How to convert InDesign (.indd) file to .idml file (and back) online or without installing InDesign Suite?

Question

I am being handed a Indesign (.indd) file from which I extract out .idml file using Indesign App. Can this & other way conversion be done through Adobe's SDK or any online api without the need to have the app installed. Didn't see any reference for this in the Adobe's SDK documentation. Also, I need to preview the Indesign document on a web-browser, I am currently able to do so by uploading the .indd file in Adobe CC. Are there any other alternatives for online preview on Indesign files?

Solution 1

Sooner or later you will need the InDesign engine to get the rendering of the file. There is a java lib that let you play with idml files (idmlib I guess) but unless I am wrong it won't let you get a rendering out of InDesign.

If you are into a web based solution you may consider InDesign Server to get the rendering of the file but as I said you cannot render indesign files outside of InDesign.

Solution 2

It's not really an API like you asked, but there is a service which lets you convert INDD files to the IDML format online: http://ixsaveback.de/idsb/web/service/index_en.jsp

Apparently under the hood they use InDesign Server, which, like Loic said, it's the only real solution for rendering InDesign files properly

Comments

[Chinmay]

Thanks for the reply, will check out InDesign Server.

[Lorgen GR Magpantay]

Unfortunately, the iXentric service is NO LONGER free ;'/ My company is poor (or, rather, stingy). I'm here looking for a new solution now.