Binary Graphics, Inc.

The Right Way For Designers To Load The Disk

by John Knapp, Binary Graphics, Inc. Seattle
© 1997 Binary Graphics, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

One of the biggest problems we face in accepting disks is that they are frequently missing graphics. The following automatic procedure will put an end to that. Forever! This procedure uses simple built-in features that apparently few users know about. Spread the word!

Correct procedure for PageMaker users:

1) Finalize the copy of the document which resides on the graphic designers hard disk. (Not the transfer disk! We'll get to that in a minute.)

2) Work with the Links command (file menu) and make sure all links are up to date and not missing.

3) Prepare a blank transfer disk with a single folder named after the job. (Eliminate all old files from this disk.)

4) Back in PageMaker, select the save-as command (file menu) and select the copy all files option. Direct the save-as command to the job folder on that empty transfer disk and hit OK. This will put a copy of the layout and all graphics used by that layout into a single folder on the transfer disk.

5) Put a copy of all screen and printer fonts used in the job into a font folder on the disk. (It is best to put it inside the job folder.

Correct procedure for Quark XPress users:

1) Finalize the copy of the document which resides on the graphic designers hard disk. (Not the transfer disk! We'll get to that in a minute.)

2) Work with the Picture Usage command (utilities menu) and make sure all links are up to date and not missing.

3) Prepare a blank transfer disk with a single folder named after the job. (Eliminate all old files from this disk.)

4) Back in XPress, select the Collect for Output command (file menu) and direct this command to the job folder on that empty transfer disk and hit OK. This will put a copy of the layout and all graphics used by that layout into a single folder on the transfer disk. It will also create a valuable report about the job.

5) Put a copy of all screen and printer fonts used in the job into a font folder on the disk. (It is best to put it inside the job folder.

It is too bad that so many people continue to use manual hunt and gather techniques to collect the graphics for their jobs when their computer could do it automatically for them. Learn for yourself how this works and then go show your customers. You will be doing everybody a favor.

XXX

Home

Article index

On-line glossary

Getting help