 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
| Summer
2002 Vol. 3, No. 2 |
|
| File Conversion: Codes—They’re Not Just for Breakfast Anymore! | |
| BY JIM LINK | |
|
Why on Earth would anyone want to convert perfectly good QuarkXPress (or FrameMaker, Page-Maker, and so on) files into codes!? And what are those codes anyway? There are different but related kinds of markup languages in use today.The most robust and flexible is XML (a descendant of the venerable SGML, which remains in use). Becoming more common is the sibling format of Open eBook (OeB) and its cousins. There are various reasons to convert files, some obvious and some not so obvious. One obvious reason to convert your files to OeB is to distribute an electronic version at the same time as your print version to increase market penetration. Not so obvious reasons are the advantages of converting to XML as a preliminary stage on the way to OeB for electronic distribution; on-the-fly Web conversions (accompanied by styles to aid in the display); preparation of database archiving to facilitate search and retrieval of the entire document or components from within a document (for example, questions and answers for quizzes); and preparation for publish on demand. Another option is to convert your files into XML.This conversion method is more detailed and requires more work to do it properly, but it is the ideal choice to preserve the content—that is, the actual information of documents. In cases in which the design is equally important as the content it is useful to include a PDF version. Almost all print jobs today go to the printer in PDF format. It is a minor process to convert these high-resolution files into a version suitable for viewing on a computer using Adobe eBook Reader. The Acrobat PDF format is the ideal way to retain complicated design in a way that can be viewed on any computer platform. To decide which conversion is the best option, you will need to know what you will use it for. Let’s discuss some of the possibilities. FULL XML To capture content in the most detail you will want to have your files converted to full XML (as opposed to one of its subsets, such as OeB). Ideally you will have your own DTD (document type definition), but if not there are some standard DTDs available, such as DocBook. (For more information about DTDs, see box below.) A full XML translation enables detailed content management and data extraction through databases, and it simplifies further conversion to other formats.
OPEN EBOOK If you know you will never need such detail as in a full XML conversion you may be satisfied with converting your data files into OeB. This does not provide the searching capabilities of complete XML conversion, but it produces a viewable file of small size and can be viewed on a number of devices from regular computers to dedicated eBook readers and handheld devices such as Palm. Examples of readers based on the OeB standard are Microsoft Reader, Gemstar, and Baker & Taylor.The content is coded in a manner similar to the familiar HTML of Web pages.These enhanced readers allow the user to add notes and bookmarks to keep track of what has been read. It is also possible to add hyperlinks to highlight definitions and footnotes. File sizes are quite small so it is even possible to put complete books into the Palm devices. ICC Macmillan can convert your files to any of these markup language formats. We can also create files from legacy materials such as older printed editions for which there are no electronic files. Our highquality OCR scanning team can turn your printed editions into any of the eBook formats and then produce searchable PDF files from them. We can also convert standard PDF files by adding XML coding. If you’d like more information, please contact ICC Macmillan. |
|
| Why FrameMaker? |
| BY ROSE RUMMEL-EURY |
| Recently, one of our customers asked, "
Why do so many of our authors want to use FrameMaker for their textbooks?" Some writers, especially those in computer science, prefer using Adobe FrameMaker because of certain attractive features. With easy access to Adobe’s online help page on the Internet, the writer will find service, products, and updated tips for using FrameMaker. The program treats multiple-chapter books as a single document. Figures are automatically placed after their text references. Other automatically created components are the table of contents and the index (given the correct coding). FrameMaker also makes it easy to add chapter, volume, page, paragraph, and footnote numbering. Some authors appreciate FrameMaker's ability to build crossreferences and tables.This software also works well with standard files (TIFF, EPS), although the files need to be relinked whenever the document file is moved from one computer or directory to another. The fact that FrameMaker is cross-platform compatible between Macs, PCs, and UNIX is a distinct advantage. ICC Macmillan can easily work with any author’s files, or if the book has been created with UNIX, we can readily convert the files. We can use FrameMaker to create HTML, Dynamic HTML, and XML/SGML output. Elements such as character tags and graphics can be mapped to online styles, and images can be converted into online formats. Another question we frequently hear is, " What if I have a twocolor job; isn’t using FrameMaker complex?" ICC Macmillan understands how FrameMaker treats colors. It does not produce color files that are ready for a printer until PDF files have been created and then modified to make them CMYK. Because you cannot specify a percentage value for a color within FrameMaker, you must create a custom color at that color value. For example, you cannot specify that a subhead be 50% black.You must create a color that is a 50% tint of black, then specify that value for the subhead. The next time one of your authors mentions, "I'm writing this book in FrameMaker," remember that ICC Macmillan has the expertise to render a professional product. If you have any concerns about FrameMaker, please give our expert technical staff a call; they’re always happy to answer your questions. |
|
| Guidelines for Authors Who Typeset Their Own Files | ||||||||||||||||||||
| BY KERRY BEEAKER | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
With so many people having access to sophisticated desktop publishing systems in the comfort of their own homes, why use compositors, you may ask? ICC Macmillan sees it as an opportunity to expand the partnership between industry professionals and those authors who enjoy and understand how to typeset their own work as they write. ICC Macmillan gladly accepts author-typeset files or camera-ready copy. However, as we all likely know, snags occasionally occur in the process. For example, an author may use multiple versions of the same software (if she is working at home, at her office, from her laptop, and so on), which can cause problems. An author may not be aware of the basic rules of good page makeup. Or he may overextend himself by designing a beautiful yet extremely complicated book. Here are some reminders for authors to use while typesetting their own files.This list is simply a set of guidelines, but it may help to avoid roadblocks that sometimes develop when working on these projects.
|
 Laughs of surprise at their digital images: ICC Macmillan’s Scott Johnson shares footage of a day near Monha. Photo courtesy of Erika Kauppi.
|
Earthrise: Rural Assessments
Highlight Priorities, Solutions BY ERIKA KAUPPI
Earthrise International, the nonprofit organization partnered with ICC Macmillan, is constructing research and development tools to help impoverished communities in India tackle the complex problems associated with chronic poverty. While Earthrise urban poverty alleviation programs based in New Delhi continue, the organization also has been collaborating with rural villages to identify needs and priorities in each community, and then work together to find solutions to problems such as malnutrition, disease, unemployment, and illiteracy. Research and development efforts include creating "village profiles" that document a range of information about an area that Earthrise seeks to assist. The quantitative and qualitative data in these profiles provide details on demographics and infrastructure, social structure, geography, water and sanitation, health care and education services, disease incidence, unemployment, gender issues, and other areas. The information from these reports can be used in a variety of ways. First, the data can help to determine the needs of a community and to understand how the community wants to address those needs. Because Earthrise focuses on collaborative efforts, community participation in formulating and implementing solutions is essential. Also, the reports can be used to help increase awareness about disease prevention within the village, or suggest possible methods to overcome a given obstacle. For example, preliminary data from the assessment of health care services in the village of Monha show that women seek health care much less often than men. When the women themselves discussed the issue, it became clear that one reason they do not seek needed health care is because there is no female doctor available to them. Information such as this will prove vital to the successful collaboration between Earthrise and the target communities. A big thank you to Kuldeep Singh, our friend and Earthrise manager in India, for making so many inspiring things happen. Erika also gratefully acknowledges Kuldeep’s data used in this article, and for his help in supplying her with Hindi proverbs regarding the behavior of dromedaries. Earthrise International is a 501(c)3 charitable organization working to assist underprivileged communities through integrated health, education, and development programs. For more information, contact Earthrise: (503) 525-0100; www.earthrise-intl.org; info@earthrise-intl.org. |
|
 Janet Gallagher, Office Manager |
INTERACTIONS… with ICC Macmillan
Staff Meet… Janet Gallagher BY ROSE RUMMEL-EURY
ICC Macmillan is most fortunate to have Janet Gallagher as office manager/accountant/ human resources expert… simply put, she is invaluable to the company.After graduating with a B.S. in general studies from Eastern Oregon University, Janet was a retail department manager and then went on to work for the administrative office of the Governor of Oregon. After a few years, determined she needed a specific skill on which she could always rely, Janet went back to school for accounting and business at Portland State University. She then joined a small company, Rush Drake Electronics, as their office manager and accountant. After seven years, Janet left for a financial advisory firm that provided advice for capital planning and debt management servicing local and state governments. Twelve years later, after her daughters, Patti and Katie were grown, Janet decided to take a few months off and look for something a little different. That’s when she found ICC Macmillan. In November 1998, ICC Macmillan was in the process of moving from California to Portland and needed an expert in accounting and human resources. Janet was impressed with the company management style and the casual office environment. She appreciated the opportunity to work independently and as part of a team. Janet also met Bill Clark (now our editorial manager) and was delighted to discover that he was also from eastern Oregon. When asked why she likes working at ICC Macmillan, Janet said, "What I enjoy most is the people. Of course, I couldn’t do without our terrific administrative assistant, Linda Martin. I’ve had so many wonderful experiences since joining ICC Macmillan. I have to say that I’ve most enjoyed the opportunity to host the staff that periodically comes over from India. Showing them the sites and sharing information about each others’ lives and families is such a thrill." On a personal note, Janet will celebrate her 30th wedding anniversary with husband Tim next year. Our hats are off to our very special office manager, Janet Gallagher—may we never be without her! |
|
