I am using 7.5.3 and while messing about with a potential project, I tried to convert an N-Up object to PressTalk.... nothing happens. I'm sure I've known this to work in the past so I wonder if it's a bug or I'm missing something obvious?

For background, the project is supposed to output a duplex A3 sheet which will be folded into an A4 leaflet. Each A4 side may have an A4 page or 2 A5 pages (depending on the instructions in the data).

i was hoping to use a library of virtual pages and then hack some N-Up objects around so I can dynamically call the correct virtual pages wherever they are required on the physical sheet.

You are on the right track.

Create the virtual N-up pages - one for the A4 config and one for the A5 config.

Then you can activate them using conditions depending on the data.

Why do you want to convert the N-up to a PT object?

The problem is that the data dictates what 'form' to display on which A4 placeholder. Also sometimes instead of an A4 sheet, I need to display 2 A5 forms (again specified in the data). For one document, a specified A5 form could be at the top of page 2 and for another, it could be at the bottom of page 4 (as an example)

So I have 2 issues:
1. How many N-up objects I require on each page of my leaflet.
2. Which virtual page to use in which n-up object.

Unfortunately the setting where you specify which virtual page to use for an n-up object is not dynamic.

My plan was to convert some n-up objects into press talk so I could better understand how I could roll my own routines to generate n-up objects with the right position, dimensions and virtual page calls.

I was sure I've see n-up objects being converted to press talk before. I guess if all else fails, I could create a very simple design and save the whole thing to PTK so I could trawl through and find what I'm looking for...

I still don't understand why it needs to be that complicated.

With a series of virtual pages defining different layouts you can then conditionally select them onto another "normal" page depending on the data.

Perhaps you could send me the file that you are working on in case I am not understanding you correctly.

Ok will email you some stuff over. Would be nice to have another opinion.

I still think there's a bug in Design though. I should be able to convert any object into PressTalk IMHO.

Hi Dal,

That you cannot convert an N-Up object into a PressTalk object isn't a bug. This is one of the few that cannot be converted to PressTalk, as I believe there are functionalities in this object that aren't 100% convertible into PressTalk. In past versions of PPress, it WAS possible to convert it to PressTalk, but the code wasn't working and it broke the object. So in the new versions, it's no longer possible.

Regards,
Raphaël Lalonde Lefebvre

If only the virtual page selector accepted a dynamic value... That's really all that's missing for my case

Darren,

Just saw this - when you say the virtual page selector, what precisely are you referring to?

J.

I think he's talking about the "Page to execute n-up" option. And he's right: this cannot be variable.

The virtual page itself, however, can have variable elements. So a workaround could be to place multiple conditional objects on a single virtual page. The page's size itself can be variable as well, the virtual page could be set to a custom page size if this is necessary. So while it will always call the same virtual page, you can have a lot of variable on that one virtual page.

Regards,
Raphaël Lalonde Lefebvre

Yes - why not draw the virtual page according to a set of principles defined in a runpage using PressTalk?

Does this help Darren?

This was kinda where I was heading but I've not found much information about how I could code my own n-up object in PressTalk and I didn't see anything 'obvious' in the PressTalk functions when I look in the editor.

This was my reason for trying to convert an n-up object to press talk, so I could fully understand how to roll my own...

I think I'm back where I started - hehehe!

So, let's ask it another way, is there any good examples of how I can code my own n-up object in PressTalk so I can display arbitrary virtual pages based on my data?

Yes - technically (in a rather sophisticated function) you could create pages by coords and dump them out as you need them using the geometric functions in PP like:
doform()
showpage()
clearpage()
moveto()
translate()
beginparagraph()

Sorry if you're going round in circles but it is not a standard thing you're asking.

Saying that, I have never taken a PP job I couldn't solve so feel free to purchase some inter-consultant consultancy

Ok I get that. Looks like the run page approach is the way forward. Thanks for your offer, but I'm fine from here now.

No problem. You know where I am should you need another set of eyes.

Let us know how you get on - this is an interesting one!