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I have some manuscripts that I want to turn into books and I'm looking for suggestions for a good desktop publishing program. My problems are: a. money b. money c. I don't really need any of the web stuff and d. money. Aside from these, I am open to any and all suggestions.
I use an old Wordperfect Suite 8. I can do anything with it in desk top publishing. Here is the link where you can still purchase it: ($19.95--when new it was $495.00)
Is it all text, or will images play a part in it? Are you wanting to be able to add annotations, footnotes, pages, bookmarks and create an index?
I have used Serif Software's free products, and they have a site of their free versions (previous versions): http://freeserifsoftware.com
For basic manuscript functions, even "old" versions of Word and other word-processing apps should give you the tools you need, and you can pick them up on eBay at good prices.
You should be fine with most word processing programs, then. We'll talk! We'll have Howie's laptop with us and can show you different options and methods. How's that? :)
True, and some of the formatting you spend hours doing could go down the tubes if your printer has to convert a file format over and it doesn't import cleanly. No fun there!
I'll be taking hard copy. At this point, it will probably be an Office Max job. I'll do some handmade books first using my printer and then get the rest copied.
Ok, here's another question. My GOOD printer is on the iMac. Would your suggested programs workwith that??
Sorry no Mac here...however I do strongly suggest that even though you are going to be taking down hard paper copy that you also supply all of your graphics on a cd to the printer. Is what format he will accept. (I personally have a printer when I need mass that accepts PNG which is one of my favorite formats to work with.) I have found in the past that camera ready from your own printer may not give you the quality you are looking for.
Olds
I've not used Serif's PagePlus for a long time, not since I got the new computer. I just never reinstalled it and have been using my Publisher 2000.
I say, download it and give it a try. You're not out anything if you don't like their products.
Now, speaking about 602Pro PC Suite, I can tell you that it is not as user-friendly as Word, and it does not have a few features that Word users enjoy. I wrote a little more about it on my downloads page, http://downloads.gardenwife.com
I wasn't aware of the free version of Serif PagePlus until I saw GW's post, but it has been touted as a low cost desktop publishing alternative for a long time - and I've been using it almost as long as I've been using Windows. If you're very competent with Word, you might find it just as easy to use, but I keep going back to PagePlus because I find it so simple. To my mind, one of the big differences between a desktop publishing app and a word processor is that in a publisher you can place text objects and pictures any where on the page, and easily move them around. My main use is for newsletters, but I also use it for CD covers, recipe cards, flyers, lots of stuff. Like Kimberley says, give it a try!
