*** From the Archives ***
This article is from October 16, 2007, and is no longer current.
Adobe Announces Support for Leopard… soon
Sandee Cohen and I are sitting in a session at The Creative Suite Conference in Chicago, listening to Adobe’s Adam Pratt and Whitney McCleary. Before they started their presentation, Whitney gave an official statement of how Adobe will be working with Apple’s new Leopard operating system (Mac OS 10.5) which Apple has announced will “arrive” Oct. 26th.
McCleary said, “It’s a huge release with more than 300 new features. We’ve been working very closely with Apple over the last year, and we fully intend to support Leopard. We’ve been going back and forth with their testing team, but we now need to test against their GM [golden master] build. In general, OSes change up until the GM, so we’re going to take the next few weeks to test against this final build.”
It’s clear that there may be problems with CS3 under Leopard. McCleary added, “Our testing teams believe that many applications will work, but that some will need to be patched to address issues.” Adobe will want to release those patches in a single bundle, so that all the apps will work together. They are expecting to make an announcement about compatibility in the mid-November.
On the question of how people should update to Leopard, Pratt suggested “I would do some sanity testing. Try [Leopard] out on a few machines and make sure things are working.” I can’t agree more. In my opinion, hust because you can update to a new OS doesn’t mean you should.
To one question about the coming Leopard patch, Whitney added, “I want to be clear about this: We are adding Leopard support, we’re not eliminating support for earlier operating systems — such as Tiger.” She also pointed out that Adobe is not planning on making any substantial changes to the Suite applications for Leopard.
There were some concerns about Leopard support a few weeks ago (after some ambiguous remarks made by Bruce Chizen; see comments from John Nack), but McCleary’s comments offer much more clarity on the issues.
(Portions of this post were contributed by Sandee!)
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?I would do some sanity testing. Try [Leopard] out on a few machines and make sure things are working.?
Sounds like sound advice – unless you only have one machine to work on. I think I’ll wait with my OS upgrade. I just cannot afford not to have CS3 work on all levels. Bummer, I was rather looking forward to that upgrade.
In all honesty, I will most likely buy a Mac mini and use it as a second machine to test Leopard with the CS3 products. I have an extra monitor as well as keyboards and mouse. So the $800 will be all I need to spend.
I have two primary Mac computers. My “work” computer is the MacBook Pro. Since the laptop has to work with CS3, I’ll hold off on installing Leopard there. But I’ll try it out on my G5 iMac.
Why the editors of InDesign Secrets have removed in this article two links to MacNN and TUAW that describe in details serious problems with CS3 on Leopard? Is this site really independent from Adobe?
Mr. or Mrs. Independent: Good point! Two things happened when this was first posted. First, Sandee and I posted at the same time, not knowing the other person was posting. So I merged them together under this post.
Second, I was typing so fast that I included links and comments that weren’t entirely correct. I had originally included links to MacNN and TUAW because I thought Bruce Chizen had made these comments yesterday. Not so; when I went and looked again, I realized that both of these were from last month, and were just speculation based Chizen’s comment back then. I don’t consider his comments relevant anymore, given Whitney McCleary’s comments. (Whitney, I know, is actually closer to the real-world testing and product development side of things.)
As for how independent we are… umm.. well, you could check all my posts in which I vent my spleen about InDesign’s annoying features and so on. ;) But I appreciate you keeping us on our toes.
I trust that Adobe will get it right. They always have! Maybe I’m just naive?
A good way to go about this and one I have done in the past is install on a new hard drive. You can always boot on that hard drive to see how things work.
You Mac guys can’t make a separate partition like in Windows? I have a separate partition that I use to test beta software etc. No need for a second computer.
Sure. As long as the hard drive is new. Can’t partition an existing drive. At least I don’t think so. Not without wiping first. BTW. Window guy should see how easy and cool the disk utility is in OSX…
Fred,
I don’t need no stinking partition. I do beta testing using Parallels on my Mac. Of course, that means I beta test the Windows versions, but it’s a hell of a lot better than having to keep rebooting the machine.
Dave [grin]
I use a second machine because I want to keep my email and regular OS running on one machine while I test Leopard on the other. I always have had two machines running when I work. One for the work, the other for writing about what I am seeing.
If you want to create partitions of Mac without reformating it entirely, you can use DiskStudio from Micromat.
I have been using it since two years.
https://tinyurl.com/yaulh9
OK OK, I admit Parallels is very cool! But it makes me fool good knowing you’ve got parallels to run Windows ;).
That was supposed to be “feel” good. What a typo!
I have been running InDesign (CS2 and CS3) on Windows XP for over 2 years and since it’s release, respectively. It’s a heck of a lot longer than I have got out of my previous G4 for running Quark, and less problematic for my G5 running InDesign, especially when upping the OS.
My previous G4 had nothing but problems and in fairness when I got it it was 6 years old, and then my brand new G5 with OSx and InDCs2 It was more than problematic. Nothing to do with the fact that the RAM slots where burnt when the new machine arrived [rolls eyes]
I have not really had a problem running Adobe apps on Windows. I can’t believe I am saying this… but Goooo Windows! (I secretly love Macs!!!!!!!!)
FYI, on-the-fly partitioning is one of the new features in Leopard.
There are a lot of cool features that aren’t flashy enough to get spotlight status, but cool nonetheless:
https://www.apple.com/macosx/features/300.html
I’m still waiting for at least Adobe to get things worked out and the 10.5.2 update. Although I do have an extra unused drive sitting over here?
Keeping an up up to date with an OS is good and all but I’d like to see Adobe work on improving the antiquetted functionality in Illustrator at some point. But since they now have a monopoly on drawing applications I doubt they’ll ever address it.
It’s their red-headed step child of the creative suite and is so bloated it’s not even funny.
For example: I have a FreeHand native file with over 300 complex vector patch designs in it. The file size is a mere 2.3 mb. I just created two .5″ two color simple vector icons without any raster effects in CS3 Illustrator and the file is 1.7 mb. That is moronic and a testament to Adobe lack of attention to an app via poor engineering!
Von… to me it sounds like Illustrator is saving more detail and information than Freehand… perhaps this is why Adobe has the Monopoly on the drawing applications, because they are better.
Whoa Nelly! Like a referee between sparring fighters, I’m going to jump in between you two before this fight gets out of control! Take it to the local pub (or illustrator site). ;)
Besides, everyone knows that complex illustrations should be done in InDesign. (I’m kidding!)
The penalty for being wrong is too high. As badly as I want to upgrade to Leopard, I can’t afford to have any of my computers without CS3. So I’ll wait until I see if other, braver, souls are having problems.
–Dan
New guided tour out today for Leopard
https://www.apple.com/ie/macosx/guidedtour/?cid=CDM-EU-1496
Just thought I would share…
I installed Leopard (GM Build) yesterday and the Creative Suite 3 on an External Hard Drive connected to my MacBook Pro. So far I have not had any problems with Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign or Acrobat. I have not tried Flash or Dreamweaver yet.
Today I will Refine (RIP) a couple jobs through Pringery (using the PDF Print Engine). PDF’s Exported from InDesign CS3 using PDF/X-4 with live transparency.
It has only been about 24 hrs, but it is really fast!!
Best,
James
What really disappoints me is that today is the day Leopard is available and I can’t find a word about potential problems on Adobe’s site. It should be in big letters on the main page of their Support site.
It’s like Adobe is hoping their customers stumble across the news here (or in other non-Adobe places) like I did.
Considering how important the Adobe products are to professionals, you’d think they’d be darn sure to get the word out to their customers that installing Leopard on day one is not the best idea.
Yes, most of us know that’s not the best idea, but I think Adobe has dropped the ball in doing everything they can to let people know there might be problems.
All you had to do was ask. :)
https://www.adobe.com/support/products/pdfs/leopardsupport.pdf
> All you had to do was ask.
Yes, and I see it’s now linked on the main support page. Wish I could get such fast action from MS regarding Office 2008, but that’s another story and for another blog.
What does concern me about that document is the extent to which Acrobat may or may not work.
It says, “At this time, the only component of these CS3 editions that requires an update is Acrobat 8 Professional to address a few specific issues. That update is expected to be available in January 2008. For more information about issues running Acrobat 8.1.1 Profes-
sional on Leopard, please visit http://www.adobe.com/go/support and search the online knowledgebase.”
Well, I did that and came up dry. This is serious…are those “few specific issues” going to affect me getting a PDF from an InDesign document?
I’m not asking you specifically, but there is nothing currently in the Acrobat Professional KB related to Leopard.
So I’m really back at square one wondering if I need to hold off on Leopard.
So, being smarter this time, I’ll ask: What are the “specific issues” and will it affect my workflow? If they know there are issues, are they currently sharing that in another document?
Acrobat has nothing to do with getting a PDF out of InDesign as long as you’re exporting. The way I read that reference to Acrobat is more of a CYA thing than anything else.
They specifically state that they do recommend using Leopard so I don’t think I’d be too concerned. I wouldn’t be the first one on line to use it but I’d suggest keeping an eye on Adobe’s User to User forum, specifically the Mac Acrobat forum where you’ll likely hear about problems if there are any.
Bob, thanks for the notes and advice. I’ve had a wonderful experience with CS3. And having moved from PC to Mac earlier this year, I’m also quite taken with the Mac experience. So I’d love to get my hands on Leopard, but can’t risk hurting my business with potential problems.
It’s just felt a little muddy in terms of how smoothly it might all work and I’m letting my impatience get the best of me.
So, I’ll stalk the forums. ;)
I’m still on Windows here and haven’t rushed out to get Vista. A new operating system is usually something that you want other people to work out issues with.
I posted this on the Adobe forums, but feel it is relevant here as well:
The fact that we had to wait over a year for Adobe to release an Intel compatible version of CS3 was deplorable enough. Now, we have to wait three months for CS3 to work properly again! This is beginning to remind me of when Quark was dominant and got very egotistical. We know what happened there…
Adobe has failed in three key areas:
1) Working with Apple to have there products ready ON TIME and close to Apple release dates. And please don’t tell me that this is not possible… I have been in contact with major development teams in the past (such as Macromedia) and know that it is possible to do so. Adobe is simply too important to Apple for them not to be willing to work closely to ensure compatibility issues don’t arise.
2) The information made available about CS3 compatibility is vague at best. Even the Leopard FAQ which Adobe released means next to nothing. There “may be” issues that arise? There “may be” problems within Acrobat? What does that even mean? How about some specifics!
3) I – and many others – are still having terrible issues with both Flash and Dreamweaver on Intel Macs. Adobe knows of these problems, as they have emailed me personally about them. Still no fix to any of the issues… How long does it take?
Adobe used to be one of my favorite companies… Now they are just another big company who has a monopoly and all users under their thumbs because of it.
Yep… wish I had read up (I always do… feeling like a fool) on all of this before I upgraded… MAJOR issues with CS3, esp. Illustrator. :(
David, which MAJOR issues with AI CS3 and 10.5 do you mean?
I upgraded to Leopard, and now Indesign CS3 opens Ok, but when I try to edit a document, it tells me “unable to check out this file. Someone else might be using it.” But no one is.
Can anyone help? I can’t edit any previous documents, only newly created ones.
I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled ID, and have run out of ideas…
MacBookPro
The problem is that people like David and Sean have troubles that may or may not have anything to do with Leopard… or they might be exacerbated by the new install.
Sean, what you’re experiencing sounds like there are either .idlk files floating around that need to be deleted (quit indesign first), or you need to rebuild your permissions (use the Disk Utility application).
David,
I did rebuild the permissions, but that didn’t do it. However, I did discover that I could delete the ‘assignments’ (which I had never heard of before) and that allowed me to edit.
But I’ll look for stray .idlk documents and delete them. Thanks for the suggestion, I guess the presence of an idlk file would trigger the “someone else might be using the file” message.
I had some very difficult moments upgrading to Leopard, but there’s always someone out there with a suggestion that solves a problem!
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