Adobe InDesign CS3 - Manual (Page 97)

90
Chapter 4: Working with documents
Open, save, and export Adobe InDesign CS3 content using a variety of different formats. If you’re switching to
InDesign from QuarkXPress or Adobe PageMaker, learn the best way to convert your files.
Working with files and templates
Recommended workflow for InDesign documents
You can improve performance and prevent many problems by establishing a good workflow to use with Adobe
InDesign.
Maintain a clean computer system
Over time, changes occur to software and hardware that can lead to performance loss and system problems. Defrag-
menting the hard disk, removing older versions of software, updating device drivers, optimizing memory, running
virus protection utilities, and performing other maintenance tasks can prevent applications and files from becoming
damaged. Performing these tasks regularly helps ensure that InDesign opens, displays, and prints documents as
expected.
Create a project folder
Before you begin a project, determine which files you’ll need and how you’ll store them. Create a folder for storing
your document and its linked files. InDesign maintains links to files you place in a document, but if a link is broken,
InDesign looks for the file in the document’s folder. Storing a document and its linked files in the same folder makes
it easy to move them from one computer to another. Storing files in one folder also ensures that InDesign finds the
original graphics when printing a document. If InDesign cannot locate a linked graphic, it won’t reflect changes you
make to the original graphic, and it may print the graphic poorly or not at all.
If your project consists of multiple documents (for example, chapters in a book), you may find it useful to create a
project folder that contains a folder for each document and its linked files.
Consider using a template
Use a template if you frequently create similar projects. Templates let you create consistent documents more quickly
while protecting the original file. For example, if you create a monthly newsletter, your template might include ruler
guides, page numbers, the newsletter masthead, and styles you want to use in each issue. (See “Use document
templates” on page 94.)
Open documents locally
Before you open a document stored on a network volume or on removable media, copy the document and any linked
graphics to your local hard disk. The slower access time and data transfer rate of a network volume or removable
media can cause data to become lost or corrupted, possibly damaging the document.
Solve problems before converting a file
Damaged Adobe PageMaker or QuarkXPress® files usually remain damaged when opened in InDesign. If an error
or other unexpected behavior occurs with a converted file, open the original file in the source application and
troubleshoot it for damage.