“InDesign automatisieren,” a Scripting Bible (in German)
December 01, 2015 | Extras | en
It took me time to read the second edition of Gregor Fellenz' InDesign automatisieren since I do not speak German (!) but this book certainly is the best print reference for discovering InDesign scripting realm. Non-German speaking readers might find it pointless to review this book on my website. However it fills a huge gap and should be considered a model by many of us…
[InDesign automatisieren – Keine Angst vor Skripting, GREP & Co, by Gregor Fellenz, dpunkt.verlag, 2015, €29.99.]
War on Time-Consuming Tasks
As a developer, trainer and project manager involved in print and digital publishing workflows for ten years, Gregor Fellenz attended radical transformations in his area of expertise, notably the emergence of strong needs in optimizing, structuring and automating. While fifteen years ago we could still create and manage layouts in a sequential way without worrying about data processing and digital devices, no publisher today can ignore cross-media issues.
Dealing with Web or EPUB devices, for example, requires a deep control on document models (DOM hierarchy, XML or IDLM specifications, etc.) and therefore new skills and tools for manipulating the underlying components. Automating tasks was a luxury in the past, it is now a necessity.
That is the starting point of Gregor's book, which deliberately focuses on the most pragmatic aspects of InDesign automation, including XML processing, GREP tricks and, of course, scripting.
A Great Introduction to InDesign Programing
“InDesign automatisieren” is organized around three perfectly balanced sections, of about 100 pages each: Getting started with automation, InDesign programing with JavaScript/ExtendScript, and Automation in practice.
Although I am not able to assess the educational content of the book—because of the language barrier—I am still very impressed by how the author has distributed and presented the key stakes, from the basics to more advanced notions, and always using examples, screenshots, graphics, or short JS codes to illustrate the point.
In this regard, the InDesign Object Model chapter (“InDesign-Objektmodell”, p. 150-208) is full of teaching tips that help the reader to get into a very dense universe. The document hierarchy is first shown as a tree, then classes, methods and properties are gradually unveiled as the details are drawn.
The cookbook part (third section) provides a lot of valuable scripts that make life easier, including GREP-oriented snippets and daily routines involving either footnotes, tables, graphics, documents or external files. An entire chapter is dedicated to a Word-based workflow (importing, styling, indexing) while the final chapters specifically address EPUB and XML issues.
Note. — The book officially deals with CS3 to CS6 Scripting DOM, but most scripts will run with CC as well, since the author focuses on the core infrastructure.
All provided scripts are carefully documented and most of the technical material is mirrored on the book website, including a full GREP reference (PDF).
I also have to mention that Gregor Fellenz is very active in the InDesign scripting community. He has made a lot of amazing resources freely available, such as his InDesign ExtendScript API or this “Selected List of InDesign Scripting Resources”. Just for these reasons beginner and intermediate InDesign programmers owe him a debt of gratitude.
So what is sorely lacking in “InDesign automatisieren”?
A translation into English!
• Details and ordering: www.indesignjs.de
• Scripts and additions: github.com/grefel/indesignjs
Comments
Hi thanks a lot Marc.
I know this book for years but I just never open it as I also don't know a word in german.
However it's true that Germany has a long history in automation and great scripters fellow can be found there such as Dirk Becker from http://www.ixta.com/scripts/ or Gregor Fellenz as you mention.
I also know that in the prepress industry, Germany is also known as an advanced place for automation in the publishing industry.
Hoping not to go too far into clichés but once again Germany seems to have a model to offer for the french producers.
Apart from that, It seems that book needs a french translation. Do you see what I mean ? ;)
Hey Marc,
thank you for your great review of my book!
The link to the scripts and infos on my book website directs to the first edition.
Please update the link to the second edition on Github.
https://github.com/grefel/indesignj...
Regards,
Gregor
Hi Loïc,
> Apart from that, It seems that book needs a french translation.
> Do you see what I mean ? ;)
Yes I do! And I know Gregor would be glad to have his book translated “dans la langue de Molière.”
IMHO, two main publishers—namely Dunod and Eyrolles—would have reasons and means to release a French translation of “InDesign automatisieren.” Unfortunately it looks like they both underestimate the market. Unless they just lack ambition—as usual in France…
@+
Marc
Hey Loïc, hey Marc,
regarding a french translation my publisher had contact to Eyrolles but unfortunately they were not convinced about the project :-(
Gregor
Hi Gregor,
You're welcome.
> Please update the link to the second edition on Github.
Done.
@+
Marc
> Unless they just lack ambition—as usual in France…
A mix of all that. Automation still sounds like a bad word here in France. German solved that issue years ago ;)
As I let Gregor know already in an email, in my opinion this is the best reference book on any subject that I have read so far.
It is packed with valuable information and guides the reader from his first steps in InDesign scripting to some rather advanced stuff.
Together with the first edition of the same book, it played a big role in my development from somebody that would not know what a variable is (2 years ago), to somebody who can nowadays comfortably follow along on this blog here. ;)
Highly recommended!