Importing Formatted Text into a Design

Formatted text support has been expanded, in terms of both the available formats and the types of content objects used to import these formats.

XNIP (*.xnip) File Format

A XNIP (*.xnip) file may be used as a text file content object value in XMPie campaigns. It uses the XMPie’s proprietary, XML-based XLIM file format (*.indx) to convey rich text. Its main advantage in comparison to other rich text formats is that it supports the inclusion of images. XNIP is supported as part of the InDesign production and the XLIM file production.

XNIP files are easily created, by marking the desired formatted text snippets in your document, and saving them in *.xnip format.

You can then use a XNIP file in a number of ways:

  • Insert the XNIP file directly into your document.

  • Use the XNIP file as an asset that is referenced by a text file content object.

  • Insert the XNIP file into a database field that is referenced by a text content object.

To create XNIP files:

  1. Mark the formatted text you wish to save as a text snippet.

  2. Right click the selected text, and select Dynamic Content > Save as XNIP formatted text. 

    The Save As dialog is displayed, with XMPie XLIM Snippet Format set as the file type.

  3. Browse to the desired location in your file system and click Save.

To use XNIP files in your document:

  1. Choose one of the following:

    • To insert a XNIP file into a text frame, right-click the desired location within the text frame, and select Dynamic Content > Insert XNIP formatted text.

    • To use a XNIP file instead of a text content object or a text file content object, select the content object’s placeholder, right-click and select Dynamic Content > Replace with XNIP formatted text.

    The Open a File dialog is displayed, with XMPie XLIM Snippet Format set as the file type.

  2. Browse to the relevant *.xnip file.

    The XNIP file is inserted into the desired location in your document.

Import formatted text using content objects

You can import formatted text not only from external files (that is, assets) using text file content objects, but also from the data stream (that is, from the logic or from the data), using text content objects.

  • Text file content objects can now import the new XNIP file format, in addition to the previously-supported formats:

    • Plain text (*.txt)

    • InDesign tagged text (*.txt)

    • Rich text files (*.rtf)

    • Microsoft Word documents (*.doc)

  • Text content objects can now import formatted text, in addition to the previously-supported plain text (*.txt). The newly supported formats include:

    • InDesign tagged text (*.txt)

    • Rich text files (*.rtf)

    • XNIP (*.xnip)