Digital Workshop

I have been hearing such good things about XaraX1. Finally downloaded the eval, and I really like it.

Here's the question:

With Opus and Xara both open -

Is it somehow possible to simply create a (bitmap) object in Xara, COPY it, and PASTE it onto an Opus Page?

It sure would save time over exporting it from Xara as a file then re-importing it from disk into Opus.

Hello Bill,

I did some research this morning.
The only way you can copy from Xara X1 to Opus is:

Select the objects you want to copy.
In the menu choose: Arrange-Create Bitmap copy.
Select the bitmap copy
Ctrl-C (copy)
Go to Opus Ctrl-V (Paste)

In Xara sometimes there are some strange things happening with the bitmap pasting in Opus.

I'm using CorelDraw for a long time.
I just select the objects and can use copy paste.
This also works fine between Opus and other programmes like CorelPhotopaint, PaintShop Pro, PhotoShop.

But when I want to use vector drawings, I select them and convert them to wmf (since DW removed the CorelDraw import facilitie). Then I import them in Opus.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Oscar Nijst
ON Education & Consultancy
Deventer, The Netherlands
OPUS 5.13 OPUS XE 5.13
Windows XP Pro SP2, 2.07 GHz Centrino Mobile, 1GB RAM, 80GB HD, 200GB HD Firewire, DVD-RW (+/-), DVD

Hi,

Digital Workshop, Xara (www.xara.com) are both UK companines and if they worked together they may have mutual benefits.

Xara develop Xara X1, a very good vector based graphic tool. DW could approach them and see if they'd implement an export to ilv option which would speed up graphic creation.

Or DW could implement an import vector in Xara format which would be very useful.



Joe

I'll second that - XaraX1 is brilliant, and some interactivity between it and Opus would be most welcome.

Thanks for the replies.

I must be a little slow today because when I do as you say Oscar, and attempt to PASTE (CTRL+V) the converted bitmap into a blank Opus page, I just get a file dialog.

Also, if I attempt to save from Xara as .wmf and import into Opus (using the menu item DRAW / IMPORT, Opus informs "sorry this Metafile contains unsupported objects which can not be converted". When I continue, I get a solid black rectangle as the import.

So, I don't know what I am doing wrong on either type of import attempt.

I completely agree that a meaningful cut/paste and vector import between the two programs would be stunning.

I really like Xara, but am a bit on the fence about purchasing it since I would be using it mostly with Opus and was hoping to cut/paste between the two. Oh well, a few more days of the trial period to decide. Thanks!

I get that error message every time with .wmf files.

I have imported some very detailed .wmfs into Opus without problem.

As far as XaraX1 is concerned, the only sure-fire way to do it is to export to a file type (I prefer .PNG, as the transparency goes with it), and import as an image in Opus Centred or Fixed (that is, not scaled).

This always works for me, and if you need to update your image in XaraX1, Opus will automatically pick up the updated file.

It would be great to be able to copy and paste, but XaraX1 is so good, that's a minor detail for me.

Hi Khazi -

Could you please check me on this, because with my setup Opus (5.13) does not "pick up" the file changes made in Xara - that would be excellent if it did.

With both Opux and Xara open:

1. I create a rectangle in Xara. Export it as .png Import it as a fixed size image in Opus.

2. Go back to Xara. Change the size of the rectangle - export as same file name, file type.

3. Back in Opus, I must *completely delete* the image object, go and find the exported file again and create new image object in order to see the changes.

Opus does not automatically pick up the changes in the file for me. Am I missing something?

Thanks for help.

To pick up changes the pub has to be launched again after the changes were made. Resource manger has to 're-look' or 'refresh' all the resources and it only does this at launch as far as I know. I cannot test this or look at it because I am still using Presenter 04 which has a limited resource manager. There also might be a setting in your Opus to refresh resources without closing down and openning a pub again.

Bill, I've just gone through the procedure again, just to make sure, and it works as I described.

I opened a new publication in Opus (5.13)

I opened XaraX1 and created a shape, gave it some colour, transparency and a shadow. I exported it as a .PNG with alpha.

With Opus still open I imported the shape as an image.

I then returned to XaraX1 and changed colour, shadow, etc., and exported it again using the same file name.

The shape in Opus (still open) had changed accordingly.

There's no need to save or close Opus for the update to occur.

Both programmes can remain open whilst you work in each.

Chris, thanks for checking it again for me.

I did the same test using Photoshop 7 and it works exactly as you describe. Opus automatically changes the image with no intervention.

Unfortunately, Xara X1 does not. Just for fun, I set Xara as the default image editor in the "options" section of Opus. When I select "edit with Xara" on an image from within Opus, it launches a new instance of Xara each time I click it. That's just not right!

I am using the eval version of Xara, but I doubt that would make a difference. Don't know if I am willing to spend the money on the full version to find out. Shame because Xara is a really sweet program.

I will let you know if I find out what is going on. And, sincerest thanks for your help.