In the world of electronic publishing, QuarkXPress is a leading software product used by countless people all over the world – for design applications ranging from web pages to newsletters and beyond. It can be used in many different ways but when it comes to converting work previously created using QuarkXPress into another format, you may find you need some help.

Some web designers may actually have to turn down work because they are unable to quickly convert files as they simply do not have the time or resources to redo everything in a different software application. Fortunately I was given a heads up of the company Markzware and their product Q2ID, by fellow IT Pro blogger Mark Tennent, back in December 2008. Markzware has gone a long way to solving the problem with an Adobe InDesign plug-in called Q2ID. This plug-in allows you to convert work created using QuarkXPress into a document format compatible with Adobe InDesign.

Markzware started life back in 1992. Markzware publishes software that can be of enormous benefit to publishers and designers in many walks of life. Patrick Marchese and Ron Crandall were the two driving forces who brought Markzware into life all those years ago. Marchese used to be a typesetter, while Crandall brings all his knowledge of software development to bear as Markzware presses ahead with more new developments in the future.

In addition to Q2ID (which stands for Quark to InDesign), the company has also created a product called FlightCheck, in both basic and advanced releases. This application helps ensure those working in prepress can quickly and accurately check everything before printing. Markzware have also created:

• PUB2ID, which allows you to seamlessly convert Microsoft Publisher documents into Adobe InDesign documents
• ID2Q, which is basically the reverse of the Q2ID plug-in
• MarkzTools, which limits the chance of getting corrupted documents in QuarkXPress. It also enables you to save text if you are unlucky enough to experience a corrupted document
• PasteBoard XT, which gives you a greater range of options than you would normally get with the integral QuarkXPress pasteboard
• PictAttributes, which enables you to use high resolution images as and when you need to, instead of low resolution images

Q2ID is an essential tool for many professional designers, because it saves both time and money that would otherwise be wasted. The conversion is quick and easy to perform, and completely gets rid of the need to start from scratch or recreate documents in Adobe InDesign. I have memories of manually converting documents previously created in QuarkXPress into Adobe applications, this was a time consuming manual process largely working from screenshots and component media, I only wish I had been aware of a tool like Q2ID at the time.

Q2ID features the following benefits:

• It is quick and easy to install
• Numerous aspects of a QuarkXPress document will be converted easily to Adobe
• No need to recreate any files or documents
• Data migration from one format to the other is made easy and fast

Markzware also offers a good support system for those who buy their products. Their website, www.markzware.com, provides a system whereby you can create a support ticket if you have any questions that need answering. A couple of links to YouTube are also provided which should help you both install Q2ID and answer some of your questions about the project.

Q2ID – How to Install – QuarkXPress to InDesign Plug-in
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Vizcm_TLvmE&feature=channel_page

Q2ID – FAQ’s – QuarkXPress to InDesign Plug-in
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iUlSSBsomg4&feature=channel_page

Markzware also have a blog, which delves deeper into stories and news items related to their products. It is well worth reading regularly especially if you have an interest in data conversion.

You can visit Markzware at www.markzware.com