| |  Pages from a publishing database
Increasingly, information to be published is stored in a Publishing Database, and when the data is in a fit state for publication, it is extracted from the database and submitted for page formatting. This is often done using Desk Top Publishing software, so there remains a manual process to create good pages. The more complex the information, the longer this process takes.
Our batch page composition engine
We do not use page makeup software that has its origins in Desk Top Publishing. Our Penta software pre-dates DTP – it was not designed to be a designer’s creative tool, but a production system for complex pages. All formatting is effected by a code based instruction set and that makes it a perfect marriage with data supplied as XML. For this reason we convert any non XML data supplied to us into Well Formed XML before passing it into page formatting. From well structured data, we can generate very complex pages without manual intervention and at high speed. Pictures can be placed intelligently, and there is logic for optimizing the sizing and placing of tables. Although our philosophy is to eliminate manual intervention wherever possible, Penta can be used for press corrections (for example where an advertiser has paid to have an ad appear in a certain place).
Automation of page composition
For larger projects, we automate the complete page creation cycle including: picking up data from FTP; importing and quality checking of graphics; importing and quality checking of text; ensuring cross references are satisfied and picture calls and pictures supplied are consistent; then if Quality Assurance checks are passed, do the page formatting; create any indexes and tables; and create PDFs. For the last word in automation see our Quick Proof Maker service.
A cost effective database proofing tool
Many of our customers take advantage of the rapid page formatting into the final publishable form to use our service as a sophisticated database proofing tool through the whole publishing cycle. Errors are spotted so much more easily from our pages and true book extents can be known earlier.
Personalised digital printing
Digital printing is being used to create personalised printed products. Until now, they have tended to be documents where a fixed template is filled from a database. Our Rapid Pages Service makes it possible to create bespoke books that have complex pages formatted from scratch. By combining the latest developments in digital printing and binding, with our page formatting skills, a personalised book that looks as good as the traditional product is now a cost effective option. |
