David, May I also suggest that the FML PatternStream application is a consideration for publishing database and flat file information to Adobe InDesign - and FrameMaker. PatternStream connects directly to any and multiple ODBC/SQL databases (Access, DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, etc.) and XML and HTML files (PatternStream contains a built in parser) and publishes the acquired information into InDesign and FrameMaker. PatternStream can also import other files (word processing, images, Excel spreadsheets, etc.) as required to place in data-driven documents.
PatternStream integrates directly with InDesign - and FrameMaker through their respective application programming interfaces (API). This means that all of the InDesign and FrameMaker template attributes (pages, paragraphs, etc.) are available in the publishing project setup - and that the acquired information is published on-the-fly into either InDesign or FrameMaker. All project setup work is completed in a graphical user interface. Visual iconic images represent information acquisition, functions, and document publishing targets. Each icon has its own attribute set. As an example, the document target attributes include what template to use, which output formats to create, what conditions and extensions to apply, and whether it is part of a book. Once a project is setup, it can be executed, saved, saved as, modified, etc. The PatternStream binary file format (PSET file extension) will work to publish information to both InDesign and FrameMaker. Please visit www.patternstream.com, http://www.adobe.com/products/vdp/partners.html#finite, http://www.adobe.com/epaper/spotlights/countygovt/pdfs/countygovt.pdf, and http://www.adobe.com/products/plugins/indesign/, http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FrameMaker/8.0/db_publishing.pdf for additional information. Thanks, Ben Slone Finite Matters Ltd. 804-556-1180 office -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:framers-bounces at lists.frameusers.com] On Behalf Of David Creamer Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 7:52 PM To: Scott White; framers at lists.frameusers.com Subject: Re: FrameMaker XML inDesign XML imports > What we do here is take let's say 100 products which include the > image, descriptions, and all the corresponding sizes or colors in a > table, and export from a filemaker database and then import into > Frame. Frame streams all the information into the template -- all 100 > products -- where we then lay them out in the template. I can then > take each individual product and apply a straddle here, resize a > table there, etc. Each product is its own entity within frame. > If I do the exact same import into InDesign, all 100 products become > just one large text block and they lose their individuality and thus > I lose the ability to design each prouct. > Can that individuality somehow be maintained with ID??? Plugins > perhaps??? > With InDesign, you might want to take a slightly different approach and look at EmSoftware.com plug-ins: InData and InCatalog. (InCatalog can even maintain a "live" link to your database.) David Creamer I.D.E.A.S. - Results-Oriented Training http://www.IDEAStraining.com Adobe Certified Trainer & Expert (since 1995) Authorized Quark Training Provider (since 1988) Markzware, Enfocus, FileMaker Certified _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to Framers as sloneb at fml.com. Send list messages to framers at lists.frameusers.com. To unsubscribe send a blank email to framers-unsubscribe at lists.frameusers.com or visit http://lists.frameusers.com/mailman/options/framers/sloneb%40fml.com Send administrative questions to listadmin at frameusers.com. Visit http://www.frameusers.com/ for more resources and info.
