Hello! Everyone. Please accept my apologies for being out of the loop for a while. Been traveling and out of reach from internet most of the times. None the less, I hope you all are comfortable with the working environment of CorelDraw and getting your hands on to it, lets go ahead a little further and see the basic file handling capabilities. In this tutorial we shall see how to open a new file, import and export a file with the various options available, save a file and other file handling capabilities. So grab your pen and paper if you wish to take down notes and lets get started.
Opening a Document
Opening a new document
There are quite a few ways in which you could open your first new document file. Lets go through some of those ways.
I) If you all remember, in one of the previous post we discussed about the welcome screen and its various features (http://goo.gl/Om4it). In the screen that appears in the very beginning, you have an option to open a new document right from there itself.
Click on the New blank document to open a fresh document page. (The various features on setting up the new document is discussed in a previous post http://goo.gl/Om4it ).
II) If for some reason you have disabled the welcome screen or have clicked the cancel button in the welcome screen, then do not worry, opening a new document is as easy as a click on the welcome screen.
On top left corner, right below the menu you'll find handy icons to perform similar tasks. Click on the open a new document icon marked in the figure above and it will work as expected. A rather simple way of opening a new document.
III) Another way of achieving the similar task is to follow the old convention i.e go to File (from the menu) -> New. Shortcut key for opening a new document Ctrl + N.
Note: If you are sure that your settings for the document is done correctly and you wish to continue using the similar settings for your other new documents or if you are not satisfied with the current settings and have somehow disabled the New Document Dialog Box by clicking the Do not show this dialog again checkbox, then do not worry you can easily toggle to show the dialog box by following a simple procedure.
Go to Tools -> Options -> Workspace (expand is collapsed) -> General. On the right side of the screen you will notice a checkbox Show New Document dialog box. Check or un-check the box to toggle the visibility of the dialog box.
IV) Keyboard shortcut to open a new screen Ctrl + n (on windows).
Opening an already existing document
Well again, for this very action there are a number of ways you could do this.
I) The welcome screen.
The recently saved Corel files are listed under the Open Recent. Incase you cannot seek you file in the list, then simply click on the Open other... button below, which is a browse preview to select the desired working Corel file.
II) Another way of opening an existing document is using the conventional way i.e. following the menu bar on top of the working environment.
III) You can also use the keyboard shortcut i.e. Ctrl + O (windows) or command + O (mac).
If you intend to open a file that is not native to Corel for e.g. Microsoft Word, Adobe Illustrator etc, CorelDraw will automatically convert it to a its native format and add a .cdr extension to it without hampering the actual file.
Opening a document from template
You also very well open a document from one of the given templates or ones created by you (creating a template will be covered in later posts) . Again there are number of ways of opening a file from template i.e.
I) Opening a document from a template in the welcome screen.
Importing a Document
It may be essentials at times, that you import a certain file type rather than using the drag and drop feature available. Many format types can be easily imported such as .doc, .pdf, .psd, .ai etc. (This may vary with the version of Corel you are using, for e.g. in earlier Corel Draw versions importing some file formats may not be supported)
To import a document you can either use the conventional method of going to the file menu and selecting the Import option or you can use the keyboard shortcut i.e. Ctrl + I.
Looking closely through the import dialog box
The import options may differ and additional dialog boxes or options may be available incase you are selecting a different format type. For example I am covering the two most often used file formats i.e. pdf and .jpeg. Other file formats may have different options. So I suggest try and import them too to get a better understanding.
Importing a .pdf file
(click image to enlarge)
Importing an image file (.jpeg)
(click image to enlarge)
While importing files that are not supported you may encounter error messages.
For e.g. fi I try an import a media file i.e. an mp3 file, the error dialog message will pop up.
Again to export a file you can go from file menu and choose export option, or simply use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+E. By default, which I guess, most of you would have had installed Corel Draw using the recommended settings and hence you will be able to see a certain number of export formats available to you. If you need to install more of them, simply use your installation disk to do that. But since the ones you'll be generally using are all installed by default.
The export option varies according to the type of document or actions being taken into consideration. For e.g. if you are exporting a multi page document then the option in the export dialog would be slightly different. Do not worry they are easily understood.
Once you click on the export button you will be directed to another settings dialog box. The type and occurrance of the additional dialog box is also based on the type of format, the file is being saved as.
Let us consider here that we are about to save a file as .jpg. This is what the settings dialog box looks like
The ease of use will start to come front when you all get used to exporting files. Play around with the settings and see what does it do for you.
The most common format that one is likely to use are
a) Bitmap formats: I believe most of you are aware of this file format. It contains may open source formats for e.g. BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIF,etc.
b) Metafile formats: These are file formats that contain both vector and bitmap information(already explained in previous posts, difference between vector and bitmap). But if choice is available choose a specific vector of bitmap format.
c) Text formats: When you export a text format then usually they will be in the format of TXT or RTF, PDF, DOC etc.
d) Font formats: While exporting you can choose to save you text as a TTF or a PSB(PostScript Font Binary).
e) Vector Formats:export your file as an AI or FMV, etc.
f) EPS formats: This file format that is acceptable by all sorts of operating systems. Saving a file as an Encapsulated Post Script can enhance file readability.
g) Third Party Formats: export your file as an AI, PDF, PSD, SWF, FPX, MAC, etc. (This may vary as per the version of CorelDraw being used).
There are more dedicated export options such as Export for Office, Export for Web, etc available. We will cover them in detail as we move ahead in our posts. For now getting used to the basic exporting option will be sufficient.
Saving a Document
When you begin working on your illustrations or art work in CorelDraw, like every other application it is very important that you keep saving your work from time to time. I recommend saving a file every 4-5 mins after you have worked upon something. To save a file simply use the following options
a) Go to File and select Save, to save your file.
b) Press the shortcut key (Ctrl+S) (Recommended).
c) Press save icon in the property bar.
Saving file with Advanced options opens another dialog box with advanced settings option.
Opening an already existing document
Well again, for this very action there are a number of ways you could do this.
I) The welcome screen.
The recently saved Corel files are listed under the Open Recent. Incase you cannot seek you file in the list, then simply click on the Open other... button below, which is a browse preview to select the desired working Corel file.
II) Another way of opening an existing document is using the conventional way i.e. following the menu bar on top of the working environment.
III) You can also use the keyboard shortcut i.e. Ctrl + O (windows) or command + O (mac).
If you intend to open a file that is not native to Corel for e.g. Microsoft Word, Adobe Illustrator etc, CorelDraw will automatically convert it to a its native format and add a .cdr extension to it without hampering the actual file.
Opening a document from template
You also very well open a document from one of the given templates or ones created by you (creating a template will be covered in later posts) . Again there are number of ways of opening a file from template i.e.
I) Opening a document from a template in the welcome screen.
II) The conventional file menu in the working environment.
Now let us see the new from template dialog box closely.
(click the image to enlarge)
Importing a Document
It may be essentials at times, that you import a certain file type rather than using the drag and drop feature available. Many format types can be easily imported such as .doc, .pdf, .psd, .ai etc. (This may vary with the version of Corel you are using, for e.g. in earlier Corel Draw versions importing some file formats may not be supported)
To import a document you can either use the conventional method of going to the file menu and selecting the Import option or you can use the keyboard shortcut i.e. Ctrl + I.
Looking closely through the import dialog box
The import options may differ and additional dialog boxes or options may be available incase you are selecting a different format type. For example I am covering the two most often used file formats i.e. pdf and .jpeg. Other file formats may have different options. So I suggest try and import them too to get a better understanding.
Importing a .pdf file
(click image to enlarge)
Importing an image file (.jpeg)
(click image to enlarge)
While importing files that are not supported you may encounter error messages.
For e.g. fi I try an import a media file i.e. an mp3 file, the error dialog message will pop up.
Exporting a Document
This is one feature that you ought to use. So I would suggest that you remember the use of this well. Exporting a file is different from saving a file. The difference of which you'll come to understand once we cover both of them.Again to export a file you can go from file menu and choose export option, or simply use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+E. By default, which I guess, most of you would have had installed Corel Draw using the recommended settings and hence you will be able to see a certain number of export formats available to you. If you need to install more of them, simply use your installation disk to do that. But since the ones you'll be generally using are all installed by default.
The export option varies according to the type of document or actions being taken into consideration. For e.g. if you are exporting a multi page document then the option in the export dialog would be slightly different. Do not worry they are easily understood.
Once you click on the export button you will be directed to another settings dialog box. The type and occurrance of the additional dialog box is also based on the type of format, the file is being saved as.
Let us consider here that we are about to save a file as .jpg. This is what the settings dialog box looks like
The ease of use will start to come front when you all get used to exporting files. Play around with the settings and see what does it do for you.
The most common format that one is likely to use are
a) Bitmap formats: I believe most of you are aware of this file format. It contains may open source formats for e.g. BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIF,etc.
b) Metafile formats: These are file formats that contain both vector and bitmap information(already explained in previous posts, difference between vector and bitmap). But if choice is available choose a specific vector of bitmap format.
c) Text formats: When you export a text format then usually they will be in the format of TXT or RTF, PDF, DOC etc.
d) Font formats: While exporting you can choose to save you text as a TTF or a PSB(PostScript Font Binary).
e) Vector Formats:export your file as an AI or FMV, etc.
f) EPS formats: This file format that is acceptable by all sorts of operating systems. Saving a file as an Encapsulated Post Script can enhance file readability.
g) Third Party Formats: export your file as an AI, PDF, PSD, SWF, FPX, MAC, etc. (This may vary as per the version of CorelDraw being used).
There are more dedicated export options such as Export for Office, Export for Web, etc available. We will cover them in detail as we move ahead in our posts. For now getting used to the basic exporting option will be sufficient.
Saving a Document
When you begin working on your illustrations or art work in CorelDraw, like every other application it is very important that you keep saving your work from time to time. I recommend saving a file every 4-5 mins after you have worked upon something. To save a file simply use the following options
a) Go to File and select Save, to save your file.
b) Press the shortcut key (Ctrl+S) (Recommended).
c) Press save icon in the property bar.
Saving file with Advanced options opens another dialog box with advanced settings option.
- Save Presentation Exchange (CMX). Check this box if you want to place or edit the file in other applications that accept this file format, such as Corel WordPerfect or Xara Xtreme, and older versions of CorelDRAW. For example, CorelDRAW 5 can’t open an X5 CDR file, but version 5 can open a CMX file. The CMX file format can hold both bitmap and vector data. It is a subset of the CDR format and as such is not as capable of certain recently added features, but it is a good way to use graphics created in CorelDRAW in other applications and for users of previous versions to open your files in case you saved to version X5.
- Use Bitmap Compression. Bitmaps and bitmap effects in a drawing can really plump up the final file size of a document. To save precious hard disk storage space, put a check in this box. The compression used is lossless, so you don’t have to worry that choosing this option will degrade the quality of your file onscreen or when printed.
- Use Graphic Object Compression. Checking this box reduces saved file sizes by compressing the vector elements in the file. This is particularly welcome if you’ve created a lot of extrude objects in a document whose component objects can number in the 30s, 40s, or even hundreds if you’ve used complex shading options.
- Save Textures With The File or Rebuild Textures When Opening The File. Choose the radio button next to one of these mutually exclusive options. Saving the textures increases the file’s size and uses more hard disk space. Rebuilding the textures saves hard disk space, but it then takes longer to open and save a file. Your choice here is between maximizing your hard disk space or your time.
- Save Blends And Extrudes With The File or Rebuild Blends And Extrudes When Opening The File. As with saving or rebuilding textures, here your choice is really between maximizing hard disk space or your time. Click the radio button next to the choice that suits you best.
Save-As command lets you saved a copy of the current document, or a copy of the same document in another format.
File Back-Up Option: this is a very handy feature. By default this is active. You will notice that when ever you save your file on a particular location on your drive, another copy of the document, with a naming convention of Backup_of_FileName will be created. This is important when for some reason your original document is either corrupted, or you want to get back to the version of the document where a particular change was not made.
Though recommended you can also deactivate this option.
To do that go to Tools -> Customization -> Expand Workspace -> Select Save
On the right screen you will have options.
- Set time interval when you would want to backup for file. Auto-backup every (select the time in minutes)
- Deselect that option and no backup will be created.
- You can also choose whereto save your backup data. Either the temp folder or a specific folder of your choice.
- To make a backup everytime you save a file by pressing Ctrl + s, select the option in the end.
At the end of this post you should become comfortable with Opening, Exporting, Importing and Saving a file with its various options.
You might discover certain options that I may not have covered here. Please feel free to get back to me and I shall include it in here.
So watch out for my next post on Navigating and Viewing a Page
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