Project management sofware to aid InDesign

I stumble upon this
articlewhich features 43 compared project management software alternatives and I am still having problem on what to choose that would be perfect for InDesign.

Graham,
Have you considered doing this:
Use InDesign and generate the number of pages needed for your publication.
Setup a separate layer called 'flatplan'.
Set-up different object styles that would apply a different colour for different content-zones (e.g. editorial, ad etc.), and include in the object-style a paragraph style reference and text-inset so that you can also type some details for each content-zone (e.g. ad-number or something).
Once you've completed the flat-plan in InDesign
You can communicate to others for instance by printing it as thumbnails  (In Print > Setup, enable Thumbnails).
You could even use your publication template for this and just add the flatplan related layer and styles to it.
As long as you use a separate layer for your flatplan info, you can change that layer to 'non-printing' when production is completed, and you can also use it to retain status information for your publication during the production process.
It's not automatic... but if you've already got InDesign its definitely not costing you anything extra ;-)
I'm not aware of a flatplan plug-in for InDesign. I did come across:
Mao Workflow http://www.ccimagazine.com/Subsites/Products/product/MAOWorkflow_web.pdf but have never used it, maybe some other forum visitors have?
Cari
www.twitter.com/carijansen

Similar Messages

  • InDesign Project Management Software

    We are working with inDesign CS4 on a 80 page field services industry publication.  We are struggling keeping articles and advertisements managed before, during and after editing and layout.  Does anyone now of a project management software for magazine publications?

    Hi Mitch,
    I've spent the last few years researching software project management solutions in another specialized field, and I think that you're missing the boat when you're thinking about software. If you don't know how to manage the information you already have with just whiteboards & manilla folders and the like, you're going to be at a severe disadvantage when trying to shop around for a prefab database that will manage your workflows on your behalf.
    Check out this discussion of PM tactics; there's some good food for thought.
    http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000076
    Of course, if your information is already in disarray, and your workflows are already being pushed along manually, then of course the idea of managing it with software is appealing. However, you'll best be able to ask those questions ("How are y'all doing it? Because we're doing it with hand-drawn Gantt charts on whiteboards") if you already have a system. If you don't already have a system that you want to replace, then you're best off hiring someone who is not only a DB dev but who is also familiar with the ins and outs of project management. That person can spend a few days/weeks learning what you have instead of a workflow, and can then build a software-based workflow around your organization's activities.
    With about 35 ads and 45 articles we are having a hard time keeping up with what has been received from contributors and writers, whats in layout, 2nd edits, 3rd edits etc.... and feel we need something to help us stay organized outside what inDesign does. 
    As a database-workflow-managin' pro, it's my feeling that you don't need something, you need someone. And that someone is the person to ask, "How do I shop for a software-based workflow management app?"

  • Project Management Wishlist (hoping for software or online solutions)

    hi all.
    i've converted the office to mac over the last two plus years and need to put a second level of organization to bed.
    would anyone mind helping me find other websites and/or suggestions on how to get this finalized? apologies for the length and intricacy of the post but THANKS for any help on this! even just one good lead or recommendation (say for FileMaker or one of the Devon tools could help me get moving forward with it and not have to backtrack).
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    i also really need to communicate some of this information with clients and have them communicate back to me, right now this is a terrible mess and extremely unproductive with widely dispersed and duplicated information (at a bare minimum).
    i have finally customized my images in Aperture but still need to organize my pdf's and my videos. i also find Spotlight to be rather unhelpful for some items and in reading up on Devon, one of their tools has a /graphic/ search display that somehow shows linked items and whether they have been "read" or not. this kind of VISUAL ORGANIZATION would be absolutely fantastic [http://www.devontechnologies.com/products/devonagent/overview.html]. i should also add that what i /don't/ want to do is to have to catalog my project file by file and simply DRAGGING and DROPPING files to create a link if my ideal organizational method. tagging items with the GTD tools that i have tested is a non-starter for me and i actually don't even use tags in my Aperture database. i just drag and drop them to an appropriate Project.
    currently an example workflow for my Aperture database is that i POST these images to flickr to let a client see what kind of imagery i am using in their project (but they cannot upload /their/ imagery). nevertheless, this is very convenient because i can simply create an ALBUM in Aperture and drop the (pre-organized) imagery in there and post it to flickr from within the Aperture UI. this is really great but getting this link to a client is a bit of a pain because even flickr Pro uses some silly thing where you have to decide whether the recipient is a "friend" or "family" and ostensibly anyone that gets determined as one or the other can see all the other images in this category. it would be a whole lot better if i could just create an Album for a particular client. of course it would be great to
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    1. bookmarks
    2. pdfs
    3. spreadsheets
    4. contact list
    5. images
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    7. a lot that i am forgetting to include here.
    it would also be great to be able to organize PHONE CALLS and TEXTS and EMAILS on my computer so that i can have a record of communication with and FOR this client.
    i would also like to get most or much of this to my iPhone if at all possible!
    Devon for project organization and possibly other needs [http://www.devontechnologies.com]
    FileMaker for project organization [http://www.filemaker.com]
    Campfire for project management [http://campfirenow.com] 
    Papers for academic research [http://www.papersapp.com/papers/]
    Highrise for contact and prospect management [http://highrisehq.com]
    Project Wizard for critical path management [http://www.projectwizards.net/en/merlin/]
    Diigo for online bookmarking [https://www.diigo.com]
    what i use now:
    Notational Velocity (oh so awesome) iphone compatible [http://notational.net]
    Reminders (nice for the location tools but i have not maxed out my use of this tool)
    Contacts (for personal contacts and syncs usually well with my laptop and desktop and iphone. however, managing email addresses in here is a nightmare for a small business)
    Cardscan (for business card contacts. resides currently only on the Mac Pro and i am not sure how to get Cardscan to talk to my other devices)
    Mac Mail (meh)
    Sparrow (cool and quick but somewhat feature light)
    iPhone (yes-sir-eee bob)
    Safari (good at what it does)
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    Transmit (nice FTP tool)
    i also work on windows where i do quickbooks and CAD so i am open to software suggestions for windows if there is nothing for the mac (though i suspect i can do much of the above on the mac, even if i cannot corral all of it together).
    THANKS FOR READING and thanks for any constructive input!

    Ipolucci,
    I am a teacher and so I do not have your needs to really understand your requests.
    That said, I would reccomend you FileMaker Pro and Journler ( currently at version 1.1.62, running by Mac OS X 10.3.9 , the version I have and already in versio 2.0.1 for those who have 10.4).
    The first one is a relational commercial DB of an Apple subsidiary, with several template solutions ( probably one will fill your needs ) and the second one is a freeware, that has integration with Mail, Adress Book, Blogs, Photos, Audio recordings, iTunes and more.
    Just in case does not come anyone else with the complete solution, you should consider a free trial of FileMaker Pro (just released the version 8.5) and take a look at Journler.
    Both at <http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/>
    Regards,
    Jorge Lucas (the guy from Rio Grande do Sul)

  • Is it possible to export, and include AE compositions used within a Premiere Pro project, via project manager?

    I've several Premiere Pro CC 2014 projects I want to relocate via project manager (one at a time). They're excessive in size (many long and unused footage files), so "Create New Trimmed Project" is the setting-option, within project manager, most attractive. BTW I love how project manager does this... However, when I check on its new location, I don't see any linked AfterEffects files. Fine, I try the other setting "Collect Files and Copy to New Location". This option allows me to now copy everything including rendered scenes featuring my AE compositions (and a lot of excess, unused files)... but still no AE files!
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    Though not exactly the solution I seek, I've tried an alternative approach... it works (if anyone's interested)... but my original question still stands.
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  • Project management systemwho uses what?

    My dilemma:
    We are a small Design Marketing firm that uses a hodge-podge of different software systems to manage the various aspects of a project lifecycle.
    My wish:
    To find a single system that will:
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    2. Convert estimates to project tickets
    3. Track all time and resources for a project
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    Currently we use Word to generate an estimate, Filemaker Pro to set up an actual project number/ticket and track time, Basecamp (online) to manage files and correspondance with client, and Word to generate an invoice. No two of those communicate with the other so there are huge inefficiencies. Been in the business 20 yrs, and even with the ubiquity of computing, nobody out there as solved the "universal" project management tool.
    Has anyone at least found a system that minimizes the number of software systems needed?

    Print Management Software
    If you go to indesign mac forum and search for "project management" or "job management" something should pop up. We've discussed this several times.

  • Project management tools for complex publishing project?

    I was wondering what project management tools people use for managing complex InDesign projects? Software-oriented project management tools, or are there tools specifically for publishing projects?

    The "Yes" is a link to a list of them. There are also a number of web-based services like 37 Signals.

  • Project Manager plugin missing error message

    When opening documents InDesign CS 3 (5.0.3), I get an error message advising that the document uses the Project Manager plugin, which is "missing." These documents were created in a previous version of InDesign (probably CS1).
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    Jim

    Open the file in CS3 and then export it back out as INX. Open the INX
    file to continue working.
    Bob

  • Project Manager crashes everytime.....

    Hi.
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    Have you done the usual first-aid job of repairing file permissions using disk utility?

  • Adding a New Folder in Project Manager Crashes RH

    For the past few days, I have been having problems creating
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    I've deleted both the PSS and CPD files without any noticeable positive effect.
    Since I've been on RH8, the project is set to rebuild the .cpd cache upon opening, but I've also tried deleting it (this might be redundant, but I figured the RH "rebuild" might be different from generating a brand new one).
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    The project resides in the standard "My RoboHelp Projects" folder.
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  • RH7: Project Manager Tab keeps refreshing continuously

    I have upgraded my project from RH5 to RH7. There were in all 65 projects (.xpj) files that I upgraded. However, i have this issue with some of the files. When I open the xpj file, the Project Manager tab keeps refreshing. I cant scroll and select the files that are towards the end because the moment I click the scroll bar, the the tab refreshes and I cant click on the file.
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    Have you tried renaming the CPD and reopening RH to make it create a new one?
    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
    @petergrainge

  • Can't open project after rebuilding Folders in Project Manager

    I had a corrupted project so I renamed the cpd file.  A lot of Folders in Project Manager were lost, so I recreated the folders and imported all the topics back in.  I added one last Folder back in and RH was having a problem with it (I didn't write down the error message).  It booted me out.  Subsequent attempts to reopen this Project are unfruitful.  The message I get is that a certain folder (not the same one I was adding) will be added back in and needs to be properly deleted from Project Manager.  (I had renamed that Folder, but I did it inside of Project Manager.)
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    Thanks.

    Please see the announcement at http://forums.adobe.com/community/robohelp/robohelp_html
    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
    Follow me @petergrainge

  • Unable to Open Project Site Access Denied Issue (Project Manager)

    Hi 
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    Geeth If you feel that the answer which i gave you is Helpful please select it as Answer/helpful.

    I believe I've found the fix for this issue.  After opening a ticket with MS support and not getting anywhere with this issue I decided to do an in-depth review of all the Project and SharePoint 2013 CU's starting with December 2013 to September 2014. 
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    Watch the
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    September 2014 CU http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2882990 (the one I installed)
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    https://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2883083
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    Frank Miranda Florida Hospital MIS

  • Unable to open Project management reports

    Hi,
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    I had checked few things from my side, /BCV/Main is activated, I have BCV_admin role and also CPR_BCV_USER role, but still i am not able to view a single report. I tried accessing from NWBC desktop GUI and web gui, same error. Please guide me in solving this problem.

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  • The order of topics in the Project Manager is not reflected when creating a PDF for review.

    Can't seem to find an answer to this in the forums...
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    Notice in the image below, my topics are displayed by topic title, but aren't in alphabetical order. ...yet.
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    Is there some way I can quickly change this 'odd' sort order to 'alphabetical'? There must be some underlying file with this order of topics in it (hopefully).

    Hi there
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    Perhaps Peter will pop in with a nice explanation of the PDF for Review sorting and Adobe's logic behind it.
    Cheers... Rick

  • Images are missing in Project Manager

    I’m replacing old images with new ones in RoboHelp HTML 10.
    I’ve deleted the old pictures in Design view and pasted the new pictures in. (I know this is not the recommended way but with lake of time I found it to be the fastest way and we don’t feel the need to give the files described names at the moment.)
    It has worked fine until now when I noticed that some images are not showing in Project Manager. I see the “folder” Images and I see a lot off images there but some are missing. The “missing” images are shown in Design view and in the browser after publishing. But in the report Unused files the “missing” images are listed as unused.
    I have tried to
    close and reopen the project,
    generate and publish the project,
    delete an “missing” image from Design view and insert it by using Insert / Image. After saving this image, and some other “missing” images, are shown in Project Manager. But not all “missing” images.
    Does anyone know why this is, or more important how to get Project Manager to show all images that are used in the project (without having to go through all 154 images trying to figure out which are used but “missing”)?
    Some more facts:
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    They are all stored at the top-level in the project folder. (Are there a limit how many images there can be in the top-level folder?  Should I create a separate folder and move the pictures there?)
    HTML-code for one “missing” image:
              <img src="image7.gif" alt="" style="border: none;"
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    Grateful for any input!

    I would have said "Try renaming the folder containing the images in Rh's Project Manager. That sometimes fixes the problem. You can revert to the old name afterwards."
    Keeping all the images, and / or topics, in the root is never a good idea. It can slow things down and it's messy.
    You can move the images you can see but obviously you cannot move the others. Try moving a topic that has one of the images to a different folder and see if that refreshes. Also try deleting the CPD file and reopening Rh.
    Backup first.
    See www.grainge.org for RoboHelp and Authoring tips
    @petergrainge

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