Blatner Tools updated, Active Tables beta launched

DTP Tools has launched an updated tool suite, Blatner Tools for InDesign CS5, and a new beta plug-in, Active Tables for Adobe InDesign. Blatner Tools is a collection of 12 plug-ins -- now available for InDesign CS5 -- that provide InDesign users with over 100 new capabilities -- they include features like creating character and paragraph styles and applying them across a document quickly, finding and replacing colors and managing keyboard shortcuts. Users can also browse undo lists, create formatted fractions and run live typographic preflight tests. The tools contain David Blatner InDesign tips plug-ins, which are no longer available via free plug-ins. The tools have a Script Manager and over 50 user-customizable shortcuts, like swatches, managing layers and styles.

The public beta of Active Tables provides spreadsheet functionality to InDesign users. It is geared toward invoicing and catalogs, sorting tables and creating formulas, which can then be saved and redistributed in document text, like changing the sales tax multiple times in a catalog. Active Tables can create formulas in table cells or in text flow and sort the tables by different criteria. It can also use different cell styles depending on positive/negative calculation results.

Blatner Tools now works with InDesign CS3 - CS5, and costs €110, about $140. Active Tables is available at an introductory price of $80, working with InDesign CS4 and CS5.

by MacNN Staff