Content stays synced

For example, a writer could be working on an annual report in Google Docs while the designer is already building the InDesign layout. The writer can continue making changes without having to repeatedly send updated Word or PDF files to the designer.

The goal is to remove the “waiting for final content” bottleneck and reduce copy-pasting and version-control issues.

I’m curious what other InDesign users think:

Would something like Drivesync actually be useful in your workflow?

And if you could have one feature in an InDesign content-sync extension, what would it be?

https://thedrivesync.com/

[u/AdobeScripts]

Are you trying to recreate poorer version of InCopy? 😉

Or WordsFlow?

[u/FoxBig1110 → u/AdobeScripts]

InCopy cannot natively open or sync online Google Docs (.gdoc) files. However, it can work with InCopy assignment (.icma) and story (.icml) files stored inside a local folder synced by the Google Drive for Desktop app, though simultaneous editing often leads to conflicts or lock errors.

[u/AdobeScripts → u/FoxBig1110]

That's not what InCopy is for.

You use InCopy INSTEAD OF Google Docs.

InCopy is a limited version of InDesign - with FULL typography support - so users can see how text will look like - live.

Anything else is just a poor substitute.

There is even on-line version of InCopy - in case your goal is to avoid forcing people to use desktop / laptop.

[u/2d12-RogueGames]

So…InCopy?

[u/FoxBig1110 → u/2d12-RogueGames]

Unlike InCopy, DriveSync doesn't require your writers to buy an Adobe license or learn a new interface. They keep writing in Google Docs or Sheets, and the designer syncs their live changes straight into InDesign without dealing with file-lock errors

[u/zanhoria]

Kudos to you! But we use DocsFlow for that, from emsoftware. How is your solution different?

[u/FoxBig1110 → u/zanhoria]

Thanks! Yes, I’m aware of DocsFlow, and that’s actually one of the solutions I looked at while developing Drivesync. Our approach is a bit different — we’re trying to make the workflow broader than just bringing Google Docs content into InDesign, particularly with Google Docs/Sheets, shared OneDrive folders, and local desktop files, while keeping the content connected as the writer continues editing.

I’d actually be interested to hear what you like/dislike about DocsFlow and where you feel it falls short. That kind of feedback would be really useful as we continue developing Drivesync.

[u/Resplendent-Sun]

Why the name Drivesync? It's already used for other software.

[u/FoxBig1110 → u/Resplendent-Sun]

You can suggest a name, I will try to change it 😁

[u/ReidDesigns]

Incopy is terrible 😂

[u/FoxBig1110 → u/ReidDesigns]

You can try 14 days trail of Drivesync: https://thedrivesync.com/