InDesign Docs

To create and preview folios, you run two different DPS installers — the Folio Producer tools and the Folio Builder panel.

Why two installers?

Two reasons. First, Adobe doesn’t want to force publishers to rebuild and resubmit their custom app whenever a new set of tools comes out every six or eight weeks. Updating the app should be optional. Second, when Adobe makes certain changes to the Folio Producer Service on the web, the Folio Builder panel needs to be updated to remain in sync with the web client. Publishers need to be able to update the Folio Builder panel without updating the Folio Producer tools.

Should I update when a new version of tools comes out?

That depends on whether you have created a custom viewer app and whether you’re still updating it. If you haven’t created a custom viewer app and submitted it to one of the stores, the situation is simple. Just install the most current versions of the tools, and you’re all set with the new and improved tools.

If you have submitted a custom viewer app to the store, it depends. You have two choices whenever a new set of tools comes out:

(1) Don’t update your custom viewer. Continue using the older set of tools. If prompted, update the Folio Builder panel. Updating the Folio Builder panel does not update the tools.

(2) Update your custom viewer and submit it to the store. Install both the new set of Folio Producer tools and the Folio Builder panel.

Until the new version of the custom viewer is approved and available, don’t create or edit any folios for that app. Otherwise, when your customers try to view a newer folio in an older viewer, they’ll be prompted to update their app. Although viewers are backward-compatible with previously created folios, folios usually cannot be viewed in earlier viewers. That’s new wine in old bottles. (Or is it old wine in new bottles?)

Where do I get the installers?

You can download these tools from the Adobe Downloads page, the DPS Dashboard, or the Installing digital publishing tools help topic.

How do I know which installers I used?

Here’s how to tell which tools are installed and which tools were used to create a folio.

To see which tools are installed, open the Folio Builder panel and choose “About” from the panel menu. Look at the last numbers. For example, 7.0.5.17 means you’re using the v17 tools.

To see which viewer version you’re using, open the folio in the viewer and tap the title. The first two numbers indicate the viewer version. For example, 2.2.0.13.34603 refers to the 2.2 version of the viewer.

Unfortunately, the viewer version doesn’t match the Folio Producer tools. Here’s how they match up:

v12 (tools) = 1.7 (viewer)
v13 = 1.8
v14 = 1.9
v15 = 2.0
v16 = 2.1 (not available for iPad)
v17 = 2.2

Questions? Leave a comment, or go to the DPS forum.

Lots of good stuff this month in the world of digital publishing.

Updated Digital Publishing Gallery

The old gallery was fine until there were too many apps to navigate through easily. The new Digital Publishing Gallery lets you filter the apps by platform, date, language, or region. And you can search for the app you’re looking for.

DPS Update through a Connect session

Zeke Koch hosted a Connect session in which he shared the latest Digital Publishing Suite updates, answer burning questions and provide sneak peeks into the next stage of the product roadmap.

Rufus Deuchler’s Interactivity Videos

Rufus created a two-part video series about creating interactive overlays. It’s a good way to learn the basics if you’re new to digital publishing.

Video Part I – Hyperlinks, Buttons, and Slideshows

Video Part II – Panoramas, Web Content, Scrollable Frames, Pan & Zoom

Rufus also wrote an interesting article about creating panorama overlays for mobile devices.

DPS App Spotlight

Keith Gilbert is running a series on his blog in which he spotlights interest app published with the Digital Publishing Suite. Here are a couple of examples:

U of Dayton Viewbook

What’s cool about it
In iTunes

National Geographic Magazine

What’s cool about it
In iTunes

Mind Twister Article – Single Orientation Issue with a Twist

Johannes Henseler is always pushing boundaries. Here, he created an interesting effect in which he combined a couple of obscure features to create a folio in which you swipe down to get to the next article. Check out the video.

New Issues in DPS Tips

The DPS Tips app now has a third issue to go along with Folio Basics and Overlays. The Single Edition issue steps through the end-to-end process to creating, publishing, and submitting a single-issue viewer app that can appear in the App Store.

Soon, I’ll add a fourth issue — Effects — that covers more advanced digital publishing techniques such as PDF articles, single-orientation folios, smooth scrolling articles, and various HTML practices. When you see the little red badge next to the DPS Tips app, download the new folio.

I’ve also update the existing folios to include the newest enhancements to the tools.

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Did I miss anyone’s article, video, or app? Leave a comment, and let me know what’s good.