Which Page Layout Program is best to use with CatBase?

CatBase works with QuarkXPress, InDesign, and FrameMaker. Each of these programs has particular strengths and weaknesses with regards to the degree to which it can be automated. Probably the most important issues are the placement of images and tables.

Automatic Image Placement

Neither Quark nor InDesign natively support the automatic placement of images when data is imported into a layout; in order to facilitate this, we use a plugin called Xtags. In addition to creating picture boxes and importing images into them, Xtags also allows you to create text boxes and fill them, which is useful for creating things like semi-display ads and product boxes. For an example of this, please see the Items in Boxes Tutorial. FrameMaker, on the other hand, supports the creation and filling of picture boxes natively.

Tables

Both InDesign and FrameMaker have a comprehensive table designer built in, and their native tagging system supports the creation of sophisticated tables. Quark (V. 6) has a relatively rudimentary table designer, but its tagging system does not support the creation of tables. To further complicate matters, the Xtags plugin does not (currently) support the creation of tables. So if you need both automatic picture placement AND sophisticated table creation, then FrameMaker is your best option.

The following table summarises these options. NOTE: This is by no means a comprehensive product comparison between QuarkXPress, InDesign, and FrameMaker!

Feature Comparison Chart

The following chart compares the features available with each option.