Research/Web-to-print/ICML

ICML files

ICML files are essentially XML files, usualy managed by InCopy, Adobe’s own word processor, which can be easily imported into Adobe InDesign.

Conversions to ICML

Pandoc can convert HTML and Markdown markups into ICML, since the file format is is essentially XML markup.

Example command:

pandoc -s -f markdown -t icml -o my.icml my.md

-s option, which stands for “standalone”, produces output with an appropriate header and footer;

-f option, which stands for “from”, is followed by the source format;

-t option, which stands for “to”, is followed by the output format;

-o option, which stands for “output”;;

my.md is the markdown source filename.

Importing ICML to InDesign

The generated ICML file is then imported into InDesign with File>Place

The following paragraph styles and chapter styles are automatically generated:

bold; italic; blockquotes; footnotes; headers; paragraphs; tables; lists.

Images are given an empty placeholder.

Updating content

If the ICML remains linked to the inDesign project, changes in the performed on Markdown/HTML source file will be integrated into the inDesign project.

If the content is changed within inDesign, and the ICML remains linked, those changes will be also registered in the ICML file

Importing/Exporting styles

• can CSS styles be imported and integrated into and inDesign project ??
• can inDesign styles be exported and CSS style sheets ??

Scribus

Scribus is an Open Source desktop publishing (DTP) application is designed for layout, typesetting. It is an open source alternative to inDesign. ( More on Open Source, graphic design practice, and education on this interview by [Femke Snelting http://snelting.domainepublic.net/] )

Instead of importing ICML Scribus allows HTML content to be imported

The main rule for the HTML is that it must have a body

A list of HTML tags supported by Scribus can be found in http://wiki.scribus.net/canvas/Help:Manual_Importhtml

In order to import an HTML files into Scribus, as structured content you need to use the Insert->Insert Text Frame tool.

With that tool you can select the space which the text will occupy on page.

And inside that space right click the mouse, selecting "Get Text" option, which will allowing to import the HTML file.

Scribus styles

HTML tags, are recognized by Scribus, which can the stylized with Scribus.

Edit-> Styles...

Select the specific tag you'd like to edit and choose the option Edit.