What the Heck is XML?

A lot of people have heard about XML, but they don’t know what it is. XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. It facilitates the sharing of structured data across different information systems. Translated into English this means that you can move data from one form to another easily. XML does not contain any formatting information, it only contains raw data. The program that receives the XML gets to decide how the data will be displayed.
If you have a database of information it can be sent via XML to InDesign for a catalog layout, a webpage, a pdf for ebooks, and even reformatted to fit your iphone.
Another question a lot of people ask is “How do I make XML?” or “Where can I get XML”. Well, it really isn’t that hard. You can just type it out if your really wanted to in any text editor, but most people get it out of a database application like File Maker Pro or Microsoft Excel. In either of those programs you can either export or save your database as XML. Next you can import it into InDesign or another program and decide what you want to do with it.
Keep a look out for another 100% fresh event this April where Jim Conway and I will talk about XML and how to move your print layout to the web.

Next time you complain about your computer, sit back and take in some perspective. The ad above is for the original Apple-1 computer. Not only did it have 8K Byte Ram, but a FREE copy of Apple Basic on TAPE.

Ever wonder when your mac was made or better yet, the history of the mac? Well Mactracker can help. Mactracker is a great freeware application created by Ian Page. It has the history, technical specs, notes, photos and the chimes (gotta love the Chimes of Doom) related to any mac model.

Besides all the fun you can have strolling down memory lane, you can also use Mactracker to keep track of all your personal macs for warranty information and view the custom information for each. You can also find helpful links inside each model for user guides and more.

So go ahead download this fun app and get to know mac a little better. While you are at it, make a donation. Quality freeware like this is very rare and the people that develop rely on us to help keep them going.

Just an odd observation. Ever since the MacBook Air was released last month, bloggers and sites have been finding many legitimate issues with the product from power failures to backlit keyboards failing. But this one takes the cake. Hold on tight, here it comes…

The MacBook Air does not have a Kensington security slot.

As I read this article in MacRumors.com, I thought to myself how silly this “non-issue” really was. Here’s their complaint in a nutshell – Apple has just release the most portable and lightweight laptop ever. So lets tie it to a desk.

Wouldn’t this constitute an oxymoron? Maybe I’m just being stubborn, but I really think some people tend to over think things and miss the obvious. Be happy with what we have, and if you really want to tie this down, here’s my old school “workaround”:

Ever try to figure out what an exotic or dingbat font is called or better yet, have your font list lock up inside the character palette each time you try to choose a font? The problem is font preview or WSYWG (what you see is what you get).
There is a simple solution. Turn off your font preview preference in your CS3 application – ctrl+K (pc) or cmd+K (mac) and navigate to type preferences. When you turn off your font preview size, it also turns off WSYWYG.

The Milwaukee Adobe User Group invites you to an evening with Kevin Hoyt,Adobe Platform Evangelist presenting the NEW Adobe® Flex™ application.

Adobe® Flex™ is a cross-platform development framework for creating rich Internet applications. Flex enables you to create expressive, high-quality applications that run identically on all major browsers and operating systems.

If you are involved in any aspect of your company’s web development or design, this is a don’t miss opportunity. This is a FREE event! C2 is proud to be a sponsor for this event, along with Adobe, The Eisner Museum, DigiCopy, and WCTC.

Drawing prizes include:
Adobe Flex Backpacks
Adobe Flex Shirts
Adobe AIR Shirts
Membership kit from the Eisner Museum
Free Class from C2
A copy of Adobe Flex Software
A copy of Adobe Creative Suite 3 Web Premium Software
Apple iPod Nano

February 7, 2008 at 6pm
WCTC – Harry V. Quadracci Center – Q Building
800 Main Street
Pewaukee, WI 53072

Be sure to RSVP kevin@milwaukeeaug.com with your name and company.

Congratulations to C2 Instructor, Adobe Certified InDesign Guru, and all-around techno-geek James Fritz on winning the InDesignSecrets.com quizzer contest.

The question was “How many ways can you add a CMYK color to Swatches without using the Swatches panel?” Fritz submitted 76 different ways (nuts I know), which they compressed to 23.

So check out Fritz’s winning answers .pdf here and you can even listen to the Podcasters make fun of him in the podcast here. Hil-arious!

Way to go!

Love it or hate it. Helvetica has been a lasting part of graphic design since its inception. You see Neue Haas Grotesk (the original name until 1960) on a daily basis whether you know it or not. Its relationship with designers has pushed its popularity into a feature film, “Helvetica” and now the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is presenting a new exhibit “50 years of Helvetica“.

I myself have weighed in on Veer’s “Love/Hate” Helvetica blog (I went for the love it). I feel that anything that can polarize a designer like this font deserves its moment in the sun and for Helvetica that time is now.

I have to admit there was a time where I was anti-H. I still wear a t-shirt from college that our class designed that simply states “Screw Helvetica”. But as I get older, and hopefully wiser, I look at Helvetica like a warm blanket or an old friend. It is a constant, it has never changed with the times or been redesigned to the “new, trim, or fun” version. Helvetica has its place in our lives and as a writer from the BBC put it “Helvetica means your train is on time, your flight will not crash, your life will go on.”.

So happy 50th Helvetica and congratulations.

If you attended any of our Photoshop classes in the last 10 years (or any Photoshop class in the nation) you were warned NOT to use the Brightness/Contrast dialog box to correct images – it was a very poor correction tool, the levels and curves caused much less damage than Brightness/Contrast. Well, things change. The new Brightness/Contrast in Photoshop CS3 does a very good job as long as you don’t check the “Use Legacy” checkbox (that makes it work like previous versions – poorly)

How many of you have tried to create a web photo/image gallery using the Photoshop Web Gallery only to be completely disappointed in the results and limited templates? Well Adobe Labs has very quietly released an answer to this called Adobe Media Gallery (not to be confused with the highly publicized Adobe Media Player – more on that in a future post). Adobe Media Gallery, available only through Adobe Labs works with Adobe Bridge to create a more professional-looking Web Gallery.

There are two requirements before you start – first, you need to load up the latest version of Adobe AIR runtime and unfortunately this only works with Bridge CS3. Most importantly, be sure to read the entire instructions and known issues from Adobe Labs before you install. (The trick is to restart your Bridge after installing.) Users can select images through Bridge, choose from several preset templates, or customize using the style information palette.
Once loaded, Adobe Bridge will prompt you to install Adobe Media Gallery. Confirm and then immediately restart Bridge. You will find your new application in Bridge under Workspace> Adobe Media Gallery. This will launch the new window in Bridge.

Click the “Preview Button” to start customizing your gallery. You can choose from several preset templates, or customize your gallery using the Style information menu. This interface is much more Choose the images you wish to load through Bridge, and then click the “AMG Preview” button to start. You can then load preset templates or customize your gallery using the “Style Information” menu. This interface is much more intuitive and user friendly than the original Photoshop Web Gallery.

Once completed, you can also preview in your browser using the “Browser Preview” button. To upload your gallery, you have two options, one is to “Save to Disk” which creates a folder and downloads all necessary components for the web.

The other option, which is über-cool is the ability to load directly to an FTP server. This is great for client proofing or private viewing.

So until this becomes a public update with CS3 (which was reportedly supposed to happen this month), check out Adobe Labs and grab this useful tool!

Inside Adobe InDesign CS3 lies a new easter egg. An easter egg when referring to software is a small treat that programmers have hidden inside a program for the users to discover. On a mac go to the InDesign Menu and choose “about InDesign”, on a PC go to the help menu and choose “about InDesign”. On the splash screen type “butterfly”. The screen will turn into a beautiful mountain photo with many butterflies flying. Here comes the fun part. Click on the butterflies and you will pin them, if you Alt (Option on a mac) click them, they fall off the screen. When you are done playing the game, or your boss is walking towards you just hit the ESC key and you are back to work.

Enjoy!

The Business Journal reported that more people are moving out of Wisconsin than moving in to it.

We can always speculate why – perhaps it’s the availability of jobs, the climate, the scene – but what’s your reason for staying (or leaving)?

When all else fails, what do you do? Try resetting your preferences. Believe it or not, it is very easy to do. When you start up your application, hold down shift+ctrl+opt+apple (mac) or shift+command+opt+ctrl (pc). This will prompt you to delete your settings. Don’t panic, its just a reset to factory settings.
Generally, this will remedy the little hiccups or glitches you may be experiencing especially with type or tools.

Also, don’t forget about the eagerly awaited Adobe CS3/Leopard updates coming out later this month.

We had a little internal contest here at C2, write a comment-able post that can be verified by a real address – win a gift certificate to Marchese’s Olive Pit (Best Pizza in Milwaukee)!

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of our posters and all of our readers and mention that after almost 4 months of blogging, we finally achieved it.

And the winner was our little Guru Fritz.

Check out the traffic-endearing post here!

http://100percentfreshc2.blogspot.com/2007/11/bug-in-photoshop-cs3-and-leopard.html#comments

I’m sharing this email from our good buddy Lois at the Madison Advertising Federation!

This year we have TWO dates for bringing in your ADDY entries. The dates are Thursday, January 10 and Friday, January 11 at Studio R (formerly known as Radlund Photography) at 4704 Pflaum Road, Madison . On-line registration is open 24/7; check our web site for the link and the rules and categories, www.madadfed.com. The ADDYs are the largest creative advertising competition in the world. It’s a three-tier competition, starting at the local level, winners advance to the District level and then those winners move on to the AAF National ADDY Competition.

Plastic envelopes are available at Adams Outdoor Advertising, 102 E. Badger Road, Burne Photo Imaging, 4289 W. Beltline Hwy. and Concept Productions, 7878 Big Sky Drive.

Don’t forget to enter the Industry Self-Promotion categories. All advertising and special event materials for advertising agencies, advertising suppliers and advertising clubs MUST be entered in this category. Entries submitted in industry self-promotion are not eligible in other categories. However, individual components are eligible for entry in the Elements of Advertising categories. This includes agency, design studio, freelancer, graphic designer, interactive developer, paper companies, advertising specialty companies, printers, color separation houses, pre-press service bureaus, photographers, marketing and public relations consultants, talent agencies, individual actors/actresses/models, as well as video/film and audio production houses, production studios, recording studios and independent video/film producers. It’s a great place to enter YOUR work.

PLEASE do not put your corporate logo on your entry form and especially not on labels for audio and video entries. Rules strictly indicate that no logos are to appear on any identified labels.

Question: Just how many copies of the entry form do I need to print out?
Answer: You’ll need to print out three (3) copies of the entry form. Two copies go with your entry and one is to be attached to the manifest. Speaking of the manifest, please put your entries into the order they appear on the manifest. It’ll make checking in so much easier–for yourself (means less time away from the office) and for the people checking you in. While we talking about number of pieces needed, please submit two (2) copies of your print materials and 3D items but just one copy of cassettes and DVDs.

Many thanks to our volunteers. We can still use more for helpers on Thursday, January 10, Friday, January 11 and Monday, January 14. Please contact Ric Genthe – rgenthe@charter.net or Michael Knapstein – mfk@waldbest.com, if you or someone in your office is able to help out. Amyh Hutchinson is the chair f the Judging Committee. As a volunteer for the judging committee, you get to see all the work and also see how the whole judging process works. You will not be a judge but will help to make the process go smoothly. Our judges this year are from Blattner Brunner, Anstey Hodge, Bernstein-Rein and have backgrounds from agencies sucha s Young & Rubicam, Ketchum Advertising and Ted Bates NY. Want to help out on this committee? The judging will be on Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19… contact Amy at amy.hutchinson@uniekinc.com.

Thanks to our Gold Sponsor – Madison’s CW; Big Shoes Network (Bronze); Isthmus as a Bar Sponsor and to Charter Media as the Student Sponsor. Want to be a sponsor and get your logo in the show? Contact Kim Lothe – mediapartners@charter.net or Cynthia Everhart – cynthia@twistcom.com

Which one are you?

Today Adobe released an update to the Flash player. This release (named update 3) finally incorporates H.264. This may eventually lead to flash support for the iphone and other apple devices that currently do not support flash.

Here is a link to the actual file and press release.

By now you’ve probably heard enough about Mac OS X Leopard, so I thought I’d break away and talk about Windows Vista and Adobe CS3.

We all know that Windows Vista has its own plethera of issues with its operating system. Bu there are several things you can do to ensure that Adobe CS3 is not the cause of any headaches or (eek!) crashes.

Many different factors can cause system errors, including conflicts among device drivers, applications, operating system settings, hardware, and corrupt elements in specific files. Although a system error may occur only when you work with CS3, the application may not necessarily be the cause — it may be the only application that uses enough memory or processor cycles to expose the problem.

Here are some guidelines from Adobe. Please not that you must be logged on as an administrator to perform some of the procedures.

Some of these procedures require you to locate hidden files and hidden folders. Some procedures require you to locate files by their full file names, which include extensions (for example, example_filename.ini). By default, Windows Explorer doesn’t show hidden files, hidden folders, and file name extensions that it recognizes.

To show hidden files, hidden folders, and all filename extensions in Windows Explorer:
In Windows Explorer, choose Tools > Folder Options.
Click the View tab in the Folder Options dialog box.
In Advanced Settings, select Show Hidden Files And Folders.
Deselect Hide File Extensions For Known File Types.
Click OK.

Make sure you meet the minimum system requirements for Adobe CS3.
Seems simple enough but there are people out there that like to cheat and try to get by.
It doesn’t work. Pony up and buy more RAM.

Here are the requirements:
Intel Pentium 4 or Pentium 5, Centrino or equivalent processor
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Enterprise Ultimate (certified support for 32-bit editions only)
1GB recommended; 512 MB minimum
2GB of available hard-disk space
1024 x 768 minimum screen resolution 16-bit video card (24-bit screen display recommended)
Internet or phone connection required for product activation
DVD-ROM drive

Install current Windows service packs and other updates.
Updates to the Windows operating system improve its performance and compatibility with applications. You can obtain Windows service packs and other updates from the Microsoft website at www.windowsupdate.com. For assistance installing service packs and other updates, contact Microsoft technical support.

Reinstall and run Adobe CS3 with no other applications running.
After you install, be sure to run the Adobe Updater for the latest patches and updates. Then run your applications with no other software running. If the problem persists, contact Adobe.

If you still experience fatal errors or your application lags, contact us or go to the Adobe Support Center at http://www.adobe.com/support/ for more information. Be sure to make notes on what application you were in, the file size, what command it crashed on, etc. The more information you can throw at them, the more accurate and helpful they will be.

Good Luck!

I’m sitting in our 100% Fresh event learning about Mac OSX Leopard. It was presented by Robert Hammen, Apple Certified System Administrator, from Sells Printing. I’m FLOORED by all the cool stuff Leopard does. I’m not a power user, I spend most of my time using email, working with MS Office and playing on the internet. I found 2 sexy pieces of functionality that I thought I’d share. (in my own words…and clearer ones from the help menus)

1. Widget creation for Dashboard: So fun! Perhaps you frequent a web site that refreshes often. Intellicast for weather or perhaps your favorite sports team. Instead of launching a browser and navigating to the site to see the latest, you can create a dashboard widget! In Apple’s words:
You can make your favorite webpage into a Web Clip widget. When the webpage’s content is updated, your Web Clip widget is also updated. And when you click a Web Clip widget in the dashboard, the webpage you used to create it opens.

To create a Web Clip widget:
1. Open Safari and go to the webpage you want to make into a widget.
2. In the Safari toolbar, click the Open in Dashboard button, shown here.
3. Move the mouse around to select a portion of the webpage. When the portion you want is highlighted, click the mouse button.
4. If you like, reposition the highlighted portion by dragging it. To resize it, drag the circular handles on the edges of the box.
5. When you’re done adjusting the widget outline, click Add.
6. Dashboard appears, with the web clip displayed.

To customize the widget, move the mouse pointer over the its lower-right corner. Click the “i” button when it appears, and then select any of these options:

Edges: Choose an edge style by clicking the small pictures of the widget.

Only play audio in Dashboard: If your widget is a sound clip, select this checkbox if you want the sound to stop playing when you dismiss Dashboard.

Edit: To resize the widget or reposition the content, click Edit. Drag the content around to reposition it, and drag the Web Clip’s lower-right corner to resize it.

2. Cover Flow: This feature is sheer genius for those of us who are organizationally impaired. Example: I have a head shot that I use for press releases and use with any of my online profiles (LinkedIn, FaceBook…) but I can’t ever find it right away. I end up in the finder opening folders and then individual files. NOW, I still have to use the finder, but it’s a bit faster and a whole lot sexier! The finder used to have 3 options: show files as icons, in a list or in columns. Now there’s a 4th option…COVER FLOW. Snagged directly from iTunes, you can page through folders using this visual reference, and can find things much more easily (or I could just use spotlight, but that’s NOT a new Leopard feature, although it does seem faster).

November is not a light month in the industry! Don’t forget to check out our UserGroup Pipeline for all the different happenings and make sure you get your spot for all C2′s very own upcoming events …

Our next $5.00 Friday on November 9 from 12pm-4pm!

What is $5.00 Fridays? It’s a new monthly program where C2 Graphics Productivity Solutions partners with a local business to showcase great marketing and design techniques to you in a seminar-based style for only $5.00. The best part? It always includes lunch.

This month we’ve teamed with Metagraphix to talk about the Next Generation of Variable – the use of PURLs (personalized URLs). The afternoon starts off with Jim Conway showing you great tricks on how to turn your materials from print to web, then goes into how PURLs work. Learn about how the relevance of information helps your return on investment and then find out how to get that relevant information. Registration ends on November 5 at 11:00am and seating is limited. Registration is required. Get your spot by visiting www.nexgenvd.com today!

Did you miss last month’s presentation on Variable Data in print?
James Fritz, C2′s own InDesign & Quark certified instructor, showcased some great tools on how to create variable images as well as content, then First/Edge took it away with showing us how they get printed. We had a sell-out crowd and are doing another one of the same presentations on February 22, 2008. Get more details at http://5fridays-wow2.eventbrite.com.

Curious about Leopard, the new Mac OS system?
Visit C2 on November 13 (Milwaukee) & 20 (Madison) to see a presentation on all the newest features & get a recap of the Adobe Conference from 4pm-6pm. Get your spot by registering at www.100fresh-leopardlaunch.eventbrite.com. Can’t make those? Join James Wamser on November 6 for a presentation at WCTC starting at 4pm (for more information: wamser@sells.com).

With the end of 2007 already in sight and your training budget still in the bank, C2 is once again offering our end-of-the-year special – book your classes for first quarter 2008 (January, February or March) and keep the 2007 pricing when you register by December 15. That’s right – whether it’s InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, Dreamweaver, Flash or any of our other classes – book now at 2007 rates, and take the classes at your leisure in first quarter ’08.

Speaking of the new year, C2 resolves to continue our efforts to be THE resource for Madison and Milwaukee’s creative communities. Watch for an Adobe Illustrator Masters class, compelling $5.00 Fridays and our new 100% Fresh events,. Also, in response to your feedback, C2 plans to pop the cork on brand new classes in 2008.

And before this year ends, don’t forget to check out the following events:

October 31st at C2 Milwaukee – The Milwaukee Adobe Users Group will discuss frightening tips & tricks. More information here

November 1st at the Eisner Museum – Taking 2D to 3D with Planet Propaganda. More information here.

November 6th at WCTC – The InDesign User Group meets up and talks about Leopard! More information here.

November 9th at C2 Milwaukee – $5.00 Fridays: The Next Generation of Variable Data. Click here for more information.

November 13th at C2 Milwaukee – 100% Fresh, Check out the Leopard Launch here!

November 20th at C2 Madison – 100% Fresh, Madison’s Leopard Launch is here!

November 20th at C2 Milwaukee – The Milwaukee Graphic Design Meet Up does a dessert exchange, more information here!

November 27 at Country Springs Hotel – WPPC’s Technology Day, more information here!

Yes, the rumors are true. C2, the company who has brought so much to the community before, is now live online with their own 100% Fresh Blog.

Come back and see articles, tips & tricks, reviews, podcasts, news, and other C2 information which we want to share with you.

That’s right – you!

You are part of this too, so if you like something about an article or want more information, email support@c2gps.com