Archive-name: pagemaker-faq/part1 Last-modified: 1993/03/23 Version: 25 March 23, 1993 Welcome! The following is a posting of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list for the PAGEMAKR bitnet list, posted every 6 weeks (or so) on the Pagemaker list. Please feel free to pass this posting onto fellow Pagemaker-ers. This FAQ posting is now being cross posted with news.answers, as can be seen by all of that wierd header stuff above. Another quick note -- the archives have been greatly updated. Be sure to check them out. They contain a massive glossary (thanks to Henry Budgett), a updated Book / magazine recommendation list (thanks to Cindy Hollingsworth), official press releases on PM, Aldus' own FAQ for PageMaker and a whole slew of new files. They are available via anonymous FTP at WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU in the /doc/misc/pagemakr directory. Well, we're still waiting for 5.0. To be frank, I am puzzled at Aldus' policy of telling beta testers to be quiet until March 1, giving a media blitz starting in January 1993, and still not having a single commercial copy for sale (as far as I know) to date. Perhaps, as Jeff Bone was suggesting, they were trying to make a dent in Quark's (and FrameMaker's) recent growth. Aldus! If you are listening -- we are more than ready to get ahold of 5.0 -- you do not have to keep the suspense any more! (PS -- if you are wondering about the release date -- it seems to change with every person you ask.) I hope to go through the FAQs to update them for version 5.0 as soon as I receive it. All references in the documents right now, if not specified to support 5.0, can safely be assumed to refer to Pagemaker 4.x, although most of the tips should continue with 5.0. I hope the discussion on the list continues strong as Aldus makes its next step in staying current in a quickly growing market. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any comments or corrections. I would prefer it if you would email me directly (keep down my embarrassment :) -- unless you feel it is a grave enough error that it deserves public scrutiny. What is mentioned in here is by no means the end all beat all of the discussion, but rather the beginning. There is also two disclaimers on this FAQ: 1) This document and its support documents are offered to the public domain on the understanding that no resale of this information is undertaken by any recipient of the information. Any reproduction of the information should be complete and entire and provide reference to the original source (ie the PAGEMAKR listserver at INDYCMS.IUPUI.EDU) and the authors. 2) The authors take no responsibility for any errors, omissions or misunderstandings, however induced! Lastly, as a reminder, please use the TAN: prefix in your subject line when posting to the Pagemakr List about something not directly pertaining to Pagemakr or the operations of the list. Thank you! Also, if you are posting from Usenet, please keep in mind that this is mainly a listserv and thus your postings are sent to our email mailboxes, so please be careful on what you post. I would like to strongly thank Cindy Stone, Jeff Bone, Monte Olsen, Henry Budgett and Ken Weiss for their help in compiling this posting. I would also like to thank all those members of the list who have also supplied information that has been used in this FAQ. Lastly, thanks goes to our friends at Wuarchive for allowing us to use their server as a common storage area and to Greg DeBruyn & Henry again for creating the Macintosh .SEA version of the .ZIP files at Wuarchive. Geof Peters [TRUTH@CORRAL.UWYO.EDU] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= PAGEMAKER LISTSERV FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Key to Index ------------- * items that have been revised since last posting. (everything for + items that have been added since last posting. this posting) Index ------ (GENERAL) 1. What exactly is the Pagemaker listserv? How do I subscribe and unsubscribed to the Pagemaker list? * 2. What other listservs / newsgroups may be of interest to me? 3. What is the current versions of Pagemaker? What is new? 4. Which is better -- Mac or PC Pagemaker? I know how to do it on the Mac, how do I on the PC? (& vice versa) 5. How do I convert Mac to PC Pagemaker files (& vice versa) 6. What is the Table Editor? 7. Are there any FTP locations that have DTP related archives? What recent filters and updates are there available for PM? * Where can I get clip-art packages? 8. Is there a list of popular books concerning DTP and/or PM? Is there a list of keyboard shortcuts and Pagemaker tips? Is there a list of Scanning tips? Desktop Publishing tips? Is there a glossary of typesetting terms? Does anyone have a suggestion for a syllabus on PM class? 9. What are the important Pagemaker-related phone numbers? (PAGEMAKER GENERAL) 10. How do I have a truly fixed spaced document? 11. How can I create drop caps in Pagemaker? 12. My file size for Pagemaker documents keeps increasing -- what causes it and how can I reduce the file size? * 13. My Pagemaker document will not open due to errors. What to do? ****** * My machine crashed during my Pagemaker session. Help! *************** 14. How can I break the links with the files I imported? 15. How do I rotate text? graphics? 16. Tell me about Aldus Additions. What Additions already exist? 17. How do I set gradient fills on letters? + 18. How do I export the text of several (or all) unconnected stories? (IMPORTING / EXPORTING FILES) * 20. What is PostScript? What different types of file formats exist? 21. How do I convert from one format to another? 22. How do I import Wordperfect Equations? (FONTS, SPECIAL CHARACTERS) 30. What are the different types of fonts available? 31. How can I obtain public domain fonts? 32. How do I use the more bizarre characters? 33. How do I prevent hyphenation on one particular word? 34. How do I keep control of all of these fonts? 35. What is the difference between Truetype and Postscript fonts? Which is better for working in Pagemaker and why? (PC SPECIFIC) 40. How do I get rid of Unrecoverable Application Errors? (UAEs) 41. How can I have a default directory for my Pagemaker data files? 42. I can only see 27 fonts on my font listing. How can I see more? 43. I am having trouble printing to my Postscript printer. 44. My EPS graphics are printing upside down! 45. When I switch back to PM my background turns brown or gray. (MAC SPECIFIC) * 50. How can I import Word 5 documents? WriteNow 3.0? 51. I am having lots of trouble printing under System 7. 52. How can I speed up this dang Mac? 53. I am trying to install PM, but it keeps asking for Disk 1. Answers -------- --> 1. What exactly is the Pagemaker listserv? How do I subscribe and unsubscribe to the Pagemaker list? --------------------------------------------------------------------- The PageMakr listserv, dedicated to Pagemaker related topics, was created on Friday, January 26, 1990 and now has over 300 subscribers. The listowner is Cindy Stone (her address is in question #8). The list includes the discussion of PM on both the Mac and PC platforms. Currently, the list is unmoderated. Thus, everything you post will be seen by all 300+ subscribers. PLEASE DO NOT POST COMMANDS TO PAGEMKR -- SEND THEM TO THE LISTSERV DIRECTLY! To subscribe to the PageMakr list, you will have to register with the LISTSERV. Here are the addresses of where to post and register. BITNET: Commands go to: LISTSERV@INDYCMS Postings go to: PAGEMAKR@INDYCMS INTERNET: Commands go to: LISTSERV@INDYCMS.IUPUI.EDU Postings go to: PAGEMAKR@INDYCMS.IUPUI.EDU --> 2. What other listservs / newsgroups may be of interest to me? --------------------------------------------------------------------- There are several other listservs that may be of interest to the average Desktop Publisher. One is the "sister list" to Pagemaker that is for Quark Express users. To subscribe to this list, please use the precautions that are mentioned in the first question. The addresses for the Quark lists are: BITNET: Commands go to: LISTSERV@IUBVM Postings go to: QUARKXPR@IUBVM INTERNET: Commands go to: LISTSERV@IUBVM.UCS.INDIANA.EDU Postings go to: QUARKXPR@IUBVM.UCS.INDIANA.EDU Laura the DocWoman has suggested another list -- CCNEWS@BITNIC. The description is: "The CCNEWS newsletter is published bi-weekly by EDUCOM, and focuses on issues related to writing, editing, design, and production of computing newsletters and other publications. To subscribe, send an interactive message or mail to LISTSERV@BITNIC containing: SUB CCNEWS FirstName LastName - Institution." * For those technical writing members, there are a few listservs * dedicated to this subject. The main one is techwr-l at LISTSERV@OSUVM1 * (bitnet) or LISTSERV@VM1.UCC.OKSTATE.EDU (internet). The listowner * is Eric Ray (ejray@okway.okstate.edu). Two other listservs are * COPYEDITING-L@CORNELL.EDU and PAPER-DIST@NYUACF.BITNET. Lastly, there is another Bitnet listserv dedicated to DTPing in general. The owner is Michael Ross (mross@antigone.uu.holonet.net) and the list is cross-posted with the Usenet group comp.text.desktop (?). To subscribe, send the following message: SUBSCRIBE DTP-L to LISTSERV@ANTIGONE.COM * And for those of you who have Usenet access, you might check out the * groups comp.text.*, comp.lang.postscript, comp.sources.postscript, in * addition to the bit.listserv.* groups for the listservs mentioned * above. Some of you may also have the alt.aldus.* groups. --> 3. What is the current version of Pagemaker? What is new in the latest version? --------------------------------------------------------------------- By the time you read this, Pagemaker 5.0 should be released (or at least extremely close to being released). I have heard a rumor that the Windows version might be release a week or two earlier than the Macintosh. As for the capabilities in the new version, I would suggest seeing the * January/February 1993 edition of Aldus Magazine. There is also a very * extensive list of features that was released by Aldus in the archives * file (see question #7). If you are curious about more descriptions, post to the list. The MacIntosh Version 4.2 sports the following new additions: "Two-up printing", Drop caps, a Booklet maker, "Display Publication info", a crude version of script that can automatically perform some tasks, Pagemaker Additions work with some scripts, Page sorting, Interruptible screen redraw, On-screen control palette, New indexing and preferences commands, New baseline leading method, free Aldus PrePrint 1.5, a Hotlink to Aldus Freehand, better Printer Driver files, a dictionary editor, and multiple pasting. Version 4.2 supports System 7, but will also work with 6.0x. (If you have trouble printing with 4.2 under System 6.0x, use Apple's printer drivers by holding the Option key when you select "Print...".) Version 4.2a for the Macintosh is also available, a free upgrade that resolves a few bugs. These bugs include "inability to print pages larger than 22.75 inches correctly, gaps on fill patterns, image errors and font and spooler incompatibilities." (as quoted from PCWeek). It also sports a filter for MS Word 5.0 and adds several new additions including Baseline, Shift, Story Info, Textblock Info, and Traverse Textblock. You can contact Aldus for the upgrade at (206) 622-5500, or FAX (206) 343-4240. One problem Version 4.2a fixes from 4.2 is with printing imported PICTs from Canvas 2.0 and 2.02, MacDraw, Math Type, Smart Art, Type Align, and Microsoft Word 5.0's Equation Editor --> 4. Which is better -- Mac or PC Pagemaker? I know how to do it on the Mac, how do I on the PC? (& vice versa) --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Macintosh and PC versions, for the most part, are very similar. The COMMAND key on the Macintosh (or splat, clover, rugbeater, propeller key) parallels the CONTROL key on the PC. The Mac OPTION key equates to the ALTERNATE key on the PC. As to which version is preferable, faster, exciting, etc., simply keep subscribed to this list and I am sure within a month this very subject will be rehashed. --> 5. How do I convert Mac to PC Pagemaker files (& vice versa) --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Pagemaker files made on a PC and on a Macintosh are compatible if they are made with the same versions of PM. There is a nice description of how to do convert between them in the Reference manual on page 20. You can use a variety of methods to actually transfer the file between the two platforms that include FTPing, Dos Mounter and other utilities, and transferring the file through a Novell PC/Mac network. Henry Budgett strongly suggests MacLink Plus from DataViz as the best of of the utilities. --> 6. What is the Table Editor? --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Table Editor is a program will create tables and is packaged with Pagemaker 4.0 and higher. It is the general consensus that the program is not worth the extra money even though it is free. We'll see what it is like in Pagemaker 5.0. --> 7. Are there any FTP locations that have DTP related archives? What recent filters and updates are there available for PM? Where can I get clip-art packages? --------------------------------------------------------------------- FTP (File Transfer Protocol) allows you to "get" and "put" files from remote computers. Certain computers on several of the various, large networks (such as Internet) have opened their archives to the public. The Pagemaker listserv has a great number of support documents (including this FAQ and many other FAQs) that can be obtained via anonymous FTP at WUARCHIVE.WUTL.EDU in the \doc\misc\pagemakr directory. These files are often collectively referred to as "The Archives" on the list. Here are some other internet locations that have many files available to the public that are associated with DTP to start you off: Macintosh : SUMEX-AIM.STANFORD.EDU MAC.ARCHIVE.UMICH.EDU Windows (PC) : FTP.CICA.INDIANA.EDU Both : WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU Some other sites that have shareware fonts are: BODE.EE.UALBERTA.CA (/pub/dos/win3/fonts) F.MS.UKY.EDU (/pub/msdos/Windows3/Fonts) NIC.FUNET.FI (/pub/msdos/windows/atm-fonts) SRC.DOC.IC.AC.UK (/ibmpc/windows3/fonts) SWDSRV.EDVZ.UNIVIE.AC.AT (/pc/windows/win3/fonts) Sumex has a Pagemaker 5.0 demonstration program available under the file /info-mac/demo/pagemaker-50.hqx. To run this demonstration, you'll need a Macintosh, System 6.0.7 or later (runs under System 7), a hard drive, a high-density floppy disk drive, and at least 4MB of RAM (5MB under System 7). The demo is 1140k. A color monitor will make the demo more attractive but it is not necessary. (Thanks Jeff Needleman and Henry Budgett!) Mac-archive has a filter pack issued by Aldus and March 1992. These filter packs are for Pagemaker 4.x users. It contains new versions of Aldus Prep, HP3SI523.PPD, APLWIIf1.PDX, APLWIIg1.PDX, RunScript.add, MS Word 4.0 - 5.0 Import.flt, RTF Import.flt, and WordPerfect PC 5.0/5.1 Import.flt. Its location is Mac/utilities/updates/ pmfilterdriverpak.cpt.hqx. Sumex has the filter pack under /info-mac/app/pagemaker-filter-update.hqx. The Word 4.0/5.0 filter is /info-mac/misc/pagemaker-word-50-importer.hqx. Aldus has also released WP 5.1 and Word for Windows 2.0 filters for Pagemaker 4.x users. * Lastly, a common question that appears on the list is the question "Where * can I get some public domain clipart?" Unfortunately, the answer is not * so simple. Through anonymous FTP there are a few P.D. clipart packages * (like ARTMART at WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU). Most of them, however, are of * extremely poor quality and are bitmapped based (uggh!). One exception to * this, however, is the popular site sumex-aim.stanford.edu in the * info-mac/art directory. Unfortunately these files are all stored in the * Macintosh HQX format. * There is an entity called the "OTIS Project" that is designed for art * distribution, including public domain clip art. FTP to sunsite.unc.edu * and take a peek in the pub/pictures/OTIS directory. Another option is * to try the comp.sources.postscript Usenet news group. * Additionally, there are literally thousands of GIF pictures at sites * across the world; these GIFs are generally higher resolution (including * 256 colors) and not the simple line-drawn vector pictures of common * clipart packages. My best suggestion is to look at the products you * already own. WordPerfect, MS Word, Corel, and many others all come with * their own collection of clipart. --> 8. Is there a list of keyboard shortcuts and Pagemaker tips? Is there a list of Scanning tips? Desktop Publishing tips? Is there a list of popular books concerning DTP and/or PM? Is there a glossary of com Does anyone have a suggestion for a syllabus on PM class? --------------------------------------------------------------------- The FAQ you are reading is just one of a number of valuable documents that have been compiled by members of the Pagemakr listserv. There are a number of documents, ranging from job oppurtunities to scanning tips to Pagemaker and DTPing tips. You are highly encouraged to take a look! Already compiled, there are lists that address the subjects above. Please send to on of the following addresses _directly_ (please do not send to the list): TRUTH@CORRAL.UWYO.EDU (Geof's internet address) STONEC@UCS.INDIANA.EDU (Cindy's internet address) STONEC@IUBACS (Cindy's bitnet address) These lists are also available via Anonymous FTP at WUARCHIVE.WUSTL.EDU under the doc/misc/pagemakr directory. Please do *not* use the SCRIBE.UWYO.EDU location -- it no longer supports the documents. If you can use FTP, it would be greatly appreciated if you could use this avenue first. As for the favorite books and magazines, we will give you a general summary below due to demand: (*** = a must!, ** = excellent, * = consider it) *** Pagemaker 4: An Easy Desk Reference by Robin Williams. Austin Twigg. "I use it daily" -- Monte Olsen "Thorough, concise, easy to use" -- Robyn Fizz ** Real World PM 4: Industrial Strength Techniques by Kvern & Roth. "Great style, humor, and insight, ... for people who want to move past a basic level of understanding" -- George Radford ** Desktop Publishing by Design -- Ronnie Shushan & Don Wright. Microsoft. "available in both PM and Quark versions" -- John in Indiana. ** Chicago Manual of Style "a real classic" -- Carol Hewlett. * Methods of Book Design by Hugh Williamson. Yale Univ Press. * Desktop Publishing Skills by Felici & Nace. Addison-Wesley. * The Makeover Book by Roger C. Parker. Ventana Press. * Peachpit press Pagemaker book * Aldus Technotes for PM 4.0, Aldus Corp. Magazines --------- *** Before and After. Tele # 916-784-3880. * Step by Step Electronic design * Aldus Magazine. * TypeWorld (free) * Computer Pictures (free) For more suggestions, write to Cindy or myself for an additional list. --> 9. What are the important Pagemaker-related phone numbers? --------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note that Aldus does not have a standard toll-free customer service number unless you purchase one of the premium service policies (i.e.- Premium Plus, Scholastic Plus, Corporate Library, etc.). For regular technical support, there are the following numbers: Macintosh Products: Windows Products: ----------------------------- ------------------------------- PageMaker (206) 628-4501 PageMaker (206) 628-4531 FreeHand (206) 628-4502 Database Ed (206) 628-4535 Persuasion (206) 628-4503 FreeHand (206) 628-4532 PrePrint (206) 628-4505 Persuasion (206) 628-4533 PressWise (206) 628-4527 PhotoStyler (206) 628-4537 Fetch (206) 628-4506 TrapWise (206) 628-4534 PMaker OS/2 (206) 628-4538 (206) 628-2320 Customer Relations / Services Aldus does, however, offer a free 1-800 service for automated voice- mail. That number, available 24 hours a day, is 1-800-288-6832; you must have a touch tone phone in order to use this service. Lastly, there is a "pay-as-you-go" 900 number that costs $15. That number is (900) 226-2261. For those of you in Europe, here are some useful numbers for your neck of the woods: Adobe Systems Europe 31 (20) 6767 661 Adobe Systems UK 44 (81) 547 1900 Aldus UK 44 (31) 220 4747 Apple Computer UK 44 (81) 569 1199 Interleaf UK 44 (81) 948 0094 Micrografx UK 44 (483) 747526 Microsoft UK 44 (734) 391123 NeXT 44 (81) 565 0005 Ventura 44 (753) 505202 --> 10. How do I have a truly fixed spaced document? --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you are trying to create a document with true fixed spaced character, try using Courier with 100% word and character spacing and no tracking. --> 11. How can I create drop caps in Pagemaker? --------------------------------------------------------------------- PageMaker 4.2 supports the Drop Cap capability (kindof). Be sure to insert a tab in between the drop cap and the second letter in 4.2 if you are having troubles. For those of you, however, that are pre-4.2, you must create drop caps manually. This can be done in one of many different ways; two that are particularly easy are: First, you can cut the letter you wished dropped and place it into a new text block. Then you can resize it and move it to where you wish. Unfortunately, though, this method will not let the subsequent lines wrap around the drop cap without modify the margins. Or second, if you are a Macintosh user, you can use the Scrapbook to convert the capital letter from Pagemaker text to a graphics image. With this method, you can utilize the "text wrap" capability. Be sure to Place the scrapbook file to convert it to a graphics. If you are using System 7, you will have to use ResEdit or DeskZap to change the format for the Scrapbook File to ZSYS, or use the previous version of the Scrapbook. For another method, there are the following steps: 1. Set an indent for the first four lines of a paragraph that is outside the width of the character you plan to use as a drop cap. 2. Format a character separately from the document in the appropriate point size. 3. Click on the character block and drag it into the indented space you set aside at the start of the paragraph. 4. You can then use PM's indent-tabs feature to adjust the paragraph text to run around the drop cap correctly. This method seems to work fairly quickly and allows you to perform the whole operation in PM without needing to use the scrapbook or a graphics program. And finally, to make sure you have enough alternatives, here is a process suggested by Jason Kim that maintains itself after later text re-adjusment. His method splits up your paragraph into four separate paragraphs, each of which have their own style definition: 1. Define a style called "Drop cap" with the big letter subscripted and the subscript position set (via "Options") so that the letter appears to sit on the nth line down. Let's say n=3; then with a pica grid, have it so that your approx. 39-pt capital sinks down to the 36 pi mark. Unfortunately this has the effect of leaving a seemingly blank line at the top of the text box (since the letter there is subscripted so far). 2. Define another style called "Drop cap paragraph, line 1" ("DCPL1") which is set to small caps and force justified. Also turn off tracking -- otherwise the caps tend to bunch up. This paragraph has a left margin > 0, to be adjusted depending on the cap. 3. Define "DCPL2-3," which applies to the other two indented lines. This style is just the body text style force-justified and with the left margin > 0. 4. Finally, "DCPL4-" is just body text unindented. After defining these Styles (using your Body text as a base) you can create the paragraph simply by: 1. Make a hard return after the initial capital, go back and set it to the "Drop cap." style. 2. Set the rest of the paragraph to "DCPL1" and adjust the left margin on the first line. 3. Stick a hard return at the end of the first line and set the rest to "DCPL2-3." Adjust the left margin of lines 2-3. 4. Put in another hard return at the end of line 4 and set the remaining text to "DCPL4-". --> 12. My file size for Pagemaker documents keeps increasing -- what causes it and how can I reduce the file size? --------------------------------------------------------------------- The answer to this question depends on which version of Pagemaker you are using. Before version 4.01, Pagemaker would save your file by appending the changes you have made to the end of the file. Thus, your file steadily gets larger and larger. To circumvent this problem, you can choose the Save As... option and "re-save" your file by replacing itself. This way, it forces a complete, new, resave. For the more recent versions, you can specify in the Preferences Menu which way Pagemaker should save the file. The default method is "Faster". I, personally, would recommend choosing the "Smaller" method though it does take longer to save the file this way. If your file is somehow damaged, you are *much* more likely to recover it if it was saved with the smaller method. Greg DeBruyn has also suggested zooming out on each page before saving. Evidently, Greg experienced larger files (400K for 10 page doc) decreased (to 300K) when each file was zoomed out. I, however, could not reproduce this with either Smaller or Faster saves on the PC.