InDesign

sfkislev/flue

Control Adobe InDesign from the shell via Flue—ExtendScript bridges without an MCP server.

What is InDesign?

This skill lets a coding agent operate Adobe InDesign on the desktop through Flue, a local shell-to-application bridge. The agent pipes ExtendScript into indesign_bridge.py and receives structured JSON results, enabling inspection and bounded editing of InDesign documents.

Inspect open InDesign documents, spreads, pages, frames, and text flows
Query and read document styles and properties
Make bounded edits to InDesign content via ExtendScript
Execute small ExtendScript steps and receive JSON responses
Bridge shell commands to InDesign without an MCP server

How to install InDesign

npx skills add null --skill indesign

Prerequisites

Flue installed (pip install flue && flue setup)
Adobe InDesign installed and running on the desktop
Read FLUE.md and adapters/indesign_adapter/APP.md for operational contract details

Claude Code

Cursor

Windsurf

Cline

How to use InDesign

1.Verify Flue is installed; if not, request approval and run pip install flue && flue setup
2.Read FLUE.md to understand the bridge contract and ExtendScript examples
3.Consult adapters/indesign_adapter/APP.md for the InDesign-specific operational contract
4.Pipe ExtendScript commands to indesign_bridge.py via stdin
5.Parse the returned JSON response for document state or operation results

Use cases

Good for

Automate document inspection and metadata extraction from InDesign files
Perform scripted edits to text, frames, or styles within open documents
Generate reports on document structure and content
Execute batch operations on InDesign layouts via shell commands
Integrate InDesign workflows into agent-driven automation pipelines

Who it's for

Designers and developers automating InDesign workflows
Agents performing document inspection and editing tasks
Teams integrating InDesign with shell-based automation
Users seeking local, reviewable desktop application bridges

InDesign FAQ

Do I need an MCP server to use this skill?

No. Flue is a local shell-to-application bridge that works without an MCP server, communicating directly via stdin/stdout.

What if Flue is not installed?

Tell the human that Flue must be installed first. The install command is pip install flue && flue setup. Do not install without explicit approval.

Can this skill control other Adobe apps?

Yes. Flue supports Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, and Audition through the same stdin/stdout contract. One Flue install covers all adapters.

What safety considerations apply?

Flue acts inside professional desktop software. Treat the human as the driver, prefer small inspectable steps, and avoid destructive actions unless explicitly requested.

How do I get structured results from InDesign?

ExtendScript commands are piped to indesign_bridge.py, which returns structured JSON responses for inspection and further processing.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from sfkislev/flue.

name: InDesign description: Control Adobe InDesign from the shell via Flue - ExtendScript bridges without an MCP server.

This skill lets a coding agent operate Adobe InDesign on the desktop through Flue, a local shell-to-application bridge. The agent pipes ExtendScript into indesign_bridge.py and gets structured JSON back.

agent shell -> indesign_bridge.py -> ExtendScript -> JSON result

When to use

The human requests work performed inside InDesign — inspect the open document, spreads, pages, frames, text flows, styles; make bounded edits; run small ExtendScript steps. A CLI agent cannot act inside InDesign without a bridge like Flue.

How to proceed

Read FLUE.md in this directory first. It explains how Flue works, the bridge contract, a worked ExtendScript example, and safety expectations.
If Flue is installed: also read C:\Users\fredd\.claude\skills\flue\SKILL.md and adapters/indesign_adapter/APP.md for the operational contract, then work from there.
If Flue is not installed: tell the human. The install command is pip install flue && flue setup. Do not install without explicit approval in the current session.

Other apps

Flue also supports Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, Audition, Blender, Houdini, 3ds Max, Unity, and Microsoft Office through the same stdin/stdout contract. One install covers all adapters.

Safety

Flue acts inside professional desktop software. Treat the human as the driver; prefer small, inspectable steps; avoid destructive actions unless explicitly requested. Flue is MIT-licensed and reviewable on GitHub / PyPI before use.