If you are in the publishing industry, you are no stranger to the challenges of creating a catalogue. It is a very time-consuming process that can take days.
However, what if we say that it does not have to be like that always. If you have the right tools and know the right techniques, it can be done automatically within a short period of time.
sounds interesting? All you need for this is ONIX and Adobe InDesign. Using InDesign and ONIX software solutions, you can automate much of the process and save a lot of time. Also, the quality of output remains unaffected.
However, before diving into the “how,” you should have some idea about ONIX and InDesign.
Table of Contents
Understanding ONIX and InDesign
1. ONIX
ONIX (Online Information Exchange) is the internationally recognised standard for representing book industry metadata. It contains various essential information about books, including the author data, prices, formats, etc.
ONIX files are in XML format to ensure the information is stored in a structured and machine-readable format. Publishers then share this data across platforms, retailers, and distributors so that information stays consistent and up-to-date.
2. InDesign
InDesign is a popular software program by Adobe that you can use to design books, magazines, flyers, catalogues, etc. Designers love this application because of the flexibility and ease of use it offers when creating layout designs.
Now, if you combine the functions of these two tools, you will find an automated way to generate catalogs and save time.
How to Create a Catalogue Using ONIX and InDesign
1. Preparing Your ONIX Metadata
ONIX files come in different versions, such as ONIX 2.1 and ONIX 3.0. ONIX 3.0 is the latest version and should be used if you are working with modern systems. Always ensure you are working with the right version for compatibility with the tools you are using.
In the ONIX XML structure, each product is contained within <Product> tags. Inside each <Product>, you will find detailed metadata fields such as:
- <TitleDetail>: This holds title elements like main title (<TitleText>) and subtitle (<Subtitle>).
- <Contributor>: Contains information about the author(s), including names, roles (e.g., author, editor), and affiliations.
- <ProductIdentifier>: Where the ISBN or other identifiers are stored.
- <Price>: Can handle multiple currencies and price types.
You can export ONIX metadata from most publisher management systems. It will be in a clean and valid XML format. Validation tools like the EDItEUR ONIX validator can help ensure your file is structured correctly.
2. Setting Up InDesign for Automation
When setting up your InDesign file, always remember:
1. Text Styles
Define paragraph and character styles for titles, subtitles, author names, and other elements. This ensures a uniform appearance across the entire catalog.
2. Image Frames
InDesign can handle multiple image resolutions, but to prevent quality issues, make sure your book cover images are high enough resolution (typically 300 dpi for print). Images will link dynamically through their file paths.
3. Dynamic Layouts
InDesign allows creating flexible layouts. You can create templates that adjust for different book or product lengths by using Auto-Size settings in text frames. This prevents overflow errors when merging data.
3. Converting ONIX to a Compatible Format
ONIX files are structured using XML, and InDesign’s native Data Merge feature works with CSV or TXT files, not XML. Therefore, converting the ONIX file into a usable format is key.
1. Custom Conversion
You can use Python or XSLT to create scripts that extract data from the ONIX XML file and convert it into CSV format. For instance, you can use the xml.etree.ElementTree library in Python to parse the XML and write a CSV that matches your InDesign data placeholders.
2. Commercial Tools
Tools like EasyCatalog (an InDesign plugin) automate this process without requiring much technical expertise. EasyCatalog directly maps ONIX metadata to InDesign templates. This saves the time and complexity of manual conversion. Another similar tool is XML Publisher — it offers enhanced ONIX support and integration with InDesign’s layouts.
4. Merging Data into InDesign
To merge ONIX data into InDesign, here is what you need to know:
1. Field Mapping
When mapping fields from the CSV into InDesign, ensure that the headers in your CSV file correspond exactly to the placeholder names in InDesign. If your CSV has a column titled “Title”, the corresponding placeholder in InDesign should also be named “Title”.
2. Dynamic Image Linking
For images (such as book covers), your CSV or TXT file should contain the full file path of each image. InDesign will read the file path and automatically link the appropriate images into your layout. But, remember that you have to store all images in a location accessible by InDesign.
3. Data Merge Preview
This feature allows you to spot-check the layout of individual records. If a book title is too long and does not fit within a text frame, you can adjust the frame size or text formatting as needed before generating the final output.
5. Generating the Catalogue
Once the data is merged, you have to generate the catalogue.
1. Create Multiple Layouts
If your catalogue needs to support multiple layouts (e.g., one page per book for featured products and multiple books per page for standard listings), you can create separate templates in InDesign. With the Data Merge feature, you can specify how many records per page should be displayed. Also, you can set different layouts for each section of your catalogue.
2. Post-Merge Adjustments
It is common to make minor adjustments after merging. If some fields like descriptions are too long and spill over the allocated space, adjust the text box or use text truncation rules. Additionally, check for any orphaned elements, such as missing images or incomplete data.
Conclusion
Automating catalogue creation with ONIX and InDesign offers many benefits, with time saving being the obvious one. While we understand that there are many technical steps involved, it is important to create professional catalogues quickly. At BOSC Tech Labs, we provide software solutions that will automate this entire process.
