A Designer's Guide to Adobe InDesign and XML: Harness the Power of XML to Automate your Print and Web Workflows (Paperback)

~ (Author), Cathy Palmer (Author)
Key Phrases: anchored object, clam dip, load tags, Story Editor, Import Options, Select File (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Is this book for programmers?  Written specifically for graphic designers and production artists already comfortable working with Adobe InDesign, this book teaches you how to automate publishing without learning a lot of scary code. XML simplifies the process of moving content in and out of your layouts and can speed up any print or Web assignment.

Why should I care about XML? If you’re managing data-intensive layout projects, and you want to keep that data consistent, accurate, and up-to-date, then incorporating XML can help. You can also use XML to automate processes like importing text and large numbers of graphics into a layout, or repurposing content from one application to another. Do I need additional plug-ins or special software? You need only the powerful features built into InDesign CS2, CS3 or CS4 to use this book.

How will I learn XML? This guide includes nine easy-to-follow projects with downloadable support files. With these hands-on tutorials, you will learn XML in context. By the final project, XML will no longer be a mystery, but a powerful tool you can use to support your company or clients.

These real-world projects will teach you:
l Business cards: Create a structured layout in InDesign and then import XML. Format text automatically and flow the text into multiple examples.
l Product catalog: Learn how to import XML data into a structured layout using nested styles and cloned text.
l Direct mail and variable data printing: Use XML and InDesign to create sophisticated direct mail pieces without costly plug-ins or third-party software.
l Magazine and newspaper: Build and export magazine-style publications for online distribution.
l Web: Transform XML into XHTML to incorporate directly into your Web pages, or use Cascading Style Sheets to instantly format your exported XML.

About the Author

James J. Maivald, owner of Desktop Design, is a graphic designer and artist with 20 years of experience in publishing and production. He has written courseware on Adobe Photoshop and other graphic design programs, as well as dozens of articles for national magazines on electronic publishing and production. He leads seminars and training on InDesign and XML for individuals and Fortune 500 companies. An Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) and Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI) in InDesign and Dreamweaver, Jim is also the coordinator for the InDesign User Group of Chicago.

Cathy Palmer is an award-winning graphic designer and owner of Digital Design Tools. She has worked in both the design and production sides of print publishing for over 20 years and provides seminars and training on InDesign and XML. Cathy is an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in InDesign and InCopy, and coordinator for the InDesign User Group of Milwaukee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Adobe Press; 1 edition (December 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321503554
• ISBN-13: 978-0321503558
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #212,394 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #16 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Graphic Design > Adobe InDesign
  #28 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Programming > Languages & Tools > XML
  #36 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Software > Business > Workflow

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb, March 19, 2008

By	E. Cahill (London, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I nearly wept with joy when I read this book. It contains clear guidance to stuff I've been trying to get InDesign CS3 to do for months. They make it look easy - and it is with this book - but if I hadn't tried on my own for so long I wouldn't have appreciated how useful this book is. I would have paid $500 for this and would have considered it a bargain, let along $33.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars XML for the Rest of Us!, February 2, 2008

By	S. Citron (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Despite being an Adobe Certified Instructor in InDesign, I never really understood working with XML until I read this book. Maivald and Palmer have taken an otherwise mysterious language and made it clear and understandable for anyone. This book has no peer and is a must for those interested in harnessing the power of XML.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars XML in design speak!, July 31, 2008

By	Aimee L. Falk (Woodbury, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an outstanding book. Finally, XML explained in terminology that meshes with the way a designer thinks! Get this book and learn how to use this! You'll see a dramatic increase in your production time! (People will think you are super human as well!) I didn't take time to figure out XML in InDesign prior to this book because it was so confusing. This book does a great job exlaining how it works and giving actual examples to learn from.