Adobe InDesign is full of wonderful interactive capabilities. The DPS Overlays panel adds several additional options, such as scrolling frames.
While this extra interactivity is supported by DPS, as well as our tool—in5 (InDesign to HTML5)—it’s not supported by InDesign’s native export formats: ePUB, HTML, and Publish Online.
In looking for ways for add this interactivity for all formats, I heard from many people that scrolling frames were a high priority.
I worked with Chad Chelius to refine the CSS that would support scrolling frames in ePUB and Publish Online. Chad wrote up how to manually insert this code on epubsecrets.
Then I went one step further and created a simple panel that will let you control scrolling with zero coding.
The scrolling frame will work in ePUB (Fixed Layout and Reflowable), HTML, DPS, Publish Online, and in5. Thus I’ve dubbed it Universal Scrolling Frames.
Compatibility
The panel works with InDesign CC or newer.
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I installed the Univ Scr Fr and worked well only the first test in one frame… it doesn’ work anymore… what happpened?
Hi Jorge,
Looks like you were able to get things working after emailing with us. 🙂
Hi there! I installed the file and it kept saying that it wouldn’t work with my version of indesign (cs6) so I downloaded the new extension manager for cs6 and it still doesn’t work. It still says it is looking for Indesign 9.0 or greater.
The Universal Scrolling Frames panel is only supported for CC versions of InDesign.
Hi Justin, how do I make the scrolling horizontal, because once exported to HTML5 it doesn’t scroll unless I use the touch pad but with a scroll wheel on the mouse nothing. could you please let me know, thanks.
How are you outputting?
If you’re using Publish Online, you can’t control the scroll wheel.
If you’re using in5, I could provide you with some custom code to attach.
Will this plug in be updated for Indesign CC v 15.0?
I will be releasing an updated installer soon. In the meantime, you can use the zxp file in the assets folder and this 3rd-party installer: http://zxpinstaller.com
Wonderful thank you
Hi, I have such a big problem, I have the latest version of InDesign, but when I installe the extension it tells me that there is not a compatible version of InDesing creative cloud, I have tried to download the EM but it doesn’t work neither. So I don’t really know what to do.
Just sent out an updated installer. Please check your email.
auto update of Indesign(huge pain)scrolling frame doesn’t work, tried to re-download but there is nothing online…are you working on a new version?
Just sent out an updated installer. Please check your email.
Hi there, I have followed all of the instructions and the program has installed without problems. However, my document doesn’t scroll in the epub. Could you please let me know how I can go about fixing this?
Hit the contact link above and send us your InDesign file. We’ll take a look. 🙂
Hi, auto update of Indesign(huge pain)scrolling frame doesn’t work, tried to re-download but there is nothing online…are you working on a new version?
I sent out an email recently with an update. You can use the download link in your original confirmation email. It will point to the latest version, which includes a 2020 installer.
How long does it take to receive the extension? I signed up yesterday. Thank you
It should arrive immediately. Check your spam/bulk folder.
This doesn’t seem to work when the InDesign file is exported with “Export HTML5 with in5” and output as “Web”. No scrolling and no scroll bar. Is this a limitation or am I doing something wrong?
Send us the file and we can take a look:
https://ajarproductions.com/pages/contact.php?category=in5&software_issue=bug
Hi Justin,
First off, love this scrolling frame script. It’s great 🙂
I’m using it for a simple ePub document with a really long scrolling image. Everything is working perfectly when I look at it in the Books app except it isn’t exporting the full length of the image. Is there a way to solve this?
Thanks,
Doug
Actually, thanks, I’ve sorted it out: operator error 🙂
Hi I was trying to use this feature for my Publication Class to make a mobile PDF of our publication.
I tried using hyperlinks and text anchors to help navigate and when published online the links are not translating.
Looking at my file it seems like the links can see the anchors because they are in the frame.
Any advice?
Scrolling Frames are not supported in PDF.
See this post for more info.
Hello,
my plugin was working but now when I hide the scroll bar and publish it online it doesn’t work. What can I do?
Can you share the URL?
If you want to send it privately, you can do so here:
https://ajarproductions.com/pages/contact.php
Hi, I have a big problem, I have the latest version of InDesign from creative cloud, but when I install the extension, and open the Universal Scrolling Frames panel in InDesign, panel don’t have commands or buttons to do work, but only instractions… Can you help me please?
Hi Giorgos,
Follow the instructions in the panel and the interactive elements will appear. They will only be available when you have a properly configured InDesign element selected.
Hi Justin,
I downloaded and installed the universal scrolling frame, but where do i find it inside indesign and how do I apply it to the container?
Can u help me?
Thanks.
Hi Justin,
during upload on “Publish on line” from Indesign, give an error. “Library:Application Support:Ajar Productions:scrollingframe:scrollingframe_epub.css”. What’s that? And how fix?
(Sorry my english)
See this article:
https://ajar.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/26000031042-how-to-handoff-an-indesign-document-with-scrolling-frames-inside-
Hello Justin!
I have problems with the scroll when I export and open ePUB on Android. What could be happening?
sign up link not working!
Sorry about that! Sign up page should be working now.
Hey Justin, im quite a newby. Scrolling frames seems not to work – I’ve tried it exactly the way described, but no scrolling happens. When I try to publish it online I always get the error: Ressource(n): 1 fehlt (missing)
Macintosh HD:Volumes:null:Ajar Productions:scrollingframe:scrollingframe_epub.css
and – no scrolling on the published site. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Flo,
That error is saying that the CSS that powers the scrolling frames is missing. It’s likely that the scrolling frame(s) in this file were created on a different computer/version of InDesign. To update, open the scrolling frames panel and re-apply the scroll setting to the frame (turn it off, then back on). When you export the EPUB, you can go in and remove the file path from the CSS files included (but leave the new one that was added when you toggled the scrolling frame back on). That will remove the error and cause the frame(s) to work in the output.
Hey Justin, thanks for your answer. I did as you told, but when exporting, there’s only one file path mentioned in the CSS section. And that one ist still missing while exporting. The file by the way is created on the same computer and version of InDesign as from where it is exported.
Hi Flo,
I’m noticing that Volumes is “null” in the file path. That would seem to be an issue with the machine or perhaps the InDesign installation.