Xdata and InData — easy documents from data
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I most often find myself using Xdata or InData to create one-to-one marketing events for our customers. We have an invoicing system with a database structure. I simply export our customer contact information — most accounting systems even have this capability — and use the export to create custom messages. I can use it as a method for sending payment-due reminders or complex product-upgrade notices that include the date of purchase, the product they purchased, and even their serial number.

Product Catalogue/Parts List This document looks difficult, but was actually quite simple. The biggest limitation of Xdata and InData is that all images must be anchored in text. Designing a page where all the images are placed properly, in the constraints of required anchored picture boxes, can be difficult, but it's rarely impossible. A little creative thinking is usually all that's required. Additionally, Xdata and InData both have settings for automatic placement of the image in the box and the resizing of either the picture or the box, depending on the requirements of the project.

Another powerful feature is the ability to apply a particular master page based on the content of the data — as I have done with some of the calendar designs created for data2date. If the data indicates a new month has started, I have applied the master page for that month's layout. Other calendar layouts check to verify whether the layout is currently on a left- or right-facing page.

Trader-Style Magazine This is one of the most common document types that my customers request. You see this style in lots of publications. Realtor guides, car-buying magazines, and other similar publishing requirements. It is extremely simple to create the basic design, but you can add complex handling of text-overflow issues (through a character count), or error handling for listings without pictures.

Dictionary-style headers and footers are included within these extensions. In the sample below, you can see that the headers reflect the first entry on the page separated by a dash and then the last entry on the page. This is all automatic, and if you make edits to the text, you can simply choose to update the headers and footers without repeating the import process.

Phone Directories This document makes use of a few different types of Boolean expressions. Some of the entries in this listing are related to a display ad on other pages, so a symbol is included before the entry name. This expression within the prototype checks for content of a particular field, and depending on that content, either types the character or does not type the character. In case you missed that, Xdata and InData can actually add text to your data import — during the import process.

Does tackling Xdata and InData seem too daunting? These extensions are complex, and powerful, and sometimes tough to master, but not insurmountable. There's some really good resources to get you off to a successful start: the manual, the manufacturer's tech support, and if you buy from ThePowerXChange, you will get complimentary technical support from them as well, that you can use in the form of troubleshooting a prototype that you've been working to refine. ThePowerXChange also has a prototype-creation service, so you can avoid prototype writing entirely. Call them for a price quote (877 940 0600), or email the sales team or take advantage of their $50 off offer.

The lesson of the day here: do not perform repetitive tasks. While the cost of the extensions might set you back a bit, the reduction of time and frustration make them well worth the investment — from the very first job.

 

 

 

 

 

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