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Import DOCX

Caleb Clauset
  • Updated

The Import DOCX workflow action converts a Microsoft Word document (DOCX) into a Content XML (CXML) file. Content XML is the data format used by Typefi to encode content.

Import DOCX is divided into four tabs: General, Links, Indexing, and Advanced:

  1. The General tab is the main tab. Use it to specify the input and output files.
  2. Use the Links tab to choose whether to extract embedded links and configure the path to the links.
  3. Use the Indexing tab to include an index and specify the page number format.
  4. Use the Advanced tab to choose whether to validate the output and specify the output CXML file's white space mode.

You can also use workflow variables to specify input fields. To insert a workflow variable, click the lightning bolt icon Lightning bolt iconand choose a variable from the pop-up menu.

General

Use this tab to specify the input and output files.

Import DOCX, General tab

Field Description
Input The input DOCX file. Click the Choose File icon Choose File icon and choose a file from the pop-up menu. Alternatively, enter the filename; for example, Input/my-input.docx.
Output The output Content XML file. Enter a name, or click Choose File Choose File icon to choose a file from the pop-up menu.

The default output name is output-1.cxml.

Use this tab to choose whether to extract embedded links and configure the path to the links.

Import DOCX, Links tab

Field Description
Extract embedded links If selected, any embedded inline graphics in the Word document will be extracted into a custom folder you specify or the Links folder inside the job folder. Using embedded inline graphics gives little control over how images are placed in a generated InDesign document.

Extract embedded links is selected by default. It does not impact how the image path is configured.
Preserve original links,
Copy to job folder, or Use custom folder		 Choose how to manage links. Options include:
  • Preserve original links keeps the original image path in the output CXML file. Preserve original links must also be selected in Create InDesign Document. Choose this option to take 100% control of image paths yourself. Some scenarios might be:
    • Typefi Desktop: You use Typefi Writer to browse for absolute image paths on your local machine. The links don't need to be touched at all, all the way to InDesign.
    • Typefi Workgroup: If you use images located outside the Typefi Filestore. For example, you might use a shared image server.
  • Copy to job folder (default) rewrites the image path to the Links folder inside the job folder; for example, Links/my-image.jpg. If you publish within Typefi Writer and the Links folder does not yet exist, it will be automatically created. 
  • Use custom folder rewrites the image path to a custom folder; for example, my-custom-folder/image.png. To use this option, you must run the workflow from the Typefi Server interface.  You must upload the images to the custom folder before running the workflow.
Custom folder If you chose Use custom folder, enter the path to the custom folder where images are stored; for example, /my-custom-folder.

Indexing

Use this tab to choose to include an index and specify the page number format. Formatting the page numbers in an index makes it easier to read:

A complicated index can sometimes be made easier to read by using different type styles or fonts...Page references to illustrations might be in italic type and references to the principal treatment of a subject in boldface.

—Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition, paragraph 16.140

Microsoft Word index page numbers can appear in Bold, Italic, or Bold Italic.

Import DOCX, Indexing tab

Field Description
Include index Choose whether to convert index entry (XE) fields to CXML <index> elements.

Include index is selected by default.
Page number format This section contains page number formatting settings for the index. Microsoft Word index page numbers can appear in Bold, Italic or Bold Italic. The settings in this section correspond to the character styles in the Typefi-ready template file (INDD).
Bold The character style to be applied when an XE field contains the /b switch.
Italic The character style to be applied when an XE field contains the /i switch.
Bold Italic The character style to be applied when an XE field contains both \b and \i switches.

For more information about indexes in Microsoft Word, see Create and update an index.

Advanced

Use this tab to choose whether to validate the output and specify the white space mode.

Import DOCX, Advanced tab

Field Description
Validate output Choose whether to validate the output CXML file. The schema version used is CXML 3.2.

Validate output is deselected by default.
Pretty print output (formerly White space mode) Choose whether to pretty print (format and indent) the output.
Preserve page breaks

Choose whether to pass through forced page and column breaks as CXML <break> elements.

Preserve page breaks is deselected by default.

For more information, see Preserving Word breaks in the final output.

The Microsoft Word plug-in v18 removed the White space mode pop-up menu, changed the Format and indent checkbox label to Pretty print output, and changed the Include page breaks checkbox label to Preserve page breaks.

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