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 October
2007 |
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 Crawford
Technologies Inc. |
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Data
Automation Challenge Part One
Print Centers face multiple
challenges to keep their costs and manpower as low as possible
while gaining high returns on investment and keeping 100% production
security.
In this first document we address following
Challenge:
Create Large, Easy to Manage Files out of Smaller Documents
The challenge:
You are responsible for print output
management in an organization that creates and/or receives large
numbers of small, separate documents.
Here are some of the challenges you
may be facing:
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Your client applications
generate large quantities of single, separate customer statements
that are not sorted in any useful way and cannot be automatically
combined into batches for specific business purposes
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You may need to print these
files as a single print file, in order to ensure economies of
scale
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You may need to include
appropriate barcodes for post processing and postal automation,
to achieve maximum postal discounts
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You may also need to convert
the aggregated file into a high speed print format |
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The Solution:
1. PRO
Concatenator
Use PRO
Concatenator to Select, Sequence and Concatenate MULTIPLE
PRINT FILES
PRO
Concatenator, an optional component of the PRO Suite of
transforms, can concatenate multiple like type files from
various sources into a single file. The user can specify which
pages are to be pulled from each file and the sequence they
should be placed in.
Input file types supported include PDF, PCL, AFP,
PostScript, Xerox LCDS/Metacode, TIFF and line print data.
The output will be bundled into a single file in a format
similar to that of the source files.
There are also some advanced capabilities,
which can be used with PRO
Concatenator, such as:
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Removal of duplicate resources
during the concatenation
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Conversion of input files
into alternative formats when processing AFP, TIFF, PCL, line
print data and Xerox Metacode/LCDS files. Output can then be written
in AFP, PDF, PostScript, TIFF, PNG or PCL formats
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Merging, commingling and/or
re-sequencing print files, PDFs and images with the help of the
page range capability. |
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PRO
Concatenator’s functional capabilities allow
the users to:
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Improve the flow through
the print production/insertion process
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Allow for preparation of
desktop print files for high volume printing or
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Achieve item quantities
for maximum postal discounts
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The following are a few examples of how customers are applying
the power of PRO
Concatenator:
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Concatenate PDF files selected
from different sources into one large file to be printed and inserted
into envelopes as one job, reducing the setup costs
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Concatenate a large number
of PCL print files into one file, convert the job file to AFP
and print the file on a fast, high volume printer (see example
below)
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Commingle a number of external
files from a postal sortation application, all of them in the
same print format, into a single job file large enough to ensure
maximum postal discounts
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PRO Concatenator
is available on Windows, Linux, Solaris, HP-UX and AIX platforms,
so users can apply the software where it is needed.
The illustration below shows a functional
diagram of the PRO
Concatenator, running with the PRO PS/PDF Normalization
to enable high speed printing of HVTO PDF documents.
2. PRO
Transform Manager
Use PRO
Transform Manager to Control Aggregation WorkFlow
The PRO Transform
Manager member of the PRO Suite can automate the aggregation
of many files. You can set up concatenation queues in it with
parameters such as minimum batch size and time to wait for
stragglers. The PRO
Transform Manager manages PRO
Concatenator and can also manage the aggregate files created,
sending them to printers, other post-processors or FTP servers.
3. PRO
Indexer
Use PRO
Indexer to index Even the Most Complex Data
The aggregated data often needs to
be properly indexed. PRO
Indexer, a PRO Suite plug-in working in conjunction with
PRO transforms, provides a reliable and robust way to get
even very complex data from the print files faithfully. The
print files can be AFP, Xerox Metacode or LCDS, PDF, PostScript
or PCL and the platforms include z/OS, UNIX and Windows.
With the PRO Indexer,
a designer can define the extraction rules for each section
using whatever algorithm works best for that particular section.
Since many sections can run from one page to the next and
can begin or end in many different ways, a scripting capability
makes it possible to extract even the most challenging data
reliably.
4. PRO
Document Enhancer
Use PRO
Document Enhancer to Reengineer Documents to Get More
out of them
You may need to reengineer the contents and/or
the look of the documents aggregated into required batches.
The PRO Suite includes the PRO
Document Enhancer option, a powerful, highly flexible
document reengineering tool. In a single production pass concurrent
with the conversion process and regardless of print architecture
and platform type, PRO
Document Enhancer can:
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Add or remove text fields,
OMR marks, barcodes and control numbers on document pages
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Move elements around on
pages
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Sort the entire file into
the required print sequence
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Add postal automation information
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Do much, much more |
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5. PRO Suite Transforms
Use PRO Suite Transforms to Convert Print Data to Unlock Legacy
Files
PRO Suite Transforms convert print files from
any to any of the following formats: AFP, Xerox LCDS and Metacode,
PCL, Postscript and PDF. PRO transforms make it easy to bridge
legacy print applications into new and/or future architectures.
Users of PRO Suite solutions include insurance
companies, utilities and financial institutions.
About CRTeurope
CRTeurope provides Products, Experience and
Service to the European Market. Its objective is to "get
the job done" on time and on budget. With its commitment
to develop, sell and support innovative solutions in the realm
of high volume DataStream management and reengineering, document
automation and workflow control.
CRTeurope is dedicated to serving customers by leading
its industry in understanding and anticipating customer needs.
We create long-term relationships by consistently delivering
quality, innovation and value that meets or exceeds expectations.
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