Category: Learn

Sort text (paragraphs) in QuarkXPress 2018

How-to, JavaScript, QuarkXPress 2018No Comments

You have text in a text box in QuarkXPress that needs to be sorted?

A list that needs to be in alphabetical order?

In QuarkXPress 2018 it is easy to sort text (paragraphs), using a sample JavaScript:

Sort text in QuarkXPress using a simple JavaScript

  1. Open the JavaScript palette in QuarkXPress 2018 and navigate to “Samples > Typography”
  2. Select the text box that you need sorted
  3. Run the JavaScript “Sort Paragraphs.js”
  4. Enter whether you want the data to be sorted Ascending or Descending
  5. Enter whether you sort text or numbers

Done.

Of course this is undoable.

Remember that this is a script that you can edit and change yourself, should you want to make changes. E.g. you could make a script that doesn’t prompt you about ascending/descending or text/numbers and just runs.

Restrictions

  • As QXML (the text formatting accessible by JavaScript) does not support every construct in text, you will loose features which are not yet supported by QXML such as Callouts, Footnotes, Endnotes, Cross References, Anchors etc. from the selected box.
  • The Script sorts the entire content of the selected text box, not just a selection.

Quick video showing this example

More sample JavaScripts for QuarkXPress on github

Quark has created a page on github to share more sample scripts and to encourage users to share their scripts:

https://github.com/qxpjs

How to delete preferences in QuarkXPress

How-to, QuarkXPress 10, QuarkXPress 2015, QuarkXPress 2016, QuarkXPress 2017, QuarkXPress 2018, QuarkXPress 9, Uncategorized, Video TutorialNo Comments

When QuarkXPress behaves erratic, in most cases corrupt preferences are the cause.

Deleting preferences will fix that, as QuarkXPress creates new, fresh preferences upon the next start if it doesn’t find any.

The only thing you will loose is any customization you have done to preferences. Existing documents are not changed and are not affected.

Where to find preferences:

As Apple and Microsoft recommend, by default QuarkXPress stores user-specific files such as preferences in the user folder. Each version of QuarkXPress uses a separate folder, so that different versions of QuarkXPress installed on the same machine do not interfere with each other.

Before deleting preferences, first quit QuarkXPress.

On MacOS

On MacOS / OS X, QuarkXPress stores its preferences in the user Library. Careful, MacOS offers TWO Libraries, a global one and a user one. Preferences are stored in the user library.

Easiest to get to the folder is by going into Finder and choosing:

Go > Go to Folder and then pasting the path in there:

  • For QuarkXPress 2018:
    ~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 2018/
  • For QuarkXPress 2017:
    ~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 2017/
  • For QuarkXPress 2016:
    ~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 2016/
  • For QuarkXPress 2015:
    ~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 2015/
  • For QuarkXPress 10:
    ~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 10/
  • For QuarkXPress 9:
    ~/Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress 9/

(make sure to copy the tilde ~ in the path)

Delete everything in that folder. Restart QuarkXPress.

Please also watch this 30 sec video:

On Windows

On Windows, QuarkXPress stores its preferences in the local app data directory of the user. Though using the same concept, Microsoft did rename the folders in the different versions of Windows.

To find preferences, easiest is to

Press Windows-key and R (for “Run”) and paste the following path in there:

  • For QuarkXPress 2018:
    %localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 2018\
  • For QuarkXPress 2017:
    %localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 2017\
  • For QuarkXPress 2016:
    %localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 2016\
  • For QuarkXPress 2015:
    %localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 2015\
  • For QuarkXPress 10:
    %localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 10\
  • For QuarkXPress 9:
    %localappdata%\Quark\QuarkXPress 9\

(make sure to copy the percent sign % in the path)

Delete everything in that folder. Restart QuarkXPress.

Please also watch this 30 sec video:

Going forward – better than deleting

As you loose all customization, maybe next time it’s a better idea to make a backup of preferences after you have tailored them to your need.

And then – instead of deleting – you replace them with the backup of your preferences.

 

 

New Webinar Series for QuarkXPress – Free Tutorials

eSeminar, Learn, QuarkXPress 2018, Video TutorialNo Comments

A few weeks ago Quark has launched a new webinar series about QuarkXPress 2018.

Here are the first three:

Webinar 1 – HTML5 Publications (PWA)

Side note: Often these kind of HTML5 exports are called progressive web apps (PWA).

Topics:

  • See a HTML5 Publication live
  • Quickly convert a Print layout as HTML5 Publication
  • Start a new HTML5 Publication from scratch
  • Add interactivity such as movies, sound, animations, slideshows popups and more
  • Export, host and configure

InDesign users:
Note that with IDML Import in QuarkXPress 2018 you can also create an HTML5 Publication from InDesign by

  1. Creating an IDML file out of InDesign
  2. In QX2018 choose File – New – Project from IDML
  3. Follow the steps shown in the webinar

 

Webinar 2 – Create ebooks (part 1 of 2)

Topics:

  • Which formats for your ebook?
  • Create a new ebook from scratch
  • Reflow vs. fixed-layout ebook
  • Convert print to reflow ebook
  • Convert print to fixed-layout ebook

Please note that the first 10 minutes are theory, live software demo afterwards.

Webinar 3 – Create ebooks (part 2 of 2)

Topics:

  • Add interactivity to your reflow ebook
  • Add interactivity to your fixed-layout epub
  • Add meta data, hyperlinks & table of content
  • How does “Export for Kindle” from “Export to ePub” differ?
  • What are post-processing tools like Sigil and ePubCheck and when do you need them?

Future webinars

We are planning to publish a new webinar every two weeks. Topics include:

  • Creating native Android/iOS apps
  • Create print-ready PDF (PDF/X)
  • Creating tagged PDF
  • Working with OpenType features (typography)
  • Color Fonts (typography)
  • QuarkXPress for beginners (1st document)
  • Image Editing and Image Effects
  • Job Tickets (in details)
  • JavaScript for beginners
  • JavaScript for advanced
  • Color Management
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Troubleshooting
  • and more

Try it yourself – free of charge

As Quark offers a free trial version of QuarkXPress that runs for 7 days and is functionally not restricted, you can try all of this yourself – without any cost:

http://www.quark.com/Products/QuarkXPress/Test_Drive.aspx

 

How to test Mojave (10.14) – and how to revert to your previous version of MacOS

How-to, QuarkXPress 2018No Comments

Yesterday Apple announced the next major version of MacOS, MacOS 10.14, called Mojave. If Apple does the same like the past years, it will most likely be released on Sep 25, 2018.

As always, Apple put some exciting new features and major benefits into the new version of MacOS. And like in the past years, Apple will most likely soon distribute first preview or beta versions of Mojave.

So who wouldn’t want to try it immediately?

And of course risk-free, without jeopardizing production if you have just one Mac. Would be a catastrophe to have switched to a new operating system and then finding out that crucial production software, like QuarkXPress, Photoshop or Affinity Designer, will not run on it or has major issues.

Sure, all vendors will make the newest versions of their software compatible with Mojave; however official support will typically only happen days or weeks after the official release of MacOS 10.14 by Apple.

What if you want or need to test Mojave before with your production software and need a way to revert if not yet satisfied.

Best Practice to test Mojave risk-free

And in any case, as always, have a backup (Time Machine) beforehand. As Murphy says “The only backup you’ll ever need is the one that you didn’t make.”

And – after having made the backup best with Time Machine – turn off your automatic backup while you clone to not interfere.

The idea is

  • First-hand experience, as experience form other users migth differ (they use different tools, different fonts, different hardware).
  • Test in real life, so not a test system but a real production. So it needs to be like your production computer.
  • However you need an easy and quick way to revert (so Time machien could be too time-consuming)

Here’s my suggestion that I have used successfully for years: Create a bootable clone.

  1. Buy an external hard disk large enough to hold your system disk (“Macintosh HD”)
  2. Connect it to your Mac.
  3. Use Disk Utility to format the external disk as “GUID Partition Table”.
  4. Download Carbon Copy Cloner (http://www.bombich.com/index.html). It has a free trial for 30 days; however I strongly recommend purchasing it, as it can save you a lot of trouble and money.
  5. Using CCC clone your hard disk to the external disk. So source is “Macintosh HD” and target is “External Drive”. Clone it completely. Everything. Bootable.
    Note that CCC tells you what it will create before doing it. Read the manual if you are unsure.
  6. Reboot your Mac and hold the Option key pressed. Boot from the external hard disk. Note: This might take  longer than normal, as you are using a connection that is typically a bit slower than an internal hard disk. Test whether everything works as before (ignore the slight difference in speed), it’s important to check that this is a real clone. If everything has worked fine, that’s your 1:1 backup and it’s even bootable.
  7. Shut down your Mac. Unplug external hard disk. Restart.
  8. Now upgrade your Mac to the new MacOS Mojave.
  9. Test everything thoroughly. Test all the applications you use frequently, all goodies, see whether you like the UI, whether all your input and output devices work (scanners, printers etc.). You can even simulate production.
  10. If everything works fine, you are done and can enjoy the new MacOS. Ignore the rest of this list ;-)

And how to revert

  1. First make sure that you backup everything that you changed using the new MacOS, e.g. documents that you worked on. For example, save it to a USB stick.
  2. Now shutdown your Mac. Connect the external hard disk again.
  3. Start your Mac from the external hard disk (by holding the Option key and choosing the external drive).
  4. Use CCC (Carbon Copy Cloner) to duplicate the cloned drive back to your internal hard disk. Clone everything back from source “External Drive” to target “Macintosh HD”. That’s important, don’t clone it the other way around.
  5. Shut down your Mac. Remove external hard disk.
  6. Restart your Mac. Everything should be now exactly the same as it was before you upgraded your Mac. Test it to be sure.
  7. Remember to copy any files you saved on the USB stick to your drive and continue working. Make a mental note to try that in a few weeks again once the applications that haven’t worked correctly are updated to support Mavericks.

Let me know please if this worked for you.

Compatibility information

If you want to see which version of QuarkXPress supports which version of MacOS, please see here:

http://forums.quark.com/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=27713

For other applications, like Affinity or Photoshop, please see also here:

https://roaringapps.com/apps

Progressive Web App (PWA) out of QuarkXPress 2018

Digital Publishing, Learn, QuarkXPress 20181 Comment

Just out of fun I checked whether my recent export for “OpenType typography in HTML5” fulfills the criteria of a PWA (Progressive Web App).

Side note: HTML5 Publications out of QuarkXPress are basically progressive web apps.

And I was surprised:

The HTML5 Publication scored 100 (out of 100) in Lighthouse 2.9.1

So it is 100% compliant.

How to you check PWA compliance?

It’s easy using Chrome and Lighthouse:

  1. Use Google Chrome (the browser) on MacOS or Windows.
  2. Get the Lighthouse extension for Chrome: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/lighthouse/blipmdconlkpinefehnmjammfjpmpbjk
  3. Browse to the website you want to audit (my im case: https://www.quarkforums.com/resources/2018/Ligatures/ ).
  4. In Chrome, open Developer Tools (menu “View > Developer > Developer Tools”).
  5. Click on the “Audits” tab.
  6. Click on “Perform an audit…”
  7. If not checked, check “Progressive Web App” and run audit.

How to create a PWA yourself?

With QuarkXPress 2018 you can easily create a new PWA or convert your print layout into a PWA.You can do that using the free trial version of QuarkXPress 2018:

http://www.quark.com/Products/QuarkXPress/Test_Drive.aspx

Here’s a recent webinar showing you how: