InDesign CS4 vs. PageMaker

[Jeremiah...@adobeforums.com]

I work for an agricultural equipment manufacturer. We are a bit behind on new software because most of what we publish is fairly simple. We primarily use PageMaker for our assembly instruction manuals and FrameMaker for our operator manuals. We prefer the ease of use and flexibility that PageMaker has over FrameMaker since most of our assembly manuals have to be eyeballed as far as layout goes. My main question is how does InDesign CS4 compare to PageMaker and is it a significant enough change to warrant upgrading?

Currently running PageMaker 7, FrameMaker 7.2

Windows XP SP3

[boblevine]

Let's see...How does a Ferrari compare to Yugo?

Bob

[Jeremiah...@adobeforums.com]

The reason I ask, is because no one else here knows anything about publishing, so I really have to make a strong case to convince them to invest in CS4. We really don't use all the multimedia, won't be using it to publish web documents, at least not yet. So the advantages really have to pop out and make sense to non-users.

[Ken_...@adobeforums.com]

What is it you want to do that you can't do in PageMaker? Answer that and you'll be told whether InDesign is the right way to go. If there's nothing you can't do already, why change?

To pick up Bob's paradigm, the Ferrari's better if you know you want to pose at 150 mph. But if you only want to take the kids to school, then hitch up a trailer to take the garbage to the dump you may be better off with the Yugo.

Horses for courses. Just decide what the course is.

k

[Waterspider]

I'm guessing that you're the guy who works on the manual, and you'd like
something a bit more up to date to work with. Any version of the CS is a
great improvement over PageMaker, if just for the InDesign. But that, with
Photoshop, and you have an awesome tool to look more professional in a
competitive market. Assuming, of course, that you've got somewhat of a clue
about graphic design.

<Jeremiah...@adobeforums.com> wrote in message
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[Ian_M...@adobeforums.com]

Also bear in mind that a PageMaker capable PC may not be up to the task of running InDesign. You may be upgrading more than just software.

Ian

[Jeremiah...@adobeforums.com]

I have an engineering workstation running Windows XP SP3 with 4GB RAM 3GHz Pentium 4, with a Nvidia Quadro FX600. We run SolidWorks on our machines as well, in order to get our drawings from, so I don't think hardware will be a problem.

What I am more concerned about is alternative layouts than and the ability to incorporate things directly for the web as well as improved functionality during layout. I know everything we do now I can do in PageMaker, however I would like the flexibility to incorporate it in more of what we do, for example most of our advertising material we have outsourced and would like to bring most of that in house at least for layout and design purposes. I would also like to incorporate some improved web features as well in the future.

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

One thing you'll get is the ability to do transparency effects and drop shadows. Another is nested styles and object styles which will speed up production (and if you use keylines on your photos you'll love that strokes are a frame attribute and you no longer have two objects to deal with -- that used to drive me crazy).

You'll also get much more flexibility in PDF export, being able to incorporate things like bookmarks even if you don't want other interactive content (yet).

Peter

[boblevine]

> Also bear in mind that a PageMaker capable PC may not be up to the task of running InDesign.

The other side of that coin is that if you buy a new computer there's no
assurance that PM will run properly or at all.

Bob

[Jeremiah...@adobeforums.com]

That's one of my worries as well, as we keep upgrading solidworks we will need more powerful machines. I want to make sure that if this is the last new DTP we'll have the chance to get for a while that it will grow with us. Publishing isn't exactly on the top of anyone's list around here.

I also wanted to get away from FrameMaker. I like some of the features liked the anchored frames, but it's much to stiff when it comes to some more creative layouts.

[Jim_J...@adobeforums.com]

if you buy a new computer there's no assurance that PM will run properly
or at all

Another consideration is whether you will be able to upgrade to InDesign from PageMaker in the near future. It is $199 now but Adobe is tightening up the number of releases back from which you an upgrade. You can no longer upgrade from InDesign 1 or 2. Only versions 3(aka CS), 4(aka CS2), or 5(aka CS3) allow upgrades to 6(aka CS4). It would be no surprise if Adobe drops the PageMaker upgrade path in the future.

<http://store.adobe.com/store/en_us/popup/software/indesign4/upgrade_eligibility.html>

[OldBob]

A lot of good advice here, but don't forget one other thing; the learning curve inherent in a new piece of software as complex as InDesign. The transitional phase may be difficult.

[boblevine]

Considering that CS4 was just released, I'd say it's safe to say that
the OP has at least a year and half to decide.

Bob

[Waterspider]

"OldBob" <revdrb...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:59b6d...@webcrossing.la2eafNXanI...

>A lot of good advice here, but don't forget one other thing; the learning
>curve inherent in a new piece of software as complex as InDesign. The
>transitional phase may be difficult.

A lot of InDesign looks, and works, a lot like PageMaker. I moved from PM to
ID with no problem; it was relatively easy to accomplish what I had been
doing in PM (production of a small magazine including copy and ads;
brochures; posters and other graphic design projects), and discover a host
of new features to learn at my leisure. The transitional phase will be short
and not at all uncomfortable.

[Philip_...@adobeforums.com]

If you know PageMaker pretty well InDesign isn't too tough.

[Gary_...@adobeforums.com]

Jeremiah -- I recently updated from PM7.01 to IND CS4. The issue isn't one of capability or even learning the new capabilities. Clearly IND CS4 has some great new features. It is about learning the way some actions now work (TOC, for example, is very frustrating). It is also about screwing around with the shortcuts that either no longer exist or have been changed ever so slightly (a 3-key shortcut instead of 2-key) or the apparently greater desire by the younger generation of software developers to operate everything as a game (requiring dexterity with keyboard [for those of us who actually write] AND mouse simultaneously) whereas most everything in PM could be reduced to elegant keyboard shortcuts thereby yielding better productivity. My biggest "search" I'm working on today -- trying to figure out why I can't engage a context menu with a click on a graphic and actually change the link from one file to another in one fell swoop [like the PM7 "link info" context menu item] and, while I'm at it, find out why the CS4 link tool never seems to be able to go to the correct folder when clicking to "relink" an existing link (it wants to go to the last folder I used when placing a graphic or the last graphic edited). Yes, I know, I'll post those questions in another thread.

The beauty of either a Yugo, Mustang, or Ferrari is that the gear box is pretty well in the same spot doing the same thing (it hasn't been moved to the door handle location on one versus the other or hidden away below the floor by some fancy "interface" door requiring a special release button sequence with your left hand). I'm guessing it'll take me a good 60 hours of time to work out my PM7 habits and techniques and get in the groove of the CS4 habits and techniques. Too bad this aspect apparently just isn't on the radar of the software developers.

BTW, I'm now on a Lenovo W700 with the Intel Core 2 Extreme CPU Q9300/2.53GHz/2.5 gig of ram/0.5TB of disk space with XP/SP3, and PM7 still works fine. Unfortunately, my editors at two of my publishers want me out of PM7. It keeps the economy going (well, at least Adobe's economy).

[Peter...@adobeforums.com]

Gary,

Take a look at Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts...

If it can be done in InDesign, the odds are you can give it any keyboard shortcut your heart desires. The only real exception is that numpad keys are reserved for style shortcuts.

The default shortcuts are just that, the defaults. Most keyboard jockeys make their own custom sets and find they have even more control than they did in PM, where you were stuck with what the developers gave you.

Workspaces are another great customizing feature -- have only the panels and menu items you need for any type of work. Save as many as you want and they're just a click away.

Peter