which software should I use for a catalog

[AnnaAnna]

I am researching software for catalog creation that will interact with our exsisting Filemaker database. I have had no experience with this type of software before and I'm looking for the pros and cons to what is out there. The two products that keep surfacing are Quark, and InDesign. Our company has around200 products at the moment, but we want to get something that can handle up1000+. Iwould appreciate all the help I can get.

Thanks!

[D-Zine]

Do you know approx. how many pages you are looking at for this catalog and where you will be printing this? I only ask about the printing bc alot of printers are still not taking ID files even tho it seems that eventually ID will blow Quark out of the water! I am an avid Quark user but I have heard and read only good things about ID. If you are starting this catalog from scratch, I would go ahead in plunge into ID and not bother with Quark AS LONG AS your printer will take the ID files.

You may wanna take into consideration the number of pages you will be doing and the type of things you need to do for this catalog. I am not too familiar with Filemaker so I am unsure of how they would interact with one another. Hopefully someone else on the board will be able to help you more in this area. Good luck!

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[AnnaAnna]

Thanks for the quick response. Right now our catalog is going to probably be small approx. 20 pages. We are a small company at the moment, but are looking to expand our product line. We don't have a printer yet, so I'm guessing I'll end up looking for one that will handle ID. Are there a limited number of printers who are using it? I've never done anything like this before and my bosses are having me research this pretty much blind.

[D-Zine]

Yeah...from the printers I deal with and what I hear from others here on the board...alot of printers aren't yet excepting ID...but you can always make PDF files from the ID file and the printer will take those I am sure. Still...I would research the possible printers you may be using, just to be sure. I think that starting with ID would be the best idea because I think it will eventually become a standard in the industry and preferred over Quark..it has much more freedom from what I understand. You can read what both programs do by going to their websites and maybe that can help you some. Also, try doing a search on this forum bc I know that we have had several Quark vs ID debates on here. I think that most ppl are fed up with Quark and their 'lack' of customer support.

www.adobe.com (http://www.adobe.com)
www.quark.com (http://www.quark.com)

Also....20 pages isn't bad at all! Both software programs can handle that with NO problem at all. I do a 40 page and a 64-72 page weekly in Quark, allthough I wish I could get ID in here at work. You know, they are set in their ways..LOL! But starting from scratch...I would start wih ID.

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[defjoe]

ID aall the way. Most printers have already converted.

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'

[Big Perm-dizzle]

1000 pages???? shoot me....i would die

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[AnnaAnna]

lol, not 1000+ pages, 1000+ products (eventually) :)

[D-Zine]

hehehhe! I would die at 1000 pages too and I acually LIKE doing layout..LOL! 1000 products isn't too bad tho! Let us know what you decide to go with Anna. I think ID is yer best bet!

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