• Finding the Plug-in: If the BLOX Total CMS Plug-in is closed, it can be accessed from the Plug-ins menu. Unlike most Adobe InDesign panels, it does not appear under the Window menu.
• First-Time Setup: After installing the plug-in, you won’t see any snippets until snippets have been exported from a document. Make sure to export some snippets to get started.

Main Features

1. Placing Snippets:

• Page Design Snippets: Double-click to place the snippet directly on your layout.
• Design Element Snippets: Double-click to activate the place icon. Click anywhere in your document to position the snippet.
• Multiple Snippets: You can place multiple snippets in sequence; this is both a feature and a caution to avoid unintended placements.

2. Viewing, Searching, and Filtering Snippets:

• Snippets Preview: Scroll through snippets where the height adjusts relative to the page width at export.
• Automatic Updates: Snippets automatically update in real-time, eliminating the need to click an update button unless new snippets are created or downloaded.

Filtering Options:

• Recent Snippets: Quickly find snippets by how recently they were created (e.g., 10 minutes, 1 day, 1 year).
• Creator: Filter by snippet creator, helpful for template masters to identify content created by others.
• Depth, Children, Columns: These advanced search features allow for more precise filtering, particularly for Article Depth or complex snippets with multiple levels (e.g., headlines, images).

3. Search Features:

• Text Search: As you type, search results dynamically update.
• Reset: The reset function is your friend! Use it when searching for something specific that isn’t showing up.
• Favorites: The plugin builds a list of your most frequently used snippets. However, this feature is currently under maintenance.

4. Panel Customization:

• Panel Size: The content displayed will adjust based on the size of the panel. The plugin uses HTML5 and FLEX display options to render the interface smoothly.

Snippet Management

1. Exporting Snippets:

• New Snippet Export: Select frames and click the plus icon. The export dialog will appear with options like Create Label After Export and Keep Non-Asset Text.
• Publication Codes: Important for filtering and organizing snippets. Snippets without publication codes are available for all publications, while snippets with selected codes filter automatically for the relevant publication.
• Folder Selection: While the folder tree is available, its significance is reduced due to advanced search capabilities.

2. Replace Snippet:

• The Replace Snippet feature updates existing snippets across the system. It ensures that the newest versions are available to all users using the plug-in, including those working in distributed production environments.
• _13 Suffix: This suffix appears when there are multiple snippets with the same name. The number is automatically assigned and does not affect functionality.

Preferences & Customization:

1. Preferences Menu:

• Snippets Grid View: Customize which data is shown below each snippet preview.
• Show Removed Snippets: Enable this to view and restore deleted snippets. This feature is primarily for disaster recovery and should not be left enabled during regular use.
• Update All Snippets: This feature allows you to update all snippets in a master document without manually selecting individual frames. It’s recommended for ensuring that all snippets are current.

2. Shortcut vs. Full Set:

• Access preferences via BLOX Total CMS Plug-in > Preferences. This replaces the older Settings and Support menu from the Legacy Client.

Best Practices

• Folder Structure: The plug-in does not rely on folder-based organization for snippets anymore. Moving snippets between folders is not necessary, and if attempted, snippets will revert to their database-assigned location upon placement.
• Legacy Export: Snippets exported through the Legacy Client will not appear in the BLOX Total CMS Plug-in panel. Re-export these snippets using the new plug-in to make them available.

Known Limitations

• The plug-in does not yet support multiple servers, but this feature is expected in future versions.
• Adobe does not currently support zooming small/large panels directly. You can double-click the panel’s title bar to quickly resize.

Summary

The BLOX Total CMS Plug-in for Adobe InDesign is a robust tool for snippet management, offering advanced features such as dynamic filtering, real-time updates, and automated snippet placement. Its modern interface and HTML5 support streamline the workflow, making it easier to manage large collections of design elements. Users should take advantage of features like Reset, Recent Snippets, and Update All Snippets for optimal productivity.