Comparison

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PageStream Comparison

Yes, this is out of date! To be fair, we have not updated our part of the comparison. If anyone out there as a working experience with any of these or other competing products we would be happy to update it!

Document Construction

PageStream 4.0

XPress 3.3

PageMaker 6.5

ReadySetGo 7
Maximum number of open documents unlimited 25 unlimited unlimited?
Maximum number of document views unlimited 1 1 1
Maximum document size (in pages) unlimited 2000 999 1000
Maximum page size 2000" x 2000" 48" x 48" 42" x 42" 99" x 99"
- mix page sizes in a document      
Join pages into spreads  
Visual page arrangement
Maximum number of master pages unlimited 127 256 26
- hide/edit master objects on pages / / / /
- retroactive master column changes    
Automatic page numbering
Chapters    
Layout Aids PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Snap-to-guides, adjustable strength / / / /
- user-defined guide color    
Snap-to-drawing grid, adjustable strength /   /  
Snap-to-layout grid      
Rulers / Change ruler direction / / / /
- adjustable zero point / ruler offset / / / /
Number of measurement system options 11 7 6 5
- precision 0.001pt 0.001pt 0.05pt 0.01pt
- do math in text boxes  
- mix measurements in text boxes  
Pasteboard  
Layers    
Text Frames PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Max number of columns in a frame 99 30 20 1
Frameless text blocks    
Resize text visually by dragging    
Variable-shaped text frames  
Automatic text frame creation  
Vertical justification  
Link text frames / Show frame links / / / /
Column / Page breaks / / / /
Word Processing PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Find and change text / attributes / / / /
Copy and paste attributes    
Import / Export text / / / /
- convert quotes / dashes / / / /
Maximum number of tabs unlimited 20 40 15
- decimal tabs / custom decimal / / / /
- dot leaders / right indent tab / / / /
Show invisible characters    
Smart quotes / dashes / / / /
Styles, Character / Paragraph / / / /
- next style / based on style / / /  
- import styles
Typography PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Type size range 1-1000pt 2-720pt 4-650pt 1-327pt
- size increments 0.001pt 0.001pt 0.1pt 0.01pt
- scale text horizontally 5-655% 25-400% 5-250% 25-250%
Number of type styles 10 10 8 7
- configurable type styles, number of 9 4 3  
Text color fill/stroke / / / /
Left, right, first indent
- auto hanging indents    
Paragraph spacing / rules / / / /
Widow and orphan control  
Bulleted / Numbered paragraphs / / ? / ? / ?
Auto / Manual kerning / / / /
Auto / Manual tracking / / / /
Tracking tables
Auto Hyphenation / Discretionary hyphens / / / /
- custom dictionary
Absolute/relative leading, increments 0.001pt 0.001pt 0.1pt 0.01pt
Automatic ligatures    
Rotate/skew text, precision 0.001° 0.001° 0.001° 0.1°
- edit rotated text
Drop caps  
Graphics & Illustration PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Import / Export pictures / / / /
- set frequency, angle and screen
Picture effects 9 2    
Import / Export drawings / / / /
- dissolve drawings into paths & shapes      
Import / Export EPS / / / /
Irregular cropping/masking
Line / Box tools / / / /
Ellipse / Arc tools / / / /
Pen / Freehand tools / /   /
Regular Polygon tool /      
Object / Point selection and editing / / / /
Proportional sizing constraint    
Bring to front, back, forward, backward
Move / Nudge objects / / / /
Step and repeat duplication
Rotate and skew objects, precision 0.001° 0.001° 0.001° 0.1°
Merge and split paths / Convert to path /      
Group / Lock objects / / / /
Align / Distribute objects / / / /
Text wrap around objects
Anchor objects to text    
Copy and paste attributes      
Object styles      
Line, Fill & Color PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Tint (percentage) fill precision 0.01% 0.1% 1% 0.01%
Bitmap fill styles, Preset/Editable /     /
Gradient, radial and shape fills  
Screen types (spot functions) 6 4 1 3
Line width precision 0.001pt 0.001pt 0.1pt 0.01pt
Dash styles, Preset/Editable / / / /
Caps / Joins /      
Arrowhead styles, Preset/Editable / /   /
Number of color models 6 8 8 4
Create process / spot colors / / / /
Object level trapping
Printing PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Tiling / Thumbnails / / / /
Color separations / Plate control / / / /
Print to file / Save pages as EPS files / / / /
Crop and registration marks
Page independence  
Booklet printing (reader's spreads)    
Suppress printing of selected items
Mail Merge      
Scripting PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Record / edit internal scripts /      
Assign scripts to keys, buttons, menu      
AppleScript, ARexx support  
Miscellaneous PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Load / Save program defaults / / / /
Autosave / Autobackup / /    
Revision control      
Toolbar, customizable      
Number of view magnifications 11 6 8 7
- custom magnification & zoom / / /  
maximum view magnification 3000% 400% 800% 800%
Report font, graphic, article usage
Undo and redo / levels unlimited 1 1 1
Index generation    
Table of contents    
Table of figures / multiple catagories /      
HTML / PDF export /   /  
Image processor / Autotracer /      
Table editor      
Article editor    
Full online help system      
Professional Manual  
Street Price PageStream 4.0 XPress 3.3 PageMaker 6.5 ReadySetGo 7
Direct Price or MacZone catalog $249.00 $657.98 $548.98 $218.98


Grasshopper LLC has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this comparison. Please contact Quark, Adobe and Manhattan Graphics for full details on XPress, PageMaker and ReadySetGo.

PageStream is a registered trademark of Grasshopper LLC. XPress is a registered trademark of Inc. ReadySetGo is a registered trademark of Esselte Pendaflex Corp. PageMaker and PostScript are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

 

Comparison  Table of Contents  url:WWW/comparison
  created:2006-08-02 20:07:20   last updated:2006-08-02 20:42:06
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