Not sure if this helps but DesignMerge does it with master pages. The rule will specify which master to use depending on the condition.

You just blew my mind! I had an epiphony; whenever a customer makes a change to text, create a new layer with the change and keep the original text on a non-printing layer. That way, when they want to revert, you have it ready to go.

At my new job, we use XMPie for VDP jobs. Old shop used SmartStream. I'm wondering if there isn't a better way in XMPie to make a layer visible using a rule.

For example, let's say I have 5 different versions driven by the data, so I build an InDesign file with 5 layers (one layer for each version.) In SmartStream, I could trigger which layer is shown a couple different ways. First way is to build a switch rule that states if the trigger field says "Version A" then show Layer 1, else if the data says "Version B" then show Layer 2, etc. No matter how many different versions I have, I can build them all into one rule. The other way I could do it in SmartStream is to tell it to turn on the layer whose name matches what is in the data. So instead of the layer being named "Layer 1" it would just be named "Version A" because that is how it appears in the data. The beauty of this method is the rule never has to be modified when new versions are added, and as long as there exists a layer that matches what is in the data it will work.

The way I was shown to accomplish this in XMPie involved making 5 different rules. Had to make a rule for Layer 1 that says "make this layer visible when the data says "Version A" and then that rule is assigned to Layer 1. Now do it 4 more times to get all 5 versions accounted for.

This seems like a difficult way to accomplish the desired result. Is there a better way? Just looking at XMPie I can tell that it is pretty robust so it would surprise me that there isn't a better way and the way I've been shown is just the way they've always done it because they didn't know any better.

I still roll with an iMac (late 2011) at home and CS5.5 because that's the only machine at home with CS on it (that runs) for home projects and side/freelance work. I have 5.5 for Windows, but all my OS's are too new that it won't run or install on any of them.

My main Windows 10 is a quad 3.1ghz with 32gb RAM and 2 32" 1080 TV monitors. When I was working from home during Covid, it's what I used.

I'm still working on building a gaming rig that's got a quad 3.3ghz and 16gb RAM (only 2 slots on that board I think - it's in the shop) but it has a kick ass 3gb video card.

Quote from: pspdfppdfxhd on December 01, 2023, 07:40:47 AMMac mini with a 3rd party monitor?

Top of the line Mac Mini with the M2 chip, 32 gb of RAM which is the MAX you can go and a 1 TB SSD is $2,200 plus you still have a buy a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

I was shocked by getting a beefed up mini myself but they are working just fine. Although I remember saying the same thing when I first got my first iMac. It wasn't a tower, "professional" Mac. But haven't looked back. And now think the same about the mini/studio. We don't worry about color on screen too much. We proof it and know what moves we need to move from there.

The other thing we did for compatibility reasons, was to setup the old iMac either next to the operator or in a spot where they can remote into them if need be for the software they would not run on the new system. Since we are in a production environment, not everything gets updated right away. But there are times where the computer needs to be and we have to fight all the other issues for a bit. That's how we get around it. FYI.

Quark is not dead until our client dies. He's 80.

Canvahhhhhh....noooooo. Worse than Quark if that's possible.

Quote from: pspdfppdfxhd on December 01, 2023, 07:27:49 AMI think everything will be ok except for Quark, but we'll have to keep the old one just to run that. To ask the client to update Quark and buy a new computer...not happening.

Is Quark not dead yet? My coworker picked up a side job for a magazine layout and she will work with a group of designers. The guy running it had them vote which program they will use. I thought she was going to say Quark or Indesign. No! It was between Indesign and Canva! I told her I wouldn't have taken the job. The fact that you are with 6 other designers on a shared layout would have been enough for me to pass let alone Canva. Indesign won but there were "designers" who voted for Canva. I guess she can see how it goes. I would have told that guy I'll do the entire layout and everyone else can work on ads.

Quote from: pspdfppdfxhd on December 01, 2023, 05:18:29 AMWow, after reading all this I am amazed how little I know about the new Macs. Still chuggin along with a 2015 Imac with 32GB of ram. It's getting painful to use.

files get bigger and bigger and bloatier and bloatier 

Can't believe I am saying Mac mini...