Import from InDesign?

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Beosar

I tried importing an IDML file from InDesign but everything is different. Text doesn't fit on the page anymore, spacing between letters is wrong, even solid colors are slightly different.

It doesn't even show the EPS images, not sure what's up with that.

Is that normal or am I doing something wrong?

PS: I am a human, I've tried to verify that 3 times already...

mnawij

Not sure if this will help:

https://opensource.com/article/18/7/adobe-indesign-open-source-tools

mnawij

I know there is a pages to upload the IDML file with a pdf of the same for the developers to look at current problems...if someone could help me point to the upload page that would be great.

Beosar

Quote from: mnawij on Today at 04:07:09 AMNot sure if this will help:

https://opensource.com/article/18/7/adobe-indesign-open-source-tools

That link just tells me that I can use Scribus, but this is the forum for Scribus. I already found it.

The problem is that when I open the file in Scribus, everything is slightly different. I cannot use Scribus like this to convert the file to PDF because I get a different result compared to InDesign. But I cannot use InDesign because I need to change text in the file programmatically (let's just say I want to make a shop where you can buy customizable shirts and cups and stuff, can't say more because of NDA) and then automatically convert it to PDF for printing, but I can't use InDesign Server due to its cost (13,500 dollars per year).

Basically all I want is to automatically convert an InDesign file to PDF. I already read it's possible with Scribus with a bit of coding but again, I can't do it if the result looks wrong and the text is getting cut off.

Any ideas what I can do here?

MrB

The IDML importer is probably lacking (so if you have coding skills, we could enhance it.. or time will tell when we update it). You're best to import what you can get, reformat it and then operate only in Scribus.

Beosar

Quote from: MrB on Today at 03:45:20 PMThe IDML importer is probably lacking (so if you have coding skills, we could enhance it.. or time will tell when we update it). You're best to import what you can get, reformat it and then operate only in Scribus.
I do have coding skills but the IDML specification has over 500 pages, so this would take too long. I am doing this for a customer and I cannot charge them for (probably) a year of work and tell them that they paid me to basically create InDesign Server but everyone else can now use it for free.

I hate Adobe's quasi-monopoly but sadly it is not in my power to change that.

I also cannot change the entire workflow to Scribus for reasons I am not allowed to talk about. Just reformatting wouldn't do because solid colors are also wrong. For example, an orange rectangle had a different shade of orange when exported as PDF from Scribus. Must be something with the color space but that's not acceptable if someone wants some specific Pantone color, everyone pays a lot of money to color-calibrate their equipment and then it's wrong anyway.

a.l.e

Since you're not allowed to give many details, it's hard to judge, how much work is needed to get the IDML importer to work for your workflow.

The biggest open question: do you have some control on what is in the IDML or do the files contain any "random" items / features?

Scribus does have an IDML importer that covers the basic features.
This can be a very good start for you.

Adding the support for the two specific features you're mentioning (EPS files and solid colors) seems doable to me and pretty "self contained".

The more vague "spacing between letters is wrong" might be harder to fix.
But, even in this case, it might be a single detail that is wrong and rather easy to fix.
But it could also be the result of a combination of multiple complex features that are missing. Only you can find out.

In my eyes, if your workflow needs a perfect and complete support of IDML, Scribus is probably not the tool for you.
But if you have some control on the IDML files to be read and you can identify a set of features that are missing, the effort might be manageable, and you will only need to go through a (small?) subset of the 500 pages!

Finally, I'm pretty sure that you're not the only one that have tried to use Scribus in this type of workflow. And it's a bit sad, that there is no way to get those people (business) to work together.
That's life.

AdmFubar

Quote from: Beosar on Today at 03:38:14 PMBasically all I want is to automatically convert an InDesign file to PDF. I already read it's possible with Scribus with a bit of coding but again, I can't do it if the result looks wrong and the text is getting cut off.

The InDesign to PDF is a key part here. InDesign is a proprietary  format. unless you are in a the ingredients to adobe's secret sauce, it is difficult to reverse engineer.

Check here, you may find an acceptable solution. You will have to determine what is acceptable due to the NDA. I noted a link to adobe that seems to have an online conversion tool, I think that might be your best bet. But the NDA and adobe's use of "AI" it may not a a solution for you.
Using Scribus 1.5.8 & 1.6.2, openSUSE 15.5
Advanced hobbyist