[dba-Tech] inDesign

I have started to learn a new product called inDesign from Adobe. To start
with, the package is not cheap ($1,200) but it is a very interesting
product.

Its origins were from PageMaker but after that, all similarities end. 

What it allows you to do is to build documents in the form of reports, books
and eBooks, website from a single product. It can use data from any standard
database (i.e. Access, MS SQL, Word, Excel etc), XML file, virtually every
graphics standard (i.e. PSD, png, jpg, tiff, ai, PDF, gif etc), animation
(i.e. mov, avi, fla, swf etc), Sound file (MP3, WMV etc) and of course text
from virtually any source.

When a document is completed it can be exported in many formats, custom
database reports, content ready for print books, magazines, leaflets etc,
fully animated eBooks that ready for sale on any platform, iPad, Kendal,
Smartphone (like iPhone and Android) and websites. It can build all the
navigation tools, generates web sites that will actually reformate
them-selves to any realistate size and it generates that code in HTML5 and
CSS3, to handle the extensive graphics and imbedded object (no imbedded
flash unless desired or sound etc) so it is full-compatible with any modern
browser. The animation that it can apply to the site is similar to
everything you could do with JQuery and I believe it is actually using the
same.

A document does not have to be initialized for any purpose...it is when you
export it you can decide on its size or whether it will be for a brochure, a
book, or eBook or website etc. and you can just export and select as many
times as you like changing what ever formats and parameters all the while
the original document remains unchanged.

The product does not replace an application like Visual Studio or a database
product or replace hand coding for a web site but it can create an extremely
complex graphical presentation that would take a long time by hand, look
very professional with (I wouldn't say little effort but...) less effort. 

Like any major products it is not a simple process to master, (a lifetime
comes to mind) but it can be a complimentary income source as graphics sells
more products that excellent coding.

Jim