Download issue 11 - Total Amiga Magazine

Reviews
in the quality of images used in
the document. The default path
for the PDF output file can now
be set in prefs saving some file
requester work. Unfortunately
some of the deficiencies of
PageStream’s PDF export still
haven’t been addressed. The
biggest problem (for me at
least) is that PageStream does
not embed the fonts used in
the document into PDF file.
This means your document
won’t look as expected if the
person viewing it doesn’t have
all the fonts you’ve used
installed on their system.
Another problem is that some
objects are not included in the
PDF file, these include gradient
fills and EPS graphics. You can
get over these problems by
printing the document to a
Postscript file and converting to
PDF using an external utility
like GhostScript of Acrobat
Distiller (on a PC or Mac), but
it’s a pity the export doesn’t
support these features as it is
much more straightforward.
22
Transformer
The transform tool is used to
make multiple copies of
selected objects, you can
choose how the copies made
are arranged. For version 4.1
copies can be made onto
different pages so transform
can be used to copy an object
onto several document pages.
You can now set the fill and
line style of the last copy and
PageStream will “fade” the
colours in the intermediate
copies. In combination with the
new duplicate behind or in front
option the fade allows you to
make special effects using
transform such as shadows
and pesudo 3D. It’s worth
experimenting with the various
transform options and different
shapes as you can come up
with some interesting results.
Mail Merge
Mail merge, which up to now
has been implemented as an
AREXX script, is built into
PageStream 4.1. Mail merge
takes a database of information
and allows you to print
documents based on that data,
the most common use is to
take a database of names and
addresses and to create
personalised letters based on a
single template. This feature
has been implemented using
PageStream’s variables
system. First you create you
template document and insert
a variable wherever you want
database information to
appear, the variables can be
named whatever you like.
Once the template is ready you
open the print window and
select the new Mail Merge tab.
Here you can choose the
database file (I tried comma
and tab separated files and
both worked) and link the fields
you want to include with the
appropriate variable you
created earlier. With that
complete the document can be
With the new “Fade To...”
option the transform
command can be used for
special effects as well as
making regular copies.
printed and a copy will be
generated for each record in
the database. It is possible to
limit the merge to a range of
records in the database but
you need to know the record
numbers in the database file.
One important advantage of
having mail merge built in is
that it can now use
PageStream’s imposition
features to print sheets of
customised mailing labels,
badges or business cards.. To
do this you just set the page
size to that of a single label (or
card, whatever), setup the mail
merge and then, on the
Imposition tab of the print
window, tell PageStream to
print multiple copies across
and down to fit the label sheet
you’re using. One gottcha I did
find in mail merge is that your
database file must have a
blank line at the end of the final
record won’t be printed
(someone almost didn’t get
their magazine last issue!).
Minor Marvels
A number of more minor
changes and improvements
Results
Pros
+ Powerful Table Editor.
+ Handy improvements
to text frames.
Cons
- Table editing long
winded.
- PDF export still needs
improving.
have been made to
PageStream in this upgrade.
Text can now be selected with
the keyboard using the arrow
keys with shift held down.
Undo has been improved so it
now works on many more
actions including deletion of
complex objects, resizing
grouped objects and moving
pages in the document.
Support has been added for
character sets other than the
standard Roman/Latin
characters used in the UK, US
and most of western Europe.
Font encodings and keyboard
mappings are supported and a
number of mapping tables are
now included and a new option
in preferences allows you to
select your character set.
Conclusion
Some of the new features in
PageStream 4.1 are slightly
rough around the edges but
even so they are still useable
and very useful. Both the table
editor and the new text frame
options add functionality that
will probably be used by most
PageStream users. Deron
Kazamier at Grasshopper is
actively working on
PageStream and new versions
with bug fixes and minor
improvements are released
regularly. Deron is also
available on the PageStream
mailing list and usually
answers questions within a few
days, there are also a lot of
experienced users on the list to
help out too. Altogether
PageStream is one of the best
supported Amiga applications.
So to sum up this in my opinion
this upgrade is already very
worthwhile and there is a good
chance that the minor
grumbles I’ve had will be
cleared up in the coming
months.
Pretty
Good!
TOTAL AMIGA
Kicksoft
PageStream 4.1
The Premier DTP program on the Amiga.
Mac & PC version also avaliable.
£199.00
PageStream Upgrade
From pagestream 2.xx to 4.1 £95
From pagestream 3.xx to 4.1 £79
From Pagestream 4 to 4.1 £39
Cross upgrade
Upgrade from Amiga version 4.0. to PC or Mac
version.
£89.00
If you don’t see what you want, just ask!
Our range is always growing!
Special offer!!!
Still avaliable , fully boxed with manual
£150.00
PageStream Extras
Warp and bend any text into any shape you want !!
Text effect 2 £50.00
Complete collection of 120 scalable borders
Basic & Geo Borders £55.00
www.kicksoft.co.uk
Add £1.00 UK postage per item. Make cheques payable to Kicksoft Ltd.
We accept Solo, Switch, Mastercard & Visa
Kicksoft Ltd.,
30 Whitegate Way,
Tadworth,
Surrey, KT20 5NS
Tel/Fax (01737) 219280
sales@kicksoft.co.uk