Most welcome... Even with eye-level wall banners, 300 dpi is above what is needed at a 1:1 scale, which ID cannot do anyway. You can do a 1:1 scale in CorelDraw, even Affinity Designer. But there is a hoop to jump through so that it can display in a reader or be seen at RIP-time, though I think I recall the requisite user scale in a pdf is now alterable in Acrobat DC...or will be. Not certain about that. And there was an inquiry by Adobe about lifting the artboard size in AI, but that too would need a little help from the Acrobat team to make it seamless. At 50% scale, a bitmap needs double the resolution so it can hit the target when doubled in size. While the print service maybe spouting 300 dpi at 1:1, they themselves couldn't do it unless they know how to produce it in CD. I've done 400"+ via CD, but it isn't common and not a lot of print establishments will opt to deal with it. And I can pretty much assure you that a target of 300 dpi at 50% scale will produce a good print at a nominal viewing distance of 3 feet, which then resolves to 150 dpi at 1:1. The inkjet technology used in large/grand format will produce a nice print. The spreadsheet uses the standard formula for viewing distance. I can rerun it if desired...it takes seconds. ... View more

Aside from a phantom italic style from their so-called preflight, the problem of encoding does exist at their end. Just converting those Sibelius pdfs to curves resolves the issue and it can go to print. ... View more

Looks like an encoding issue to me...Here's what pdfToolbox says about the actual embedding. I can open that PDF, refry it and the errors don't occur. If the music and stanzas were produced in Sibelius, I would likely just convert the fonts to curves and be done with it. You will not be able to do much better at another POD. It is possible BookBaby is using better equipment/workflow, but it's been a while since I used them. They do cost more. But, like I mentioned, I would just take those Sibelius PDFs and convert to curves and make the single black plate if that's what they want. ... View more

To answer a question, you can check the DPI in Acrobat easily enough. They would/should be 3 times the requisite dpi according to your 1/3 size. But, have you talked to whomever is printing this large format job? I would doubt they want more than 150 dpi at full scale. No where I have had such work done have wanted more than that. So I typically design to that 150 dpi. (And no, 24-40 dpi would be appropriate for a billboard but not a large format job.) I typically use the max, easily divisible scale percentage. In this case, I would use a 50% scale. Then the print establishment just needs to double the PDF size. But again, do talk to them and also make sure if they are intending on opening your PDF in CorelDraw or AI--a common occurrence in large format printing. The screen shot below is assuming a couple things. One, that the typical viewing distance is 6 feet. Unless this is an eye-level, wall-mounted print, 6' away is pretty much not even achievable (it would be higher). The viewing distance affects what DPI one can use to basically fool the eye (hence billboards at 35 dpi appear continuous-tone from the highway). So with a 50% design scale and a minimum viewing distance of 6', you only need the DPI as shown in the red box and in particular, the two on the left side of it. ... View more

Yes, 12 pages should do 3 sheets of paper just fine. I've never used ID's print booklet feature. But the 3 sheets should print fine from Acrobat using its Booklet feature. ... View more

Facing page layout, 5.5" x 8.5" page size. Are you doing the printing or is it going to be printed professionally/elsewhere? If by yourself, in Acrobat choose to print booklet. And make sure you have a page count in multiples of 4. Mike ... View more

And if using Windows, just unzip them (if they came in a ZIP file) and/or otherwise right-click on them and choose the option to Install. That will make them available system wide. Mike ... View more

Pity. Hopefully one of those PDF readers you mentioned will resolve the OP's problem. The one issue I have with Acrobat's page dimension that can be shown on the status bar is when there is bleed. Yep, one can open the Tools and go to the Page Boxes, change to see the trim box to get the page size. But JavaScript simply makes it far easier/quicker when added as a menu item. ... View more

Hi Steve, Can the iPad version of Acrobat run JavaScript? Mike ... View more

If they are split into parts, then likely it happened during the creation of the PDF. If they need to be of high-resolution and the pieces are in the PDF (check with Acrobat), you would need to assemble the pieces together in PS or another image editing application by creating a large enough canvas at the resolution required (or equal to that of the image(s) in the PDF) and import the parts into layers and stitch them back together. Mike ... View more

The lists I do run from several hundred to several thousand items. It takes several seconds to run new changes into the template on the large list. ... View more

I do something similar using merging. I use Em Software's data merge plugin. Rules are used for the shading, conditional statements are used to do the section heading divisions. Various conditions are used to force the data's shading to always begin with a highlight (or not) if desired. I would use a font for the symbols you show. Character styles used in the merge code would color them appropriately and set the font. Tables get a bit unwieldy. My main lists run well over a 100 pages. Keeping it all as text has great benefits. ... View more

Well, yes and no, Bob. If you hang out and/or help on the various publisher's POD forums, you will find a massive amount of misinformation as regards MS Word, its preferences as regards images and what one actually ends up with in a PDF produced via the first two options. Unless MickeySoft has changed what actually happens since Word 2010 as to how images are output, and if image "integrity" as regards images of sufficient resolution is at all important, the only real option is to use Distiller. And I personally don't like that option, but it does work to keep images at a higher resolution. Anything can be learned. And the OP, if a traditional publisher doesn't bite, will be faced with either truly formatting for POD either in Word or another layout application. No matter the choice made, people like your good self are available on the weapon of choice's support mechanism to help the person overcome challenges as they arise. There are a bazillion books printed via PODs every year. Most of those people get help from the POD's peer support mechanism and on the respective layout application's peer support mechanism. It would be the same for the OP. But hey, I'm winging most of this drivel about Word and its image handling and I haven't had enough coffee yet so yep, could still be wrong. ... View more

I'm often wrong, Bob. Word keeps the image at whatever you embed it at, that's true. It does keep the profile, that's true. It can be extracted and compared and it is akin to the original, that's true. But in the end, all that really matters is output. So go ahead import an AdobeRGB or Kodak ProPhoto tagged image in TIFF format in Word that has a resolution of 600 dpi. Then use the Acrobat plugin to create a PDF. Then make one using Word's Save as. What you will likely find is that the Acrobat one now is using an sRGB profile and has been down sampled to 150 dpi. The Word Save As version will likely be using deviceRGB and actually has a higher res than the Acrobat made one at about 200 dpi. And that after changing the preferences to use 240 dpi. Now, just for fun, use the Print command and use the Acrobat print driver using the High Quality setting for Distiller. While an image is very likely to tile, the resolution will be 300 dpi for that 600 dpi image and the color will be deviceRGB. The Acrobat plug-in is the worse choice for POD. Word's save as is marginally better. But then there is always the good ol' Distiller route. But you were right, There is an option to link. But unfortunately, it will always actually embed no matter whether just the Link option has been used, the Insert or the Insert & Link option. At least on Word 2010. And no matter how hard I try and no matter what option I use, a linked image is not updated if the image changes. But regardless of whether that lost point is unique to my copy of Word, the first image issues listed above are more important to me. Except in a "real" work-flow. Mike ... View more

The low-res image applies only to Word and is for the benefit of someone actually laying it out. Word by nature lowers resolution of images and making them unsuitable for all but POD printing--and even then they are suitable for POD printing only if you change Word's preferences to allow the 266 (if I recall) dpi. In any layout application, one places the images versus copy/paste or a word processor's "import" procedure which still embeds the images. A placed image in a layout application links to the full-res version of the image and provides on on-screen proxy image. But the full-res version is used for printing or for the creation of the PDF used in printing. A layout application is made to handle large files automatically via the linking and, in general, there are not the problems with memory typical of a word processor. Do note, though, that the more hi-res images used over a long book can slow down operation depending upon the capabilities of the computer. Mike ... View more

Could you open and strip the data out of the file with the exception of the data filed names, resave it and upload it to dropbox or the like and provide a download link? And though it will be a small KB file, if you would ZIP it before uploading it that would ensure the format doesn't change in any way. And I agree with vinny--tab delimited is a more assured means of import but I wouldn't think that would be the issue here. But ya never know. ID's data merge hasn't changed in, well, forever so even the version of ID shouldn't matter. Mike ... View more

When using UTF-8, are you using UTF-8 without BOM (Byte Order Mark)? I don't have a rental at the moment and so cannot try the very latest version. But the last CC version I did use, it worked fine as an UTF-8 no BOM. Mike ... View more

Your life is made easier going with a traditional publisher if that works out. Once a publisher wants your title, do check with them what they desire. You may need to make changes in the Word file, but usually not except for the general, initial editing. Even that may not happen. It depends on the publisher and their editors and how well written the document is. A typical publisher will want the Word file with proxy images (the lower res versions) in place for context purposes. They will want the Word file and the higher-res versions of the file. The last publisher I did work for that only wanted such things wanted the image captions to contain the file name for the high-res version. Good luck! It's hard to get a traditional publisher to pick up a title. Mike ... View more

Barb gave great advice for how to proceed using Word in combination with the trail version and the monthly rental of ID. I would encourage you, once you get to the InDesign stage, to rent for a single month but budget for 2 months in the possible eventuality you don't get done. While there is no difference financially in renting for one month and doing so for another month, mentally if you budget for 2 months it won't be as disappointing if it spills over to another rent period. I would also encourage you to utilize text styles for everything in Word. That applies no matter the eventual layout application. And it really doesn't matter if you change the styles to appear nicer in Word. It doesn't really matter if you make the Word file be presented like you would like in would like in ID because you can alter those styles once in ID. What matters is you use paragraph and/or character styles in Word period. This will make the import into ID go much smoother because even if you make the Word styles more presentable, you will likely need to alter them in ID anyway in all likelihood. Once in ID, there is a lot of work to do depending on what the Word file is like. And while if you go this route you don't need to have a current subscription, it would behoove you to familiarize yourself with how ID works. There are some decent books on this subject and the oft recommended one is Sandee Cohen's Visual QuickStart Guide. It would be use before and during the actual ID work and at least you will have a better idea of ID's terms and procedures. If you are going to use a Print On Demand print establishment to self-publish, Word alone is fine as long as you set it up for the requisite page sizes. PODs get fed Word documents every day and it works just fine. If this is being picked up by a traditional publisher, they are not going to want your layout help in ID. They just want the Word file. So no rental/purchase required. They will tell you what to supply and may even have a template with styles they want you to use (none I have sent work to have cared). Good luck. Oh, and don't forget that if you go the ID route, there is plenty of aid here on the forum. Even the people that may have ruffled your feathers are good folk and are here to help people overcome their challenges with ID. It's what they do. Mike ... View more

You're welcome, BD. I've produced PDFs for print and online usage from them all throughout the years. All have been proper PDFs that pass preflighting by Acrobat, pdftoolbox, online print establishments' automatic checking systems, etc. The only function missing from all of them would be a proper accessibility tagged PDF, but as I have never gotten one out of ID that I didn't have to work on in Acrobat, I don't see that as a big loss. With the exception of Scribus (though I haven't used the latest version) all of them produce PDF/X-4 and down to the common PDF/X-1a and at the various non-PDF/X levels. I've had stuff printed by big publishing houses to obscure little places here in the US, in Europe, China, Africa etc. In short, they are fine PDFs. These days PDF creation mostly all comes down to the person building the publication more so than what is used to publish to PDF. Mike ... View more

There are other layout applications that will run just fine on (nearly) any Windows version. PagePlus is probably the bargain right now at about $20. Do note that it is a dead application in that it will no longer be developed by Serif as they are moving on to a new cross-platform set of applications. The Serif forums for their Plus line of software is active with many great folk helping and the Serif employees also pop into threads for aid when needed. Of course there is QuarkXpress. Currently one can get a version that is two versions back (i.e., version 2015) from a computer magazine in Germany at about a $10 cost. The electronic versions (PDF I believe) carries the redemption code in it. That too is a bargain. And there is an upgrade path from it that is sub-$200. Viva Designer is an option. There is a free for personal use version that is a bit stripped down. If you need greater functionality than the free version, the Pro paid-for version would be it. I use the Pro version for a couple German clients. It is an odd duck in how it works compared to ID, QXP or PP. But it does work and imports IDML if that is important (and it works reasonably good). And there is Scribus. But I wouldn't wish it on an enemy. But there are adherents that swear by it (as opposed to swearing at it). Mike ... View more

Well, the easiest means is to use callas pdfToolbox (whether one uses the option highlighted or another option). But if also need a resulting new PDF and do not have pdfToolbox, then using ID with a custom page size and producing a new PDF is probably the easiest. ... View more

They are enabled by default, in fresh installations. I guess Adobe thought it a good idea... As a matter of fact, Adobe is just following font feature recommendations according to the OpenType Tag Registry that is maintain by Microsoft. Well, by the big 3 in one way or another. It is the recommendation for an application to have several/many features on by default, ligatures being but one of those. Since the CC 2018 upgrade some of my third party software has been rendered unusable, forcing us to spend thousands of dollars on unbudgeted upgrades. If you are talking about plug-ins and or versioned paid-for scripts, then yeppers. Much of the time a major version upgrade will render such items unusable until they are updated. I & everyone else go through the same thing with major version changes. I budget for them throughout the year as part of my set-aside for software & hardware upgrades. But, you can keep the latest 2017 release on the computer. You can continue working with those things if they are critical to your work-flow until such time as the upgrades to them are budgeted and paid for. Mike ... View more

The data fields--those below the headers can have empty spots--it's the header row itself cannot. Humor me. Export from Excel as a tab-delimited text file. Does that work? If not, can you edit the merge file to remove all but a few rows and upload that file and send me a private message with a download link? That is usually the shortest route to a fix. Oh, and do try that paired-down file before bothering to upload. If that works, then likely there is a cell with a line break or something that is cause ID fits. ... View more

Is there a header row with field names, and does every single column in the data have an entry in that header row? ... View more

Are they single cards, 2-up, and intended to be cut apart? In any case, you can only have a single set of place holders. Else you will get what you are describing. ... View more

This workflow all seems like pushing string, or perhaps another metaphor, the cart before the horse. It is essential to retain the styles because this is heavily styled text, and multiple biog content would need to be inserted into the indd a/w each time (so copy/paste restyling is not an option). Is it possible to see a screen shot of a sample bio with its heavily styled text inside of ID? Mike ... View more

Like I said, most often for me transparency isn't used. Color management? Mostly a red herring. The EPS file, being vector, it's no different than drawing and using a native ID-drawn set of elements. So what? Oh, well, one main difference is that I can export that asset and link it in one fell swoop so there isn't an embedded asset. I have fond memories of my Uncle Bob. His advice as I was growing up was usually spot on. One could do a lot worse...although he would agree with ya about The Human League. Does that make ya feel better? ... View more

Well, I for one am guilty for using EPS files frequently in QXP and ID. But for some odd reason, I haven't been sufficiently shamed into not using EPS and feel no remorse about it. It would be nice for ID to have the option for exporting the selection as an EPS. And why not? It just enhances/extends an existing capability. I'll be working on a mag layout, for instance. I get handed an add sketch or printed layout for an ad. In Q, I'll just start a new layout, design the ad, copy it to the primary layout, right-click and export the selection to an EPS and opt to link to it. Close the second layout without saving it and Bob's your uncle. Clean, in-application. (Oh, and I can also export the selection as a PDF and link to that if desired.) If I had to design something that had transparency, and it made sense to do it outside of Q, then I would use the vector editor of choice and export a PDF/X-4 and place it. But 99% of these quick ads don't use transparency anyway. But if simple transparency, then I would still use Q and export/link to it inside of Q. An EPS is lighter-weight, displays more quickly than a PDF of the same design. ... View more