Tim Cole's InDesign BackChannel

10.5.4: So Far So Good. BUT...

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:34:38 -0800

Based on what we're seeing in our incoming crash logs, it appears that 10.5.4 has solved the NavServices crash problems.

We’re also noticing, however, that some users are still hitting a problem that was introduced by a VersionCue 3.1 update last year. For a subset of users, the update did not install the VersionCueUI framework. As a result, when invoking a NavServices dialog (i.e., place, relink, save as, etc.), they will crash--not because of a Leopard problem, but because their VersionCueUI framework was not updated.

InDesign & Leopard: 10.5.4 Nav Services Fix!

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:55:57 -0800

Apple's 10.5.4 update contains more fixes for the Nav Services crash problem that manifests itself most frequently in InDesign. It also contains a fix for the file corruption problem that occurs when saving files to a remote server.

New Zealand Transparency Tip

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:56:07 -0800

I was just in Auckland, New Zealand, for the InDesign Conference put on there by Mogo Media. David Blatner, Sandee Cohen, Mike McHugh, Michael Stoddart and myself had the privilege of participating in the three days worth of sessions on using InDesign and Creative Suite. Big kudos to Mogo and Martinho da Gloria for putting the event together. It was moko-riffic, and I learned what "jafa" means while I was there. Thank you Fraser.

Selection to PDF Script

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:05:36 -0800

Publishing consultant Martinho Da Gloria (creator of the wonderfully useful Layout Zone script add-on for InDesign) has made another free script available for InDesign users: SelectionToPDF. As the name would lead one to believe, the script enables you to select one or more object in InDesign, and export just that selection to a PDF file, not the whole page on which it lives. Cari Jansen has a good blog post on the script with step-by-step instructions and screen shots.

Update on file saving issue with 10.5.3

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:23:51 -0800

John Nack has posted the latest information on the file saving issue in 10.5.3. You can find it here.

Look Before You Leap

Fri, 30 May 2008 12:48:47 -0800

Before you jump on 10.5.3, check out some discussions on possible issues with saving images files to servers. There's a thread at Apple's site, and another at Apple Insider.

Leopard Alert: 10.5.3 contains first Nav Services fix

Thu, 29 May 2008 11:43:00 -0800

According to InDesign the InDesign QE team, and contrary to what I had heard up until very recently, the 10.5.3 update for Leopard includes Apple’s first step in addressing the Nav Services crashes in InDesign.

Help Us Stop Stupid PDF Syndrome

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:19:10 -0800

Too many PDF files suffer from a permanently debilitating defect. Help Adobe stamp out Stupid PDF Syndrome.

Phinney on Fonts

Thu, 08 May 2008 21:23:50 -0800

Adobe's Tom Phinney has produced a very useful post on his blog describing the three main kinds of font conflicts encountered by InDesign. Highly recommended.

Adventures in GREP

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:22:14 -0800

InDesign expert Mike Witherell has a great little article on using GREP in InDesign CS3 on his website.

InDesign Certification Exam Update

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:20:47 -0800

I've been told that vouchers enabling persons to retake the revised InDesign CS3 Certifcation exam will be sent via email. If you took the original, problematic test already, keep and eye out for the voucher email in your inbox...

The Leopard Leap

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:14:57 -0800

I know I said otherwise earlier, but I changed my mind...I decided to test Leopard on an external backup version of my hard drive to see how well it played with InDesign. After several days of running InDesign without incident off the Leopard drive, I finally decided to upgrade my main machine to see how it went. So far so good...

Adobe TV Goes Live

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:03:12 -0800

Adobe TV has gone live with streaming video content about all your favorite Adobe applications and technologies. Look for myself and my colleague Rufus Deuchler in Caffé Fibonacci as we cover Creative Suite 3 tips, tricks and related subject matter.

PDF Print Engine: James Wamser

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:05:45 -0800

I was able to connect with Sells Printing's James Wamser, and I spoke with him about their Prinergy 4 system that includes an Adobe PDF Print Engine RIP. The PDF Print Engine rips PDF data, and removes the need to convert to PostScript at any point in the workflow. The primary benefits of an entirely PDF workflow are the preservation of live transparency (i.e., no flattening, no potential PostScript printing problems because of the translation of live transparency into the opaque, flat imageing model of PostScript), device independence (RGB to CMYK conversion, screening, etc. done at print time), support for ICC profiles, and speed (PDF Print Engine RIPs usually process complex jobs much faster than PostScript RIPs).

Wanchai Computer Centre, Hong Kong

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:58:08 -0800

I've been to Hong Kong several times, but had never made the short trip to the Wanchai Computer Centre. It's essentially a multi-floor shopping center quite literally crammed full of all manner of electronic, digital media and gagetry, as well as related products.

My new favorite deep discount camera shop there is a small little place called Concept Digital where I got good deals on some items I needed for my trusty Nikon D70. The management there was friendly and ready to make deals.

If you're ever in Hong Kong, and you're a complete computer/web/photo/gaming geek, you owe it to yourself to budget at least a couple hours and some cash for the vendors at Wanchai.