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GenevieveDever
Participant
June 24, 2024
Question

QuarkXPress to InDesign

  • June 24, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 2337 views

Can I open a QuarkXPress file created on a Mac in my InDesign on my PC?

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 20, 2024

Check out Markzware's OmniMarkz software.

https://markzware.com/products/omnimarkz/

(Warning--not inexpensive.)

 

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    Brad @ Roaring Mouse
    Community Expert
    Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 20, 2024

    What version? InDesign can open 3.3.- 4.1 file from either platform (works well, btw). If you have newer than that, in addition to selling utilities to convert newer Quark files to InDesign, markzware also has a conversion service where they do the work for you priced according to the size of the file. That might be a better option for you if you just have one or two files. I had them do a client's huge Publisher file for me a few years back and was very satisfied with the results.

    If it's QXP 6.x or less I can probably give it a try for you as I have an old Q2ID plugin on an old Mac system here.

     

    James Gifford—NitroPress
    James Gifford—NitroPress
    Legend
    June 24, 2024

    There is some continuity, as older versions of ID could open certain file types created by certain QXP versions.

     

    I suggest you simply try it.

     

    If not, there are both conversion apps (which may be too pricey for a one-shot job), and services. A few of the folks on here have multiple older systems in play just for this kind of conversion as well.

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 24, 2024

    It would have to be a decades old Quark file...

    Support for direct opening quark ended with Q version 5 or 6, I think, and was dropped after InDesign CS6, if I remember correctly.

      BobLevine
      Community Expert
      BobLevineCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 20, 2024
       

      That said, I believe that new versions of XPress can export to IDML.


      By @BobLevine

       

      No not save/export as IDML, just open IDML...


      How Will You Use the New IDML Export, GREP, and Fonts Palette in QuarkXPress 2024? | Quark

       

      IDML Export

      Import and Export have been upgraded. However, what is huge in QuarkXPress 2024 is that you can now export IDML. IDML is an interchange format designed originally for InDesign, but now adopted as a semi-standard interchange format for Desktop Publishing.

      Not only can you save for InDesign and Affinity users, and for webservices that require IDML, you can also save for earlier versions of QuarkXPress that read IDML.

      IDML saves at the level of ‘things common to everyone’. So, for example, if you are saving something with text shading, the text itself will come across, but, since applications don’t support text shading to the same extent, the shading itself disappears. 

      Using IDML gives you maximum data integrity and structural compatibility. Your style sheets will come across, but they may not look the same, for example because of the recipient not having the same fonts installed. If you want to maintain the exact look of a document, export as PDF instead. Earlier versions of QuarkXPress back to 2016 can import this, though few other packages can.

       

      Affinity Publisher also has this capability.

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