http://macproductionartist.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/indesign-paragraph-styles-xml-elements/

InDesign uses XML in three basic ways.

1. On Import – Usually to create dynamic documents or to simplify the formatting process. (Map Tags to Styles).

2. To manage assets – Import images or text based on a content management system (CMS).

3. On export – Usually to create content for the CMS systems or directly for the Web or other InDesign documents. Many are now using the XML for electronic books. Adding the XML structure can be done manually in InDesign or by using Map Styles to Tags. Elaborate structures can be created using Nested styles to help minimize the manual process.

If you need to learn some basics on XML, check out w3schools.com. They have wonderful free tutorials that teach everything you need to know about XML, DTD, XSLT and a host of other Web-based technologies. It was very helpful to me.

For example, it is really helpful if you learn how to read a DTD before you apply the XML structure so you can do it correctly.

If you load the DTD in InDesign it automatically loads the XML tag list and gives you a method to proof your structure. The error messages are kind of cryptic but it’s better than nothing.

I hope this helps.

I strongly recommend Jim’s book, but should add that it came out a little too late for me. I had to learn the hard way with CS2 a few years ago.

I’m glad you’re talking to Typefi. Their product has a lot going for it, and they have come up with some truly ingenious methods and workarounds for dealing with InDesign’s XML shortcomings.

If you need workflow & project management too, you might check out something like PageSeeder.
http://www.pageseeder.com/

I don’t know if DITA’s appropriate for your work, but if it is, a total end-to-end DITA solution that operates in the browser is DocZone.
http://www.doczone.com/

But like you say, none of these is cheap. Plus, once you get in, it can be hard to get out if it’s not working. I think the truth is that people who can’t engage a solution on the scale of Typefi, are in for rough ride.

Four years ago I was desperate to learn XML and searched frantically for answer with little luck. There were few resources. So, I wrote my own. From the outside XML seems hard and esoteric. But it is actually quite simple and straight-forward. If you aren’t afraid of HTML then you shouldn’t be afraid of XML. One marks up text for display (HTML) the other marks up text for content (XML).

InDesign does a great job with XML both on import and export. Sure, there are things to be desired. If you are desperate for every feature of XML then use Framemaker. It has XML down as a science. But for most tasks InDesign is all you need.

I’m surprised by all the complaints about DocBook. I have an entire chapter in my book regarding it. It is a very elaborate DTD that has gobs of built-in flexibility and can adapt to most existing structures. You’ll have to show me a layout that can’t adapt.

On the other hand, if you know you are creating content that will be structured in the end, perhaps you could design it to the standard in the first place. It takes only a little time to familarize the production and design team to legal structures and methods for adapting elements to a book so they work within the guidelines. One simple way we use is to create complex illustrations outside of InDesign, so that the captions, headings and any call-outs are incorporated into the graphic itself and not in the layout.

CS3 and CS4 have much better XML features than CS2 or CS. You need to upgrade if you are working with XML.

In the last two years I have spoken at several InDesign and Creative Suite Conferences on XML. I teach XML with the sensibilities of a designer, not a programmer or coder. I will be in Orlando in May at the InDesign User Group demonstrating XML and at the InDesign Conference in November.

If you need help sooner, I am also available for on-site training or seminars. Or you could just buy the book. It teaches you almost everything you need to know to get up and started.

I am in talks presently with Typefi…
(thanks to the guys here for introducing me to Typefi)

But these solutions are really really expensive…

And…the problem I’ve found is that no-one really wants to get into the nitty gritty, of a step by step solution, they seem to just point you in the direction of an XML book or course…

I would do it… if I knew anything about it… maybe I should keep a diary… It’d be a horror story…

Step One: Simply Tag your word file using the XML codes, which you have already learned from…..???????????????

Step Two: Simply Create a DTD

Step Three: Import into InDesign Template.

I’m sorry, on re-reading this, It sounds like I’m really bitter about this whole process…
Maybe I am… Maybe it’s because there is nothing out there which helps me, and thus I will loose business to India who can do it on the cheap. Which means I will have to sack staff because I won’t be able to financially keep them because the work isn’t there…

All down to not finding any help on XML workflows.

Very dramatic… This won’t happen, as my business is large enough to pay for a “One Stop Shop”…

But what about the people who can’t…

I think my €3,000 would have been better spent flying to the States for the seminars – definitely next time, I hope.

In my travels through the internets, I’ve discovered a few things…A few things I’m not happy with.

1. No information on XML Workflow for the layout/typesetter…

2. No step by step howto guides…

3. The only examples are of Database to Indesign Catalogues, or business card creation. Nothing on Books.

4. They only describe what to do in InDesign.

5. The most important part of the XML Workflow, is the Code…They NEVER EVER explain how that’s generated from word.

It’s always assumed you already have the XML text file already done. Or have a degree in Computer Science.

The XML website (http://www.xml.com/) is confusing and crammed full of I don’t know what.

The W3Schools website (http://www.w3schools.com/xml/default.asp) is worse… You don’t know what’s an add and what’s a lesson…

They really IMHO make it impossible to learn anything for people with limited time…

Unless of course you work in India, and have 200 people coding your one word file…

None of this makes sense…

I guess if you had the money you could fly from Ireland to the States to attend a conference and walk away thinking they talked a lot about nothing relevant to you…

Or I could fly from Australia to the States.

They “XML Guru’s” are not making it easy…

[*as I cower back to the internets looking for a solution*]

Marcus Stringer
Midland Typesetters
Australia.

Excuse any spelling errors as I do not check in forums…

I’ll be sure to keep on eye on publicious.net for more of Eric’s postings (sorry for the spelling error in his name last time). I am looking forward to getting into actually using XML and understanding it.