InDesignSecrets Videocast #9: Notes and Comments
Need to leave yourself a note inside your InDesign document? Or leave a comment to a co-worker? Join David and Anne-Marie as they explore several techniques for adding notes and comments that reliably travel with the file!
You can watch the videocast by clicking on the video below, or — if you want a larger version of it — go directly to our channel at indesignsecrets.blip.tv. These videos are also available on Adobe.tv (though it usually takes a few weeks for each episode to be posted there). Alternatively, you can watch (or even subscribe) to the video podcast on iTunes with this link.
This episode is sponsored by DTP Tools, makers of Blatner Tools — a set of 12 InDesign plug-ins, all for one low price!
Comments? Special features you’d like us to cover? Please chime in below!
Thanks for your great site. I downloaded all podcasts (Audio and video) and listened them.
saeed from Tehran Iran
David, you should consider doing a series of videocasts featuring your plugin. I have been trying it out and of the features of tried, I have impressed. It would be great to see it visually for us visually-inclined types.
@Saeed: Thanks! Glad to know the information is getting into good hands around the globe. (I’d love to visit Tehran someday. I’m sure it would be fascinating.)
@Nick: Agreed! I am working on those… I’ll post something here when they’re done. I’m really glad you like the plug-ins. Have you tried the “Edit Current Paragraph Style” keyboard shortcut yet?
I didn’t here you mention putting in notes with the notes tool.
I meant “hear” not here.
@Steven: GREAT point. Oops. I guess we just don’t use that very often, but you’re right: The Notes tool also lets you insert a note/comment via the Notes panel.
Something I’d advise for any layer that contains items that you never want to print: always put “Never Print” or something similar in that layer’s title. Just in case the file gets handed off to someone else who doesn’t take a close look at it and quickly prints or exports it.
Especially necessary if you don’t use Nonprinting on those elements — which, if you want the elements to show up when you export a proof PDF for someone — you can’t use!
@ Adam Jury: You can change the entire layer to a nonprinting layer, by unchecking the “Print Layer” in its Layer Options. The layer name will become italic.
Absolutely — and that means that the layer won’t show up when you export it to PDF, which during the proofing stages is often necessary because that’s when the notes are often used.
Much better, IMO, to do some preventative maintenance right when the layer is first created.
You can “Export All Layers” and you’ll see it in the PDF.
It’s better to set it as a part of print/export draft presets.
I think, more accurately in this case, you would want to export Visible Layers, which is different from All Layers (which would include any hidden layers that you may REALLY not want to print/export at the moment). That would work, certainly.
I think the “human” reminder is also important, though.
(After a book has gone to press, or just before, I do tend to go through and *delete* all of the Notes layers, to be on the super-safe side so they don’t get accidentally enabled by someone else for a later printing, by a foreign licensee, etc.)
Excellent, excellent tips … thanks so much everyone!
You really don’t have to use the Note tool, or go to the menu, just control-click where your cursor is, and get a pop up menu and select New Note.
thanks a lot! very clear and exhaustive!!