6 Replies Latest reply: Oct 8, 2010 2:10 AM by Twinklewoo RSS

    Is there a way others edit just part of a doc?

    Twinklewoo Community Member

      Me again,

      Sorry - but this is my last question for today - been saving them up you see!

       

      I have created 13, 2 page documents for a client full of text and pictures, and he has only now advised me that he wants to be able to send them to his customers so that they can edit them and enter their details in part of the doc - namely insert their logo at the top and contact details at the bottom - the rest should stay the same.

       

      Bearing in mind I have created them all on indesign, is there a way I can save them into an editable format for regular joes, using software found on most office computers?

       

      I would really appreciate your help - I am loath to redo them all into word or something, and I know he won't be happy if I say I will need to do this for each of his customers whenever they want... is there a solution?

       

      Really hoping you guys can help me!

      em

        • 1. Re: Is there a way others edit just part of a doc?
          [Jongware] Community Member
          ... is there a way I can save them into an editable format for regular joes, using software found on most office computers?

           

          My guess for this would be a firm No.

           

          Even making a version that can be viewed with 'software found on most office computers' may already pose a challenge -- a lot of those clients just may be familiar with Acrobat Reader, to view a PDF, but may not be computer-smart enough to always download the latest version. So for just viewing a page, you might have to resort to JPEGs! (Which has the advantage that if someone cannot even view that, you can be fairly reliable they *are* total computer illiterates.)

          • 2. Re: Is there a way others edit just part of a doc?
            Eugene Tyson CommunityMVP

            There is some new fangled stuff coming out and I'm sure you pop them an email they will come back to you

             

            http://www.1io.com/

             

             

            That might suit?

            • 3. Re: Is there a way others edit just part of a doc?
              E Diane King Community Member

              My initial answer is not really.  If you have Acrobat Pro, you can export your design to a PDF and then make form fields where you want the clients to enter their data and then enable Acrobat Reader editing, but the logo may be an issue--I've never tried entering graphics in a PDF form.  However, going this route, you would need to make sure that your file is final because you would not be able to receive the files back from the client with their changes. I've also in the past, imported EPS of an ID document into a Word file's header (float behind).  A Word user can then add info over the top of the design like they would in a normal Word document.  Once again, the client would not actually be editing the document and the file you would submit would have to be final and not need to be changed. I've done this with a client who needed letterhead that they could print themselves with a letter on it. The downside is that Word will not import a PDF, so you have to use a different format.  I usually export an EPS or open a PDF in AI and resave it as an EPS for the Word workflow.

               

              Hope that helps.

               

              Edit: It would be best to make the PDF form and/or the Word document yourself.  Most end users would not know how to import graphic files into Word and many will even have problems entering their info into a PDF form in Acrobat Reader, so you would probably need to provide instructions.

               

              Message was edited by: E Diane King

              • 4. Re: Is there a way others edit just part of a doc?
                Joel Cherney Community Member
                I have created 13, 2 page documents for a client full of text and pictures, and he has only now advised me that he wants to be able to send them to his customers so that they can edit them and enter their details in part of the doc - namely insert their logo at the top and contact details at the bottom - the rest should stay the same.

                 

                Bearing in mind I have created them all on indesign, is there a way I can save them into an editable format for regular joes, using software found on most office computers?

                If it was just text, I'd teach you all about running RTFs out of and back into InDesign.

                 

                If XML editing software was for regular joes, I'd natter on about that for a while.

                 

                If it was just text, and if InCopy was found on most office computers, then I'd suggest it.

                 

                If Acrobat Pro was found on most office computers (it's not), then I think that the Stamp tool might be able to add the logo.

                 

                Basically, there's no way whatsoever to do what you want. Except for this: If your images are inline in ID, and if you have "Import Inline Graphics" checked when you place your document, and if you're willing to trust what Word does with inserted images, then you could run RTFs in and out of InDesign, and your client could place the logo directly in the RTF. However, I wouldn't touch this workflow with a ten-foot pole, knowing what Word can do to inserted images.

                • 5. Re: Is there a way others edit just part of a doc?
                  P Spier CommunityMVP

                  Actually, it IS possible to insert an image into a PDF form field in Reader (I looked into this for a project last year), but the ability to scale or position is nil, so it isn't all that practical unless postioning is not critical or you can assure that all the logos are the same size. I ended up having the completed forms returned (less than 100 so we didn't need special licensing), along with separate images and I placed both into a new ID file to complete the project.

                   

                  Bottom line is that this sort of work is usually sent back to the main office or franchiser or whomever to set up, then returned, either printed or as a PDF that the satellite office or franchisee can print out at will or post on the web. Among other things this insures that the parent company has some control over the quality of the final product that's going out under their name.

                  • 6. Re: Is there a way others edit just part of a doc?
                    Twinklewoo Community Member

                    Thank you very much for all your help - I think I will have to bite the bullet and tell him the only viable way is for me to do it as and when. I will try to sell him the idea it will mean he can ensure the image is not cheapened by rubbish design!!! (fingers crossed!)

                     

                    Thanking you again - I wanted to check you all as helpful answers but apparently I can't - sorry about that this is all new to me...

                     

                    Best regards

                    em