Adobe InDesign CC 2015 - Manual (Page 44)

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Workspace and workflow
Last updated 6/6/2015
• Notify InCopy users when the associated InDesign layout is outdated.
• Identify the user working on a file.
• Notify users when an InCopy content file is outdated, being used by someone, or available for editing. Notification
methods include alert messages, frame icons, status icons in the Links panel, and status icons in the Assignments
panel.
Read-only files
Once a content file becomes managed, it’s read-only to all users in the workflow at all times, except to the person who
has checked it out. The software creates a lock file (*.idlk) when a user checks out a content file, giving that user
exclusive editing control. Read-only files have the following characteristics:
• An InCopy user cannot manually format the text in it. However, if text has been assigned character or paragraph
styles, an InDesign user can change the definition of those styles, thereby changing the formatting of the text even
when the file is checked out to someone else. These style definition changes are reflected in the text once the
InDesign user updates the file.
• In general, neither an InCopy nor InDesign user can change objects, such as text and applied styles, in locked
InCopy content. Some objects, such as character and paragraph styles, are only used by the content. For example,
you can’t change how a character style is applied to objects in locked content, but you can change the character style
itself, thereby changing the appearance of the text.
• An InDesign user can change the margins and columns of the text content as well as the shape, location, and number
of text frames the story occupies.
• An InDesign user can change the geometry and formatting of a graphics frame without checking out the graphic.
An InCopy user cannot change a graphics frame or any formatting on the frame. However, both InDesign and
InCopy users have to check out the graphics frame in order to modify the graphic itself (for example, to rotate or
scale it).
Best practices for working with managed files
Use the following practices to make sure that you work with the most up-to-date content and don’t overwrite someone
else’s work:
• Store assignment files on a server where all team members have access. If team members don’t have access to a
server, you can create and distribute assignment packages.
• When you create an assignment, a special folder is created to hold the assignment file and the content. Use these
assignment folders to maintain assignment and content files. They simplify managing the shared files across a
workgroup and help ensure that users open the correct files.
• In InCopy, open the assignment file instead of an individual InCopy story. That way, you can see the copyfit and
layout information in Galley and Layout views. If you export content without using assignment files, you can see
copyfit and layout information only by opening the InDesign file.
• As soon as you open an assignment file, open an InDesign document, or check out content in either InDesign or
InCopy; make sure that frame edges are showing (View > Extras > Show Frame Edges) so that you can see the frame
icons when they appear.
• In InDesign, if you must remove files from the workflow (because of a production deadline, for example), you can
unlink them or cancel an assignment package.