In Adobe InDesign, XML (Extensible Markup Language) is a tool used primarily for structuring content and identifying specific pieces of information within a document using tags.
Understanding XML in InDesign
XML is an Extensible language designed to describe data. Unlike HTML, which has predefined tags (like <p> or <h1>), XML allows you to create your own tags to define the structure and meaning of your content.
In the context of InDesign, XML provides a way to add a layer of structural information to your layout. This structure is separate from the formatting (like font style or color) which is typically handled by InDesign styles.
The Role of XML Tags
As the reference states, XML tags are strictly for identifying content. They act as labels that mark specific elements within your document's text flow.
For example, you can:
- Create a tag named
Headline. - Assign this tag to all main headings in your document.
- Create a tag named
BodyText. - Assign this tag to paragraphs of main content.
This tagging process doesn't change how the text looks on the page immediately; instead, it describes what the text is structurally.
Practical Application: Identifying Content
A key application mentioned is the ability to create a tag, such as Heading1, and assign it to each first-level heading in a document. This structured tagging allows InDesign to understand and manage the content semantically.
Why tag content with XML?
- Content Reusability: Easily export structured content (including text and sometimes images/graphics) from InDesign into XML format. This XML file can then be imported into other systems or used to publish the content to different platforms (like websites, e-books, databases) without needing to reformat everything manually.
- Automated Formatting: While tags don't apply formatting directly, you can map XML tags to InDesign paragraph, character, and object styles. This allows you to quickly apply consistent formatting based on the content's structure.
- Workflow Automation: XML-tagged content facilitates automated workflows, such as importing data from a database directly into an InDesign template with corresponding XML tags.
By using XML tags to identify different types of content, InDesign documents become more versatile and adaptable for various publishing and data exchange needs.
