The InDesigner

If you haven’t already noticed, a very useful feature that’s been around since InDesign CS has been broken in InDesign CS4. I noticed myself when preparing for a recent seminar in Washington, D.C. After creating a Style Mapping preset from the Microsoft Word Import Options dialog, I opened a template and tried to import a Word file using that preset only to find that none of the 20 or so style associations I’d just made had been preserved in the preset. While the preset name was available from the preset menu at the top of the dialog, none of the settings associated with that preset were preserved.

This is a known bug. Adobe is aware of it, but as of now it is not on the agenda to be fixed within the lifespan of CS4. In order for this to be acted on, InDesign users need to get Adobe’s attention focused on it. … (read more)

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After a seven-month hiatus…the podcast returns!

Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of work designing forms, which present their own unique design challenges, one of which is that more forms are being completed digitally as PDFs. As we’ll see in this episode, when you’re designing a form to be as Acrobat-friendly as possible, the same principles that make for a clean, function, well-organized form on the page also lend themselves to fast and easy form field recognition in Acrobat.

Watch the episode here (14:58 | 49.6MB), or you can subscribe via iTunes.

Download the InDesign Interchange (.inx) file with the flexible form line style used in this episode

Posted in Design, Interactivity, Styles | 21 Comments » |

With Facebook and Twitter all the rage these days, I’ve finally thrown my hat into the social networking arena (kicking and screaming, and later than everyone else, as ususal).

Actually, it’s more like a toe in the water. I’m still grappling with the real value of these networks, but I’m starting to use them as ways to update fans of the podcast and my book in a more immediate way than the blog does. Of course, the blog will continue, and the podcasts are starting up again very soon, but this is one more channel to provide quick updates for those interested.

You can follow me on Twitter, or join my Facebook fan pages for the book and the podcast. My status updates and tweets on these networks will include information about upcoming classes, seminars, projects (and there are some good ones coming up!) and conferences, but I won’t clog your mobile phones with mundane details like what I’m watching on TV. For now, at least, I’m keeping it strictly business.

If you dare–and if you care–follow along!

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Peachpit Press is offering a 35% off list price discount on Adobe InDesign Styles on the Peachpit.com web site and use the discount code INDESIGNSTYLES.

Posted in News/Announcements | 14 Comments » |

After six months, tens of thousands of words, and many late nights, I have finally completed my book for Adobe Press, “Adobe InDesign Styles: How to Create Better, Faster Text and Layouts” which is available for pre-order at Peachpit.com and at Amazon.com and will be shipping in the second half of April, 2009. I’m both glad to be done with it and very pleased with the end result: the first ever exploration of every InDesign style type, and all other features in the application that are “wired into” styles.

As many of you know from the podcast, I’ve got a passion for styles that’s finally seen a comprehensive outlet in this book. Below is the final table of contents for the book, so you can see what’s included between its covers, as well as in two bonus chapters that you can download for free when you register your copy of the book on the Peachpit web site (it doesn’t matter where you actually bought the book). I wrote way too much to fit in its 256 pages, but the material that got pulled from print will still see the light of day as … (read more)

Posted in Designer's Bookshelf, News/Announcements, Styles | 25 Comments » |

I was recently posed with a GREP challenge from a colleague that I thought would be relatively easy to solve in a dedicated GREP-savvy text editor like BBEdit, but it required something I wasn’t quite sure InDesign’s GREP Find/Change would handle.

The problem was this: removing duplicate lines in document of company listings. In this particular case, it was 10,000 companies, so doing it manually was not an option. In each listing, there was a company name and address. In some, the first line of the listing was duplicated on the second line, but not all listings had this problem. The challenge was to use GREP to determine which were the problem listings, fix them, but leave the other listings as they were. … (read more)

Posted in GREP | 25 Comments » |

Happy New Year, everyone!

It’s been quite some time since my last podcast, or even my last post on the blog. Many of you have expressed very touching congratulations for our new baby from all over the world. My wife and I are very grateful for all of the warm wishes. We can’t wait to teach Brenna geography by showing her all the places on the map where people took the time to welcome her into the world.

Some people have also asked about when the next podcast episode will be, and expressed concern that everything was OK on my end. I can assure everyone of two things: there will be more podcast episodes, and everything is just fine. There are actually two new “babies” that have consumed all of my time and attention at the moment. The first—little Brenna—you already know about. The second “baby” is still in the works: a book I’m writing for Adobe Press called Adobe InDesign CS4 Styles: How to Create Better, Faster Text and Layouts, which will be available in late April.

I’m thrilled to be writing a book on one of my favorite InDesign subjects, but it is a lot of work, especially when adjusting to life as a new parent. As a result, podcast time has been impossible to come by. However, I am completely committed to the podcast. It’s what got me the book deal and many other opportunities since I started it. It’s also put me in touch with a community of fellow designers who I’m determined to keep helping with information, instruction and insight for the foreseeable future.

But, for now, the podcast is on hold until the book is 100% done. I’m in the home stretch now, so I will not keep you waiting any longer than necessary. I appreciate everyone’s patience in the meantime. There will also be more from me in 2009: presentations at two InDesign Conferences, a special event in Washington, DC, and more classes through EEI Communications, including a new GREP for Adobe InDesign class.I hope you’ll all be coming along with me for the ride like you have all along.

Thanks again for your support.

Michael

Posted in News/Announcements | 9 Comments » |

If it takes me a while to answer your e-mails, or if you’re wondering why you don’t see me on iChat or AIM…there’s a very good reason why: this beautiful little girl who was born on September 26, 2008 at 11:31 pm. This is my daughter, Brenna Clare Murphy, and she and her mother are doing wonderfully.

I thought I’d “frame” this photo in a manner appropriate for the web site.

Posted in News/Announcements | 55 Comments » |

Today, Adobe announces the Creative Suite 4 in all of its various iterations (Design Premium, Web Premium, Production Premium, and so on). This updated Creative Suite includes another evolutionary and significant new version of InDesign, and in this episode, I take a look at some (but by no means all) of my favorite new features including Smart Guides, Flash export, and GREP Styles.

Watch the episode here (14:14 | 51.7MB), or you can subscribe via iTunes.

Posted in GREP, Interactivity, Layout, News/Announcements, Podcasts-Video, Styles | 26 Comments » |

This is a “guest post” from my good friend Noha Edell from Adobe who has been keeping in regular contact with Scott during his amazingly fast recovery from his auto accident in late July. In it, she mentions a way in which those inclined to help can do so. A recent InDesign User Group in New York boasted its biggest raffle ever and an auction where people very generously bid on items to help send some financial support Scott’s way. Here’s Noha’s update: … (read more)

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