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.
Used for:
Books, manuals, reports, catalogs, and other text-intensive long multi-page documents are the typical projects created with this category of desktop publishing software.
Used by:
Programs in this category are generally tailored to professional designers, small book publishers, and corporate in-house publishing departments.
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 this 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 FrameMaker
- Corel Ventura
- QuarkXPress (with appropriate XTensions)
Secondary Software in this Category:
The latest versions of Adobe InDesign as well as Adobe PageMaker are both capable of handling some long document tasks although they may not be as efficient for high-volume publishing or extremely long, complex documents.
Alternative 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.
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.
