Can CS5 open QuarkXPress 8 files?

[Sniblette]

Hi,

We currently use CS3 but our graphic designer has upgraded to QuarkXPress 8 and now we can't open her Quark files (we have the conversion software that worked for files saved in Quark 7). When we try to open these files, we get the following message: Cannot open the file "Blah". Adobe InDesign may not support the file format, a plug-in that supports the file format may be missing, or the file may be open in another application.

If we upgrade to CS5, will we then be able to open QuarkXPress 8 files? If not, what do we have to do to open them (short of switching over to Quark ourselves)?

Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.

[macinbytes]

No

You need

http://markzware.com/products/q2id/

Try before you buy and they'll send you a discount code for 10% off.

[BobLevine]

You will need the latest version of Q2ID from Markzware. If you have the version that opens Quark 7 files you can upgrade to the newest version.

InDesign will never open Quark files later than version 4 for legal reasons. Markzware's XTensions are too important to Quark for them to make a case about it with them.

Bob

[Sniblette]

We have an older version of Q2ID that works just fine on all other Quark files, just not the new XPress 8 files. So if I'm understanding correctly, we would have to upgrade to CS5 as well as to the new version of Q2ID? Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks for your help!

[BobLevine]

Q2ID version 5 requires InDesign CS4 or CS5. If you're still on CS3, then yes, you'd need to upgrade ID, as well.

Note: if you're using a suite, you must upgrade the entire suite. You may not upgrade single applications.

Bob

[Scott Falkner]

As far as I know QuarkXPress, (soft of) like InDesign, can only backsave to the last previous version. Your client using QuarkXPress 8 should be able to save QuarkXPress 7 files which will work with your version of Q2ID.

[macinbytes]

Q2ID v4, $99, will convert Quark 8 documents and work with CS3 InDesign. Sorry for not noting your CS3 version.

http://markzware.com/products/q2id/q2id-store/

See Press Release:

http://markzware.com/marketing/press_release/2009-press-releases/01-23-2009-release-of-q2id-v4/

[Sniblette]

Ahh, so if I'm understanding correctly, we do not have to upgrade to CS5 in order to open QuarkXpress 8 files, we just need to upgrade to the new Q2ID program, right? Wow, that'll save us some cash.

[BobLevine]

That is correct, but as noted on Markzware's site, there is no support for Q2ID version 4.

Bob

[macinbytes]

This is true. Assuming you've used the Q2ID product before you will be familiar with the way that Quark files are converted. As with the Quark 4 import there are some formatting attributes that are added to Quark's frames. Markzware gives a nice guide for how differences between the two applications are handled.

In CS3 the find/replace dialog is far less robust. In CS4 and above you can automate the process and correct the vast bulk of your import funk via find/replace. If you are dealing with hundreds of pages or a vicious revision cycle that may make it worth the transition to CS4. If it isn't the kind of job that you have tons of hours correcting on a normal import it may not be worth it.

[Pijnacker01]

Hi folks, David from Markzware, the makers of Q2ID here. Just wanted to post an update. Q2ID v5.5 is now out with Adobe InDesign CS5.5, CS5 and CS4 support. It will run, as a plugin, in those versions of InDesign. Q2ID v5.5 will convert QuarkXPress v9.1 projects, right on down the ladder, straight into InDesign, saving huge amounts of time and money in DTP (desktop publishing) costs.

For users of CS3 or lower, we offer a Quark to InDesign file conversion service. Email sales AT markzware DOT com for more details.

Here is a video demonstration of Q2ID v5.5 in action and it costs only $199€ -

Friendly Regards,

David Dilling

Markzware