EasyCatalog supports multiple methods for importing images into your document, including local folders, URLs, ImageLink providers, custom scripts, and embedded field content.
Each option offers different levels of automation and update behaviour.
Image Import Methods Comparison
| Method | Live Link | Requires ImageLink Subscription | Cached Locally |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folder | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| URL | ○ | ○ | ● |
| URL via ImageLink | ● | ● | Managed by ImageLink |
| Dropbox via ImageLink | ● | ● | Managed by ImageLink |
| Custom Script | Depends on implementation | ○ | Script-defined |
| Field Content (Base64) | ○ | ○ | Embedded in document |
Folder
EasyCatalog supports importing images directly from your local or network file system.
Using Full File Paths
If your data field contains the complete file path to each image (including folder path and file extension), no additional configuration is required in the Location field.
Example:
1 | C:\ProductImages\Chairs\CHAIR001.jpg |
EasyCatalog will use the path exactly as provided.
Using Partial Paths or Filenames
If your data field contains only:
- a filename (e.g.
CHAIR001.jpg) - a partial path (e.g.
Chairs\CHAIR001.jpg)
You must configure the base folder that contains the images in the Location field.
Example:
If your data contains:
1 | CHAIR001.jpg |
And your images are stored in:
1 | C:\ProductImages\ |
Set the Location field to:
1 | C:\ProductImages\ |
EasyCatalog combines the configured location with the value in your data field to resolve the full image path.
Handling Missing File Extensions
If the image field does not include a file extension, you can define a list of allowed extensions in the Extension field.
- Separate extensions using semicolons.
- Extensions are checked in the order listed.
Example:
1 | .jpg;.pdf;.gif |
EasyCatalog will search in this order:
filename.jpgfilename.pdffilename.gif
The first matching file found will be used.
URL
EasyCatalog can import images directly from a URL.
The image is downloaded and cached locally in your data source folder. This does not create a live link to the remote image.
As a result, the Links panel in InDesign will not automatically update if the source image changes.
Updating Downloaded Images
To refresh images in your document, use the Update Document menu option.
If the Always Download Latest option is enabled in the Images sub-menu, EasyCatalog will attempt to detect whether the source image has changed. If it has, a new copy will be downloaded and the document updated.
Using Full URLs
If your data field contains a complete URL, no additional configuration is required.
1 | https://www.example.com/images/CHAIR001.jpg |
Building a URL from Data
If your field does not contain the full URL, you can construct it using EasyCatalog custom field functions in the Location field.
1 | https://www.65bit.com/images/FIELDSTR(my_image) |
FIELDSTR(my_image) inserts the value of the my_image field into the URL.
URL via ImageLink
ImageLink provides live URL-based image links, including status updates in the InDesign Links panel.
If your data field contains a complete URL, no additional configuration is required.
If not, you can construct it using EasyCatalog custom field functions.
1 | https://www.65bit.com/images/FIELDSTR(my_image) |
ImageLink handles downloading, caching, and updating automatically. Unlike the standard URL option, ImageLink maintains a live connection.
Note: A valid ImageLink subscription is required.
Dropbox via ImageLink
ImageLink can import and maintain live links to images stored in your Dropbox account.
Your data must contain an absolute path from the root of your Dropbox folder.
1 | /images/summer/ice cream.jpg |
If your field does not contain the full path, you can construct it using EasyCatalog custom field functions.
1 | /images/summer/FIELDSTR(image-name) |
Requirements and Setup
A valid ImageLink subscription is required.
Install the Dropbox provider using the ImageLink Preferences dialog.
- Select Dropbox from the provider menu in the ImageLink panel.
- Choose Login from the panel’s pop-out menu.
After login, ImageLink manages downloading, caching, and updating automatically.
Custom
Select the Custom option in the Picture Location section when importing images from external systems that are not file- or URL-based.
EasyCatalog will look for a file named CustomImageImport.jsx inside the
Scripts folder of the data source.
Basic Example
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 | // Get the internal ID of the container var myID = Number(app.scriptArgs.getValue("id")); // Get the frame var myFrame = app.activeDocument.pageItems.itemByID(myID); // Display field information alert(app.scriptArgs.getValue("field")); alert(app.scriptArgs.getValue("fieldContent")); // Place an image var f = new File('~/Desktop/Picture_3.png'); myFrame.place(f, false); |
Reporting Errors
1 2 3 4 | app.scriptArgs.setValue("errorId", "1"); app.scriptArgs.setValue("errorMessage", "Failed"); |
Error Checking and Updating
When an image is placed, the evaluated contents of the Location
field are stored on the image frame.
During error checking or document updates, EasyCatalog compares the stored value against the latest evaluated data.
There must be some indicator in the data that the image has changed. EasyCatalog uses this comparison to determine whether the image should be refreshed.
Field Content (Base64)
If your data field contains image binary encoded as Base64, EasyCatalog can decode the data, place the image, and embed it directly in the document.
The image is not linked to an external file; it is fully embedded within the InDesign document.
Important: Embedding images can significantly increase the size of your InDesign document, particularly when using high-resolution images
or large volumes of data.