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cinstudio1
Participant
February 8, 2018
Answered

Hebrew and English technical issues

  • February 8, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 602 views

I apologize for the length of this post in advance... but there are a lot of moving parts to explain.

I am working on a siddur (prayerbook) that was first published in 2009. The siddur uses both English and Hebrew fonts. I believe the original file was created in InDesign cs3 (English only version) on a Mac using text created in DavkaWriter on a PC. At the time, the Middle Eastern version of InDesign was far too expensive for the synagogue to purchase. We found a service provider who was able to open our version of the file and save it so that the Hebrew text read properly (right to left instead of left to right). The vendor also repaginated the document so that the siddur could be bound on the right (not left) side.

Currently, we are in the process of creating a second printing of the siddur and would like to have the ability to correct some typos, vowels and cantorial diacritic errors.

Using Adobe InDesign cs6 (english only version), I am now able to open the ME version of the file we received back from the service provider.

There are two issues relating to “Missing Fonts”:

> Ezra SIL SR appears to have been used in one specific prayer. It might have been used for kerning/spacing since I don’t see any use as actual characters. Is there a font that would work as a replacement?

> Winsoft Pro Medium also appears to have been used. When searching for instances of this font, the following message appears:

"Warning: The selected font is applied to hidden conditional text, or applied to text in a locked story, or is part of a composite font. Some instances of the font may not be found, or may not be changed.”

What are the implications regarding this warning? Is there a way to fix or a work around for this issue?

Are there any additional unforeseen issues with the process outlined above?

Are there any benefits to using Adobe Indesign CC? Is there a Middle Eastern version of the software? Is it available on a subscription basis similar to all other Creative Cloud applications? Would there be additional technical issues to overcome opening our files using the Creative Cloud version of the software?

I have also read about World Tool Pro plug-in and World Ready Paragraph Composer. Before I delve further down these routes, are they even necessary?

Thank you for any help and insight that you might have.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Cyndee M

To answer the easiest question; Ezra SIL is a free font you can download.

As far as the rest go, there is really no way to know. The current CC version with Hebrew support is excellent, but no way to know what will happen to your file if opened in it. If you only need small edits and don't want to deal with a major reformat, you should probably continue to work on your document in the version in which it was created.

I work in the most recent version of ID CC with Hebrew support and familiar with the siddur, and would be happy to take a look at if you'd like. However, I don't work much with nikud (vowelization) or trop, so I wouldn't attempt those corrections, but I could see how it opens and what it looks like.

You should be aware, that Davka provided a version of the siddur together with DavkaWriter (which I also own). I'd bet your siddur originated there and it might be easier to start again from there and use the new ID CC rather than trying to fix what you've got.

1 reply

C
Cyndee MCorrect answer
Inspiring
February 8, 2018

To answer the easiest question; Ezra SIL is a free font you can download.

As far as the rest go, there is really no way to know. The current CC version with Hebrew support is excellent, but no way to know what will happen to your file if opened in it. If you only need small edits and don't want to deal with a major reformat, you should probably continue to work on your document in the version in which it was created.

I work in the most recent version of ID CC with Hebrew support and familiar with the siddur, and would be happy to take a look at if you'd like. However, I don't work much with nikud (vowelization) or trop, so I wouldn't attempt those corrections, but I could see how it opens and what it looks like.

You should be aware, that Davka provided a version of the siddur together with DavkaWriter (which I also own). I'd bet your siddur originated there and it might be easier to start again from there and use the new ID CC rather than trying to fix what you've got.

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