XLIM and multiple page dimensions

[KA]

Hi,

I typically build 1-page and 2-page store products (flyers, postcards, posters) as VDP templates (not composite) with empty frames for the user to upload their image, and use multiple page dimensions and visibility spreads to help with previews/proofs.

For example a letter size in both portrait (8.5 x 11) and landscape (11 x 8.5) orientations (one on each page with the same graphic box in both) and the user can choose landscape or portrait in uStore to view it correctly even though it doesn't really matter for the final PDF.

This works fine with an InDesign Server, but I am challenged to find a way to do multiple page dimensions on xlim. Is this possible? Is there a workaround for this case (portrait/landscape) other than visibility layers and rotating the graphic box so the landscape image views on its side? I really want to avoid having 2 store products that are identical other than page orientation. and want to give the user a good experience with a representative preview.

Note that XLIM preflight does not object to an InDesign file with page 1 portrait and page 2 vertical. When XLIM processes it in uProduce either page of the PDF comes out portrait. For the page designated to be landscape, the image is right-side up but cut off in the portrait page.

Thanks,

Kristin

[west-digital.fr]

Hello,

I am afraid that all what you said is totally valid.

The lack of support of "hydrid" documents by XLIM is something that we warn our customers in advance, so we promote the use of InDesign Server instead.

If I look at the internal structure of a XLIM file, that was exported from an hybrid InDesign document (in size and/or orientation), it only features one single "fo:simple-page-master" element, with the size and orientation of the first page, not taking the rest into account.

If I play, and manually add an extra "fo:simple-page-master" element with the size and orientation of my second page, then assign this master to the 2nd page in the XLIM document, composing from uProduce does not take these hazardous changes into account, again - I obviously do not recommend trying such changes on a production machine, as it may be way out of what the XMPie Support Teams would like to see in the field.

Also, as you were referring to uStore, I assume that you also may want to use such hybrid XLIM documents in uEdit NG? As it relies on XLIM - with some limitations - no need to say that it will not work neither.

I agree that the XLIM Preflight in uCreate should raise some warnings or errors, upon detecting such attempts.

Or, investigating if some Rotate / Resize steps of FreeFlow Core Advanced Prepress could help?

west-digital.fr