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QuarkXPress 8: A Suite Response

BY PROXY

I apologize in advance to the Windows users, but on Mac OS only the pop-up page navigation control at the bottom left of the project window can now display pages as thumbnails (default view) in addition to the legacy icon view; see figure 5. To enlarge the thumbnails, press the UP ARROW. Press the DOWN ARROW to decrease the size. Continue to press the DOWN ARROW if you wish to access the icon view of previous versions. This setting is sticky, so you will return to the previously used setting each time you launch QuarkXPress 8.

Figure 5 In addition to an icon pop-up view for navigating to other pages, you now have the option of a thumbnail view.

There may be a performance penalty when you use these thumbnail icons, one that is more apparent if using high-resolution previews, Bézier paths, or working across a network. If you experience delays, use the method above for returning to icon view.

If you're feeling adventurous, dig around in your QuarkXPress 8 preferences folder and come up with the file named PopupPageList.plist. This is the configuration file for the thumbnails preview. You can change the settings in this file; but while this feature only renders those pages visible (meaning that a larger document does not in itself affect performance), be careful when choosing to add more pages to the maximum number in a row or enabling the fade in and out option as both of these may exacerbate the performance issues.

GETTING JUMPY

Another small thing with a big impact: the master page toggle button. This little gem will toggle you back and forth between your project page and your master page — maintaining zoom and page position.

Let's say that you've zoomed in on the header of a page and realize that you would like to change the typeface of the page number. Since the header is a master page item, you don't want the modification made to the page item as local formatting, but rather to the master page item. Click the MASTER PAGE TOGGLE button (see figure 6) and you are instantly transported to exactly the same position and zoom setting on the master page. Make your text edit, click the MASTER PAGE TOGGLE button again and, POOF!, you are returned to the same position on the document page.

Now, if you start wandering around from master page to master page once you've used the master page toggle button, you will return to the project page from which you started the cycle.

[Speaking of master pages, wouldn't it be nice if all master page items had a user-definable frame color or tint so that we could easily identify items that belong to the master page? No, that's not in this version — just my wishful musing.]

Figure 6 Quark has made changes to the window itself; some things are missing (undo and redo lists), but there's a lot that's been added.

Continuing to zoom in for a moment (metaphorically speaking) on the lower-left corner of the active windows let's take a look at what else Quark has nested here. From left to right, they are:

• Page view magnification field. This field displays the view size, but since it is a text-entry field, it can be used for typing in a particular display size as well.
• Active page field. This field displays the active page number, but since it is also a text-entry field, you may type a page number here to instantly jump to that page.
• Page preview pop-up button. Described above, this option will provide you small page thumbnails for quick navigation.
• Page scrolling arrows. Click the left arrow to scroll backward one page. Click the right arrow to scroll forward one page.
• Master page toggle button. Click this button easily swap between the same position on the project page and the master page on which it is based.
• Split view horizontally button. Click this button to split the page view horizontally.
• Split view vertically button. Click this button to split the page view vertically.
• Export shortcut button. In addition to PDF and layout options, the page as EPS option has been grouped in here as well. The export option is sticky so QuarkXPress remembers the last export option you chose (be it layout, PDF, or EPS). If you simply click the export button, you will automatically export as the last-used format. To change this, click and hold down on the button. The current default is indicated with a check next to the name. Choose one of the other options and release the mouse.

Note: The Save Page as EPS option has not been enhanced in version 8. (No crying!)

Note: You will also find the split window buttons in the lower-right and upper-right corners.

 

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