ID to XPress 7 converter

[ktinkel]

Markzware has released ID2Q (http://www.markzware.com/ID2Q/), a utility for converting ID 1.5–CS2 files to QuarkXPress 6 or 7 format.

All elements of the InDesign document, including object positions, colors, text, text attributes, images, etc. are converted. ID2Q7 also converts files between platforms, converting Windows InDesign files to Mac QuarkXPress.

There are limitations in the conversion, in part because the two programs have different views of page makeup and typography, but it should save a lot of time compared to reconsructing the XPress file from scratch.

Supports Mac XPress 6 on Intel or earlier systems; and version 7 on non-Intel systems only. Universal binary for Mac and Windows XP and higher version due soon. List: $199 / €$199 / £139.

Now what I am curious about: How much demand is there for a tool like this? And why?

[PeterArnel]

Kathleen
Why do they bother - its us printers who always have to pick up the pieces. I have been doing atraining session with large agencies who couldnt understand why I couldnt ( would NOT) open their PC files and correct them on the Mac.
We do try and complicate things dont we - the KISS priciple is the best

[Shane Stanley]

Now what I am curious about: How much demand is there for a tool like this? And why?

There are quite a few book publishers who sell titles to other publishers, usually in other countries. I've had requests from a couple that have changed to InDesign for help on ways to produce QXP files for such clients. The files are usually used as the basis for translations, so variations in copyfit don't matter.

Shane

[ElyseC]

Now what I am curious about: How much demand is there for a tool like this? And why?Good question.

A couple of months back I bought the inverse, their Q2ID filter. I had a 48-page project originally done with QX 6.5 that needed to be carried forward in InDesign and the conversion worked surprisingly well. I was expecting to have lots of repair and rebuilding to do, but no.

Now, when I bought it (directly from the Markzware site), they would have let me buy ID2Q at half price, so I could have two-way conversion, but I'm still having a hard time figuring out who would want both converters. Certainly not me, but apparently someone out there does or Markzware wouldn't extend the offer. <shrug>

[ElyseC]

There are quite a few book publishers who sell titles to other publishers, usually in other countries. I've had requests from a couple that have changed to InDesign for help on ways to produce QXP files for such clients. The files are usually used as the basis for translations, so variations in copyfit don't matter.Ah, then there's one solid reason for being able to go both ways.

[bmann]

Good question.

A couple of months back I bought the inverse, their Q2ID filter. I had a 48-page project originally done with QX 6.5 that needed to be carried forward in InDesign and the conversion worked surprisingly well. I was expecting to have lots of repair and rebuilding to do, but no.

Now, when I bought it (directly from the Markzware site), they would have let me buy ID2Q at half price, so I could have two-way conversion, but I'm still having a hard time figuring out who would want both converters. Certainly not me, but apparently someone out there does or Markzware wouldn't extend the offer. <shrug>
Q2ID works great. ID2Q does not. Quark seems to lack a lot of the features of InDesign - even Quark 7 - and the filter still misses easy stuff like the cell borders of a table.