How to Structure the mag+ Issue Folder

Mag+ does not require that your files be in any specific folder or follow any specific structure, but we do recommend the following set-up for the following reasons:

  • The structure suggested below will allow you to find your files easily.
  • The structure below ensures that automatically generated folders appear where you expect them.
Note: This folder set-up shows a simple structure for organizing files designed for a single device. When creating designs for multiple devices and using the Mag+ Multi-Device Export feature, we suggest a slightly different structure. For more information, read the article "Multi-Device Export".


Here is an example of a folder structure typically used when creating a mag+ Issue for a single device. 

1. Create a Home folder.

First, create a home folder in which you will create subfolders for each app you design. The home folder could be your brand name if you are designing a single app or "mag+ Projects" if you will have subfolders for multiple apps that you will develop. The image below shows a folder with subfolders for multiple apps.

2. Create App folders.

Inside of your home folder, create subfolders for each app you will create (e.g. "Business Magazine" or "SuperCompany Sales App"). Within this app folder, you can create an "App Assets" folder to store all of the other files needed to generate your app such as the icon, load screens, and iTunes certificates or Android KeyStore files (which will be covered in later articles).

3. Create Issue folders.

mag+ packages content in "Issues" that are delivered to your app whenever you publish them (they can also be embedded within an app if you do not plan on including any store functionality).

For apps that deliver content on a regular basis, you can create Issue folders based on a date (e.g. "January 2014").

This Issue folder should house an "InDesign Files" folder to keep your working files separate from your final exports. The InDesign files are the actual layouts you create with interactive features. When a layout is complete, you export it as a mag+ Vertical to be assembled in the Mag+ Production Tool.

The Issue folders below are named "year-month number-month name" so that they will appear in the proper order when viewed in a folder selection dialog. You are, however, free to name them whatever you like.

Note: Single Device folder structures can be much simpler than a structure used for multiple devices. Mag+ features a "Multi-Device Export" feature that can automatically transform files designed for one device into different device formats. For more information, refer to the article "Multi-Device Export".

When designing for a single device (as shown below) your Issue folder should be set as the Issue folder in the Mag+ Production Tool. You will also set the Issue folder to the Export folder in the Mag+ InDesign Plugin.

5. Name your InDesign Files in a logical way.

In regards to naming InDesign files, Mag+ recommends that you use the syntax:

  • Vertical number
  • Issue name
  • Brand or Brand initials
  • Short file name

This set-up allows you to easily identify the files later in the Mag+ Production Tool. This also guarantees that each file name is unique, which Mag+ requires to prevent overwriting your exported files.

As mentioned previously, Mag+ Verticals are packages of content that can represent a single page, article, or piece of content within your app. By numbering your InDesign files with a Vertical number, whoever is assembling the Issue in the Mag+ Production Tool will know which Vertical comes first, which comes second, etc.

Note: If you plan to embed HTML files in your Verticals, you may want to get even more granular and create folders for each individual Vertical in order to keep your content better organized.
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