Mac Creative > All Reviews > Software > Publishing > Desktop publishing > QuarkXPress 9.2 review

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 QuarkXPress 9.2 review

Free update with interactive focus, adding new ePub and App Studio options

Michael Burns

Manufacturer: Quark
Pros: Enhanced interactivity and support for rich media and more file types in ePUB and iPad-app authoring respectively; enhanced Reflow article operations
Cons: Lack of undo in some operations
Price: £935
We rate this 4 out of 5.Star rating:

Quark’s App Studio, introduced in QuarkXPress 9.1, has been updated in version 9.2 to comply with new Apple iOS Newstand guidelines; it also now allows more sophisticated interactivity.

You can make a video play automatically in a loop on a page, while hiding the controls if you wish. For a more user-friendly experience there are interactivity actions for controlling movie or audio file, namely Play, Pause, Stop and Toggle Play. The HTML view offers a more extensive list of file types to pop up over your app content, including HTML, PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and RTF, among others.

The ePub format is now a layout choice in the New Project dialog box. This means that when authoring content in the Text Reflow view you can begin with a blank reflow article to which you add components such as text boxes, instead of converting assets on an existing print layout. Version 9.2 also allows video and audio to be added to the reflow article as a component. An audio file can thus be associated with a picture box in the ePub ebook, so that when a user clicks the box, the sound plays. A similar process allows video to be embedded and a play button added via the Interactive Attributes dialog box in the Digital Publishing menu.

Working in Reflow view has been made easier by a new Article button, as well as a Split Component command, which uses the cursor as an insertion point to set all the following text as a new component. Components can then be reordered using the Reflow Tagging palette as before. The only downside is a lack of undo for this action, so save your article before using it.

New file types such as Word documents are available to the HTML view, which brings up a Webkit-powered overlay over the App Studio content

MACWORLD BUYING ADVICE >
1 | 2 | NEXT >

Reevoo Price Comparison For QuarkXPress 9.2

Reevoo Reviews For QuarkXPress 9.2

Submit your own review for this product

Click here for the latest reader comments

<<prev article | back to index | next article>>

Search reviews

Search Google

Newsletter signup

It's easy and free to get the latest news headlines, reviews and opinions straight to your email inbox. Sign up NOW to make sure you receive the latest Mac news, reviews and tutorials on your favourite topics.

Latest issue: Macworld

Find out what's in this month's Macworld here.

Macworld reader poll

What version of Adobe Creative Suite do you use?:

View poll results

Have your say in the
Macworld Forums!

Register now

Stay on top of the latest, breaking Mac news and chat with other Mac professionals and enthusiasts about the issues that matter to you. Register with Macworld today to join our forums and receive our twice-weekly email newsletter, Macworld Mainline.

RSS

Have the latest content delivered to your desktop via RSS. Use the links below to get access to a specific blog, news, or reviews feed.

Subscribe to our feeds here

Latest PC industry news

Latest news from MacVideo

MACWORLD MARKETPLACE

	LogMeIn Free - Remote Computer Access LogMeIn is a secure remote desktop software that lets you access your computers, files, and apps from anywhere on any device. Simply connect with LogMeIn Free and be free to work the way you want.
	TemplateCloud TemplateCloud.com is the design marketplace for graphic designers. You create designs, and use our software to build them into online editable templates. We sell your designs in different countries via different websites. Each time a customer uses your design, we pay you a royalty; the price is set by you.
	Amsys Amsys is recognised as the technical leader in Apple and has developed bespoke technical products and solutions to deliver class leading support to its business clients. Amsys clients can select from consultancy, integration, break-fix, recruitment, training and app development. Amsys make Apple products work for business.
	About NAD NAD Electronics has always stood out by doing things differently. Our relentless pursuit of great sound has earned us a ‘giant killer’ reputation. Every product is designed with heart and soul you can hear, emphasizing quality over quantity. We focus on the inside where it counts—and where you can hear the results.
	Sphero is a completely new type of gaming system. It's the world's first robotic ball that you control from your smartphone or tablet. You can drive Sphero, play tabletop and multiplayer games, use Sphero as a handheld controller for on-screen gameplay, and even explore augmented reality. Now with 20+ apps!
	MeteoGroup WeatherPro - the award winning weather app! Developed by professional meteorologists and providing weather forecasts for over 2 million locations with real-time, high resolution radar and satellite images, ski weather, water temperatures and more, WeatherPro is the most accurate and comprehensive weather app on the market.
	Beat the Credit Crunch - Lease your Mac from Hardsoft Hardsoft are the only 'one stop' solution for the supply and finance of I.T. to businesses throughout the UK via our regional branch offices. We are uniquely both equipment Apple Approved Reseller and licensed Credit Brokers and have tailored a solution which includes a full 3 year warranty and an equipment upgrade every 18 months.