idml import issue

[Daniel49085]

Will publisher open .idml files from CS6? I tried to open an existing project saved as idml. The pages and frames came over but not the content.

There is a master with three linked text frames. The content is adverts as inline objects - (images, graphics, and small text frames grouped as an object and pasted into the text frames to flow through the document so that more can be added in place as they are created). 

Master template holds three linked master text boxes.

Attached are screenshots of both files and the test idml.

 

 

Test Affinity.idml

[Daniel49085]

@benjaminviney

Sorry, meant to tag you in the original post.

[walt.farrell]

Just now, Daniel49085 said:

@benjaminviney

Sorry, meant to tag you in the original post.

You still have not tagged them. 

1. Type the @ sign. 

2. Start typing the user name. 

3. Select the user name from the drop-down list. 

That will give you something like this: @Daniel49085

[Hangman]

Hi @Daniel49085,

It looks as though the graphics associated with the IDML file were Linked rather than Embedded which explains why they are missing... You would need to either embed them in the source IDML file or relink them once the file is Open in Publisher...

[Daniel49085]

So the two linked logos missing prevents everything from being imported, text boxes, etc?

[Daniel49085]

Same result with images embedded.

Test Affinity.afpub Test Affinity.idml

[Hangman]

6 hours ago, Daniel49085 said:

So the two linked logos missing prevents everything from being imported, text boxes, etc?

It will unless the linked files are included with the IDML file...

5 hours ago, Daniel49085 said:

Same result with images embedded.

Everything is there, the ads are set as inline objects and are for some reason hidden when the file is opened in Publisher. I've attached a version of the file where I've removed the ads from being inline though you may still need to do some tweaking to the layout...

Test Affinity v3.afpub

[Daniel49085]

19 hours ago, Hangman said:

It will unless the linked files are included with the IDML file...

Everything is there, the ads are set as inline objects and are for some reason hidden when the file is opened in Publisher. I've attached a version of the file where I've removed the ads from being inline though you may still need to do some tweaking to the layout...

Test Affinity v3.afpub

Interesting. A couple questions 

1 how did you go about removing them from the text flow, did you break the frame links? (It appears so). Are the frames still text frames. The reasoning behind using the inline method is, in a 400 page book, if Mr. Test Logo decides he wants a second Breakfast sandwich coupon, the new coupon can be easily added and the rest of the coupons will shift down a frame.. Without, we would need to manually move the coupons around. Same if some need o come out, rest will move up to fill the space.

Does Publisher interpret the frames the same way? By this I am wondering if the frame margins are the same and if the grouped object is "too large" for the frame and thus there but not visible.

[Hangman]

Hi @Daniel49085,

4 hours ago, Daniel49085 said:

1 how did you go about removing them from the text flow, did you break the frame links? (It appears so). Are the frames still text frames.

You can Edit Master Page content on Publication Pages by right-clicking the Master Page Parent element and then selecting Edit Detached, make your edit, e.g., Unpin an item then click the green finish button at the top of the UI...

4 hours ago, Daniel49085 said:

Are the frames still text frames. The reasoning behind using the inline method is, in a 400 page book, if Mr. Test Logo decides he wants a second Breakfast sandwich coupon, the new coupon can be easily added and the rest of the coupons will shift down a frame.. Without, we would need to manually move the coupons around. Same if some need o come out, rest will move up to fill the space.

The Frames are still linked text frames and what you're looking to do is perfectly possible...

 

Attached is an updated Publisher file so you can play... I've added both coupons to the Assets palette to make them easy to drag and drop into position as required...

Select a coupon and hit the delete key to remove it and shift everything after it up a frame or drag the relevant coupon from the assets panel over the text frame where you want to insert it then click the 'Inline in Text' option in the context toolbar to insert the coupon and shift everything else down by one frame...

Let us know how you get on...

Sample Files

Import the Assets file into the Assets Panel

Coupons.afpub Coupons.afassets

[Daniel49085]

Sorry for the delay, this looks like a good start, Thanks! I will continue to work with this as I finish up the current project. The problem I am having is getting it to add pages from the master that have frames that are linked needed to manual link them before pasting coupons (copied a couple from page 2 and pasted to the last page. over flow just bunched up in the last frame instead of generating the next page. 

I am sure some processes will need to be different and I will also need to learn how to create a new document master in Publisher. Using InDesign, I would have individual merchant files (for proofing) as well as the book file. These are identical to the book file. The group is built on the paste board and then copy/pasted into the text frame as many times as needed and the subsequent offers edited as required. It is then a simple matter to go into the individual file with the text tool and select all, copy and then back to the book file to paste all of the coupons at once. I will try this out to see if having been created in publisher it will work the same way. (Tied up a bit right now with the end of the academic year so close and reports overdue as usual bc everyone is on vacation).

[Hangman]

16 minutes ago, Daniel49085 said:

Thanks! I will continue to work with this as I finish up the current project. The problem I am having is getting it to add pages from the master that have frames that are linked needed to manual link them before pasting coupons (copied a couple from page 2 and pasted to the last page. over flow just bunched up in the last frame instead of generating the next page.

If you Shift Click the red overflow in the last text frame that should automatically create a new linked page or pages depending how many overflow coupons there are…

Creating a Master Page is pretty straightforward but based on your description I think it is quite likely this may involve a slightly different approach in Publisher…

If you still have InDesign, perhaps when you have some free time you could upload a screen recording showing your current process as I think it would help us provide a practical way to achieve the same thing in Publisher…

Roughly how many different merchants and coupon variations are we talking about?

[Daniel49085]

On 6/9/2024 at 3:04 PM, Hangman said:

If you Shift Click the red overflow in the last text frame that should automatically create a new linked page or pages depending how many overflow coupons there are…

Creating a Master Page is pretty straightforward but based on your description I think it is quite likely this may involve a slightly different approach in Publisher…

If you still have InDesign, perhaps when you have some free time you could upload a screen recording showing your current process as I think it would help us provide a practical way to achieve the same thing in Publisher…

Roughly how many different merchants and coupon variations are we talking about?

I will work on a video, thank you so much for all your help.

Roughly330 pages (660 printed one side) of 3up represents about 280 merchants and 1000 coupons. As inline objects it is easy to highlight and copy/paste between documents. 

[Daniel49085]

Sorry for the delay.

Here is a quick video. Problem with the mic so I've written it out. I would be happy to meet via private message or even better Zoom.

Step-wise a fairly simple process. Inline coupon groups copy and paste between files as text, additional pages auto generate as needed, and there is room on the paste board to create the coupon groups