Comments on: A Designer’s Guide to InDesign and XML http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php InDesignSecrets Blog and Podcast Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:09:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dean Klouwens http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-299145 Dean Klouwens Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:50:53 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-299145 Jim Maivald, Hi. Can you tell me if your book explains how to create XML from a CSV or TXT file. I was hoping my Mac OSX Excel could do this but it seems it can't. This is how my upcoming print catalogue data will be supplied, and this is where I get stuck. How do I get this csv or txt databases into XML format? Jim Maivald, Hi. Can you tell me if your book explains how to create XML from a CSV or TXT file. I was hoping my Mac OSX Excel could do this but it seems it can’t. This is how my upcoming print catalogue data will be supplied, and this is where I get stuck. How do I get this csv or txt databases into XML format?

]]> By: Jim Maivald http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-292639 Jim Maivald Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:33:24 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-292639 Hello all. Thanks for the kind words. Our book on XML was a labor of love. I discovered XML a couple years ago when I had to do a catalog project. I could not get the data out of the database. I tried data merge with horrible results. Basically, one should only use data merge for small one-off projects that you will never see again. XML is best for live projects where you need to update data or repurpose it to other documents or to the Web. The great thing about XML is that it is very flexible and allows you to use it for a variety of purposes. We tried to touch on all the areas in which you can use it. As for export to XHTML, you really have to see how InDesign can create amazing Web content using XML and XSLT. Besides explaining how to use XML, the main goal of our book was to reduce the "fear factor" people have of those poor three letters. Hello all. Thanks for the kind words. Our book on XML was a labor of love. I discovered XML a couple years ago when I had to do a catalog project. I could not get the data out of the database. I tried data merge with horrible results. Basically, one should only use data merge for small one-off projects that you will never see again. XML is best for live projects where you need to update data or repurpose it to other documents or to the Web.
The great thing about XML is that it is very flexible and allows you to use it for a variety of purposes. We tried to touch on all the areas in which you can use it.
As for export to XHTML, you really have to see how InDesign can create amazing Web content using XML and XSLT.
Besides explaining how to use XML, the main goal of our book was to reduce the “fear factor” people have of those poor three letters.

]]> By: David Blatner http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-265021 David Blatner Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:49:57 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-265021 Leah, you make an excellent point: When to use XML and when to use something like datamerge. As I said back in <a href="http://indesignsecrets.com/indesignsecrets-podcast-067.php" rel="nofollow">Epidosde 67</a>, my rule is basically: If there's any way to avoid XML and still be happy, do it. XML is great technology, but if yo have csv or tab-delimited text that you're trying to format, then Data Merge or em software's InData is just so much easier and straightforward. Leah, you make an excellent point: When to use XML and when to use something like datamerge. As I said back in Epidosde 67, my rule is basically: If there’s any way to avoid XML and still be happy, do it.

XML is great technology, but if yo have csv or tab-delimited text that you’re trying to format, then Data Merge or em software’s InData is just so much easier and straightforward.

]]> By: Leah Jervis http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-264499 Leah Jervis Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:59:46 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-264499 I'm in the process of reading this book as well. I just started chapter 6 so for those who have already finished the book let me know if my question gets an answer. When do I use XML and when do I use Data Merge? The author makes it sound like XML is the way to go but I don't receive any data in an XML format. It all comes to me as a csv file, so I'd have to write my own xml and dtd, right? Should I go through the trouble of learning how to convert these in excel (assuming that's even possible)? I’m in the process of reading this book as well. I just started chapter 6 so for those who have already finished the book let me know if my question gets an answer. When do I use XML and when do I use Data Merge? The author makes it sound like XML is the way to go but I don’t receive any data in an XML format. It all comes to me as a csv file, so I’d have to write my own xml and dtd, right? Should I go through the trouble of learning how to convert these in excel (assuming that’s even possible)?

]]> By: Wa Veghel http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-246635 Wa Veghel Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:24:54 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-246635 Seems to me there is an error on page 7: the closing should be and NOT ! Seems to me there is an error on page 7: the closing should be and NOT !

]]> By: Emma Barnes http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-242736 Emma Barnes Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:32:02 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-242736 I've just spent the most wonderful weekend reading this book and implementing the gems it contains. I can't find contact details for the authors anywhere on the web, but if you're reading - thank you, thank you. You've saved me at least a couple of years of trial and error. An utter bargain. I run my own book publishing company and I think I'm almost more excited about your book than my own! I'm recording my growing use of XML (in the form of the book trade's standard, ONIX) through screen grabs at our blog if you're interested - www.snowbooks.com/weblog . Definitely on a par with the RealWorld InDesign books which I rate higher than any. I’ve just spent the most wonderful weekend reading this book and implementing the gems it contains. I can’t find contact details for the authors anywhere on the web, but if you’re reading - thank you, thank you. You’ve saved me at least a couple of years of trial and error. An utter bargain. I run my own book publishing company and I think I’m almost more excited about your book than my own! I’m recording my growing use of XML (in the form of the book trade’s standard, ONIX) through screen grabs at our blog if you’re interested - http://www.snowbooks.com/weblog .

Definitely on a par with the RealWorld InDesign books which I rate higher than any.

]]> By: Ken Whitaker http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-236078 Ken Whitaker Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:17:54 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-236078 I just received the XML book - I agree with David. Incredible and very presentable. Wonder if the author used InDesign to create the book because I'm dying to know how he made the run-ins work (with the Chapter number alongside the Chapter title) in the TOC and how he integrated (spot-colored) annotations with figures Fig 4.7 on Pg 104? Both features are easy with Adobe FrameMaker but not exactly obvious with InDesign CS3 (well, at least to me). I just received the XML book - I agree with David. Incredible and very presentable. Wonder if the author used InDesign to create the book because I’m dying to know how he made the run-ins work (with the Chapter number alongside the Chapter title) in the TOC and how he integrated (spot-colored) annotations with figures Fig 4.7 on Pg 104? Both features are easy with Adobe FrameMaker but not exactly obvious with InDesign CS3 (well, at least to me).

]]> By: David Blatner http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-232401 David Blatner Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:33:35 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-232401 Jay, I agree that the Peachpit site doesn't make it easy to find these files. <a href="http://www.peachpit.com/promotion/136144" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Here's a link to the page that has the supplementary files.</a> You have to create an account there and "register" the book first. Jay, I agree that the Peachpit site doesn’t make it easy to find these files. Here’s a link to the page that has the supplementary files. You have to create an account there and “register” the book first.

]]> By: jay fresno http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-231744 jay fresno Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:52:58 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-231744 I bought this book: A Designer's Guide to Adobe InDesign and XML. However, I can't find the companion files for the projects. Has anyone been able to locate the companion files and if so, where are they. (Yes, I did register the book.) I bought this book: A Designer’s Guide to Adobe InDesign and XML. However, I can’t find the companion files for the projects. Has anyone been able to locate the companion files and if so, where are they. (Yes, I did register the book.)

]]> By: Charles Parrington http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-231103 Charles Parrington Thu, 27 Dec 2007 07:15:55 +0000 http://indesignsecrets.com/a-designers-guide-to-indesign-and-xml.php#comment-231103 Hi David I have been using XML for the last 15 years and what I find very interesting is the larger publishers need to repurpose content. So for all those designers out there, get to know XML, as this will become an very important part of any production workflow. Yes, I agree, it does not look pretty, and yes, it can get complicated, but if you are serious about the future of your publications knowledge then XML will have to part of your workflow. There are more and more large publishers that are approaching me asking how they can introduce XML from source, before InDesign, as they want versions of their publication to be streamed into multiple workflows. Take the example of a book on birds, this is traditionally done in print only, but now the same content is being delivered via mobile phones o subscribers, then there is another one on travel tips, also needs to be in hardcopy, web and mobile phone, and there are many such examples. At lot of companies are talking asset managements and CMS, and the only ay to store the test in these solutions is XML. So XML is here to stay. Interestingly did you know that InCopy is one of the few XML editors, it saves all of its files in XML, great for this type of workflow. Also InDesign Snipperts, are pure XML. Good to see that there are books on XML for InDesign, looking forward to reading this one from James and Cathy. Good luck. Hi David
I have been using XML for the last 15 years and what I find very interesting is the larger publishers need to repurpose content. So for all those designers out there, get to know XML, as this will become an very important part of any production workflow. Yes, I agree, it does not look pretty, and yes, it can get complicated, but if you are serious about the future of your publications knowledge then XML will have to part of your workflow. There are more and more large publishers that are approaching me asking how they can introduce XML from source, before InDesign, as they want versions of their publication to be streamed into multiple workflows. Take the example of a book on birds, this is traditionally done in print only, but now the same content is being delivered via mobile phones o subscribers, then there is another one on travel tips, also needs to be in hardcopy, web and mobile phone, and there are many such examples. At lot of companies are talking asset managements and CMS, and the only ay to store the test in these solutions is XML. So XML is here to stay. Interestingly did you know that InCopy is one of the few XML editors, it saves all of its files in XML, great for this type of workflow. Also InDesign Snipperts, are pure XML. Good to see that there are books on XML for InDesign, looking forward to reading this one from James and Cathy. Good luck.

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