Packaging files for service providers in Illustrator CS3 necessary?

Question

Hi, i need to
package my files in Illustrator for a service provider
tonight in the same fashion one would do
in InDesign for a service provider.
But Illustrator does not have 'File->package.'
From what I can see I might go to the links palette
and use that to embed images?
But i was also told that you usually don't want to embed
Well, i'm obviously confused, anyone who can point me in the
right direction, that would much appreciated,
Thankyou.

Answer 1

Yeah, there's no easy way to package up the fonts unless you use Art Files or Scoop. From "Find Font..." you can then go to the finder and search for the fonts you've used. If it's only a couple, it's not too bad. Just make sure you get the right versions... (I know I have about 20 faces of Futura...)
If the service provider isn't going to be making any changes to the copy, then there is really no reason not to outline the fonts.
Outlining fonts changes them from text to shapes, treating them just like any other shape in your file, removing your ability to edit text (so it should be one of the last steps in your pre-flighting of a file) and it guarantees that what you send the printer is what you'll get back.
Keep a live (not outlined) copy of all your files for future use and send the printer an outlined version.
Or, if this is something you're going to be doing a lot of, and you don't want to outline the fonts, look into Art Files or Scoop. I know Art Files is only like $50, and it works great.