Frustrated with Word file going to InDesign

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

I am trying to put a Word Document into my ID publication but the result isn't quite like the original Word file. What is the best way to get this document with tables into ID? I think the answer will be PDF but I'd like to get a second opinion.

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

I tried the PDF and I think it looks really good. The only trouble with that is I will need to remember to include the native Word file with the publication when I send this out for translation. :/

[Stu_Bloom@adobeforums.com]

If you don't need to edit it, PDF is the best route (but why would you need the original Word document after you've created the PDF?).

If you do need to edit it, then you'll need to mess with the table in InDesign, and depending on what you're trying to duplicate, it may not be possible to get an exact match. InDesign's table features are fairly crude, compared to Word's.

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

but why would you need the original Word document after you've created
the PDF?




Hi Stu,
I write technical manuals and place EPS files into the publications from files that were originally created in AutoCAD, imported to CorelDraw and exported to EPS. The AutoCAD drawings are pictures that show parts of the machine that the manual is about. In some sections of the manual there are tables created in Word. The reason I think the first writer started making these in Word is because he was using PM6 and as we all know, Adobe Table was a horrible tool and these tables contain information that is needed by other employees here.
These other office employees do not have sophisticated software for photo editing, desktop publishing or graphic design. They mostly use the typical MS Office programs.
So, to make a long story shorter, the way this works is I create a file in Word, make a PDF to place into ID. When I need my English version of the manual translated to any other language, I send it out to a translation service provider. Usually what I'll do is "Package" the files and FTP them over instead of burning them to a CD that they can throw in the trash. So when they get my files they will need the original Word file so they can edit it easier. A PDF will be almost impossible or plain awkward for them to work with so I really need to remember to add those Word documents along with the CorelDraw drawings from now on.
My Predecessors used to link the Word or Excel files to the PM documents using the insert object command and this caused me problems on numerous occasions.
I also found that they changed their workflow and decided to make matters worse by linking the Word files to a CorelDraw image then exporting that to EPS and placing it into a publication. This is a disaster by the time I started working here. Most of the tables have been edited by the translators in Corel instead of the native program and now I don't have any of the native files for most of the translated material.

[Franktilya@adobeforums.com]

Hi,

I have a large word documents with a large number of equations. The equations were created with math type equation editor. I have coverted the into eps for and export them to a different folder. I have exported the word document to pagemaker but now the eqautions are missing. Is there a way to import all the equations to now PM document automatically? It will take me ages if I place one equation at a time to the PM document.

Frank.

[Gabriel_Ayala@adobeforums.com]

Sorry Franktilya, I don't think you can. I answered this same question (I don't remember if it was also you) in the PM forum this morning and someone else confirmed that it can't be done.