Convert XML to IDML automation

[Runedeath]

Hi,

I've recently been given an assignment and to be quite honest, I'm not fully clear on what's being asked of me. What does the description below more clearly emphasize in regards to the tasks required to perform such duties?

Basic description:

- Use XML documents as an input and convert it to an IDML template to automate the production of repeatable publishing documents.

Responsibilities would include:

- Create designs, concepts and sample layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and esthetic design concepts using InDesign

- Determine size and arrangement of illustrative material and copy, select style and size of type based on templates provided

- Use and create computer software to transform XML Documents into the IDML Templates

If anyone has a wild idea of what exactly is being asked and how to get there, please enlighten me!

Thanks.

[Eric Dumas · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Importing content in InDesign can be done in many ways. Some content can come as XML. It can be created from other software, the content is formatted in a different way (using code tags). When the content is imported in InDesign, a mapping process will 'link' a style to a tag and format the content (not only text but frames as well).

The idea is that the xml content is compatible with other products like FrameMaker and Web pages, it is easier for translation software to process as well.

Once a template is generated, you can import the content and 'throw' it in the template, there should be no (or minimal) editing to do. Much more flexible and faster than MS Word.

Have a look at InDesign CS5: Dynamic Publishing Workflows in XML

Creating an InDesign Booklet Using XML

[Dirk Becker]

XML is a data format where an arbitrary structure is expressed using tags and attributes. The actual structure used for your specific data may be specified by a document type definition or schema - competing mechanisms to express the same: this tag may contain those others, and this one may come ofter the other.

<address id="123">

  <name>...</name>

<street>...</street>

</address>

The XML import described by Eric is an alternative way to fill in your address record into a matching InDesign document. It is not what the job description asks for.

An InDesign specific family of file formats is called IDML, it includes IDML (InDesign markup language), ICML (InCopy - that's mainly styled text), Snippets also use that format. All of them are dialects (document types) based on XML, IDML itself is also wrapped in a zip archive. These data formats carry all information required to reproduce an InDesign document, or just the relevant subset (page items, text stories).

Create any example document, export as IDML, rename the .idml file as zip, extract the zip archive and view its contents with a plain text editor. This will produce a folder of xml files with plenty InDesign terminology - describing page sizes, styles, shapes, colors and so forth. Or just look at a snippet to get started. You are expected to produce a choice of templates for those files using InDesign, that would be carrying the hat of a graphics designer.

As a next step you are supposed to evaluate actual data (material and copy) and determine parameters accordingly. Whether this is meant as a manual job for a less qualified operator or asking for either assisted or full automation is not specified. Probably it is even the other way around than quoted, you'd typically choose a template matching the overall make of your data, rather than adjusting style and size.

The final step - in order of your job listing - would be a specialized software developer's job. The keyword "transform" indicates use of the technology "XSLT", a programming language for working on XML. You would write a program in that language to fill in your data into your template files. If you've never done that before, this will be a massive learning effort. Since the IDML format is very close to the scripting object model, knowledge in general scripting will help to identify the slots where you have to fill in your data. You'd also need some minor script to reassemble the expanded idml folder and eventually load the .IDML file from within InDesign.

Regards,

Dirk