Advice on complicated workflow

[asardar@adobeforums.com]

Hi

I would appreciate advice on simplest approach for the job described below. I have a system working quite well using Acrobat Professional batch combined with Quickeys & Renamer4mac. But I want to know if there is a simpler way for my replacement when I move from this position.

The situation is that I have to produce 1 newsletter that is emailed out to approximately 40 clients each month. On page 1 of the newsletter is a space at the top where the clients own masthead drops in. Also on page 1 is the ToC with PDF hyperlinks to the articles.

Any ideas on this?

My current workflow is as follows:

1. Create NEWSLETTER
•Layout <<Indesign>>
•Create Contents hyperlinks <<InDesign>>
•Make PDF

2. Add NEWSLETTER.pdf to (folder of 40 Mastheads in PDF format) after page1; save as new files. This is done as a batch action. <<Acrobat>>

4. Open each of 40 new files; copy and paste the masthead from P1 to P2 (Contents page). Batch action to do all 40. <<Quickeys>>

5. Batch delete P1 from PDFs <<Acrobat>>

6. Each file is named Newsletter_client01.pdf; Newsletter_client02.pdf etc (This part is done using filerenamer4mac)

[terrapindesign@carolina.rr.com]

Sounds like a variable data problem. Assuming that the hyperlinks in the contents do not change, it is mostly a matter of customizing the masthead for a variety of clients.

You might be able to do this with a data merge, which is already extant in InDesign.

A more elegant solution might be a plug-in, ala Woodwing's SmartCatalog (there are others). <http://www.woodwing.com>

An even more elegant solution might be something like xmPie, though this might be too expensive for the project at hand. <http://www.xmpie.com>

[asardar@adobeforums.com]

Hi

Thanks Eric for the reply. I did look at the data merge option, but the only result I can get from that process is a new 'merged' file. Not the 40 separate PDFs that I need. I think that I am going to cross post this into scripting to see if anything poops up there. I will look into the solutions that you mentioned.

[Peter_Truskier@adobeforums.com]

see if anything poops up there




Gosh; I hope not :-)

[asardar@adobeforums.com]

:D

We'll see what the advice looks like ;)