There are several ways to submit InDesign files and books to Output Factory Server. It depends on your workflow which one to choose.

You can submit both standalone InDesign files and job folders. Job folder is a folder that contains InDesign files or books with associated fonts and/or links.

Note: Everything below applies to IDML files as well.

• Copy InDesign files in the Finder
Copy standalone InDesign files in the Finder to Output Factory Server hot folders. The file's fonts must be active on the server station, and InDesign should be able to locate the links.
 

• Use aliases of InDesign files
You can put aliases of InDesign files into hot folders instead of the original files. Output Factory will open InDesign files from their original location. They will not be copied to the hot folders.
 

• Use "Submit to Output Factory Server" plug-in
Use the plug-in when you need to specify an output page range and/or submit file with fonts. more info >
 

• Packaged jobs
You can drop packaged jobs into hot folders in the Finder, or package jobs into hot folders with InDesign's Package command.

Job folders can include multiple InDesign files. If the "Document fonts" folder is present, InDesign wil auto-activate the fonts. (For more info, please see the Settings > Font Activation tab).

If Links folder is present, the links will be found automatically. Links will also be found automatically if they're loose in job folder.

Note: Job folders cannot be nested.

Note: Folder aliases are not supported.

• InDesign books (.indb)
You can:

-Copy a standalone .indb file (or its alias) into hot folder. InDesign must be able to find the book's parts.
-Package book from InDesign to the desired hot folder along with its related InDesign documents. If your workflow requires, include links and/or fonts.

Note:
-The .indb extension must be present for the book file to be processed.
-"Export as single pages" option will be ignored.
-All pages will always be sent to output.