Need a recommendation

[stevef95691943]

Hello,

I have a question for all of you, im looking at options to convert a Quarkxpress file version 10 into InDesign 2018, it is a large catalog containing about 200+ pages.

I know if you can revert the file to an old enough version of Quark you can do it without spending any money, but the oldest i can go is 9.

So im looking for the best option for to transfer this file, just wanted to ask if any of you know any good paid services that can do this?

Thank you in advance for the advice!

[BobLevine]

Spend the money on Q2ID or go to Markzware’s site and look for their own service to convert a single file.

[Scott Falkner · Accepted solution]

A more layout intensive method that requires no additional expense is to just rebuild the file in InDesign. Export a PDF then place that into a dedicated non-printing layer in your InDesign file. Keep the QuarkXPress file open to copy and paste text and inspect elements for position, scale, and text formatting.

This will, of course, take much longer. But it will produce a cleaner file with much less cruft and excess styles and swatches. Future users of the file will write operas in your honour.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

Highly recommend Scott's method.

I don't know about the operas part, but it definitely will create a file that will be very usable for future updates to the catalog. Worth the investment of your time to set up the best possible INDD file you can.

Markzware's product/service is fine, but the conversion isn't as tight as i like. My studio uses that software only for one-off projects...as in, just get it converted and out the door.

A catalog usually isn't a one-off; you're reusing the files from edition to edition. So setting it up the right way now can have a large payoff in the future.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

I agree with Bob's recommendation. Q2ID does a pretty good job of converting to In Design. Sure you'll have some issues that will need to be fixed, like rerunning text or text Wrapping an image instead of the Graphic Frame containing that image. But once you get beyond these fixes, you have a totally usable InDesign file.

If stevef95691943 wanted to recreate the file from scratch, he wouldn't be asking the question.