indesign >> publisher

[jdeeesign]

I just did a project for a client, which I layed out in InDesign CS. The client wants the files to be converted to a publisher format, so that they can edit them in the future. (They are templates for proposals they will be giving to clients)

Do you guys have any advice on the best way to go about this? I just opened up publisher and it's confusing... nothing like indesign. Is there a way to place PDFs exported from Indesign and then just make the text boxes?

This sucks.

[D-Frag]

yeah, you will have to export your pages as PDF's in ID, make sure its set up for press when you do it. When you are in publisher, you should be able to import them.

this is assuming publisher is anything like pagemaker, I haven't used publisher, so im just wingin it on the advice

[uncle carbunkle]

ugh. publisher and pagemaker in the same sentence gives me cramps.

[defjoe]

Tell you client to stop supporting crappy ass programs

[Rocketpig]

ugh. publisher and pagemaker in the same sentence gives me cramps.

I second that.

[Ned]

Just tell your client that Publisher is NOT a professional layout program, and will not be able to handle it. Either buy a program like InDesign, Quark, or even Pagemaker if they can find it, or pay you to edit the document when needed.

[jdeeesign]

Ha, I wish I could do that. I already explained to him all the stuff you are saying. Thing is, they will be editing these for each proposal they give clients (which will be once a week or so), so it's not something I will be able to edit whenever they want it.

What I would love would be for them to just buy InDesign... I may try to convince them to go that route, but they say they wouldn't be able to do that until 2006 in their new marketing budget, and they need this now. Erg.

I don't think you can even import a PDF into Publisher. At least Pakemaker is somewhat similar to InDesign. My worst nightmare would be to export each element as a jpg or tif and insert it all back in again.

Gross.

Then again, I still would be getting paid for it at least (hourly rate)

[(brackets)]

When it looks like trouble - charge them double!

Just mention you will need to charge them the usual *SPU conversion fee.
(*Stupid Publisher User)

[SurfPark]

Here is my suggestion (you might not like it, but its more realistic). Convert the design to HTML. This way they can open it in Office or whatever non-design program they seem to be married to. You'll be able to have them update it, print it, whatever. Not sure if Publisher can open HTML files...

[Vikia]

Can I just say that it is okay to tell a client "NO".

Pat him on the head and send him on down the road. Sometimes it is just not worth the effort to please, when the client is not willing to take some practical professional advise. If he wants to continue using Publisher, he will have to do it on his own.

Okay, so your boss said to comply with the client's wishes. Open Publisher and start from scratch and be sure to account for every extra minute so invoicing this client will be accurate. Include all time it takes to read up and learn how to work in a graphic environment guaranteed to send most printers to the nearest bar for a bit of liquid common sense.

[PersonasBinar]

Is this customizable proposal a new spin on the job? Was the layout the initial job?
What a huge can of worms. You're not gonna be able to go from the bomb of DTP in INDD down to the bomb selter of layout Publisher, in a couple of keystrokes. Even InDesign's XML is sketchy. If you can I'dd build it as an XML schema so it can be imported in to an office document if they have a current MS Office, I take it they are printing onsite? Nightmare....eeeeewwww

[idaho]

Publisher cannot import PDF files. You'll either have to start over from scratch in Publisher or convert the PDF files to JPG/TIF files and then import those into Publisher.

Convince them to buy InDesign now. It will cost them less than having you update the files until they can buy InDesign.

[PersonasBinar]

You may be able to get them to edit a PDF if you convince them to get the CS suite, depending on how extensive the edits are.
Do your layout in Indesign then export a high level PDF. They edit the PDF in Acrobat, export a flattened lower level PDF, using the optimizer(with your custom setting so they don't screw it up to send their client. No Publisher involved.

[Rocketpig]

Honestly, there's no reason for anyone to use Publisher. Explain that to them and then refuse to work with the program.

As Vikia said, it's okay to say no to a customer.

[Broacher]

This one has the word 'futility' written in 36 pt. Comic Sans all over it.

But I know what it's like to have sensible advice completely ignored by my 'superiors' so I'll throw in this: http://www.digitalriver.com/v2.0-img/operations/scansoft/site/html/pdf_con/pdf_con_overview.html

In many cases, it's easier to work with MSWord files than Publish. In any case, if you edit a file in Word, it's easy to simply cut and paste it into a Publish page directly with hardly anything mucking up. So... in theory, at least, it might be worth mastering in ID, creating a PDF, and using PDF Converter Pro to give you 'something close' that the client can use without ID. You'd have to be careful about what you're throwing in, of course and stick to pretty straightforward type and graphic features. Anyhow, just a thought.