Q2ID

Q2ID is an advanced and reliable piece of software functioning as an Adobe InDesign plugin whose main purpose is to assist users in transferring the files they created using QuarkXPress to InDesign, guarding as much of the initial formatting as possible.

In order of the utility to function, users need to have a licensed version of Adobe InDesign CS4, CS5 or CS5.5 on the host system, otherwise Q2ID will not work properly; however, QuarkXPress is not needed.

Once the installation is done, users will be able to access the tool from the main interface of InDesign, under the ‘Markzware’ menu. Users can select the ‘Q2ID’ submenu, clicking on the ‘Convert QuarkXpress Document’ option, which will allow users to browse to the location of the targeted file and load it for processing.

A progress bar will inform users how long before the operation is complete, afterward displaying the resulted document in InDesign. They should first save it to their computer, then reopen it and correct or remap an missing elements.

Users need to bear in mind the fact that Q2ID does not ensure full conversion of the source file because of the major difference between the two programs. As such, it is recommended to visually analyze and inspect the generated document, before working with it.

Q2ID aims to spare users from having to recreate the files they had created in QuarkXpress from scratch in Adobe InDesign, as they can migrate them, at least partially, from one to the other, thus saving significant effort and time in the process.