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• • July 29, 2015 at 7:37 am #77003
    Inês Gomes

    Member

    I have a question on how to implement an efficient workflow in a small publishing environment. If we want to have an InDesign project from which we’ll export different outputs (print PDF, digital PDF, EPUB, HTML…), what advantages do you see in importing an XML document in InDesign in comparison with importing a properly styled Word document?
    I’m trying to understand if it would be worth it to implement a XML-first approach, but it seems to me that having a Word document in which all the text has been logically styled (and therefore allowing to match each Word style to an InDesign style and a specific tag) is equally efficient…

    Any thoughts on this?

    Thank you in advance!

  • July 30, 2015 at 3:02 am #77030
    Loic Aigon

    Member

    Hi,

    I think that it would be a conceptual difference. XML is graphic concern free. It’s a data medium. That means that based on that semantic piece of data you can have multiple output where styles will be applied based on the tags. So you can do print or digital PDF either with InDesign or through a XSL-FO engine, HTML and ePub. Consider XML as a semantic central point from where many graphic output will be possible.

    Word is already a graphic tool as you apply styles. You are coupling meaning and representation. I don’t know all the output possibilities from Word but I guess some channels would require more steps to reach. It’s probably less scalable than XML and would require more work in case of changes.

    You can also think of continuity. Word is a proprietary format and would always require software to edit the files. XML is just open text that will still be editable. In terms of archives, it’s interesting. Also lighter I guess.

    Finally, updates can be easier to deal with with XML. You would just refresh your channels and the output will reapply accordingly. Any changes in the word source may affect a lot of things. Just to be clear I am not saying word is bad or that XML is problem free. I am just giving my feeling ;)

    HTH,

    Loic

  • August 5, 2015 at 4:10 am #77146
    Katie Beard

    Member

    I am also looking into the prospect of XML workflow in publishing but finding it hard to find case studies or reports that explain this at a basic level.
    We publish books (printed) and send the indd file out to be converted to ebook. The text comes in as a styled Word file, so all the formatting translates to indd ok but I’d like to be able to extract that and reuse on the website, or for epubs, catalogues or any other format.
    The problem for me is where to start – if anyone has any pointers I’d be grateful.

    Thanks in advance.

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