Release: DocsFlow 3.9 for InDesign 2020-2022
This update improves Google Docs compatibility and adds a Deactivate License button.
Release: WordsFlow 3.5 for InDesign 2020-2022
This update improves compatibility with Word files and adds a Deactivate License button.
Release: InData 2.17 for InDesign 2020-2022
This release improves scripting support and fixes problems when applying parent pages.
Release: InCatalog 2.27.1 for InDesign 2020-2022
This patch fixes issues with path extraction and HFS-style paths.
Release: InData 2.16.1 for InDesign 2020-2022
This patch fixes a problem when working with HFS-style paths.
Release: WordsFlow 3.4.1 for InDesign 2020-2022
This patch fixes a rare problem with link updating.
Release: DocsFlow 3.8 for InDesign 2020-2022
This release allows Microsoft Word documents to be placed and linked directly from Google Drive.
Release: InCatalog 2.27 for InDesign 2020-2022
This release adds support for InDesign 2022 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: InData 2.16 for InDesign 2020-2022
This release adds support for InDesign 2022 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: DocsFlow 3.7 for InDesign 2020-2022
This release adds support for InDesign 2022 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: WordsFlow 3.4 for InDesign 2020-2022
This release adds support for InDesign 2022, for importing endnotes as static text, and for WPS Office.
Release: InData 2.15 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds user-specified snapshot file types and fixes problems with finding files.
LA InDesign User Group: Data Merge with InDesign
The LA InDesign User Group’s October 21st meeting will feature Em’s own Joe Mathia presenting Data Merge with InDesign, as an online event.
From the overview:
You’re probably familiar with the word processing mail merge function that allows you to send personalized letters to a number of people. In this presentation, Joe Mathia will explain how to use InDesign’s somewhat similar Data Merge function, a capability built into InDesign straight out of the box. Learn how to create personalized letters, envelopes, mailing labels, even catalogs with images.
But as powerful as the InDesign Data Merge function is, it has limitations. Joe will describe those limitations, and show how InData and InCatalog, two plugins from Em Software, expand the boundaries, taking InDesign automation to new levels. For instance, InData’s English-like scripting language, allows you to build conditional rules, including or excluding fields based on the presence or content of other fields, including one or more graphics per entry based on picture availability, etc.
Follow up
The recording is here on Vimeo: Data Merge with InDesign.
Free InData online seminar with Laurie Ruhlin
Laurie Ruhlin will be presenting a no-cost InData online webinar on James Wamser’s Words of Wisdom series. From the overview:
Laurie will be showing how she took data and images from a Walsworth customer’s database and flowed it into an InDesign layout using Em Software’s InData, an InDesign plugin. She started by redesigning the catalog, then worked to get the data and images ready to flow. She created the InData Prototype, which allowed her to flow and format hundreds of catalog items from an Excel Spreadsheet and images located on a shared server into her InDesign document in minutes.
Laurie’s presentations are always excellent, so we can’t recommend this more highly.
(Now that the webinar is finished, use this link to view the recording.)
Release: WordsFlow 3.3 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds highlight mapping and improves product stability.
Release: DocsFlow 3.6.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This patch includes fixes for page breaks and improves product stability.
Release: InCatalog 2.26.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release supports alternative currency formats and fixes problems with URLs and Apple silicon machines.
Release: InData 2.14.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This patch fixes problems with URLs, Apple silicon machines, and master page applications.
Release: InCatalog 2.26 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds URL-based picture imports and supports Apple silicon.
Release: InData 2.14 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds URL-based picture imports and supports Apple silicon.
Release: DocsFlow 3.6 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release mainly adds native support for Apple silicon.
Release: WordsFlow 3.2 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds support for Apple silicon and includes general product improvements.
See you at Creative Pro Week next week?
If you haven’t already signed up, we can heartily endorse the annual Creative Pro Week, which we’ve been attending as exhibitors for many years. This past year was virtual, and next week’s is the same, but we’re hoping to be back in person next near.
We can’t recommend this conference enough — you’ll always learn something, and have fun to boot with the talented and engaging speakers. (Caveat: many are friends of ours, so we’re biased. 😉 )
We’ll be “there” in our virtual booth — click on our sponsor link once you’re logged in to the site.
Release: Xcatalog 3.16 for QuarkXPress 2020 (end-of-life)
This release removes support for QuarkXPress 2018 & 2019 and concludes development for QuarkXPress.
Release: Xdata 4.12 for QuarkXPress 2020 (end-of-life)
This release removes support for QuarkXPress 2018 & 2019 and concludes development for QuarkXPress.
Release: DocsFlow 3.5 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release introduces a footnote/endnote option and improves Google Docs imports and exports.
Release: WordsFlow 3.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds a footnote/endnote import option and fixes a number of reported issues.
Release: DocsFlow 3.4 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release improves download quality and addresses usability issues.
Release: Xdata 4.11.1 for QuarkXPress 2018/2019/2020
This patch simply adds recognition of .dat files as valid data snapshots.
Release: InCatalog 2.25 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release enhances text-selection link editing.
Release: Xcatalog 3.15.2 for QuarkXPress 2018/2019/2020
This patch fixes a problem with updating data in a snapshot file.
Release: InData 2.13 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release makes it easier to work with InData’s header/footer references.
Release: WordsFlow 3.0.2 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This quick release improves WordsFlow’s built-in Word filter and addresses reported issues.
Release: DocsFlow 3.3.2 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This patch release improves the Import Options dialog and adds endnotes support.
Release: WordsFlow 3.0.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release fixes a crash and addresses Update Linked Document issues.
Release: WordsFlow 3.0 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
We’re thrilled to announce the official release of WordsFlow 3.0, which primarily introduces our new Microsoft Word import filter with advanced import options.
Release: Xcatalog 3.15.1 for QuarkXPress 2018/2019/2020
This patch fixes online connections with FileMaker Pro versions 7 through 11.
Release: InCatalog 2.24.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This patch mainly fixes online connections with FileMaker Pro versions 7 through 11.
Release: WordsFlow 2.19.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This patch simply tweaks how Above Line frames are exported.
Adobe blog: InDesign editorial + production magic with WordsFlow
Laurie Ruhlin (a crackerjack Chicago-based trainer / consultant / designer, and a long-time friend of Em Software) has written a fantastic overview of WordsFlow for Adobe’s blog:
InDesign editorial + production magic with WordsFlow
Her summary:
So there you have it. WordsFlow and DocsFlow (for Google Docs) allows my client to retain content control throughout the production process. They can use the program they feel comfortable in to make edits, and best of all, I “allow” them to do much of the tedious editing. I simply update or relink the Word file using WordsFlow, and instantly, those client changes are incorporated into my InDesign document. WordsFlow has greatly simplified my workflow and allowed me to keep my designer hat on, the one I love to wear!
(Find full information at http://emsoftware.com/wordsflow, where you can download and install the free, 15-day, full-featured trial plugin.)
Release: DocsFlow 3.3.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This patch fixes a problem with table borders and improves stability.
Release: InCatalog 2.24 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds support for InDesign 2021 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: InData 2.12 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds support for InDesign 2021 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: InData 2.11 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release improves scriptability and adds a more direct way to use InDesign tagged text.
Release: DocsFlow 3.3 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds support for InDesign 2021 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: DocsFlow 3.2.2 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This patch release shows all Shared drives and improves stability.
Release: WordsFlow 2.19 for InDesign CS6, CC2019-2021
This release adds support for InDesign 2021 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Preview: WordsFlow 3.0 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
We’re excited to announce the availability of WordsFlow 3.0 Preview, which introduces a new, custom-built Microsoft Word import filter with advanced import options. To take it for a spin, download an installer from the Previews for InDesign section of WordsFlow’s side-bar, drive it around for a bit, then let us know what you think!
Release: WordsFlow 2.18 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release improves tracked-changes handling, InDesign’s Missing Fonts dialog, and product stability.
WordsFlow and DocsFlow make top ten Most Valuable Plugins
Issue 137 of InDesign Magazine published a rundown of the ten most valuable plugins for InDesign, compiled from a survey of their board of experts. WordsFlow is #4 and DocsFlow is #8.
On WordsFlow:
Em Software’s WordsFlow is a no-brainer; I use it and couldn’t live without it. I used to send a PDF to my client, have her mark it up with PDF commenting, then spend a couple of hours deciphering her notes, scratch outs, word changes, and other tiny issues. Now, I send my client the exported Word file, and she makes all the minor changes. When she sends it back to me, I relink it with WordsFlow. The two hours that I would have worked on the minor changes is done in about a minute. —Laurie Ruhlin
On DocsFlow:
I think DocsFlow is a miracle plug-in. I’ve used it for many client projects for years because it’s rock solid and it turns me into a rock star in my client’s eyes. “What? We can still have all our users editing all these Google Docs remotely and we’ll have no problems updating the publication with our changes? What a relief! Thank you!” —Anne-Marie Concepción
You can read the article online at InDesign MVPs: Most Valuable Plug-ins.
To help with reading the whole issue (and future issues), InDesign Secrets is also offering a $10 discount code for membership: MVP.
New Docs 2 Design plugin for Adobe XD
We’re proud as punch to announce our third and latest plugin for Adobe XD, Docs 2 Design.
This plugin provides a stellar solution to the problem of content collaboration between XD users and their stakeholders.
With Docs 2 Design (D2D for short), as an XD user, you can extract one or more artboards’ text contents with a click, packaged in various forms we call a “snapshot” (typically a spreadsheet). Each artboard’s image is captured on a sheet in the snapshot, with each text item indexed and labeled in the image for easy reference while adding or editing the text items’ content on the artboard’s sheet.
You can then share or send around the snapshot file for editing using your co-workers’ normal tools (such as Excel or any text editor), and with another click, update all text items from the edited snapshot.
D2D offers artboard “variants”—e.g., languages in a translation/localization project, or suggestions from different team members or groups. You can fluidly switch among variants to check designs with differing content.
D2D is ideal for sending out artboard content for translation or localization, for fleshing out “lorem ipsum”-ed designs with real content, for getting text content suggestions from various team members or outside stakeholders, or for generally managing a set of variant texts entirely within XD.
Your content is your own—no websites required nor involved—and D2D makes it easy to figure out what happened at each update or variant switch with its “X-rays.”
D2D comes in two forms, a free version that’s fully functional but with some limits on the number of artboards and variants, and a paid (licensed) version with no limits.
For more information, see the D2D product page, and for full operating instructions, see the user guide.
Release: WordsFlow 2.17 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release gives exported Word files the same page formatting as the InDesign document, and improves product stability.
Release: DocsFlow 3.2.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This quick release addresses problems with placing, exporting, and updating.
A romp through WordsFlow and DocsFlow with Terry White on Adobe Live
Joe Mathia (with Chris Ryland kibitzing) had a great time showing our WordsFlow and DocsFlow products on Adobe Live yesterday, hosted by Terry White. Terry’s the best, and the audience was alive with excellent questions.
You can watch a replay here.
Release: DocsFlow 3.2 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release adds Google Drive shortcuts, improves the Import Options dialog, and addresses product stability issues.
Release: Xcatalog 3.15 for QuarkXPress 2018/2019/2020
This release of Xcatalog adds support for QuarkXPress 2020 and discontinues support for QuarkXPress 2017.
Release: Xdata 4.11 for QuarkXPress 2018/2019/2020
This release of Xdata adds support for QuarkXPress 2020 and discontinues support for QuarkXPress 2017.
Release: DocsFlow 3.1.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This quick release mainly improves 3.1’s new Google Docs Import Options dialog.
Free webinar “Successful Remote Workflows for Publishing Teams”
One of our very favorite InDesign gurus, “Her Geekness” Anne-Marie Concepcion, will be presenting three very timely free webinars on remote workflows for publishing teams, May 12, 13, and 14th. The final presentation on the 14th will be covering our WordsFlow and DocsFlow products.
Release: WordsFlow 2.16.2 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This patch addresses a compatibility issue with Typefi Designer.
Release: DocsFlow 3.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release introduces an enhanced Import Options dialog and improves product stability.
Release: Xdata 4.10.1 for QuarkXPress 2017/2018/2019
This patch addresses a problem with quoted put statements.
Extreme Ad Makeover with InData
Consultant extraordinaire Gil Poulsen has written another incredible tutorial/case study detailing how he’s building real estate ads for newspapers in his area using Em’s InData product.
It’s in three parts:
Extreme Ad Makeover with InDesign/InData (Part 1) • (Part 2) • (Part 3)
Read all three parts for an in-depth tutorial, with helpful pointers at the end.
Release: WordsFlow 2.16.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This patch improves stability and fixes issues with exporting to Word files.
Release: DocsFlow 3.0.1 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This patch improves stability and addresses issues with importing and updating.
Release: DocsFlow 3.0 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
We are excited to announce the release of DocsFlow 3.0, which offers a totally new & improved Place from Google Docs… experience and an updated Export to Google Docs dialog. Sites who have been previewing this new version say they can’t drag it away from their users. We hope you love it too!
Release: InCatalog 2.23 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release adds support for InDesign 2020 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: InData 2.10 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release adds support for InDesign 2020 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: DocsFlow 2.18 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release adds support for InDesign 2020 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: WordsFlow 2.16 for InDesign CS6, CC2018-2020
This release adds support for InDesign 2020 and discontinues support for some older versions.
Release: DocsFlow 2.17.3 for InDesign CS5–CC2019
This patch addresses issues with exporting and updating linked documents.
Release: DocsFlow 2.17.2 for InDesign CS5–CC2019
This patch mainly fixes an issue with link status reporting.
Release: WordsFlow 2.15.2 for InDesign CS5–CC2019
This patch fixes troubles with tables, endnotes, and updates of linked files.
MacOS 10.15 Catalina Compatibility
We’re pleased to announce the immediate compatibility of all of our Adobe InDesign CC and QuarkXPress products with macOS 10.15 Catalina. Our installers for WordsFlow, DocsFlow, InData, InCatalog, and Xtags for Adobe InDesign versions CC through CC 2019, and our installable archives for Xdata, Xcatalog, and Xtags for QuarkXPress 2017 through 2019, now put in place signed and certified products that will work with Catalina’s enhanced Gatekeeper to provide a secure, malware-free experience.
Download these macOS products from their side-bar links and install them just as you always have. (One minor difference: Catalina’s Gatekeeper will want an active internet connection for the installation for it’s verification step.)
Products we provide for older versions of InDesign (CS6 and older) and QuarkXPress (10 and older) are 32-bit and therefore not compatible with macOS 10.15 Catalina. If you are using one of these versions, please be sure to fully explore the consequences of updating to 10.15 Catalina before committing.
WordsFlow at Eastern European Mission
Scott Hayes at the Eastern European Mission (eem.org) writes eloquently about how WordsFlow has transformed their incredibly challenging multi-lingual workflow. Key insight:
For us WordsFlow was a revolution in technology unlike anything we have implemented in the last 10 years.
New Icons and Symbols plugin for Adobe XD
We’re beyond excited to announce that Em Software, after 20 years developing InDesign plugins, is starting a whole new phase of life with plugins for Adobe XD! We’re honored to be one of the first developers using the Plugins Panel, which is new in XD version 22.
Our first product is Icons and Symbols, a plugin that searches 5,000+ free, high-quality, no-attribution-required icons and symbols. Search by icon name (e.g., ‘arrow’), and place any icons in the result list with a click, resulting in a vector-based, fully-editable icon. Icons and Symbols includes a dozen popular icon collections in a range of styles, including Font Awesome, Feather, and Material.
We’ll be at Adobe MAX 2019, Nov 4-6!
We’ll be exhibiting in the partner kiosk area at Adobe MAX 2019, November 4-6, 2019, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This is our first year at MAX, and we’re really looking forward to it, as the annual heart of all things Adobe.
We’d sure love to meet any of you who are attending!
And we hope to be showing exciting new things at the show. Details to come…
DocsFlow at the Star News Group
Super-consultant Gil Poulsen has written a fantastic overview of how the New Jersey-based Star News Group has adopted DocsFlow for their editorial workflow.
WordsFlow vs. InCopy
(We just added this section to the WordsFlow product page, and thought it was worth sharing here.)
InCopy is a great solution if you need your authors and editors to work with exactly what’s going to be seen in the final InDesign document.
However, working with WordsFlow does have some serious advantages:
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If your authors/editors have used Word all their lives, there’s no need to change their work habits or learn something new, using WordsFlow. They can stay productive in their long- and hard-earned knowledge of Word, with all its editorial power. InCopy is basically “baby InDesign,” and is a completely foreign world to Word users.
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In fact, your Word users don’t even have to know you’re using WordsFlow–it’s entirely invisible to them. It just makes you, the production user or team, look a lot faster, smarter, and more accurate. (No more botched manual merges.)
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WordsFlow enables InDesign production to proceed in parallel with editing in Word. InCopy stops all other work on a story while it’s checked out.
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ICML (the InCopy native document format) can really only be used to feed InDesign. WordsFlow allows you to link document formats that can be used for other purposes.
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WordsFlow is more production proof in that you can control the formatting on the InDesign side and review changes made by the editors before accepting. When an InCopy story is checked in, that’s it.
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With WordsFlow, your authors and editors don’t need to be burdened with all the styling and other layout details in the InDesign story. It’s a well-known trope that dealing with the details of text formatting while writing is a huge distraction from the real job at hand. And your InDesign production folks will be glad your authors and editors don’t get to meddle with those details.
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Cost! Each of your authors and editors needs an InCopy license, while only your production (InDesign) users need a WordsFlow license.
Release: Xcatalog 3.14 for QuarkXPress 2017/2018/2019
This release of Xcatalog adds support for QuarkXPress 2019 and discontinues support for QuarkXPress 2016.
Release: Xdata 4.10 for QuarkXPress 2017/2018/2019
This release of Xdata adds support for QuarkXPress 2019 and discontinues support for QuarkXPress 2016.
Release: InCatalog 2.22.6 for InDesign CS5–CC2019
This patch fixes the handling of special characters in Price Styles files.
Release: DocsFlow 2.17.1 for InDesign CS5–CC2019
This patch release fixes compatibility with Google Drive Shared drives and improves stability when working with endnotes.
Release: InData 2.9.2 for InDesign CS5–CC2019
This patch fixes Anchored Object settings on imported frames.
New online store
We’re overjoyed to announce that we have an entirely new, modern, adaptive, sleek, fast, localized online store with many more payment options.
Truly easy to use
There are many wonderful things about this new store, but the main improvement is that it’s so much easier to use.
Click on a Buy button on any of the product pages (or on a Get License button in any of the products’ License dialogs) and, boom, you’re taken to a check-out page for that product immediately. Fill in your email, name (optional company), and credit card info, and, boom, you’re looking at your new license with full instructions on how to get to back to work with your new power tool. (We’ll also send an email receipt right away with full information for your records.) Couldn’t be simpler or faster.
Em futures June 2019
We can’t predict the future, of course, but we can tell you what we’ve been doing recently, and what we’re planning to work on. (None of these are specific commitments nor promises, of course, but we’ll do our best!)
