Creating Book file for first time - ??s

[doodler22]

I'm creating a book file for 1st time -- will include 17 ID docs. Unfortunately we haven't upgraded to CS3 - I'm still running CS (it's in the 2008 budget!!)

Should I make the book file after all edits are received or can I make changes to the individual docs and will the changes be included in the book file?

Each doc has it's own master page. I want each one to have it's own master page because there is a header in each doc that's a different color. Will this cause a problem with a book file?

I also need to create links or jumps between docs -- ie: I'm in the General Info doc and it says: please see the Specialty Programs section for more information. How do I jump between docs? Do I need to wait until I have the entire book put together? Can I actually see the book document all put together?

 

[jmgalvin]

Depending on the length of the individual docs, it's often easier, and more editable, to simply add them all to the first of the ID docs.

Just open the first 2-4 docs and go to Window menu/arange/tile. Go to the last page of the first doc and then make the second one active. drag all the pages, from pages window, from the second doc onto the last page of the first doc. They'll be added to the first. Repeat as necessary.

This allow full editing at any time, which book will not.

Book is sort of a holdover from older Pagemaker days when machine had little memory and had a hard time handling very long docs. Therefore you did a lot of smaller ones, did all the edits, and then made the book for sending to the printer.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[doodler22]

So then what's the benefit of creating a book file?

Wouldn't it just be easier to do what you explained?

If I combine all the indiv docs into 1 big one, I can create a TOC, index, etc. So I don't see the advantage of the book file. What am i missing?

 

[jmgalvin]

There is no advantage. As I said, that feature is sort of left over from days when computers had a hard time handling large documents.


Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[apepp]

...books are useful if more than oone user is working on the same project, five other advantages of the book feature:

1. good way to organize documents, faster to open them in the book palette and more efficient for long documents.

2. automatic page numbering

3. print or export one or more docs using the same print settings.

4. synchronize styles, colors and more (master pages in cs3) for consistency.

5. you can mix page sizes and orientations.

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...TOC can be created using the book feature...

..option is available in the TOC dialog, at the bottom...

"include book documents"

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...same for indexes...

..."include book documents" needs to be turned on...

Andrew

 

[doodler22]

Can I jump or link between documents if it's in an ID book?

For example, if: See the important telephone numbers in the General Information section.

How do I add a hyperlink/or jump to the General information section?

 

[apepp]

...here is a walkthrough i created to save typing it out:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/hyperlinks3.mov

Andrew

 

[doodler22]

Unfortunately I couldn't get the movie to work. All I saw was a screen shot of 2 documents side by side - one labeled source document - the other labeled destination. I think I might be able to figure out how to do the hyperlinks, just from this picture. I hadn't thought of opening up the 2 docs side by side. Thanks.

Another question regarding hyperlinks and destinations: Can I use the same destination multiple times? For example, in several locations in my book, I say, "for more info, see the Billing section". I want the user to be able to click on Billing and jump to the Billing section. Do I need to set up Billing as a destination every time I refer to it?

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[apepp]

...you might need quicktime 7 to view the post above, or download it instead and play it from the desktop...

...when you create 'new hyperlink destination' it is listed in the 'new hyperlink' dialog under the 'name' pull down menu, so therefore it is avaible for multiple use...

Andrew