extract. process. automate.

Lesson 2: IDML Basics

Author: Oliver Huser <ohaeuser@fhcon.de>

For more Information please visit http://idmllib.com

About ?

Content
Some IDML Basics so you get a feeling on how to access different properties Tutorial #1 - Setup your JAVA IDE Need some JAVA knowledge Optional: InDesign CS 4 to create Demo Files

Targetskills & Prerequisites

Dont worry. Get Demoles from http://idmllib.com !

Why ?
You want to check out the IDMLlib in a few minutes You want to get some pointers regarding IDML

Export an IDML File - Part 1

Image 1: A simple InDesign Document

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Export an IDML Part 2

Image 2: Export IDML File

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Unravelling the IDML le

Format of the IDML File

The created le is nothing but a ZIP Container In order to see the content just unzip it! You do not need this step to work with the IDML File! Its just so you get an idea about the structure!

Attention Mac User: The normal Desktop Unzip App does not work! Simply open up a Terminal and use the unzip command

IDML Content

Image 3: IDML Content

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Structure explained

designmap.xml
This is the backbone of the InDesign Document The designmap is the gateway to all other IDML les inside the IDML container. Contains all spreads of the whole document, every spread has its own le. A spread contains one or more pages based on the layout of the document. The spread contains all PageItems that are on its contained pages The most important PageItems are TextFrames, Rectangles, Ovals, GraphicLines and
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Folder: Spreads

Folder: Stories
A Story is text that is assigned to a PageItem. Contains all stories of the whole document, every story has its own le. Contains all MasterSpreads, MasterSpreads are used as template for other spreads and can contain PageItems as well. Contains Styles/Graphic/Fonts/Preferences Contains XML related stuff.
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Folder: MasterSpread,

Folder Resources Folder XML and Mapping

Example: Preferences.xml

Image: 1 Preferences XML

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What have you learned ?

Export / Create IDML Files Access IDML Containers Brief overview of the structure
you will need this later on when we start coding! Yes we will nally do some coding in the next tutorial!

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Ressources

For more information

watch the video visit http://idmllib.com follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/IDMLlib write an email ohaeuser@fhcon.de

For more dev info contact Mr. Fink instead: ank@fhcon.de Yes we were not kidding when we claim the IDMLlib is easy to use !

Move on to Tutorial #3:Your rst IDMLlib Project

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