Multi-Find/Change from Automatication is a scripted plug-in for managing and running Find/Change queries using InDesign or InCopy.
Available for CS4 and CS5 Multi-Find/Change organises multiple Find/Change queries into saved sets so they can be easily run when needed with a click of a button. Sets can be easily shared with other Multi-Find/Change users.
The Find/Change command is a powerful tool for cleaning up and formatting tech within your InDesign Document. Useful for removing or replacing double spaces, double tabs, changing multiple returns to a single return and correctly formatting text within your document.
Multi-Find/Change saves you from the laborious task of manually correcting and formatting your document by having multiple scripts do it for you quickly and efficiently.
Layers magazine has a nice article on the art of type. It goes into quite a level of detail about type spacing, x-heights and more. A good read if you are interested in the dark art of typography.
With Adobe CS5 site upgrades in full swing, here is a little tip for those who need to exchange documents with others on InDesign CS4.
In the past you used the InDesign Interchange format (.INX) to save down from one InDesign version to another. With Adobe InDesign CS5 – this is not an option! Instead, Adobe have provided the InDesign Markup Language (IDML) as a format for moving a document to another version.
So, in InDesign CS5, you go to Export in the File Menu and choose InDesign Markup.
Then drag/drop the IDML file onto the InDesign CS4 icon and it will reconstruct the document. If you need to take it back to InDesign CS3 – you must save the .INX file from InDesign CS4.
Spark 5.5 has a new Purchase Order move feature in the Admin which enables you to move purchase orders from one job to another – but we also enhanced the Time/Material move. Previously you could only move the entire block of Time/Materials from one job to another – now you can choose. It is best illustrated by a picture!
To use this feature, you must have Administration rights.
Overflow is a handy little Dock launcher used for quickly accessing your commonly used applications, files and server shares. In addition to controlling Overflow with a mouse you can control it via keyboard shortcuts. Great for quickly launching applications without needing to move your hands off the keyboard.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Bring Overflow to the front; Control + Space (Customisable)
Hide Overflow; Esc
Move selection between items; Arrow keys (Also, a selection can be highlighted by typing the first few letters of its name)
Move between categories; ⌘ + Up / Down Arrow keys
Launch selected item; Space, or Return, or ⌘O
Launch selected item but keep Overflow visible; Option + Click on item
Reveal the clicked item in the Finder; ⌘ + Click on item
Spark 5.5 gives you a number of new features – but the one everyone is most excited about is the simplified Timesheet Entry screen and options. To take advantage of the new options, first set your preferences in the User Preferences area. Choose between “Hour Based” time entry or “Time Bar Based”.
Hour Based lets you specify the number of hours for each entry and Time Bar Based lets you use a slider to nominate a start and end time.
We also give you the option to enter multiple time entries in a single screen. Simply click onto “Multi-Time Entry” and select your Job, Labour code and the number of hours. It will auto-save and give you a field to enter the next one. (Each entry from this screen starts at 7.00am – you can edit this in My Timesheet)
My Timesheet has also changed – you can now delete entries (as long as the Job is not closed) and add/update comments if you have more to add.
If you have a Mac which is sporting a Bluetooth Mouse or Keyboard, you can speed up the reconnection speed of the device in System Preferences->Bluetooth.
Open the Bluetooth Panel and highlight your Mouse (or Keyboard). From the small Sprocket-like menu, choose “Show More info” and then reselect the menu again and you will see “Add to Favorites”. You can do this for both your Keyboard and Mouse.
