1. Improved Links panel



The ability to produce slightly different versions of the same document is a fairly frequent requirement. It may be a case of having one brochure for distributors and another for end-users or producing different language versions of the same manual. Documents of this kind are ideal candidates for InDesign CS4's new conditional text feature.

Creating interactive buttons has been made easier than ever. Instead of a button tool, CS4 now has a Buttons panel which also includes button states. Having converted an element to a button, the Buttons panel allows you to add "rollover" and "click" states and assign actions.

The conditional text feature can even be used with images and text frames, provided they are anchored objects. Once you have set up all the conditional elements, to produce a particular version of your document, you simply activate the appropriate condition in the Conditions panel. The document is then ready to be printed or converted to PDF.

2. Conditional text

InDesign's Links panel keeps track of files imported into your document and indicates the current status of linked files: for example, showing you if a file has been modified or is missing. InDesign CS4 includes considerable enhancements to this useful utility. For a start, there is now a thumbnail next to each item listed in the Links panel and the page number shown next to each item is a clickable link which takes you straight to the image.

Creating interactive buttons has been made easier than ever. Instead of a button tool, CS4 now has a Buttons panel which also includes button states. Having converted an element to a button, the Buttons panel allows you to add "rollover" and "click" states and assign actions.

The conditional text feature can even be used with images and text frames, provided they are anchored objects. Once you have set up all the conditional elements, to produce a particular version of your document, you simply activate the appropriate condition in the Conditions panel. The document is then ready to be printed or converted to PDF.

3. Enhanced interactive document features

The ability to produce slightly different versions of the same document is a fairly frequent requirement. It may be a case of having one brochure for distributors and another for end-users or producing different language versions of the same manual. Documents of this kind are ideal candidates for InDesign CS4's new conditional text feature.

Conditions are created in a panel not unlike the layers panel. Initially all text within the document forms part of the default condition: namely, it is unconditional, meaning that, by default, all text will appear regardless of which conditions are active. You simply need to create a condition for each version of the document you wish to create: just choose "New Condition" from the Conditions panel menu. Next highlight the text you wish to associate with that condition and click on the name of the condition in the Conditions panel.

The conditional text feature can even be used with images and text frames, provided they are anchored objects. Once you have set up all the conditional elements, to produce a particular version of your document, you simply activate the appropriate condition in the Conditions panel. The document is then ready to be printed or converted to PDF.