I don't yet use OS X and have older versions of software including Quark 4.11

Is there a way to "backwards" convert Xpress 6.5 files to 4.11? Ideally, I'd like to convert them myself - I don't want people to have to send me documents in "old formats".

any suggestions would be helpful.

Hi Dirk,

Welcome to the group. I have written software for that use but don't sell it. I know there's no manuall way to do except to save backwards as Quark Expess 5, then Open InQuark Xpress 5 and resave, save as Quark 4. Do you want that for yourself or for customers to use? Maybe I should do a shareware of this application that I wrote to do this?

I must say that I never recommend going backward from 6 to previous. Quark 6 is a dramatically different file format that Quark 4 or Quark 5. Quark 6 is a project, containing many layouts etc. Quark 4 and Quark 5 is a document and is way different. Saving backward can have many pitfalls and really should be avoided. I wrote software to do it here in my workflow for the times when there's no option, to procced with extreem caution. I do have a few PDF-X-Robot users that are using the QuarkBack software that I wrote for this but it's not publicly available or anything.
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Yo Joe,

I would def. like to try your utility, and yes, I think there's a demand for that kind of tool Lots of mac users don't want to move to OS X yet, and Quark 4.11 under 9.2 works great.

Backwards file translation is always challenging - I'll bet you could find a way to support some of those newer features maybe with additional output files for other programs, etc. Something to think about.

In any event, we frequently, (well, ok, occasionally) get 6.5 files that we end up working in 4.11. Would be greatful for any help and also willing to test your code.

Regards
Dirk

OK, now seems like you are needing something different than I thought, maybe. Are you saying to backward save without even having Quark Express 6, like from Quark Express 4.11, just open a Quark Xpress 6 file? Or are you saying a way to go straight from Quark 6 to Quark 4 compatable file from Quark Xpress 6. And only once in awhile when needed?

I'm just trying to be sure I understand, you DO HAVE atleast one copy of Quark 6 right? And you want to be able to backward save any Quark Xpress 6 documents into a Quark 4 compatible file so that you and others can work it and maintain it in Quark 4.11. Is that accurate?

Now, if you plan on working same files back and forth saving up and down with same file, I can tell you that that is a bad deal. At the most inopportune time <<DEADLINE>> a quark file will crap out or degrade on you leaving you in big trouble. Also, Quark Express 6 files that have gone up and down across versions of Quark, like Quark 6 to Quark 5, Resave back as Quark 6 again etc. will eventually screw up. Regularly, I've seen people have to select all, copy and paste into a clean, new quark 6 document, just to priunt and edit. . . .

BTW: I am now a very big proponent of Mac OS X, but I've been working all my heavy lifting in Mac OS 9 until about a year ago. With G5 and 10.3, I have finally moved forward. But, I often think about how damn fast I could go with Mac OS 9 on my newest dual 2.5Ghz, 4GB of Ram, and the 500 Gig SATA Raid here on my desk. You know, it's a scary thought. . .

Have a good weekend Dirk, looking forward to talking more.
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JoePostscript -- support administrator

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I'd be careful about doing this. Like JP says, there is a HUGE difference in a Quark 6 project file and a Quark 4 or Quark 5 document. It's like comparing apples to oranges. These files are very, very different. A Quark Express 4 and a Quark Express 5 file have the same type and creator.

Quark 6 is an entirely new file type than Quark Express 4 or Quark Xpress 5. I have used the utility that JP is talking about here in my workflow and it's fast, but you have to be very careful. It is about 99% or better in accuracy of converting new Quark Express project files into Quark Express 5 or Quark Express 4, but in very rare cases, images will not come across. Like in Quark all of the sudden you had a picture, now there's only a picture box. You need to watch this stuff like a hawk. The more detailed the file, the greater chance to have an issue.

All I'm saying is that if you backward save Quark Xpress 6 files to a earlier version, add one step. Add a careful comparison of all page content. The page that messes up could be a cover of a long run magazine or something. That would be almost predictable in our business. Good luck.
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later dudes, xserv

i dig: xserve backup, xserve xraid, xserve cluster node, xserve hard drive, xserve hard drives, xserve os, xserve rack, xserve raid windows, xserve software, xserve web. Graphic Design Forums, Prepress Forums.

Actually, we dont have quark 6, we dont even have an OS X machine yet. This is not a problem for us yet because almost all of our work is done in house. Sometimes freelancers send us files in 6 that we need to modify a little, and 90% of the time the 6 to 5 to 4.11 save process is fine, once in a while the 4.11 version is messed up.

we will be getting an OS X box and Quark 6.x soon, but a direct from 6 to 4 converter would be awsome, nontranslation not withstanding.

let me know what you think

dirk

Since 10 days released, 500+ users, NEW free PreFlight

Hello, just letting you know that FreeFlight is relesed and you can download it on the FreeFlight Download forum. Must be ( member + 1 post ) to get the download. We are at over 500 users since 10 days released and the software is doing well. I have been using it for a few months before release. The software is a free application, easy to use, and fast.
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JoePostscript -- support administrator

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quote:

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Originally posted by joepostscript:
Hi Dirk,

Welcome to the group. I have written software for that use but don't sell it. I know there's no manuall way to do except to save backwards as Quark Expess 5, then Open InQuark Xpress 5 and resave, save as Quark 4. Do you want that for yourself or for customers to use? Maybe I should do a shareware of this application that I wrote to do this?...

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hello does anyone know were or if i can get hold of this Quarkback software sounds like it could solve me a lot of problems, like old macs that are os9 that can only be replaced with osx.

thanks

This software would be great. Please can you let me know where I can download this?

Hi Clare,

Welcome to the prepress forums. This utility is not working correct because of an update made from Quark 6, to Quark 6.5 at some point the ability to go all the way back to Quark Xpress 4 was severed by Quark Xpress I think right at that upgrade from Quark 6 to Quark 6.5.

Anyway there will be some more free utilities released on the forum at some point. One of them will be this utility to Save Quark Express 6.5 Backward Conversion to Quark 5. Another free utility will be a pdf merger to merge multiple PDF files into a single document, and an update of FreeFlight, the free preflight utility. Anyway these utilities and the forum here as well don't pay the bills so, much work to do as a priority and then I do this stuff free, for fun as time permits. Sometimes (like now) my day job and family takes all my time and not much left to go around.

If anyone needs immediate help, I am always available and can make time for a paying freelance project. The free stuff I have to fit around day job and paying preojects of consulting and programming that I do.
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JoePostscript -- support administrator

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why have you not upgraded?

Hi Ned

I have upgraded. I currently use version 7 of Quark however I have some suppliers who will only accept artwork in InDesign not Quark and the only way I know of successfully converting a file (without paying for Markzware Q2ID v2) is to backward convert to Quark 4 which Indesign will open. Do you know of any other ways around this?