Other than the dual-boot method mentioned, you might see if VivaDesigner suits you. Mac, PC, Linux, web versions.   It opens both .idml & .indd files, though how well it does depends upon the files themselves.   Good luck. ... View more

You're most welcome, Chris.   It is pretty straight forward. I always prefer changing the database versus post-processing. But even then it can be handled by the multi-change script (or better, a small fee multi-change script that's available). That is, the VP tagged text can be brought in as-is, then the change script can be used to find the start tags, remove them and apply a paragraph and/or character style as it goes. Custom made scripts are also possible.   But like mentioned, especially when one's data is published X number of times a year. I also do similar insurance records in the several hundred per document (different industry though), it's best to just alter the tags at the dbase output stage.   Mike ... View more

Sorry...I was describing my process of using tagged text into both ID/QXP.   As well as tagged text (for which as I mentioned, I am using Em Software's tagged text plug-in/XTension), another option I often use is Em Software's data merge. Sometimes I use tagged text inside of the merge as it can also handle that.   For what you are describing immediately above this post, I typically would use Em's data merge. Far more extesible than ID's built-in merge capabilities.   And, for what is described above, I definitely would use ID vs. FM.   If you would like, I can guide you better with a "real" sample, and/or via direct email for whether Em Software solution off-line. Gratis, of course. Just message me your email address if you would like to go that route so we keep non-Adobe help off forum.   Mike ... View more

Hah! Memory, what's that? (No, really. I had a stroke last year and some parts are missing...)   About the only thing I need to be careful over is making sure I am using TrueType fonts. As for the help system, at least VP came with really good manuals. I have PDF versions for VP10, I believe. But I've not noticed other missing bits. I once was going to convert the .hlp file(s) to .chm to at least be able to open those manually, but I've gotten along just fine with the manuals if/when I've needed to look something up.   For the simplistic example in the opening post, I would have loaded the database into MS Access, which then outputs my tagged text. I would have concatenated the address lines. If I needed to have my gaudy example, the address parts would have had character styles wrapped around them.   The only time I would forgo Access is when I can get the database to either directly include the tags in its output or I'm sent a .csv/tabbed-delimited file, for which I'll run one or more Javascript routines against those files in my text editor to add the tags. (Which is what I do to convert VP's tagged text format to QXP's tagged text format.)   Which is all doable for placing in ID. And is far easier than learning XML, much less FM! As well, images can be included in the tagged text files and placed relative, in-line, etc., to the text.   Mike ... View more

I do wish you luck, John!   One thing about FM, its XML handling is far superior to ID's. As is its long-document handling. It might be a more compatible product for catalogs and other work. ID really needs a catalog plug-in to work well. XML itself has a goodly learning curve, and I use to use it a lot, but...   For moving database work to either ID or QXP, I generally use Em Software's Tagged Text plug-in/XTensions for the respective products. While there are things either application cannot do--side-by-side paragraphs being the main thing, it is realatively easy to format data from a data base to handle tagged text. Em Software's tagged text uses QXP-style of tagged text formatting, which itseld resembles VP's a lot. It is simpler than ID's more verbose native tagged text structure. It uses this format in both ID/QXP.   I do a lot of product data sheets published via various databases that are comprised of hundreds of pages that began life in VP. As well as catalogs, etc. While there are certain formats that   fwiw, I'm running CVP10 under Win10.   Again, best of luck on using either ID or FM! Mike ... View more

Guess you should be using FM ;^-)   I never got along with FM myself. But it's been half a million years since I used it. I'm sure it's now a good modern application...   ... View more

No, neither ID nor any other layout software can do what VP did in this regard.   Mike ... View more

Heh heh, thanks, Bob. Thinking about it, I think the last time I subscribed was 2015 (about a year after I bowed out of the MVP thing anyway). I liked ver. 2015...Almost had a job last year using ID but it vaporized.   But anyway, Viva has a method to verify I just don't know what it is nowadays. ... View more

Viva Designer has a version that runs on Linux. It works best with .idml, which it has long supported--where features overlap.   The new version, version 10, has added .indd support. Not as robust as the .idml support, but it does work OK with the files I have tried (relatively simple files, books & brochures).   But, only the paid-for version works for this. If you would like me to try before you buy, contact me via a private message and we can exchange email addresses. They do have a cross-grade option, so if it works for me/you, I believe the serial number for CC may qualify.   Anyway, Viva Desiger is likely your best option short of getting a Mac or Windows computer to make these edits.   Mike ... View more

Yep, that's the problem with this setting being set by default--but I also assume that fixed the display issue on your end?   If that rectified the issue on your end, there's nothing I am aware of you can do short of making the line weight greater than it is.   Mike ... View more

I believe Frans is referring to Acrobat's or Adobe Reader's preferences. There's a setting called Enhance Thin Lines, which is on by default and can muck with thinner lines.   Mike ... View more

Hello Paulo, Depending on the number of files to convert, I would be happy to do them for you using CS6 at no cost. You would need to upload them to a service such as dropbox or the like and send me a PM to download them.   Do know that depending on the contents, the conversion will range from OK to good. But not likely perfect.   Mike ... View more

Both the regular otf version and SVG version work here in QXP, both direct printing and via an exported pdf. The regular otf version works fine in everything else, both printing directly and an exported pdf, including ID CS6.   I don't have a current subscription to try any version of ID CC. ... View more

Maybe something can be done by text formatting using a combination of paragraph shading, graphic lines above and below?   Maybe. Probably. I don't have a current subscription to ID so cannot try (CS6 doesn't have shading). The below was done in QXP using shading and tabbed text. Now that the styles are set up, a table could be copied to a decent text editor and manipulated using Regex, then brought in as a tagged text snippet.  (oops, forgot to edit the text styles to make 'em white...)   ... View more

Amazingly Quark Xpress has got this function. Correction QuarkXPress had this capability up to version 8 but version 9 could have it enabled via a "cookie." As QXP is at version 2019, it has not had this capability for 6 versions, some 8+ years.   Mike ... View more

10 pages/panels? Dunno. Like a double parallel 8 page fold but with 10 pages. ... View more

Excellent outcome. Thanks for letting us know. Mike ... View more

I've done similar in QXP--and it is a touch easier in ID. The below used GREP styles and separate p.styles for left/right. When I did mine, the left/right heads actually used a corresponding letter on each side of the head, like so (in your case):   t heading u   The GREP style for the left h1 sets the font to the Wingdings 3 font and hides the u, the right h1 does the opposite.   Here's a link to an .indd file (CS6): https://www.dropbox.com/s/qo6w6nzg2yz9xjj/left-right-arrows.indd?dl=0   You can make it all more automatic via apply next be editing the styles. But you would need to make a sub2 style and only if they all use the same paragraph pattern in your pdf (thanks for including it).   Mike   ... View more

You'll need to find/replace the carriage returns with a character or symbol inside Excel. I typically use an AT (@) symbol, but it can be anything not used for text you intend to keep.   !Make a copy of your Excel file!   So inside Excel, press ctrl+h This opens the find/replace dialog.   In the Find field, press ctrl+j It will appear empty but you can just barely see what looks like a period in it.   In the Replace field, type your symbol, say the @ sign. Then use Replace All.   You'll be able to do the merge, then in ID you can replace the character used to represent the return character to an actual hard return.   Mike ... View more

Actually, Montax is what I use. Back when I bought it, it was only a plugin. Today I would buy the standalone version. ... View more

Consider obtaining an imposition software. There are standalone and Acrobat plug-in versions available. Then you can impose your single page documents, repeat the "positions," stack/cut, etc.   Mike ... View more

Verdict SF came with Serif Software's PagePlus X5, PPX7, PPX8, & PPX9. The version installed with these applications has Installable permissions.   Mike ... View more

Hi Rachel--I don't have a current sub and only have English CS6 at hand, sorry.   Often features that deal with ME text are on by default and have no UI to turn them on/off. However, for jalt, the spec says this can be on or off by default. So if there is not something obvious in the OpenType feature panel, then it would either be on by default without the abilit to turn it off, or, the capability isn't present.   Mike ... View more

I don't know if the Middle Eastern version of ID supports jalt, but my version doesn't. I actually don't know if any application does for that matter.   Mike ... View more

As well as Dov's advice, I do believe that for Hebrew, UTF-16 format is required.   And for myself, I avoid comma delimited and use tab delimited UTF-16 format unless the data is simple Western scripts, then I use UTF-8 tab delimited format.    Mike  ... View more

Chances are the cells that have come through are formatted as text cells. Any cell that is using formulas/pure numbers other than those appear to be the zeroed values. ... View more

Kinda like this as a merge? This was merged from a tab-delimited file. The merge file was made in Excel and looks like this as in my text editor: The merge was done using Em Software's data merge plug-in. The merge only uses the first occurance of the Table field.   Mike ... View more