Version Tracking
- Started
- Last post
- 20 Responses
- gramme
I'm designing a digital (iPad) magazine for a client. I need to share copy files with the print design team. Both the in-house print and out-of-house digital teams use InDesign for page layout. The editors use InCopy for its live version tracking capabilities (i.e., every time you open an InDesign layout, if the editor has changed the copy it will automatically update). The problem with InCopy is that it tracks stylistic changes (Character/paragraph styles, line breaks, etc.) I can't use these InCopy files for the digital edition, because it would create confusion with CMYK > RGB color palettes, wrong text breaks, and cross-pollination with different text styles. The latter mainly stems from the fact that the digital magazine is simpler and more streamlined than its print counterpart.
So, to my question: Does anyone know of a platform we could use for writing copy, linking to InDesign files, and keeping track of version changes? Something simpler than InCopy, which almost seems to be too smart for its own good (in this case). Something that would track copy changes without recognizing styles. Would a Google Doc work? At this point I'm waiting for stories to reach completion before starting on the digital design, which is a major handicap. I'm finding it's pretty much impossible to meet the client's deadline to work this way. I suggested creating two separate InCopy files for each story, but the editorial team didn't like that suggestion.
- gramme0
Anything?
- registe0
TL;DR
- popfodders0
Open Source Tortoise SVN
http://tortoisesvn.tigris.org/
- gramme0
@ popfodders – Windows only??
- i thought you were a designer? you dont use windows? obviously your not a REAL designer...Hombre_Lobo
- LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Hombre_Lobo
- popfodders0
Seems so at this point. LAMP stack
- gramme0
@ sublocked, thanks for the links but it looks like those are both HTML-driven. I'm creating digital magazine pages in InDesign using third party plugins. The exported files which go to Apple are jpeg and png images for each page and interactive element, plus an xml file which maps the content and contains metadata.
In other words, we need something just like InCopy which integrates with InDesign (via placed copy that editors can access), but which only reads raw text without picking up any stylistic formatting.
- gramme0
Is it possible to do version tracking with simple Word or Pages docs?
- you're on a Mac I presume?popfodders
- Yes, and so is the entire editorial team.gramme
- popfodders0
http://wiki.services.openoffice.… -> http://www.o3spaces.com/Product/…
Version management & Automated check-in/check-out
All documents in the O3Spaces repository reside under version management. Through version management you always have insight in the version history of your documents. The unique functionality for automated check-in/check-out of documents guarantees you, while working on a document, that none of your colleagues is inadvertently editing the document.
- mightyj0
if you are on a mac I'd suggest: http://versionsapp.com
- gramme0
^ Interesting. Will investigate. This looks more promising than the other suggestions. Thanks!
- lukus_W20
G I T
- EPtype0
What plugins are you using to do this for an indesign to ipad?
sounds interesting...
- plash0
Tortoise SVN
http://tortoisesvn.tigris.org/
and github
http://github.comhave worked out fine for our workspace.
- popfodders0
at the end of the day it's all subversion processes. whatever tool is cheapest and works for you
- mightyj0
If you plan to use GIT on the mac then I would suggest using http://www.git-tower.com as it's more visual for the designers.
Subversion and GIT both handle versioning great but they have two different approaches of getting the job done. It comes down to preference.
- gramme0
@ EPtype, I use a set of tools from Woodwing.
http://woodwing.com/en/tablet-pu…
Adobe also makes their own set of digital magazine tools, but they didn't become commercially available until after my client was far down the Woodwing road. It's been a bumpy ride. But it's pretty cool that I can use tools I know like the back of my hand, and place video, create interactive touch-activated content, scrolling text, slideshows, etc. all from within InDesign. No coding required whatsoever. The files I use are hosted online in Woodwing's cloud-based app called Content Station. When the issue is done, I export it through that app and it cranks out a zipped file that goes to the App store.
- gramme0
If anyone wants to see my team's work...
- popfodders0
Nice work gramme!