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Posted

I recently started a free trail for Affinity Publisher. I have a rather large MS Word document that is very close to how I want it to look, but I would like to make ready for printing as a book. The book is already done for EPUB format, but I would like to release it to 6x9 paperback.
What is the best method to import the text/graphics/styles/fonts into Affinity? I checked the online help. It said that you could do it, but it offered no instructions on how to do so. All my attempts so far only import the first page.
Details:

  • 90,000 words
  • 80 color graphics
  • Styles and fonts have already been applied and I would like it to look as close as possible in Affinity.
  • MS Word 2008 for Mac
  • Contains all the typical front and back matter of a typical paperback book

Obviously I want to minimize the amount of work to get the Affinity file to look like the MS Word file. Or if you think that Affinity is not the right tool for me, what is a better tool.

Posted

Hello and welcome to the forums @BookWriter,

Actually if you are quite happy with how the MS Word document looks then just export that as a PDF.

If the physical size of the page size is wrong then I would suggest you bite the bullet and separate the book into its components, text and pictures.

Make a 6 x 9 Publisher document and make a set of Paragraph and Character Styles that match the MS Word styles. Use different names for them, perhaps append a Pub to the names. Place the text from a text only DOCX file and replace the MS Word Styles with your new Publisher Styles. You now have the necessary Publisher Text Styles.

Now make your actual for publication Publisher document with the proper size Text frames and Picture frames on Master pages and apply those to the copy and pasted text from the first text only Publisher document.

 

Mac Pro (Late 2013) Mac OS 12.7.6 
Affinity Designer 2.5.7 | Affinity Photo 2.5.7 | Affinity Publisher 2.5.7 | Beta versions as they appear.

I have never mastered color management, period, so I cannot help with that.

Posted

Thank you, Old Bruce, for your prompt reply.
I am fairly happy with how the document looks in MS Word, but I was hoping to polish it up a bit with Publisher (assuming that it was not too time-consuming). I particular, Word makes it very difficult to manipulate placement of images.

I will try what you suggest, I have a few followup questions (for you or anyone else):

  1. Should I do one Place for the entire text-only document, or should I Place each chapter separately?
  2. Do I need to create a number of blank pages before I Place, or is Publisher smart enough to add them automatically? I tried to Place earlier and it only placed the first page.
  3. Do you or anyone else know of a example Publisher document that shows the proper structure of a typical paperback book looks in Publisher? I am not quite sure how many Master Pages that I should use. I have full-page graphics, so I assume that I need a separate Master Page for graphics. And there obviously needs to be for one Master Page for the text.
  4. Should I use a separate Master Page for the first page of each chapter, or does H1 Style take care of that? All I really want to do is add a page break, make sure that it displays on the right-hand size and push the Chapter Title half-way down the page.
  5. What about Cover page, Copyright page, Blurbs, TOC, Biblio, References, etc? Can I use the same Master Page as for the text, or should there be separate Master Pages for them? Again, I am not looking for crazy styling. Just what is typical in a paperback book. I cannot think of a reason for separate Master Pages for front and back matter, but maybe I am missing something.
Posted

1: One place for each text document. I will use one text file for a huge (1100 page) Publisher document.

2: I would make 1 page, there is a Text Overflow triangle on the text frame's right side down on the lower half. Shift + Click on it and new pages will be created automatically.

3: 9 5 x 6 test 02.afpub You may not have any of the fonts but this will give you an idea. One Master page for the text and separate single pages for the Illustrations. Pay attention to how the Paragraph styles are set up for the Flow.

4: I will use both if needed, the example uses the Paragraph style to set the start on Right Hand Page halfway down.

5: Use Blank None Master page for the ToC, it really isn't worthwhile to set up Master Pages, but that is my opinion. A rule of thumb: For anything over a couple of pages yes make a Master Page.

For covers and title pages I would not bother with Paragraph Styles, I would also use a separate document to work on them and then copy paste into the Actual Document once I am happy with them.

 

 

Aside:

29 minutes ago, BookWriter said:

does H1 Style take care of that?

Please get in the habit of giving meaningful names to Styles, Master Pages, Layers. A bit of work up front will save headaches later on.

Mac Pro (Late 2013) Mac OS 12.7.6 
Affinity Designer 2.5.7 | Affinity Photo 2.5.7 | Affinity Publisher 2.5.7 | Beta versions as they appear.

I have never mastered color management, period, so I cannot help with that.

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