While most professional page layout software is capable of producing multi-page documents, some programs are designed primarily to handle long, complex, highly-structured long document composition.
Long Document Composition Software is used for:
Books, manuals, reports (including lengthly annual reports), catalogs, long or complex newsletters, and other text-intensive long multi-page documents are the typical projects created with this category of desktop publishing software.
Long Document Composition Software is used by:
Programs in this category are generally tailored to professional designers, small book publishers including self-publishers, and corporate in-house publishing departments.
Long Document Composition Software Features:
Books and other complex, structured documents need a program that can handle repeating elements (headers, footers), table of content and index generation, page numbering, and integration of graphics, spreadsheet, and database elements. Ideally these programs combine word processing, desktop publishing, and graphics in one package. Extensive text handling capabilities, pagination, and automation of repetitive tasks are characteristic of these tools. A steep learning curve is usually required.
Primary Software in the Long Document Composition Category:
Although these programs may also have features that make them suitable to other sub-categories of desktop publishing, they are generally the best choices for the projects and users described in this profile.
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe FrameMaker
- Corel Ventura
- QuarkXPress (with appropriate XTensions) or Quark Dynamic Publishing
- Scribus
Secondary Software in the Long Document Composition Category:
Adobe PageMaker is capable of handling some long document tasks although they may not be as efficient for high-volume publishing or extremely long, complex documents.
Alternative Long Document Composition Software:
For long, text-intensive documents word processing software is sometimes suitable, especially for in-house publishing that doesn't require working with a commercial service provider. Microsoft Word and Corel WordPerfect are the two main contenders in this category.
Numerous high-end publishing solutions, often XML-based, are available including XyEnterprise and Arbortext which are outside the coverage of this site.
Disclaimer:
The specific software programs described in this profile are not the only software suitable for these tasks. They are, however, some of the most widely used desktop publishing programs that fit this category. See The Really Big List of Desktop Publishing Software for more ideas.
