Last Updated: December 08,2014

New Features

XMPie^® is pleased to announce the release of PersonalEffect^® version 7.1 build 7990.

This version provides the new features and enhancements described below:

Version 7.1

Support for Adobe CC-2014

PersonalEffect supports the latest version of InDesign Desktop and Server, released in June 2014 by Adobe.

Version 7.0.2

This is a maintenance release that solves several software issues.

Version 7.0.1

Support for the Royal Mail Mailmark® barcode

PersonalEffect 7.0.1 adds support for a new barcode - Royal Mail Mailmark® (called CMDM_Mailmak in the XMPie user interface). This is an instance of Data Matrix barcode specifically designed for the Royal Mail (UK) purposes. For input specifications for this barcode, refer to the following document: http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/Royal-Mail-Mailmark-barcode-definition-document-May-2014-v3-1.pdf

PersonalEffect supports 2-Dimensional (2D) Complex Mail Data Mark (CMDM) barcode of types 7 (24 x 24), 9 (32 x 32) and 29 (16 x 48).

Version 7.0

uCreate - uProduce Connectivity

uCreate Print now works in a true client-server mode with your uProduce server, providing you with an easy and convenient way to add, modify, and run production jobs using the familiar desktop application on your local computer. After connecting uCreate Print to the uProduce server, you can design your Documents directly on your desktop while storing the content on uProduce and leveraging the print production power of the uProduce server. Thus, uProduce acts as a central storage and production repository. This integrated environment allows to:

●      Relieve the user of document management responsibilities

●      Automate resource management (Documents, Assets, Fonts, Data sources)

●      Optimize production workflow

●      Ease correction cycles and edits

Working in a connectivity mode you can do the following:

●      Save a Document to uProduce

Start designing your Document in uCreate Print and then save it on uProduce. From that moment on, the Document is stored on uProduce but you may continue editing it in uCreate Print.

●      Open a Document from uProduce

Open Documents already stored on uProduce server and edit them in uCreate Print. Easily modify the Document, while it is stored on the server. All Assets, Data Sources, Fonts, and other Campaign materials are pulled from the server in real time.

●      Work with uImage files

uImage Assets run on your server. You can use uImage even if your designer does not have uImage installed on his/her computer. It is now easier to move a uImage template to the server and use uImage packages bought on the XMPie’s market place (https://marketplace.xmpie.com)

●    uImage files are treated as all other image assets

●    No need for manual management by the user

●    Automatically processed on uProduce server

●      Leverage Campaign Resources stored on uProduce

Use and edit Data Sources, Assets, Fonts and images located on the uProduce server.

●      Print a Document on uProduce

Run Dynamic Print using uProduce directly from the designer’s desktop. Composition is done on the server, while the designer can keep working.

The connectivity between uCreate Print and uProduce requires new license. You are entitled to one or more connectivity licenses based on your current license. More connectivity licenses are available at an additional cost.

Only the new XLIM documents (*.INDX, see XLIM Enhancements below) are supported by the connectivity feature. To work with the old XLIM format, import a CPKG and save it to the uProduce server as the new XLIM format using the Save to uProduce functionality.

XLIM Enhancements

Version 7 presents a new revolutionary approach in handling XLIM documents.

1.      XLIM Preflight now checks more text, paragraph and image attributes. Over 50 additional checks have been added.

2.      XLIM Preflight has been completely revised to focus only on items that require user attention. The Errors panel displays only errors found in the dynamic objects of the Document (or static objects that interact with dynamic objects).

3.      All static elements are converted to EPS images to ensure accurate rendering of the original design and to avoid XLIM compatibility errors. EPS is a vector-based format that ensures high quality output.

4.      A XLIM file is now saved with the *.INDX extension (instead of *.XLIM) and can be edited and re-edited using Adobe InDesign with uCreate Print, as needed. Conversions back and forward are done behind-the-scenes to ensure a seamless user experience. Although all the Document's static elements are converted to images for the purpose of production, they remain editable in InDesign.

5.      XLIM functionality has also been enhanced to support Underline and Strikethrough.

uEdit Documents require special attention. Please refer to the uStore Help ("Preparing a XLIM Document for uEdit HD" topic) for more details.

Print Production Enhancements

The print production has been significantly enhanced in this version:

●      PDF/VT now supports splitting

This also enabled major performance improvements when using the new resource allocation algorithm (see Production Performance Improvements below)  

●      Independent Image Rendering (IIR) for PDF/VT

The IIR uses a proprietary engine to place images inside PDF/VT files and  expedites the performance of the PDF/VT creation, especially in image-rich documents.

●      File size optimizations.

When using PDF/VT, the output file will now be smaller in size, especially when the output is imposed.

●      uChart for PDF/VT

uChart is now exported in a native PDF, instead of EPS with conversion to PDF. This results in a significant performance improvement.

●      Barcode enhancements

For some barcodes, new customization capabilities are now available, including controlling transparency on QR codes, controlling barcode height, showing or hiding readable text and more. All barcode capabilities available in EPS format are now supported in PDF output. All barcode features, including the new functionality, are now properly documented in the uCreate Print User Guide.

Production Performance Improvements

uProduce now features a new Resource Allocation Algorithm that has been optimized to leverage the production power of all the composition instances available during print production. By default, uProduce production engine automatically splits the job between all the available composition instances to optimize the production speed.

This is a change in the default setting, as this functionality was previously available through using the Split and Merge option in the uProduce Dashboard. Currently, the option to split and then merge the file is no longer available in the Dashboard since it is done by default.

Users wishing to disable the automatic production optimization and to perform the entire job on a single composition instance, can disable this option by selecting the Use only single instance (to allow other jobs to run in parallel) checkbox in the INDD Advanced Parameters section of the Process page. This will allow other jobs to run in parallel on other uProduce instances.

The Resource Allocation Algorithm did not change in the following cases:

●      XLIM Documents

●      The following print output formats: VDX / PPML/ JPG / PNG /HTML / PROOF_SET / FLAT / RECORD_SET / INX / IDML /EPS / CUSTOM.

●      uProduce system with SI license

●      If the Separate File for each Record checkbox is selected in the Production and Deployment section of the Process page.

●      When the number of recipients processed in the Job is below a certain limit (100 recipients by default)

Editing Plan in uCreate Print Rule Editor

You can now edit the Campaign's Plan using the uCreate Print's Rule Editor, with no need to open uPlan.

In addition, adding and editing Variables is now possible directly from uCreate Print. You can easily define new Variables or convert existing Content Objects to Variables. When converting a Content Object to a Variable, a Variable with the name and the definitions of the Content Object is created, whereas the converted Content Object references the newly created Variable.

When working in a connectivity mode between uCreate Print and uProduce, the Plan edited in uCreate Print is automatically updated on uProduce. To disable editing of a Plan, simply check out the plan in the uProduce Dashboard.

Production Settings Templates

Processing a Document requires defining many parameters, such as output format, imposition, policies, JDF and more. These parameters are known as Production Settings. To allow easy reusability of production setting parameters, to ensure consistency of repeated jobs and to enable an easier administration of the production site, you can save specific Production Settings as a template, and use it repeatedly for the same or for different documents.

Small modifications can be further made to Production Settings in order to customize them for a specific job.

Production Settings are available per uProduce Account. In addition, you can create Global Production Settings, that will be accessible for any Account.

Adding Recipients for Local Data Sources

It is now possible to update the Recipient Table of the Local Data Source by adding new recipients. This new functionality removes the need to download and upload an entire new list of recipients. When adding recipients, users can either add all records as is or choose deduplication. You can also run preflight for the update operation in order to review the results before committing the changes.

Proxy Servers Requiring Authentication

In some configurations, proxy servers are not open for everyone and, therefore, require authentication. This version supports such proxy servers. To connect, the administrator needs to specify the authentication credentials of the proxy. These definitions can be found in the Proxy Server Settings page of the uProduce Dashboard. This feature also supports configuration of the port number and allows to work with both HTTP and HTTPS proxy servers.