Ventura Tips and Tricks
If you want to import a drawing from AutoCAD, the usual way is to plot it to a file as HPGL, or export a DXF file and convert to EPS via CorelDraw!. Another way worth considering is to use DXF in combination with the DXFTOGEM utility included (but not documented) with Ventura.
Have a hunt on the floppys for a file called DXFTOGEM.EXE and copy it to your hard disk. To use the program use the DOS command line and type DXFTOGEM
Pagemaker users never have to worry about getting the line spacing right because they have a setting called Auto which does it for them.
So What is Auto?
The proper line spacing (leading) for body copy is 1.2 times the point size.
e.g. 10point text would need 12 point spacing, 12 point text would need 14.4 point. You can always add more than this but less doesn't read right in body copy.
Headlines that are set in upper case can go lower but they don't have descenders to mess things up!
If you're using text prepared with Word6 make sure you disallow Fast Save and Save As Word 2 otherwise the file may not import into Corel Ventura.
Also if you are having trouble with slow to import Word files with any version of Ventura try using WordPerfect instead!
I had been using this package for three years and never noticed that it had on-line help!
Take a look at most dialog boxes and you will notice a little box with a question mark in it toward the top right corner. Click for the surprise of your life!
If Ventura won't print any more check that you haven't selected "print colour separations" with no colours selected.
Each time you create a chapter, manage your width table and remove the fonts you don't need for this chapter. Loading the chapter will be a LOT quicker.
Also making a chapter called EXIT.CHP, which has only one font, say Helvetica loaded, and call this up before exiting Ventura. Starting your next chapter will be a lot quicker.
Under some circumstances TIF graphics in VP GEM may have a line towards the top or bottom which shows when printed but not on the screen. To get rid of it set the image to By Scale Factors (rather than Fit to Frame) in the Sizing and Scaling box. Then with the frame selected hold down the ALT key and move the graphic up a little within the frame.
VP 5 Page Numbering If you mess around with Overriding the style of page numbers you may find that VP gets muddled and doesn't continue with the Default settings. The only fix that we have found is to insert some new pages after the affected ones, cut and paste your frames and then delete the affected pages.
