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Toward a Better Computing Experience | Mike Morris, Editor, Front Range PC Users Group, CO www.frpcug.org http://www.frpcug.org twriterext (at) gmail.com |
The word processor is the epitome of ubiquitous—it really does seem to be everywhere. Today’s “full-featured” word processor applications do, indeed, offer many features, in addition to allowing you to create text.
Even the most capable word processor, with many features, has limitations, as anyone who has worked on newsletters or other publications has discovered. To get beyond those limitations, you need to use a different category of software application called Desktop Publishing (DTP).
A DTP application is not intended for creating text—at least if one is talking about a large amount of text, i.e., many pages. A word processor is the correct application for creating a lot of text.
A DTP application is a layout or design application. It is also called a page assembly application, because you assemble content into a single document. Content includes text, images, drawings and everything else you want to see on the printed (or electronic) page.
True DTP applications are frame-based. This means that all the content on a page is placed into frames. Frames are freely moveable and can be placed reliably anywhere on the page. Text from one frame can be continued (flow) in another. Note that this concept is significantly different from a word processor. When you open a word processor application, all you need to do to create a document is to start typing. With a DTP application, you first have to create and position a frame, then you enter the content.
There are a variety of DTP applications. They range from free to expensive, and the “learning curve”—the time it takes to learn how to use the application—can be lengthy. Choosing a DTP application for your project (or projects) can be a challenge, since it is not easy to compare the features of the various applications. I have used 4 different DTP applications, to varying degrees of detail. I have attempted to capture the most important features (in my opinion) of these 4 applications into 9 categories:
1. General
2. Text Controls
3. Master Pages
4. Tables
5. Graphics
6. Long Document Features
7. Color
8. Commercial Printing
9. Tech Support
The comparisons for categories 1 - 4 are included in this, Part 1, of this article. The remaining comparisons will be provided in subsequent installments. The following information is only a collection of comparisons of selected features, based on my testing. It is not intended as instruction in how to use the features. Whether you use a DTP application for your work, or, if you do, which application is the best for you, is a judgment you will have to make.
The information in the following table is based on these applications and versions:
1. InDesign: CS3 (5.0.4)
2. Microsoft Publisher: 2007 (12.0.6308.5000) MSO (12.0.6017.5000)
3. Scribus: 1.3.3.13 for Windows
4. PagePlus: SE 1.0.0.5
The following table is not an exhaustive comparison of all features of all 4 programs. It is based partially on my testing and partially on other resources. The entries in the table are a mixture of facts and opinions. Opinions are enclosed in brackets: [Opinion].
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Category |
InDesign |
Publisher |
Scribus |
PagePlus |
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General
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The most capability, the best user interface, best technical support. Available for both Windows and MAC computers. Commercial, expensive. Together with its competitor, QuarkXPress, these 2 applications are graphic design applications standards for commercial printing. |
Familiar to Microsoft Word users. Windows only. Commercial, can be purchased for under $100. [Suitable for simple sales/marketing brochures or simple newsletters. Not suitable for complex and/or long documents.]
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Open source (free) and available for Windows, MAC and Linux operating systems. Full compliance to PDF spec. Slow Beta development stage. [User interface needs improvement] |
Free and commercial versions (only the free version tested). The commercial version sells for US$100 (online only) by Serif, a company in the UK that is a “Developer and publisher of powerful, easy-to-use desktop publishing, design and graphics software.” Windows only. User interface similar to Publisher. |
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Text Controls
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Comprehensive. All text controls work on selected text. Extensive numerical control over position, size and other characteristics of text frames. Changing size, position or orientation of a text frame is aided with the Reference Point feature. |
Similar to Microsoft Word. Not all text features (such as bullets and numbering) in Word can be correctly imported into Publisher. Leading applies only to a paragraph, not to selected text. [Text controls are characteristic of a word processor, not a true DTP application (percentages, not points are used for editing/adjusting).] |
Extensive. Leading applies only to a text frame, not to a paragraph or to selected text. No widow/orphan control. No feature that provides vertical alignment of text in a frame. Changing size, position or orientation of a text frame is aided with the Basepoint Point feature. |
PagePlus provides more complete import of selected text features (such as bullets and numbering) of a Word document than Publisher. [Text controls are characteristic of a word processor, not a true DTP application (percentages, not points are used for editing/adjusting).]
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Master Pages
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Master Page features available from the Pages panel.
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[Master Page feature not intuitive]
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[Master Page feature not intuitive]
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[Master Page feature not intuitive]
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Tables
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Table features are extensive. Tables can cross page boundaries.
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Less table features than Word.
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Very rudimentary table features.
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Inserting a table requires the use of the Table tool, which has a limited selection of pre-defined formats. Tables from word processing formats can be imported. |
This article has been obtained from APCUG with the author’s permission for publication by APCUG member groups; all other uses require the permission of the author (see e-mail address above).