Comments on: This Week in InDesign Articles, Number 33

By: Polly

Polly — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:16:35 +0000

I have 5 different charts I have to create quarterly for my clients newsletter. I bring in the clients numbers from their excel files into Illustrator then create the charts and then use them as images into my InDesign layout. Illustrator’s help files on making charts is extremely poor. I thought that this detailed tutorial is exactly what Adobe should be putting out there.
I wish there was better information on how to set up the excel file to allow Illustrator to translate the data. I find that people don’t like to cross-train with software.
One of your more memorable posts was Anne Marie telling us the things that MS word will do to files when translated into InDesign. She gave us tips on how to prevent those mishaps. Excellent!
Cross-training is also needed when trying to use data merge.

By: Glenn Kramer

Glenn Kramer — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 03:56:55 +0000

I agree about Adobe creating a software program for creating graphs. This would be a wonderful addition to the creative suite.

By: David Blatner

David Blatner — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:18:58 +0000

@Jennie: In theory, Amazon pays us a tiny percentage of the book price when you buy (if your purchase comes from a clickthrough on that link, which includes a small affiliate code in it).

Meanwhile, there is NO doubt that the world needs a good charting solution for professional publishers…

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:21:00 +0000

I’m confused…as usual. How does buying Nigel’s book from Amazon support InDesign Secrets? I ask this just after I ordered the book from Amazon.

I’m with them about charts and graphs! That may be a good request for Adobe…A new CS (sub)program or spin-off just for charts and graphs. Sort of like Flash Catalyst.

By: Neets

Neets — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:16:42 +0000

What he said!!! Far too inconveniant and old-fashioned!

InDesign is improving every time, but Illustrator is a bit stuck!

By: Branislav Milic

Branislav Milic — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:37:21 +0000

The tutorial about charts in Illustrator proves that Adobe must come up urgently with a solution within illustrator to avoid 24,785 steps in making a decent chart or graph.