=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= EDline Vol. 7, no. 10 (14 January 2002) Editorial mailing list (digest version) Published by the Electric Editors =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Contents: Business matters [4fl] Publishing software =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ---[4]-- Business matters --------------------------------------- ** [4fl] Publishing software Date: Thurs, 13 Dec 2001 From: Susan Roberts, susan.l.roberts@saic.com We use exclusively Word for all of our documents. For deliverables, I convert the Word files into *.pdf (using bookmarks) and burn onto a CD. Our deliverables typically are bound into 3-ring binders, which works for now. I'm wanting to consider ways to move us into a more professional arena for our deliverables. Could anyone give me suggestions on publishing software that would allow a relatively small learning curve? ------------------------ Date: Thurs, 13 Dec 2001 From: Ian Kingston, i.kingston@ntlworld.com This is the type of question that is suitable for either EDline or Grapevine, although if the discussion becomes technical it should really move to Grapevine. I'll try to summarise the options briefly. Publishing software (also known as DTP software, page makeup software and document preparation software, among others) falls into two broad groups: low-end and high-end. The low-end packages are those that no self-respecting typesetter would want to use. That doesn't mean that the software is bad - just that the advanced features of the high-end packages (such as Pantone colours or imposition options) are missing. Low-end packages are relatively easy to use, being stuffed full of Wizards and templates. By the same token, when everybody uses the same Wizard-generated layouts the results tend to look rather similar. You can, of course, design your own layouts, but then you've ventured into high-end territory, where you might prefer to stay. Examples of low-end packages are Microsoft Publisher and Serif PagePlus. At the other end of the market you get a lot of advanced features, but rather less hand-holding. You are expected to know a certain amount of typesetting terminology, and while the software will do certain things for you automatically (such as calculating the leading based on the type size), you should be prepared to enter exact values yourself. The high-end packages give you everything you need to prepare complex typeset material for press. However, there are differences between the packages that make some better suited to particular types of work. If you want to produce comparatively short colour documents with a lot of complex design elements, or you are producing colour magazines with varied and complex page layouts, Quark XPress leads the way. Because of its popularity, there is a lot of Quark experience in the industry. Quark's drawbacks are its price and the need to purchase various add-ons (XTensions) to provide some features that other packages provide as standard. Quark's main rival is Adobe's InDesign. This is relatively new, and is specifically targeted at the same market and the same types of document. Its drawbacks are similar. Third in this market is Adobe PageMaker. The general consensus is that it trails both Quark and InDesign, and is really only for those with prior PageMaker experience. Adobe still supports and updates the product, but all its effort is behind InDesign. If your documents are long and have have many chapters, but with a similar structure throughout, then Quark and InDesign fall short. They lack built-in indexing and table of contents features. If the material is also scientific in nature, then the absence of an equation editor or a table editor may also be a problem. For these types of document, either FrameMaker or Ventura is best. Corel Ventura has the advantage of a low price and an interface that will be familiar to users of Corel Draw. It has always specialised in long, structured documents, although over the years it has acquired much of the functionality that used to be the preserve of Quark and PageMaker. A lot of this has come from its stable mate, Corel Draw, which many people use for short colour publications. Of all the high-end packages, Ventura has the biggest range of features - and the lowest price. Unlike the other packages it runs only on the PC. All the others run on PCs and Macs, which can be usefulif documents have to be passed to others. Adobe FrameMaker is strong among technical writers. Like Ventura, it is good at highly structured documents, and is especially good at handling frequently revised documents (a weak point for Ventura). Its main drawback is its interface, which is old-fashioned and eccentric. At various times, doubts have been expressed about the future viability of PageMaker, FrameMaker and Ventura, largely because of their relatively small market share. Nevertheless, Adobe remains publicly committed to PageMaker and FrameMaker, producing new versions at steady intervals. Corel, meanwhile, has announced a new version of Ventura, due next spring. Overall, low-end packages will give you the smallest learning curve, but they may not do everything you want. Check the feature list carefully, and don't assume that just because Word has a particular feature that the same feature will necessarily appear in a publishing package. High-end packages are harder to learn, but give you more flexibility, more options and (in capable hands) better quality. Whichever you choose, you'll be committing to that product for some time. The packages don't import or export each other's formats (InDesign offers a Quark import, but reports say that it's only useful for simple documents), so you can't move your publications from one package to another easily. ---------------------- Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 From: Geoffrey D. Palmer, gdp@lineone.net Ian, thanks for an interesting and detailed breakdown. I don't want to put you to any trouble, but can you attach approximate current prices to the various packages? For those who are immersed in complex maths, there's always Scientific Word, which is a WYSIWYG front end for LaTeX, and which is -- I guess -- also a DTP package, in that you should be able to produce respectable CRC. The price when I last looked was between 400 and 500 pounds sterling to commercial users, or rather less if you work in a bona fide educational institution. I have a "trial" version, but this isn't an endorsement. ---------------------- Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 From: David Penfold, penfold@eps-edge.demon.co.uk I would add that FrameMaker includes a fairly comprehensive equation-setting capability and you can also import equations set in MathType. ---------------------- Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 From: Ian Kingston, i.kingston@ntlworld.com Here are the current prices for the basic versions of all the products that I mentioned, taken from an online UK store. Prices are in pounds sterling, exclusive of VAT. For each product, I have given the full price, the price for upgrading from a previous version, and the price for upgrading from a competing product (if listed at the site that I checked). Missing prices might be obtainable elsewhere; I checked only one store. Only the basic product is listed; there are more expensive versions of Quark and FrameMaker available, for example. The precise upgrade requirements for each product should be checked at the manufacturer's Web site. Also check what else is included with package, apart from the main product. Some products include attractive extras. Full Version upgrade Competitive upgrade FrameMaker 599 155 - Ventura* 349 155 155 Quark XPress 895 - - PageMaker 379 65 - InDesign 565 75 - MS Publisher** 85 59 - PagePlus*** 59 - - *Ventura's competitive upgrade policy is very generous, since it interprets almost any word processor as a qualifying product. In effect, the full price of Ventura is irrelevant - you can buy the competitive upgrade. **MS Publisher is bundled with many PCs, so might be considered 'free' if you already have a copy. ***PagePlus appears to have changed its name to Print and Publish. > For those who are immersed in complex maths, there's always > Scientific Word, which is a WYSIWYG front end for LaTeX, and > which is -- I guess -- also a DTP package, in that you should > be able to produce respectable CRC. The price when I last > looked was between 400 and 500 pounds sterling to commercial > users, or rather less if you work in a bona fide educational > institution. I have a "trial" version, but this isn't an > endorsement. I deliberately omitted LaTeX, as even with a friendly front end it couldn't possibly be considered for general office use. For the majority of users requiring mathematical features, Ventura or FrameMaker would be preferable starting points today. LaTeX remains very useful for those with a prior investment in learning how to use it or who receive incoming documents in LaTeX. LaTeX is freeware, so that is an additional attraction. --- Thanks also to Miranda Barker for her contribution. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= END OF EDline 7.10 EDline homepage: < http://www.electriceditors.net/edline/ > ** The views expressed in this mailing list are strictly those of the individual contributors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the moderators or of the Electric Editors. ** Articles (c) 2001, 2002, by individual contributors Design (c) 1996--2002 Iain Brown Compilation (c) 2002, Iain Brown / The Electric Editors =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=