Add documents to book files

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to use the Book panel to add documents with shared formatting and page numbering in Adobe InDesign.

Book files group multiple InDesign documents into one project, making them ideal for long-form projects like magazines or manuals. After creating a book file, you add individual documents to build your project structure.

Each document you add remains as its own file while participating in shared styles, swatches, and page numbering. Make sure you convert any Adobe PageMaker or QuarkXPress documents to InDesign first, as book files cannot automatically convert these formats.

Open your book file to display the Book panel.

Select the panel menu icon and then select Add Document.

Navigate to and select one or more InDesign documents in the file browser.

Select Open to add the documents to your book.

If you select a document created in an earlier InDesign version, it will be converted to the current version. In the Save As dialog box, set a new filename or keep the existing one, and select Save.

Tip

Drag InDesign document files directly from Windows Explorer or macOS Finder onto the Book panel to add them quickly. Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) while dragging from another book to copy rather than move the document reference.
Hover over any document name in the Book panel to view its full file path. For additional details, select the panel menu icon and then select Document Information.

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