08.05.11
August 2nd Meeting Wrap-Up
Our last meeting on August 2nd was about GREP and Apple’s new OS X Lion.
Erica showed us the magic of GREP, aka Unicorns and Rainbows or UAR. GREP actually stands for global regular expression printing and isn’t nearly as scary as it sounds. It looks for patterns in text with find/change or styles and allows you to easily format those similar patterns in the same way.
Here are some sources to learn more about GREP and find helpful code:
ericagamet.com/tips-and-tricks/
kahrel.plus.com/indesignscripts.html
indesignsecrets.com/grep (especially the Cheat Sheet towards the bottom of the web page)
The digital version of GREP in InDesign CS3/CS4, 1Ed is only $5 through oreilly.com, with your IDUG membership discount code (found in your “Member Benefits.”). Refresh your memory about your member benefits at indesignusergroup.com. Just login and find “Member Benefits” under your name.
Jeff Gamet, Managing Editor of The Mac Observer, explained the pros and cons of updating to OS X Lion. It is only available via download from Apple.com (no more physical media!). One download is good for all of your computers. To install on other computers, don’t click on the “install button,” but first copy the install application (option-drag) to your desktop or flash drive first (for later use), then go ahead and click on install.
Advantages of upgrading: better performance, better security, track pad gesture recognition, and stability.
Cons are primarily incompatibility with software and backup systems. Check roaringapps.com to see what’s working and what’s not. Any software for Macs pre-Intel processor, needs Rosetta to run. Lion doesn’t support Rosetta. To see what needs Rosetta on your computer, go to About this Mac, More Info, Software, Applications, wait for the list to appear, expand the window to show the Kind column, and look for PowerPC. Those that have PowerPC need Rosetta to run. Check software websites for updates that allow the software to run on Lion. Software with Universal or Intel in the kind column, may have issues, but are less likely to.
Other news:
We have a new group of volunteers busy working on the auction site, photographing and videotaping meetings, writing meeting wrap-up notes, handling the welcome desk and beverages, and possibly putting together a member directory. If you would like to manage these volunteers in the role of “volunteer coordinator,” please contact Erica at admin@idugdenver.net.
A couple of auction items were sold, including a new item: 1Password software. Be sure to check the auction site to bid on items that weren’t taken during the meeting soon…and check back there just before the next meeting to check out newly-listed items. If you are interested in buying 1Password for Windows or Mac at a 25% IDUG discount, click on this link: agilebits.com. Thanks Agile Bits!
Next Meeting:
Our next meeting will be on October 4, 2011. Join us!
