Re: Indesign Program
Brie Hoffler
I have several InDesign versions on my win7 PC because my clients are using different InDesign versions. I have tried to set an older InDesign CC version as a default program associating indd file extension to InDesign CC2017. It is not possible because only InDesign CC2019 is available on the list to choose. Not even possible using Browse option to show InDesign CC2017 exe file.
Use file > open from InDesign CC2017 and please note that InDesign 2020 is now available but will not install on your Win 7 computer as it is not supported. Microsoft will cease all support shortly, as well.
No, I never reinstalled it. Instead of it I used File open command. But despite everything I succeeded to install CC2020 to my Windows 7 workstation ("...please note that InDesign 2020 is now available but will not install on your Win 7 computer as it is not supported.") So I have now CC2017, CC2019 and also CC2020 working on my workstation.
Two problems, both causing IDCS3 to freeze and "program is not responding" message:Problem 1. Using Adobe-Single-Line Composer; keeps to control widows and orphans set to 1 line (start), 2 lines (end): ID often freezes when importing Word docs containing formatted headings and text only (file sizes up to 350Kb). Tried saving as rtf, same problem. I would expect ID to leave short pages when it's unable to resolve widows and orphans using specified keeps. If file imports OK, same problem occurs when text edits affect H&J on subsequent pages. Only solution seems to be to deselect keep options and manually check and adjust headings, widows and orphans. NB. Adobe Paragraph Composer gives unacceptable results for the bookwork I do.Problem 2. Same conditions as problem 1: entering forced line break after en or em dash causes ID to freeze "program is not responding" message.Anybody any suggestions as to the causes or any solutions?
In Windows XP:
Go to C:\Documents and Settings\[Username]\Application Data\Adobe\InDesign\ and move the 'Version 5.0' folder (Or delete) to your desktop and restart InDesign. This will solve the problem.The instructions above are from Adobe customer support.
I want to be able to purchase Adobe InDesign outright without committing to paying an ongoing monthly or annual so-called Creative Cloud subscription. I used to be able to keep current by buying the software once and then upgrading to a current version every second or third time a major software upgrade was introduced. Paying an upgrade fee every three to five years worked much better for my budget than committing to paying an ongoing monthly rental fee which is charged even in the months I don't use the program. Please restore the old outright-purchase model as a replacement for (or at least as an alternative to) the CC program. Thank you.
Unfortunately, this is not an avenue to contact Adobe - you can put your voice across here - and these are monitored and checked and replied to - the more people you get on board to vote for your idea the better, but it's not the main reason Adobe listens to users - you don't need a lot of votes for them to listen - just a reasonable request will do.
You may know me (not that I am worth knowing) from my first question. I am a noob in web design, graphic desgin, font theroy, color theory, guess all of the mixes that are crucial. My expertise (whatever level that maybe) is in web coding (html, css) and RDBMS with strong skills in Database Modeling. Having successfully (to some extend at least) designed a logo, letterhead, small and big enevelops (maybe a corporate portfolio?), I was asked by the customer to design a company brochure as well. Having learned AI-CS5 (to some extend atleast) and helped by the Graphic Design Community (a million and three thanks to them), I designed the brochure in AI-CS5 and was very happy (as a noob) since it came out really nice (to me & the customer atleast).
The problem as it happens, comes (as it always comes when new knowledge is acquired) when I read that most if not all brochures are designed in Adobe InDesign and not Adobe Illustrator. That really put a halt (stop! you are going to the wrong road) in my learning of AI-CS5. Please see the below images for samples of what I have come up with.
Now I will try to put my question. Why are the brochures designed in indesign rather than illustrator OR more importantly do I really need to or have to "re-design" the above in indesign due to the benefits it offers (as some say given my readings on the net)?. Does it mean I am going to the wrong road and using the wrong tool for the job.
You really can't teach an old dogs new tricks and it has been difficult for me (not that I am excusing my short comings of which I am well aware viz. I have not creative talents and am dull as ditch water) to learn AI-CS5 and now I have to shift/move to InDesign just because (beacuse what?).
In reality, since the implementation of multiple artboards in Illustrator the reason for using Indesign compared to Illustrator changed a bit. Pre CS4 the immediate reason was a single Indesign document rather than separate documents for each page with Illustrator.
Nowadays, there are still reasons one may prefer Indesign over Illustrator but, similar to the Mac OS vs Windows, the reasoning is often based more on preference than actual hard limitations of either app.
Few of the items below are black and white, right or wrong, reasons. Rather they are more strengths in the particular app. There is some crossover and some items possible in Illustrator are possible in Indesign and vice versa. The primary difference is which app has a stronger code base for a particular feature set.
Better text handling. Indesign handles a lot of text editing much, much easier and more fluently than Illustrator. While some of the text features can be similar between the two apps, only Indesign has a story editor, column settings, column splitting/spanning, grep searching, etc. Setting massive amounts of text in Illustrator can be a lesson in frustration due to how little management over columns Illustrator contains. In addition things like Character and Paragraph styles in Illustrator are, to me, backwards. AI : Paragraph style dependent upon Character style. ID : Character Style dependent upon Paragraph style. Indesign's text engine is simply more intelligent and better developed.
Master Pages. Indesign's master pages far, far, outweigh anything in Illustrator which may have similar functionality. In reality, all you can do with Illustrator is symbols and a common layer. Not anywhere near the master page logic in Indesign.
File sizes. Since Indesign is a "container" app it doesn't store images and placed artwork within the file. This allows for much smaller file sizes in general and the ability to use one image file for multiple documents rather than having to embed the same image data in multiple files. I'm referring more to embedded images in Illustrator or original artwork in Illustrator. Illustrator, does of course, have a link option. But many things need to be embedded within Illustrator to achieve desired appearances.
Output. From a single Indesign file I can export or save to a wide variety of necessary formats with little post-processing. For example one Indesign document can create a press-ready PDF-x1a file, an interactive pdf file, or an epub file. Illustrator will save to PDF, but forget about epub or interactive pdf.
Easier custom layouts. It's much easier in Illustrator to create layouts which have some variety in both object placement or trim dimensions. For example, an oddly shaped piece where a die cut is needed is easier to see and use in Illustrator than it is in Indesign. It's not impossible with Indesign, it's simply easier with Illustrator.
A perceived design freedom. Illustrator, and the nature of the object-based elements, lends itself to an aire of less restriction. Allowing a user to more quickly draw, paint, or rough out something then refine it. With Indesign it's often a matter of needing to plan the layout first, then implement it.
More visual versatility. This may simply be my opinion, but I find the ability to alter the appearance of any item much easier within Illustrator. This is primarily because Illustrator is a drawing tool first then a layout tool second. Where Indesign is a layout tool first, then a drawing tool second. Things like custom designed headlines go much faster with Illustrator, and even faster than if one were to create them in Illustrator and place links in Indesign. Things like Text on a Path, or envelope warping, are much easier within Illustrator as well.
Drawing tools. While Indesign does contain some basic drawing tools, they are rudimentary when comparing them to Illustrator tools. This may not be a "deal-breaker" where layout is concerned however. It depends a great deal on the desired appearance. I've created layouts in Indesign and used the drawing tools there for some simple items. Using Illustrator simply makes more sense to me if a layout is highly illustrative in nature.
Since the release of CS4 I've relaxed a great deal on which tool should be used. I used to be adamant that any document containing more than 2 pages should be done via Indesign (Or XPress, heaven forbid). However, with multiple artboards in Illustrator I've found myself using Illustrator for very custom layouts where it simply makes more sense to have the freedom of layout as opposed to beefy text handling.
IF I answer "yes" to any of these, I'll still use Indesign just to make my life easier. However, if I'm asked for a poster, simple brochure, flyer, etc. I have no issue using Illustrator for the layout. I still tend to jump to Indesign if a project contains more than 2 signatures. But anything with 1 or 2 signatures I'm up in the air about which app I'll use until a design has been roughed out.
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