DTP - File management issues

Desktop publishing
Overview | Linking files

Overview

Desktop publishers may gather elements such as graphics from many other sources. The way these files are included into you publication can make a substantial difference to how much disk room the publication takes up.

Linking files

Creating a link to a graphics file without including the picture

Importing a graphic from another application (eg CorelDraw) increases the file size of a PageMaker publication because the graphic is stored in the document. For example, if you import two 50K pictures, you increase the file size of the publication by approximately 100K. You can reduce the file size of the PageMaker publication by creating a link to the graphic file and not saving a complete representation of the graphic in the document.

When files are linked there is a connection between the two documents and if the information changes in the source file (eg CorelDraw file), the changes are reflected in the destination document (eg PageMaker publication)

When you place a large graphics file in a PageMaker publication you may see the following:

One way of reducing the size of your publication would be to respond with NO. In PageMaker a link is established to the original file and if you later modify the file, it is updated in your publication. This original file must be available (ie on your computer’s hard disk, or on the network) and linked when you print the publication; otherwise PageMaker prints only a low-resolution version of the graphic.