From FrameMaker to InDesign

Hi,
I am new to this forum, and I am new to InDesign. I have actually never used InDesign, but I have many years of experience with FrameMaker.
My situation is that many of my clients are interested in switching from FrameMaker to InDesigen, which means that the various applications I have developed for converting text into FrameMaker must now be changed to fit InDesign instead. I have been reading on the web about importing text into InDesign, but quite frankly I am not at all sure how to go about doing this, or if it is at all possible.
With FrameMaker I develop applications in VB, which converts text from whatever format (xml, databases, ascii text files, etc.) into FrameMaker's MIF-format. These MIF-files contains all information needed for the publications, and they are simply read into frameMaker like any proprietary file, and there you have it. I do have an SDK for FrameMaker, but I don't use that for creating documents, as it is both slow and cumbersome to use.
Is it possible to do something similar with InDesign?
I need a way of converting which is very dynamic. I don't have a fixed template for every page, as no pages are identical. It is typically a flow of text with images, tables, lists, etc. which are presented on the page as they come. I need to be able to mark words for indexes, make lists of contents, make cross references between pages, scale images, use new master pages according to contents, and otherwise be able to format the text in any way that you would be able to do directly within InDesign.
I would prefer my convertions to end up in files which can simply be opened (or imported) into InDesign without the user having to do further work (like handling templates or importing text into one chapter at a time). If it can be done in a separatate application without using an SDK, I would like that too, as they usually turns out to be slow. A typical publication would contain 500+ pages, several thousand images and tables, so I would prefer a method that doesn't require hours or days of data crunching (with FrameMaker it takes a couple of minutes to make such a complete 500+ pages publication.)
Any advice is welcome. Even telling me that it would be stupid to switch from FrameMaker to InDesign, because I really don't see the point myself, but if my clients want it, then I do what I can to help them. But talking them out of it could also be a solution. :-)

FrankB62 wrote:
Hi,
I am new to this forum, and I am new to InDesign. I have actually never used InDesign, but I have many years of experience with FrameMaker.
My situation is that many of my clients are interested in switching from FrameMaker to InDesigen, which means that the various applications I have developed for converting text into FrameMaker must now be changed to fit InDesign instead. I have been reading on the web about importing text into InDesign, but quite frankly I am not at all sure how to go about doing this, or if it is at all possible.
With FrameMaker I develop applications in VB, which converts text from whatever format (xml, databases, ascii text files, etc.) into FrameMaker's MIF-format. These MIF-files contains all information needed for the publications, and they are simply read into frameMaker like any proprietary file, and there you have it. I do have an SDK for FrameMaker, but I don't use that for creating documents, as it is both slow and cumbersome to use.
Is it possible to do something similar with InDesign?
I need a way of converting which is very dynamic. I don't have a fixed template for every page, as no pages are identical. It is typically a flow of text with images, tables, lists, etc. which are presented on the page as they come. I need to be able to mark words for indexes, make lists of contents, make cross references between pages, scale images, use new master pages according to contents, and otherwise be able to format the text in any way that you would be able to do directly within InDesign.
I would prefer my convertions to end up in files which can simply be opened (or imported) into InDesign without the user having to do further work (like handling templates or importing text into one chapter at a time). If it can be done in a separatate application without using an SDK, I would like that too, as they usually turns out to be slow. A typical publication would contain 500+ pages, several thousand images and tables, so I would prefer a method that doesn't require hours or days of data crunching (with FrameMaker it takes a couple of minutes to make such a complete 500+ pages publication.)
Any advice is welcome. Even telling me that it would be stupid to switch from FrameMaker to InDesign, because I really don't see the point myself, but if my clients want it, then I do what I can to help them. But talking them out of it could also be a solution. :-)
If clients ask you to switch their work from FrameMaker to InDesign, and after discussing it thoroughly, you and they agree that it's a good idea, then go for it! If you both agree that there's value, good, and if you both agree that it's not appropriate, good, too. Perhaps it's not appropriate at the present time, but perhaps reviewing the decision periodically, after you've both had time to research and experiment with InDesign and have some experience with converting old content, and have compared working in InDesign with converted content, and developing new content, you'll be better able to decide.
Search Google for terms like "converting FrameMaker to InDesign," "FrameMaker vs InDesign," "compare FrameMaker and InDesign," "InDesign scripting," "InDesign and XML," "importing FrameMaker into InDesign," and similar terms, without quotes, for links to a wealth of discussions. You'll find many of my earlier posts on this subject. I often mention DTP Tools' (www.dtptools.com) commercial InDesign plug-in, MIF Filter, as one solution to consider. I have no connection to the company other than having used the product some, and having reviewed it for InDesign Magazine a couple of years ago. You can use the product free as much as you like, to see how well it works on your files. You can't save or print the conversions without purchasing a package of page-conversion credits; it works like a phone card. Depending on your designs and layouts, it may or may not suit your projects.
Here's one from today on this forum: http://forums.adobe.com/message/3206944#3206944
InDesign has a strong scripting capability, using applescript, vb, and/or javascript. It also has a useful XML import ability, but not round-trip like FrameMaker.
The projects you describe sound more like InDesign-type page layout designs, than the usual FrameMaker single-flow documents, so perhaps InDesign would be suitable, especially if you and your clients find FrameMaker isn't completely satisfying. Be sure to look at FrameMaker 9 closely before leaving it - if you've been a long-time FrameMaker user and developer, you may have overlooked some of the newest features.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
Message was edited by: peter at knowhowpro

Similar Messages

FrameMaker to InDesign conversion?

I have FrameMaker 7.2 and InDesign CS3. I have a few book projects in FrameMaker that I would like to convert over to CS3. However, one of them has extensive (hundreds) of cross-references (footnotes, basically), and the other has been indexed. I don't mind losing formatting, since I figure I'll be creating a new format in InDesign anyway, but I do mind losing the cross-references and the indexing.
Is there a way to import my FrameMaker files into InDesign that will retain cross-references and indexing?
What I've tried:
I tried saving a test FrameMaker file as RTF, text, and MIF, but InDesign didn't recognize any of these formats. (Though text and RTF would lose my indexing and cross-references, I was trying to see if InDesign would recognize ANY format.)
I found a service online that charges rather steeply for converting from FrameMaker to InDesign, but that isn't an option.
Thanks in advance for any help that is offered.
regards,
Marina

semiwool wrote:
But that tool didn't work with our test files. At the request of the DTP Tools folks, I ftp'd two of our archives. They acknowledged receiving them, but I haven't heard anything since. I'm guessing that these files are too complex for their filter. I should explain that these files began life as design-y Quark files, which were later converted to FrameMaker. So there are a lot of design elements you might not often find in FrameMaker documents.
InDesign table styles and table cell styles are very smart and offer more formatting options than FrameMaker, but InDesign doesn't sort tables, and doesn't have the FrameMaker column-width settings like "make current column same width as column x," or "make selected column(s) as wide as its longest text line."
Here's where I get really confused: ID tables.
In FrameMaker, the Table Tag contains the information about rules. But when I build rule information into an ID Table Style, nothing happens. I get no rules at all unless I ALSO specify rules in the Cell Style. What am I missing here?
Also, this business of associating cell styles and paragraph styles seems like an unnecessary pain to me. What am I missing here?
Also, ID doesn't make a distinction between the title block and heading rows, which is a problem for us because each of these elements is formatted differently in our tables.
Also, ID doesn't have the "table continuation" variable.
Whew! 8-)
There's an InDesign table-sorting script (search Google) somewhere around, but I don't think anyone's yet created scripts for these other features.
As always, submit format feature requests at https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform. The more requests they receive, the better chance it will happen sometime in a future release.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
The DTP Tools' MIF Filter for InDesign commercial plug-in converts conditional text and cross-references.
It's not surprising that non-standard FrameMaker methods and techniques don't convert well with a tool designed for standard FrameMaker, so the workarounds to wrangle Quark originals into FrameMaker may be helpful to the DTP Tools folks to work with going forward. It's always OK to drop a note to follow-up on their progress with your files.
Yes, InDesign turns certain table properties over to cells. Not necessarily better or worse than FrameMaker, just different. One example is that FrameMaker's paragraph format Table Cell margin property is a Table Cell offset property in InDesign. That's consistent with InDesign's text frame offset property; FrameMaker has no text offset property within a text frame that corresponds to this InDesign property.
FrameMaker table formats save the paragraph formats in the first row of table cells. When you create a new FM table with a given format, the last-created table's number of header and body rows, and table columns, are the initial suggestions; the first row of cells has the saved paragraph formats, and so do the additional rows.
True, InDesign tables have no title element. Using the paragraph in which you create the table for the title text probably will do the same thing as your FrameMaker table titles. Search Google for "indesign table continuation variable" without quotes for tips on emulating them.
You'll get used to the fact that these two products are different. One major difference you'll probably see going forward, is that the familar basic FrameMaker tool set that you've grown used to, isn't going to change markedly, even as its user interface, interactive-media options, outputs and frameworks like XML, DITA, etc, do change; compare this to InDesign's steady growth in technical-publishing features, release-by-release. The more you make use of the feature request form, the more likely you'll see some of your requests come to a future release.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

Is there a way to export data from Framemaker 7.0 to InDesign CS3 for the MAC

I am asking this question for our Advertising department so I am not too close to the situation. Another company that is part of oujr platform designed their catalogs in Framermaker 7.0. We have Framemaker 6.0. The only reason we have it is to work with this other version of Framemaker 7.0. Our advertising people use InDesign CS3 for the Mac. Right now Advertising gives the person with Framermaker 7.0 changes to be made to their catalog. He exports the file as an IMF file and she pulls it into Framermaker 6.0.
We tried to upgrade from Framemaker 6.0 to 9.0, but that wasn't possible.
Ideally we would like to take a 600 page catalog created with Framemaker and convert it to InDesign.
We would also like to take the files created with Framemaker 7.0 and import them into InDesign.
Is there a way to do this?
Thanks in advance.
dh

You can convert FrameMaker MIF (interchange) files to InDesign with the dtptools.com MIF Filter plug-in for InDesign. The plug-in is free, because you have to pay for the pages you convert. The bigger bundle of pages you buy, the lower cost per page.
dtptools.com also has a really free plug-in for FrameMaker that converts .fm files to .mif, whole directories at a time.
The converted InDesign files usually look very close to the original FM files, but it's possible to create things in FM that fools the converter, so you'll need to look the conversions over carefully.
I reviewed MIF Filter in some detail in InDesign Magazine in a late 2007 issue.
You should be aware that InDesign CS3 is no longer sold, so you can't buy more copies for all your users to be working in the same release. While it's possible to exchange files between ID CS3 and CS4 there are some things that don't convert perfectly, so you'll still have to inspect closely. I believe the most-common issue is text reflow.
It's not clear if you intend never to go back to using FrameMaker for any of the catalog work, except perhaps for creating original text.
Without seeing an example of the catalog pages, it's impossible to recommend any useful strategies. You can post a screen shot to this forum by clicking the camera icon in the button bar above the reply entry area. Inserting with the camera puts the picture on the forum very quickly, vs. attaching the picture as a file (it takes hours or days.)
There may be other strategies for creating your catalog.
HTH
Regards,
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

FrameMaker or InDesign (IDML)?

Hello
I have to work with XML file with lots of footnotes page (Footnotes) ...
A long time ago that I no longer put the hand in FrameMaker (v. 8)
FrameMaker or InDesign (IDML)?
I posse the same question on the forum FrameMaker.
Bonjour
Je dois travail avec des fichier XML avec beaucoup de notes de bas de page (Footnotes) ...
Il y a très longtemps que je n'ai plus mis les main dans FrameMaker (version 8)
FrameMaker ou Indesign (IDML)?
je posse la même question sur le forum FrameMaker.

In addition to Arnis' suggestions:
Read this brief description of UniMerge, by Dan Emory. If you're interested in it, email Dan for a copy of his longer description of UniMerge.
UniMerge can probably output the data in a form useful for importing into InDesign as tagged text.
PatternStream may work with InDesign.
Here are some results from a Google Search for indesign database:
Search Results
InDesign DB Publishing
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What you're talking about is database publishing: Taking data from a database or spreadsheet and making it pretty in InDesign. There are lots of options for ...
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HTH
Regards,
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices

Need to import a Medical Dictionary from Quark to InDesign

Just switched from Quark to InDesign for a Medical Journal and they need their dictionary to be loaded into InDesign.
I have their .QUD file from Quark but am having difficulty loading it through the preferences.
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Thanks in advance!

From your description I'm guessing a .qud is a Quark User Dictionary file from Windows XPress. If so, then it should be a simple text file.<br /><br />The best thing to do is open it in a text editor, make sure it all looks clean, and then paste all of the text into InDesign and run a spell check, keeping all of the words as you go. A bunch of clicks for the conversion, but it will create a user dictionary file as InDesign requires, which is a different format from Quark's.<br /><br />When done back up your new file from ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Linguistics/Dictionaries/Adobe Custom Dictionary/<language of the file>. (Mac location, Windows should be similar.)

How do you Place rtf files from LibreOffice into InDesign CS6

I am new to InDesign CS6. I am having a problem Placing LibreOffice rtf files into InDesign.
I am using LibreOffice 4.3.2.2, Lotus WordPro, and Windows 7. I am saving my work in rtf files. Each page has two columns.
Placing rtf files from WordPro into InDesign works with no problems, but - I wonder just how long WordPro will continue to work with Windows 7 so I would like to switch to LibreOffice.
When I Place a rtf file that has two columns from LibreOffice into InDesign, I get a loaded text cursor, but nothing loads. I can take this same file, remove the columns so there is only one column, and it loads just as it should. Further, if I load the one column file into a Master set up for two columns, the file loads into two columns with all the proper formating.
Please guide me in how to Place the LibreOffice two column rtf files into InDesign.
Thanks.
Carole

Thanks to everyone who read about my problem. I have solved it myself by using "RTF Import Options."
Carole

Different Colors when printing from Photoshop and InDesign CS3

Different Colors when printing from Photoshop and InDesign CS3
I have the following problem:
When printing from Photoshop or InDesign to a PostScript printer, Adobe recommends to let Photoshop handle the colors (I use the German version, so I don't know the exact term used, it changes slightly in all CS3 apps anyway).
The manufacturer however told me to let the PostScript printer handle the colors.
When I chose this option in Ps's print dialog and then choose ISO Coated as the printer pfofile, the results are fine.
But when I place the exact same image in an InDesign file and print from InDesign or export to PDF and print via Acrobat, again using "Printer handles colors", the results are the exact same as if I had used Ps and chosen to let Ps handle the colors (way too saturated and a bit too red).
·Photoshop CS3
·InDesign CS3
·Test image is a TIFF in CMYK Fogra 27 Coated (which is also the working color space in Ps and ID.
·Printer: Xerox Docucolor 3535
·Printer profile: ISO Coated
How can I make sure the printer handles the colors in other CS3 apps than Ps? I tried it with ID's print dialog (translated from the German version: Color Management > Options > Color Handling: PostScript-printer decides colors).
Thanks a lot!

RE: "You don't indicate what Xerox printers you have"
In my first post I named it, is that the information you need?
Docucolor 3535 using Splash 3535
That's interesting, so I have to find a way to turn off the printer's Color Management function? I mailed them, hope they can tell me how to do it easily. They usually just tell me to not use any profiles and so on, but that's the general rule in this area, I'm really tired of hearing it. Everybody seems to think profiles and LAB mode are nuclear science and I should stay away from it.
Anyway, the test image I'm using is a simple photograph (size A3, 300dpi), so no transparencies at all. I'm placing this image into an equally large ID file and print it from ID, then export it to PDF-X/3 and print it from Acrobat. Hope that helps.

FAQ: Creating PDF Files from FrameMaker v.6 & earlier Documents -- Why you should not use "save as PDF"! -- Windows & MacOS Only!

An issue that has come up over and over again on several FrameMaker and Acrobat/PDF email lists as well on the corresponding Adobe User-to-User forums is that of creation of PDF files. FrameMaker 5.5.6 and 6 have what looks like a convenient feature that is supposed to allow you to create PDF files via simply saving the document as a PDF file. I have gone on record as advising end-users not to use this approach for reliable creation of PDF files from FrameMaker documents under Windows and MacOS with FrameMaker 6 and earlier. Why do I most vociferously offer this advice and why doesn't the problem get fixed? And how SHOULD you create PDF files from FrameMaker?
GOOD NEWS
I will start with the good news. The "next major version" of FrameMaker will indeed have "save as PDF" re-implemented in a manner that it will be as reliable as printing to the "Acrobat Distiller" printer instance under Windows or the "Create Adobe PDF" desktop printer under MacOS. I am personally working with the FrameMaker development organization to make sure this really happens and is fully and properly tested and debugged! Furthermore, this next major revision of FrameMaker, unlike FrameMaker 6, will come with a Distiller installer that will properly install the "Acrobat Distiller" printer instance under Windows and the "Create Adobe PDF" desktop printer on the Macintosh (of course assuring that the latest PostScript driver is also automatically and correctly installed).
DON'T USE "SAVE AS PDF"
But what's wrong with "save as PDF" as currently implemented?
The following are some of the SYMPTOMS reported over the last few years by FrameMaker users that were traced back to use of "save as PDF" under FrameMaker:
(1) No PDF file is produced at all, possibly with a log file showing not-readily apparent PostScript errors during distillation.
(2) The PDF file "loses" color in images. All or some images (raster, bitmap images, NOT vector artwork) appear in the PDF file in grayscale.
(3) The resultant PDF file is on the wrong paper size, i.e., the document's logical page size does not match the output page size as seen in Acrobat or Acrobat Reader.
(4) Some or all text in the resultant PDF file is blotchy looking or overly bold.
(5) Some or all text in the resultant PDF file cannot be searched or indexed.
(6) Some or all text in the resultant PDF file appears in Courier or in some other substitution font.
(7) Interword or intercharacter spacing is a bit irregular in the resultant PDF file.
(8) Content is missing in the margin areas of the page, i.e. you cannot do full-page bleeds.
(9) Some or all page content is missing (other than margin areas).
(10) Relatively inefficient PDF is generated.
If this list by itself isn't enough for you, please note that some of these symptoms are very subtle and may escape attention when the PDF is first viewed or printed. Oftimes, it is when one attempts to manipulate the PDF file in Acrobat or repurpose its content or even view or print on a system other than the one on which the PDF file was created, that some of these symptoms make themselves obnoxiously visible (or invisible in some cases I won't make any bad jokes here about graphic examples!).
It is important to understand that FrameMaker does NOT have its own native ability to create PDF. Any and all PDF created from FrameMaker documents is actually done by creating PostScript via the PostScript driver and having the Acrobat Distiller create PDF from that PostScript. The only exception to this is creation of PDF via the Acrobat PDFWriter driver, which is likewise not recommended (see below).
In order for "save as PDF" to work correctly, FrameMaker must do the equivalent of calling Printer Setup and selecting the "Acrobat Distiller" printer instance under Windows or the "Create Adobe PDF" desktop printer under MacOS followed by setting the driver's options correctly for paper size, page range, etc., followed by sending the proper commands to the driver to create PostScript.
Contrary to popular belief, PostScript as generated by the Windows and MacOS PostScript drivers is VERY device-dependent. The information in the PPD file associated with a printer driver instance provides critical parameters for generation of PostScript including:
Whether the printer supports color (Acrobat Distiller does)
What PostScript language level is supported (Acrobat Distiller 4.x and Acrobat Distiller 5.x are both PostScript language level 3)
Whether native TrueType support is available (Acrobat supports native TrueType as Type 42 fonts)
Available binary communications (Acrobat Distiller supports pure binary and ASCII, but NOT TCP, TBCP, or PJL)
Resident fonts (Acrobat Distiller doesn't really have resident fonts)
Available paper sizes and custom paper size availability (Acrobat Distiller supports a wide range of predefined sizes and continually variable "custom" sizes up to 200" by 200")
Margins / printable areas (for PDF and the Acrobat Distiller, there are no margins in which imaging is not permitted)
Device resolution (Acrobat Distiller can be set to any value from 72 to 4000 dpi; as a convenience, the Acrobat Distiller PPD provides a series of values for use by the driver. Since there is no inherent "resolution" of a PDF file, this parameter is used only for purposes of allowing PostScript programs that query for such a value to be satisfied and for the driver to be able to communicate this value to the operating system and/or application as required.)
Paper handling (totally irrelevant to Acrobat Distiller if input or output tray selection via "setpagedevice" is found in the PostScript stream, it is ignored by Acrobat Distiller)
Thus, if the wrong printer driver instance is selected (i.e., it isn't associated with the Acrobat Distiller PPD file) or that driver instance is improperly configured, improper PostScript will result and one or more of the symptoms described above can occur. As currently implemented, FrameMaker depending upon version will not necessarily choose the correct printer driver instance and/or correctly parameterize the print job via driver setup options. In fact, FrameMaker 5,5,6 might even try to generate PDF via calling a PCL driver, FAX driver, or even a non-PostScript inkjet printer!
DON'T USE PDFWRITER
The Acrobat PDFWriter is a relic of older versions of Acrobat. In fact, it is no longer installed by default in the "easy install" or the "typical install" of Acrobat 5. It hasn't really be updated since Acrobat 3 and only supports PDF 1.2. It is a GDI (Windows) / QuickDraw (MacOS) driver that directly generates PDF without any intermediary PostScript. Since it is not a PostScript printer driver, applications cannot pass through EPS graphics and/or PDFMark information (used for a wide variety of purposes by FrameMaker). For EPS graphics, most applications will send the low resolution TIFF (or PICT) EPS header in lieu of the PostScript text, if they send anything at all, to the driver. Forget about links, structure, or any other PDF "goodies." Expect that PDFWriter will fully "bite the dust" in the next major version of Acrobat.
SO HOW DO I GENERATE PDF FILES FROM FRAMEMAKER 6 & EARLIER?
The ONLY method that is really reliable for producing PDF files with FrameMaker 6 and earlier requires the generation of PostScript via a properly set printer driver instance associated with the Acrobat Distiller PPD and distillation of the resultant PostScript by Acrobat Distiller.
Case 1: FrameMaker and the Full Acrobat 4.05 or Acrobat 5.0x Products
PDF file from a "chapter" -- print directly to the Acrobat Distiller printer instance (Windows) or the Create Adobe PDF desktop printer (MacOS) already installed by Acrobat. If you check the "Acrobat data" option, then make sure to UNcheck the "print to file" option that gets set at the same time. As a result, the driver will automatically send the generated PostScript to the Distiller for you and delete the intermediate PostScript when done.
PDF file from a "book" -- print directly to the Acrobat Distiller printer instance with the "print to file" option checked (Windows) or the Virtual Printer desktop printer (MacOS) associated with the Distiller PPD (see details below under Case 2/MacOS). You will need to manually process the resultant PostScript file through the Distiller (or use a "watched folder" arrangement).
In both the above sub-cases, the default driver options generally will be OK, but check on paper size and communication protocol (Use pure binary, not ASCII, for optimal performance AND no CTRL-D characters under Windows. Make sure to set Level 3 only and Binary under MacOS. Font inclusion "All" for Acrobat 4.05 and "None" for Acrobat 5 under MacOS.). With Acrobat 4.05, make sure you preset the Distiller to use the joboptions you want. With Acrobat 5, you can set this on a job-by-job basis via the driver printer setup interface (or print dialog on MacOS).
Case 2: FrameMaker 6 and the Bundled Acrobat 4.05 Distiller
Windows -- Create a new printer driver instance using the latest version of the Adobe Universal PostScript Driver Installer, downloadable from Adobe's web site AND the Acrobat Distiller PPD file (located in the XTRAS subdirectory of the Distiller directory). This driver instance should be set to print to the local port named "FILE:". Name this driver instance as "Acrobat Distiller". The default driver options generally will be OK, but check on paper size and communication protocol (use pure binary, not ASCII, for optimal performance AND no CTRL-D characters). Make sure you preset the Distiller to use the joboptions you want. Print directly to this Acrobat Distiller printer instance. Make sure that the "print to file" option is checked. You will need to manually process the resultant PostScript file through the Distiller (or use a "watched folder" arrangement).
MacOS -- Install the latest version of AdobePS 8.7.x, downloadable from Adobe's web site. In FrameMaker, go to Page Setup and select the "Virtual Printer" and go to the "Virtual Printer" window pane. Select the Acrobat Distiller PPD file (located in the XTRAS subfolder of the Distiller folder). Print directly to the "Virtual Printer" (Make sure to set Level 3 only, Binary, and font inclusion "All".). Make sure you preset the Distiller to use the joboptions you want. You will need to manually process the resultant PostScript file through the Distiller (or use a "watched folder" arrangement).
Case 3: Acrobat 3
Acrobat 3 is not officially supported for the latest OS versions and I personally would no longer recommend its use for generation of PDF files given that Acrobat 5.0.5 is the current version of Acrobat.
- Dov

You're asking a lot of ancient Acrobat to work with an Office that never existed when it was made. "Just updated my office suite" is a massive change, and Window 8 didn't exist at that time either...

Unable to generae pdf from Framemaker

Hi All,
I am experincing some error while generating pdf from Framemaker 10. The generated pdf is not displaying the content in all the pages and even most of the tables are also appearing blank. Does anyone know what is the error behind this? Please help.
Thanks,

Hi Radhika,
Try creating a PDF file using file/print. Although this is unexpected behavior for Framemaker (sorry) - you should contact Adobe Support.
Kindest regards, Stacy

How do I place text from Pages in InDesign

How do I place text from Pages in InDesign?

You will need to export the text from Indesign as either .rtf or .doc files and import those.
You can also cut and paste but I assume you have already tried these options and are not happy with the result, but haven't said why.
Peter

Pdf created from FrameMaker book using FDK is of bigger size

Hi,
I am new to FrameMaker, when trying to generate a pdf document from a FrameMaker book using FDK, the size of the pdf file created is big when compared to the pdf created using “Save As PDF” from FrameMaker. I have tried setting Named Destinations to false and also “PDF Job Options” to “Smallest File Size”.
Below is the code we use to create a pdf file using FDK
//Open the frame book to process document by document
bookId = OpenFile(strFile);
/* Get docId in order to set Acrobat Bookmark levels */
docId = F_ApiGetId(FV_SessionId, FV_SessionId, FP_FirstOpenDoc);
F_ApiSetInt(FV_SessionId,bookId,FP_PDFBookmark,True);
F_ApiSetInt(FV_SessionId,bookId,FP_PDFJobOption,6);
/* Sets "Body" to the highest Acrobat Bookmark level. */
pgfId = F_ApiGetNamedObject(docId, FO_PgfFmt, StringT("Body"));
F_ApiSetInt(docId, pgfId, FP_AcrobatLevel, 1);
F_ApiSimpleSave(docId, name, False);
/* Sets the save parameters so as to save as PDF and allow user to name file.*/
params = F_ApiGetSaveDefaultParams();
i = F_ApiGetPropIndex(&params, FS_FileType);
params.val[i].propVal.u.ival = FV_SaveFmtPdf;
i = F_ApiGetPropIndex(&params, FP_PDFAllNamedDestinations);
params.val[i].propVal.u.ival = (IntT)False;
i = F_ApiGetPropIndex(&params, FP_PDFJobOption);
params.val[i].propVal.u.sval = F_StrCopyString ((StringT)"Smallest File Size");
/* Saves the book and all its components to one PDF file */
int_SaveID = F_ApiSave(bookId, StringT(strTargetFile), &params, &returnParams);
/* Close the open files.*/
F_ApiDeallocatePropVals(&params);
F_ApiDeallocatePropVals(returnParams);
CloseFile(bookId);
Can anyone suggest a way to reduce the size of the pdf file
Thanks,
Neeraja

Are these duplicates side-by-side (e.g. A and then A again) or one after another (A, B, C... and then A, B, C...)?
If they're one set after another, FM picks up the list of paratags to include in the bookmarks list from the first file in the book, so if this doesn' contain everything, it might help to import the additional formats into that one. Then clear/remove the exisiting bookmarks and only add back the Titles and Heading1 bookmarks (check that the TOC ones remain in the Don't include list).

Clicking from Word to InDesign not working

I am trying to copy and paste from MS Word 2011 into the lastest CC InDesign 2014 (10.1.0.71) (on a Mavericks 10.9.4) and it is not working to simply click from Word into InDesign. I must use the toggle shortcut (Command + Tab) to activate the workspace in InDesign, then click my targeted text box.
This is an extra step in my workflow and has never been a problem in previous versions or any other software for that matter. Clicking a window should make that application active.
Please HELP! Fix!
Thanks!
K

Just realizing this is an issue across displays. Any software that I have on monitor B will not allow me to click into InDesign on Monitor A to activate the InDesign application. I must toggle, or click another application's window then click InDesign, to make it active.

Please share your experiences moving from Quark to InDesign

My company's design group is pushing to move from Quark to Indesign, starting with one of my projects, which is our largest (400 pages), highest profile document (it is currently in Quark, and the plan is to pour the text and graphics into InDesign). Our schedule is very lean--leaving little room for surprises. None of the compositors in the design group have used InDesign. They are expected to recieve some formal training--but only about 1 week's worth total over a period of several weeks. I am all for making the transition to InDesign, but feel that the wiser path to take is to start on smaller and less high-profile documents that have more time in the schedule for the learning curve. However the design manager is adament that the transition will be problem-free. My experience is that any transition like this has bumps, and most are unexpected, and create havoc and panic. This document has only gone to print on time once (in 10+ years)--with me managing the project and with much sweat and tears. My hope that this year we could go to print on time AND do it with less wear and tear on all who work on it. I just don't think this will happen making this tranisiton now. Can anyone share their experiences when they made the transition?

Everyone else has had really good advice about starting with a 400 page doc, particularly if it's complex. If it's just text with a couple illustrations every 4 or 5 pages, it might be do-able, but if it's a complex document with lots of stuff on every page, it could be tricky.
Try this link for the official converter's guide.
http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/indesign/articles/indcs3ip_quarkmigration.pdf
Some practical tips for the beginning XPress converter that I learned the hard way...
- Cmd-shift-click pulls stuff off the master page.
- The lack of master anchors may limit your ability to accomplish certain master page layouts (with prelinked text boxes) that are easy to do in XPress. Everyone here will tell you to simply use the margins to control your text flow, which may or may not work well for your particular case.
- Always scroll around a document by holding down option+spacebar. This insures that you will get the scroll hand tool every time instead of accidentally inserting a zillion spaces into your text.
-Cmd-shift-A deselects everything in a text box so that you can select another tool. There is no next/prev tool shortcut, but rather keys for each tool. (T is text, A is the white arrow, V is the black arrow)
- You "thread frames" rather than "link text boxes" despite how I wrote this. :)
- Don't set text wrap to effect only the stuff underneath in the prefs because...
- All text should go in a separate layer on top of the graphics layer because...
- InDesign dynamically resolves transparency effects at print time, which means if part of your text is layered under a transparent element it may get rasterized.
- If you need to get text to show even when it's on top of an object with a text wrap, select the text box and check the "Ignore text wrap" option.
- Overprint Preview is your friend. It'll help show you all those things that you didn't notice were going to print strangely before you commit them to print. (Overprinting white type, etc)
- When you're just starting out, so is the Flattener Preview because you will start to get a feel for what is going to be bitmapped and what won't.
- XPress documents imported into InDesign should always be exported as Adobe InDesign Interchange and reimported one more time. .inx is the equivalent of the "thumb-nail drag" trick in XPress to clean up a document that is acting funny.
- XPress documents with placed EPS files may come in with the "Non-printing object" attribute checked on some of the EPS graphics. There's a script floating around that Dave Saunders wrote to fix this. Also, turning Overprint Preview will help you spot this (look for the disappearing objects).
- If you are placing EPS objects, be sure to set your import options to "Render preview from postscript" or your previews won't look right and/or may be deceiving.
- Don't every base your paragraph styles off of "Basic Paragraph Style", because if it ever changes in another document your type will suddenly change when you paste it from one document to another.
- Don't base anything off of "Basic Object Style" for the same reasons.
- Your defaults change whenever your change the options in a palette/panel without anything selected. Curious why every new object you draw comes in with a drop shadow or a 3pt rule, for example? You accidentally set those options with nothing selected.
- InDesign's paragraph composer may drive you (or your proof-readers) wonky because it will change the flow of text paragraph-wide if you redo a line of text. You can either adjust it for decent text flow and leave it alone OR turn it off by basing all your stylesheets on single-line composer. People in here will largely recommend option one, but if it doesn't work for your stuff, don't be afraid to disable it.
- Make sure to upgrade to the latest CS3 update, because CS3 v5.00 had some fairly crashy behavior.
- If CS3 feels really sluggish, try turning off page previews in the Pages palette.
- CS3 and OS X 10.5 are not fully compatible yet.
Best of luck! It's not really that big a change, but everything is slightly different so expect a bit of time to really get your feet under you.

Pasting Text from Word to InDesign (need preserve selected formatting)

When I import text from Word to Indesign I want to preserve the Italic and semi-bold but nothing else.
The Indesign document has a template set up with ipsum text styled with semi-bold and normal text as well as a character style for the italic.
When I paste the text into InDesign I want the ital and semi-bold to translate into the already styled text frame with no other formatting from Word.
As there will be hundreds of text frames like this I want the ital etc to automatically translate. I also need to paste text over these templated text frames (see attached.
Cheers,

Use File > Place and check the import options instead of Copy/Paste.

Copy text from FrameMaker 11 to another editor

It appears that one cannot copy text in FrameMaker 11 and paste it into another editor such as Notepad++ or MS Word. It is as though FrameMaker does not use the Windows clipboard. We observe this behavior with WYSIWYG View and Author View. On the other hand, we can copy text from the XML View and paste into these other editors with no problem.
This issue seems to have been introduced with FrameMaker 11, as we can copy and paste the identical text from FrameMaker 10. As another data point, unstructured FrameMaker 11 also allows copy and paste to an external editor.
Can anyone provide insight into why this behavior occurs and how we might modify it?
Thank you,
--larry0

Hi Russ,
I tried your suggestion and saw no difference between the keyboard shortcut and the menu command. However, your question about there being anything unusual in our files led me to think about what might be different. The difference is that we use DITA-FMx. I converted back to native FM DITA and the anomaly disappeared.
I'll contact Scott Prentice directly about this issue to minimize traffic on this forum.
Thank you for your help,
--larry0

From FrameMaker to InDesign

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