KR20020081315A - Imaging documemts having static content and variable data - Google Patents

Abstract

In the production of variable documents, front end software is used in methods and apparatus that have many advantages for viewing and supporting variable print jobs. Variable data is defined in a PDF format that allows variable content to be created and stored in static content. Users can model a database, position frames, set properties, store states, combine states and logic, and preview merged content. The page may be repositioned in the press sheet designated for the supported plant device that includes the particular drawing device. The document can be saved as a .ps file and converted to a .pdf layout. The .pdf layout is then opened to add at least one of the variable paragraphs, variable tags, and variable resources (such as TIFF images, PDF images, and entire PDF pages), and can also be opened to create charging files. Different charging files can be created from the same .pdf layout for drawing variable documents with different drawing devices.

Description

Drawing documents with static content and variable data {IMAGING DOCUMEMTS HAVING STATIC CONTENT AND VARIABLE DATA}

The production of variable documents that contain static content can often be a complex task, especially when the production device uses the data provided from the customer to generate a suitable job file to accurately render the variable document. Some systems, such as those used commercially by Moore North America, Inc., of Illinois, are capable of performing these difficult tasks but are subject to many limitations. Other systems, such as US Pat. No. 5,729,655, store graphical states (attributes and content) and allow them to replace content. The state is obtained from a PostScript file, stored in a RIP, and allows the user to merge into the database in the selected state. In the configuration of variable print jobs, there is no front-end software to view or support so that the user configuring the variable job cannot recognize what went wrong before printing is done, and other printers cannot use the same layout file.

The present invention relates to the drawing of a document having static content and variable data.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating various components of an apparatus according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention in its most simplified format;

2A and 2B are advanced work flow diagrams illustrating an exemplary method in accordance with the present invention.

3 to 19 illustrate exemplary computer screens that may be displayed on a computer monitor when performing the method of the present invention.

20 schematically illustrates a variable resource menu used in the execution of a method according to the present invention.

21 and 22 illustrate another exemplary screen displayed on a computer monitor in the execution of a method according to the invention.

Figures 23 and 24 show exemplary views of the front face of the press sheet (page 1 of the excitation file) and the back side of the press sheet (page 2 of the excitation file), respectively, for the particular imposed pile according to the present invention.

25 illustrates an exemplary variable document with static content, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus for easily producing a variable document including static content which is particularly improved and can include all kinds of variable elements. In particular, according to the present invention, front-end software is used that allows a user to design a database, place frames, set properties, store states, combine states with logic, and preview merged content. do. The invention also allows the page to be placed on a unique press sheet of a supported printer device, and reuses layout files with different impositions to obtain different print output or reuses the same layout file on different printer devices. And tells the user what went wrong before the printer job is done. According to the present invention, variable data is defined in a PDF format that allows variable content to be generated and stored on static content in an efficient and flexible manner. The invention can also be carried out using a combination of conventional software. The conventional engine shown in US Pat. No. 5,634,064 can also be used to view a document.

The invention is best described using the following definitions.

PDF (Potable Document Format) is a unique file format of the Adobe Acrobat family of products. The purpose of these products is to enable users to exchange and view electronic documents easily and reliably, regardless of the environment in which they are created. Documents in this format can be distributed over the web and to various platforms. PDF is a self-contained format that can be viewed, printed or proofed from any major platform and operating system. PDF is flexible, editable, and predictable. PDF files are highly portable and become the de facto standard for fast document delivery.

-Variable paragraphs. Provides a mechanism for defining and placing text and mutable tags. Variable paragraphs support multiple layout and alignment options, as well as multistyle text. The variable paragraph can be rotated anywhere from 0 degrees to 359 degrees without limitation.

-Variable resources. Provides a mechanism for defining and placing resources such as TIFF images, PDF images (graphics), and entire PDF pages. The variable resource can be rotated in 90 degree increments.

-Variable tag / tag definition. The tag definition defines variable data information, that is, record layout. Tags in variable paragraphs indicate their placement for printing in the text. Tags can also be combined with variable resources as controls for image variability. The use of tags in their entirety dictates the organization of each page within a document.

-Variable floor. Define relationships between real data and variable elements. The variable layer is the key to the merging of the variable elements. Each variable layer uses a tag definition and unique conditional criteria defined by the user to determine the combination of variable components.

-levy. Includes functionality for selecting layout pages and mapping them to press sheets in the correct orientation. It also provides the ability to rotate the entire press sheet to take into account the press mark and gripper direction. Multiple devices are arranged to print the completed piece. The charging module manages which press sheets are sent to a given device.

-Device. This plug-in sets status information for each device, including resolution, bits per component, and cutoff information.

-filter. It provides a mechanism for separating content into suitable devices by color and area.

The Adobe Acrobat architecture includes a rich application programming interface that allows software developers to extend their functionality through customer plug-ins. The combination of the popularity of PDF and the extensibility of Acrobat's Exchange products provide an ideal environment for the present invention.

The invention, which will be provided under the trade name XLO Front End (XLOFE), comprises or consists of a collection of customer Acrobat exchange plug-ins that provide a way of organizing variable documents in a high-speed black and white world as well as short-term color printing environments. XLOFE extends PDF by storing personal, user-defined variable documents. XLOFE combines all the necessary properties to create PDF enhancement files seamlessly and easily. A set of configuration tools allows the user to define and identify specific variable elements and ensure their schedule rules, and the conditions are adhered to during the process. XLOPE also provides layout type tools (ie grid, guide and group movement) to assist the user during the configuration process for typical placement and overall ease of use.

XLOFE is WYSIWYG, and standard viewing mechanisms (such as US Pat. No. 5,634,064) allow a user to preview variable content during the construction process. Upon completion, the new PDF file is sent to a data system that combines data, performs conditional logic, and generates each ordered page based on the front end components stored directly in the PDF file. The front end defines and organizes each of the components required to fully define the variable task.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of designing, producing, and printing a variable document comprising static content, the method being substantially sequential: (a) the variable content is generated and stored on the static content Defining variable data in the .pdf layout as much as possible; (b) opening the .pdf layout and adding at least one of a variable paragraph, variable tag, and variable resource; (c) opening the .pdf layout and generating a charge file; (d) creating a working folder to link the .pdf layout, the charge file, and the runtime association file; And (e) drawing the variable document using the working folder in the first drawing device.

The method described above further comprises the step (a1) of storing the document layout as a .ps file before step (a), in which case typically step (a) is executed by converting the .ps file to a .pdf layout. do.

In the above-described method, step (c) may execute generating another levy file using the same .pdf layout to execute step (e) in the second drawing device. Step (e) can also be performed using a MICR printer, a MIDAX printer, or a Xeikon printer as the drawing device (s). The above-described method may further comprise displaying the levy file prior to step (e) (eg, using an engine disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,634,064). The levy file is displayed and subsequently drawn based on the criteria defined during execution of step (a).

Typically, step (b) executes adding all of the variable paragraphs, variable tags, and variable images. That is, step (b) executes adding at least one of a TIFF image, a PDF image, and an entire PDF page as variable resources. In addition, step (b) may further execute rotating the variable resource in 90 ° increments.

Although other existing software may be used or specially developed software may be used, the software which is desired to be used in the present preferred embodiment is the QUARK XPRESS software, and step (a) is preferably performed using an Acrobat Distiller. It is executed, and steps (b) and (c) are executed using Acrobat Exchange.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of creating a variable document with static content from a document layout comprising variable data of a .ps file, which method comprises: (a) converting the .ps file to a .pdf layout Making; (b) opening the .pdf layout and adding at least one of a variable paragraph, variable tag, and variable image; (c) opening the .pdf layout and generating a levy file; and finally (d) drawing the variable document in the first drawing device using the working folder. The details of this method are preferably as described above with respect to the first aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a variable document production system is provided. The system includes a first drawing device, a computer including a monitor and an input device, and computer control for the first drawing device. And the computer control described above (i) defines variable data in a .pdf layout that is generated and includes variable content stored on the static content; (ii) open the .pdf layout and add at least one of a variable paragraph, variable tag, and variable image; And (iii) open the .pdf layout and create a levy file; And front-end software accessible by the computer. The computer control, or other computer control using the output from the computer control, operates the first drawing apparatus to draw a document having static content and variable data.

The system is of a different type than the first drawing device, and further includes a second drawing device which is controllable by computer control using a second charging file generated from the same .pdf layout by computer control. Typically, the first and second writing devices are selected from MICR, MIDAX, and XEIKON printer (s). The variable resource preferably comprises a PDF page and a variable image (graphic), such as a TIFF image and / or a PDF image.

Preferably the front end software for defining variable data in a .pdf layout includes software for storing the document layout as a .ps file and converting the .ps file to a .pdf layout. For example, the front-end software opens QUARK XPRESS for saving document layouts as .ps files, Acrobat Acrobat Dtiller for converting .ps files to .pdf layouts, and opens .pdf layouts with variable paragraphs, variable tags, and It includes an Acrobat exchange to add all of the variable images.

The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out the methods as described above. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a variable document having static content, a variable image, a variable paragraph, and a variable tag produced by the above-described methods.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple and effective method and apparatus for producing variable documents in a simple and effective manner compared to the prior art. These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description of the invention and from the appended claims.

1 schematically depicts an exemplary system according to the present invention for implementing an exemplary method according to the present invention. The system comprises at least one drawing device, such as the first drawing device 10 and preferably at least one other drawing device 11. Although a wide variety of drawing devices can be used in accordance with the present invention, three commercial printers that are particularly suitable for use in the practice of the present invention are the MICR printers or MIDAX printers from Moore North America, and the XEIKON printer which is the best in line color printers. to be.

According to the present invention, the drawing devices 10, 11 are controlled by computer control, schematically shown as 12 in FIG. Computer control 12 is shown connected up to one computer hardware 13, which may be equipped with some or all of the software components used as computer control 12. As is common, computer box 13 includes not only a visual computer monitor 14 operatively connected thereto, but also one or more input devices such as keyboard 15 and / or mouse 16 shown in FIG.

As shown in box 17 of FIG. 1, the first method procedure of one aspect of the present invention in providing computer control for the drawing devices 10, 11 is to post-document (.ps) the document layout. Saving as a file. The existing software currently considered to be the preferred embodiment for performing procedure 17 is the QUARK XPRESS software, which is almost the most common application software used for office work to create basic document layouts for variable printing. The QUARK XPRESS software, which is preferably used for the execution of the box 17 procedure, is particularly useful for Macintosh operating systems, which is probably the current practical standard in most of the company's prepress and art makeup departments. However, although the present invention is preferably used with a Macintosh operating system, it will be appreciated that it can be easily applied to other operating systems. Other existing software used, for example, for the procedure execution of box 17 includes Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Framemaker.

The following preferred procedure according to the invention, and associated software, including part of the computer control 12, is shown as box 18 in FIG. 1, ie converting .ps files to portable document format (.pdf). Step. A commercially available software, preferably used to carry out procedure 18, is the Acrobat Distiller software (such as version 3.02).

The following procedure in accordance with the present invention, using software that is part of computer control 12, is schematically depicted by box 19 of FIG. 1, which opens a .pdf layout and adds variable paragraphs, variable tags, and variable resources. Step. Variable resources typically include TIFF images, PDF images, entire PDF pages, and the like. Procedure 19 is preferably executed using acrobat exchange software (such as version 3.01). The same software is used for the execution of procedure 20, which opens the .pdf layout and generates the charging file. The imposition file is needed to place the page layout in the exact location and orientation on which they will be printed on the press sheet or paper web.

The procedure / software 17-20 provides the front end software according to the present invention, which forms part of the computer control 14 for producing the variable document according to the present invention. After procedure 17-20, prior to production, as shown in box 21 of FIG. 1, a working folder that links the work layout (pdf), live data (ldf), levy, and runtime association (RTA) files. Is generated. Procedure 21 is commonplace with current variable document production systems, such as those used by Moore North America, Bannockburn, Illinois. And finally, after the job is ready to be drawn, the software from (13) required for the computer control 13 or the control printer 10, 11 is required for the specific drawing device 10 or 11, in which the specific job folder is created. It is operated to produce the desired variable document by a similar control connected to the control 14 which receives (e.g., via a disk, tape, telnet, etc.).

At any time during the procedure, ie using the apparatus of FIG. 1, details may be displayed on monitor 14 using, for example, the viewing engine of US Pat. No. 5,634,064. Advantageously, according to the present invention, once the pdf layout as well as all the added variable paragraphs, tags, or resources have been created, this creates a second levy file at the stage 20, which is assigned to the second drawing device 11. The pdf layout can then be used to print to two or more different drawing devices 10, 11.

2a and 2b provide a more detailed, high-level flow diagram of a method according to the invention using the system of FIG. 1 according to the invention for the production of variable documents.

The starting point shown in (23) of FIG. 2A is an initial layout produced and / or approved by a customer in need of a variable document to be produced. Then, as shown in the decision box 24, a determination is made as to whether the customer font is required to support the job. If YES, a font is created as shown in (25). After creating "No" or a customer font, a job specific font folder is created and the font is loaded as shown in (26) of FIG. One particular commercially available software package, operable on a Macintosh operating system, which is particularly suitable for font building or selection, is known as Symantec's "suitcase." A screen that can be displayed on the monitor 14 during font selection is shown in FIG. 3 (27), which is selected from an Apple menu presented for the Macintosh operating system. Any of the conventional options and fonts shown on screen 27 may be selected (eg, using mouse 16 or keyboard 15) according to the particular task involved.

The following procedure 29 shown in FIG. 2A, i.e., software as described above, may alternatively be used, but preferably the procedure for performing creative composition of document layout as a .ps file using the QUARK XPRESS software is shown in FIG. Corresponds to procedure (17). Exemplary screens that may be displayed on the monitor 14 in the execution of this procedure are shown at 30, 31 and 32, respectively, in FIGS. 4 describes a new task, i.e., a procedure related to editing, and the task so far is very simple.

The QUARK XPRESS application is opened by selecting the appropriate icon and a new file menu is selected by starting a new document window shown on screen 30. (The current document can be opened instead from the File menu.) In the new document window shown on screen 30, the user enters the following, for the page of the new document being created.

* Page (size, width, height, orientation)

* Margin guide (for all 4 sides)

Pacing Pages (check this for odd and even pacing pages)

* Column guide (for more than one column)

Auto text box (check this for auto text box on each new page).

When the current document is opened, the document setup option is selected from the file menu to display screen 31 (FIG. 5) on monitor 14, allowing the user to verify or change some or all of the details.

When appropriate matters are entered into the screen 30, an "OK" option 33 is selected, for example by clicking with the mouse 16, and the prior art uses elements such as text boxes, graphic boxes, rules, frames, and the like. It is used to create a document by placing it on the page as needed for the job. An example screen 32 is shown in FIG. 6 showing various text boxes 34, graphics boxes 35, rules and frames 36, and the like. Of course, the picture of the screen 32 of FIG. 6 is only a virtual representation of the virtually infinite number of options that can be provided. Finally, the document is saved as a .ps file to complete procedure 29 (and (17)).

Box 37 in FIG. 2A sets the .ps printing option to generate a .ps file compatible with the system of the present invention. In other words, this is carried out to configure a suitable printer, which is one of the drawing devices 10, 11, which is appropriately controlled by the preferred Acrobat software. Procedure 38 of FIG. 2A is also executed at this time and / or concurrent with procedure 29. 7, 8, and 9 show example screens 39, 40, and 41, respectively, which may be displayed on monitor 14 for the execution of procedures 37, 38. FIG.

Select the Acrobat printer from the initial Apple menu and open the document to be converted from the QUARK XPRESS package. Then, a document setup item is selected to record and verify the document size in the file menu, and a print icon including document, setup, output, options, and preview is selected as a tab in the file menu. By selecting the setup tab, the screen 39 of FIG. 7 will be displayed. In this screen, the Acrobat Distiller program of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is selected as shown in box 42 of screen 39. The page width is then verified, the page setup box 43 is selected, and the format for the area of the open window has the selected Acrobat printer. The paper size that provides a picture 44 of the document size is selected as shown on screen 40 of FIG. The document itself is shown in the white area 45 in the color area 46, and when viewing the screen 40 of the display 14 an area 45 (corresponding to the document size) is in the background color area 46. Care must be taken to be full. In addition, pages and documents (drawings or landscapes) should be similarly oriented.

When the document is properly configured, button 47 (FIG. 8) is selected and a window is opened allowing the user to configure the settings for creating a .pdf document. In the window 41 of FIG. 9, when this is displayed, as shown in FIG. 9, the format is set to "postscript job", the postscript level is set to "level 2 and 3", and the data format is "binary". Is set to "all", the font is set to "all", and the PostScript file is finally saved by selecting the button 48 of FIG.

By saving the output of FIG. 9, the procedure 49 shown in FIG. 2A is completed, i.e., the Acrobat Distiller option can be set to generate the appropriate .pdf file. The document layout of the .ps file is now converted to a .pdf file as shown at 50 in FIG. 2A. Procedure 50 The conversion is preferably performed using Adobe's Acrobat Distiller software. This shows information about the conversion, as shown in FIG. 10, on the screen 51 of the monitor 14 and including applicable messages such as status, size, source, percentage read from the progress bar, pages, and the like. This is accomplished by opening a containing Acrobat Distiller application. When the menu labeled "Distiller" is displayed, the "job" option finally showing the screen 52 of FIG. 11 is selected. Screen 52 shows the components and options available when "general" tab 53 is selected. When the "compression" tab 55 is selected, it is possible to check and compress the text of the line art box, the color bit map image, the gray scale bit map image, and the monochrome bit map image. The checked boxes are "compressed text and line art", "down sample set for 72dpi", and "automatic compression set to medium", and the "monochrome bit map images" box is not checked.

When the font embedding tab 55 is selected, the "embedded all fonts" box is checked and "sub-set fonts" below the box are not checked. When tab 56 is selected, the "convert CMYK image to RGB" box is checked, but other boxes are not checked, and "unchanged" is selected in the "color conversion" list. After all the selections have been made, the "OK" button 57 is selected and the appropriate PostScript file is converted.

The above-described procedure is suitable for using an XEIKON color printer as the drawing device 10 to be used. However, if a MIDAX, or MICA printer for black and white printing is used, the following changes must be made from the above-described settings associated with the screen 52.

General Compatibility: Accrabat 3.0

Resolution: 300 dpi

Compression Monochrome Bitmap Images

Do not check box

Check Font Embedding Embed All Fonts

Do not check Subset Fonts

Below (always!)

Advanced remove transfer functions

and remove under color

Choose removal / black generation

As shown in decision box 58 of FIG. 2A, at this point the user wants to display and / or print a hard copy of the .pdf file, viewing and / or printing as shown in 59 of FIG. 2A. The Adobe Acrobat Reader application opens, enabling it. The file will appear exactly as it was originally created when displayed or printed, and printing can be done using any operating system platform and any printer.

The next procedure of FIG. 2A, shown in decision box 60, is to determine if there is a current job that includes the image to be reused, and if yes, it is converted as shown in 61 of FIG. 2A. After conversion, or if the current task is not reused, it will add variable paragraphs, variable tags, variable images, and finally open the .pdf layout, for example using Acrobat exchange, to create a levy file. As shown in box 62 of FIG. 2, this procedure is initiated by starting the Acrobat program.

After starting the Acrobat exchange, a determination is made as to whether a reuse record layout file exists for the job, as shown in decision box 63 of FIG. 2A. If so, this is converted as shown in 64 in FIG. 2B, and the record layout information is imported as shown in 65 in FIG. 2B. After this conversion and import, or upon determining "no" from box 63, the job configuration is performed as shown in 67 after all the fonts to be used by the job are embedded as shown in box 66 of FIG. 2B. do.

When a font is embedded in a job file, all information about the font is added to the .pdf file, making manipulation of the file unrelated to the font currently available on the operating system. The font can be located in the Macintosh system folder or in an open folder of the suitcase application.

To embed a font, first stop all other applications, then select the font embed application. This allows the user to embed fonts in a .pdf file instead of reprocessing all the way back to the original QUIRK XPRESS document.

When the font embed application icon is selected, the file menu is displayed, and "embed" is selected from that menu. Then, a screen 68 as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the monitor 14. The screen 68 will be navigated and the user will highlight the pdf file with the fonts they wish to embed, and if the appropriate font is selected the "embed" button 69 will be selected and a window will be displayed to the user that the process is complete when embedding is complete. Will be.

Then, the job configuration procedure 67 is executed to add variable tags, paragraphs, and resources, and the opening of the pdf file in the Acrobat exchange ((19) in FIG. 1, (67) in FIG. 2) starts. This can be done by dragging the PostScript file icon from Windows to the Acrobat exchange icon, or by opening the Exchange application from the File menu and selecting "open" to display a scrolling list to select the desired file, selecting the file and clicking "open". Can be.

One exemplary procedure for adding a variable paragraph is as follows.

1. Select the press sheet size from the VImpose menu.

VImpose> press sheet size

2. Select the MIDAX character size in the open window.

3. Leave this page blank. Do not place anything on this page that needs to be rendered.

This page will act as a carrier for variable annotations for all jobs. This page will not be charged.

4. From the Document menu, choose Insert Page.

Document> insert page

This will allow you to browse and select all converted .pdf pages as soon as you insert them into the layout file.

5. Insert the first page after the page circle.

6. Repeat step 4 until all .pdf pages that will eventually be drawn are inserted into the layout document.

7. Copy all necessary .xlf graphic images (logos) or scannable fonts (eg bar codes) to the Macintosh over the network or to a floppy disk.

8. Once the .xlf logo or scannable font has been converted for this task, launch the xlf2tif utility by clicking on the application icon.

9. Choose Open from the File menu and browse to find a specific logo or font.

The xlf2tif software will convert the original xlf image to .tif with the resolution needed to place it in a layout or .pdf file.

In the document menu shown on screen 70 of FIG. 13, if an additional converted QUARK XPRESS file needs to be inserted as an additional page in the layout file, the " insert page " option for displaying screen 72 of FIG. 71). In screen 72 the user scrolls to identify the file and if the file is highlighted as shown in FIG. 14 (73), an “open” button 74 is clicked to open window 75 in FIG. Then, the position where the inserted file should be placed is selected using the option 76, and the "OK" button 77 is selected when appropriate.

A similar procedure is provided for inserting variable tags into a .pdf layout. The variable tag is a place holder that defines the starting position and length of the field in the data file. Each tag requires a unique tag name to identify it from all other tags in a single record. The tag can have a unique or duplicate start position.

Test data (which can be applied to any tag) represents an example of what will be printed in that field. If you define the tag as "first_name", you can enter "John" in the test data field. When sample data is selected from the VIP display menu, the name "John" will be displayed on the screen instead of the tag "first_name".

To define a variable tag, an Adobe Exchange document is opened and the "variable tag definition" option is selected as a result of the display of screen 78 shown in FIG. 16 in the plug-in menu. As shown in FIG. 16 (79), all suitable tags are made using the option selectable on screen 78, and the tag is a given name as shown in FIG. 16 (79). When all the appropriate tags have been made, the "done" button 80 is selected using the mouse 16 or the keyboard 15.

To place the variable paragraph on the page with the pdf file open in Adobe Exchange, click on the variable paragraph icon in the top menu bar, click and hold the mouse (16) key with the cursor anywhere on the page, and the text frame Drag and release the mouse to outline its. The window 81 of FIG. 17 will open and display on the monitor 14. Then, the variable paragraph frame attribute is appropriately selected using all applicable selections on screen 81 in connection with the "font" button 82, which selects the font from the list displayed. Fonts previously embedded in a QUARK XPRESS file (ps file) are available in this list. Additional fonts can be used in .pdf files by using the "font embed" application described above. A "rotation" button 83 may also be selected that allows rotation by 90 °, 180 °, 270 ° and the like. The rotation point is the upper left corner of the text frame. Finally, the appropriate text is inserted as indicated by the selection of button 84 in FIG.

By typing in a chevron-shaped tag, or by importing an ordinary task or ASCII file and defining an embedded tag, copying plain ASCII text from the current document with the embedded tag, or the "get text from file" box 85 of FIG. ), There is another mechanism for inserting text into the page using the Frame Attributes window by manual entry in the pdf file.

Variable resources such as images (graphics) may be added.

The variable image used in the XLOpen system running MIDAX and MICA print devices needs to be in single bit TIFF format.

During the document design phase, elements of a document are defined as either static or variable. In addition, the image may be printed with flexographic, lithographic, or Moore's high intelligence imaging techniques (MIDAX and / or MICA). All images to be printed in MIDAX or MICA will have to be transformed into single-bit TIFF format in their current state. Adobe Photoshop is the preferred application used for the conversion. This has three stages, and will usually be executed in one Photoshop session.

A. Convert color images to grayscale (color and grayscale images use multiple bits per pixel).

B. Convert grayscale images to bitmaps.

C. Save the image as a TIFF file.

Start by double clicking on the Photoshop icon to open the application.

18 shows an example screen 86 that enables to save a file as a TIFF file. With the bitmap image loaded, select "save" from the file menu, and select "TIFF" from the drop down menu shown at 87 on screen 86. Then, the "save" button 88 is selected and "Macintosh byte Ordering" and "LZW Compression" are selected from the displayed TIFF options. Similar procedures can be used to convert .xlt logos to .tif resources.

To define a variable resource, start with a .ps file document saved as a .pdf file, and click the "variable resources" icon in the plug-in icon on the top menu bar. This displays the screen 89 shown in FIG. By manipulating the appropriate box for the screen 89 of FIG. 19 and making the appropriate selection for the screen 89, the appropriate variable, including the specification of the tag in relation to the variable resource using the image reference frame check box 90 You can define resources. Using the "link image" check box 91, the operator can also add a reference (file name) of the image to be printed at runtime. The image does not need to be in the layout file. 20 shows the entire variable resource menu and submenu. Variable layers may also be selected. Similar to the selectable criteria of the PC configuration, the operator sets a condition and then associates a particular frame with the condition. The frame can be the text or image (variable paragraph or variable resource) of all already defined views. The operator provides a name for this association, which is considered as a hierarchy.

The variable layer is selected from the plug-in menu which displays the "layer definition" window shown in (92) of FIG. The window of screen 92 is divided into three functional areas: conditions, assignments, and hierarchies. Select and manipulate the appropriate options on screen 92 to define the appropriate characters for the variable resource.

After the job configuration procedure 67 is completed, the ORL information is sent to list processing as shown in box 93 of FIG. 2B. This is done directly as shown in line 94 connected to box 95 for the conversion of the live data file to a format normalized by the data center, or alternatively a box starting with decision box 96 ( 93) to the right. If the working configuration includes a variable image, it is converted into a suitable format as described with reference to FIG. 18 as shown in box 97. After conversion or after determining "no" to the decision box 96, it is determined whether the job configuration includes any tag drive image, and if "Yes", the Runtime Time Association (RTA) file 99 is known in the art. Is made using After the reproduction of the RTA file or the selection of "no" from the decision box 98, it is judged which non-standard format the job uses according to the decision box 100 of FIG. 2B. If yes, then the .ps printer font is converted to a UNIX printer font using the prior art as shown in box 101 of FIG. 2, and finally data is passed down the box 95 via line 102. Is further processed.

Then, a levy file is created as shown in box 103 of FIG. 2B (and procedure 20 of FIG. 1). There is a need to make an imposition to place the page layout on a press sheet or paper web of the exact position and orientation to be printed. The VImpose menu is displayed as shown at 104 in FIG. The various definitions related to the "imposition" procedure are:

Imposition imposition is the process of arranging individual layout pages in a press sheet or web so that the pages are in the proper order for printing.

Press Sheet The actual paper is printed on the potential image area. (For Xeikon, this is the cut sheet size. For MIDAX or MICA, this is the dimension across the web.)

Page Press sheets, which may be the same or different, may have one or many layout pages.

Gutters The horizontal or vertical distance (in decimal representation) between pages of a press sheet.

Rows Number of pages arranged horizontally

Columns The number of pages arranged vertically.

Cropmark Offset Distance from the edge of the page to where the crop mark begins.

The .pdf layout file is closed before you begin creating the charge file. And, the Adobe Acrobat exchange application is started by double clicking the icon and selecting the "press sheet size" option 105 in the screen 104 (Figure 22). Then, in Fig. 22, the " page size ", " gutter ", " layout ", and " cropmark " options 106 are selected and the appropriate options are selected and data is entered into the screen which opens in response.

The method and system according to the invention require each printing device to be set on a separate press sheet. For example, for a one-page job with MIDAX and MICA on the page, two press sheets should be set in the charge file. There are two ways to achieve this requirement.

Insert Press Sheet-This adds one additional press sheet. This can be selected when working with individual pages to be placed on individual press sheets.

Generate Device Views-This adds the same number of copies of the original press sheet as specified in the Number of Devices field. This may be selected when two or more pages are placed on the same press sheet.

Example charge files are shown in FIGS. 23 and 24. FIG. 23 shows the front side of the press sheet which is page 1 of the imposed file, and FIG. 24 shows the back side of the press sheet of FIG. Individual documents on the front and back of the press sheets of FIGS. 23 and 24 are provided in this embodiment by using a step-and-repeat procedure.

After the appropriate levy file is created, the work file is created as shown in the procedure of Fig. 1 (21), box 99 of Fig. 2B, and the like, and drawing is performed to determine if the preprint layer contains any complicated graphics. As shown in the decision box 107, it is preferably first executed. And, if included, the complex preprint layer may be replaced with a plain white background, as shown at 108 of FIG. 2B, or after a “no” judgment or replacement, as indicated by box 109 of FIG. 26, the necessary resources may be Copied to the management server. And finally, as shown in box 110 of FIG. 2B, the drawing device 10 or 11 is controlled to produce a color or monochrome composite proof print, and the drawing is executed and the exemplary document 111 shown in FIG. 25 is executed. The job is run to create the final variable document ().

As shown in FIG. 25, document 111 includes static content 12 that may exist at various locations in the document, and includes one or more variable paragraphs 113, variable images 114, and images 113, 114. ) Can have a variable tag that defines the location of

Thus, it can be seen that, according to the present invention, a method using front end software, and a system comprising front end software, uses variable data using a pdf format that allows variable content to be created and stored on static content. There will be. It also allows the user to model the database, position frames, set properties, store states, combine states and logic, and preview the combined content, and page in a press sheet on a supported print device. Allows you to set the location. The same .pdf file can be used to make different charging files to be executed on different drawing devices 10 and 11, and the present invention uses conventional software in a simple but highly efficient manner.

While the present invention has been shown and described herein as the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be consistent with the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to cover all equivalent methods and systems for making equivalent documents. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope.

Claims (29)

As a way to design, produce, and print variable documents that contain static content: (a) defining variable data in the .pdf layout such that the variable content is generated and stored on the static content; (b) opening the .pdf layout and adding at least one of a variable paragraph, a variable tag, and a variable resource; (c) opening the .pdf layout and generating a charge file; (d) creating a working folder linking the .pdf layout, the levy file, and the runtime association file; And (e) drawing a variable document in a first drawing device using the working folder. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step (a1) of storing the document layout as a .ps file before step (a), wherein step (a) converts the .ps file into the .pdf layout. How is it executed. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein step (c) is performed to generate another levy file using the same .pdf layout to execute step (e) in a second drawing device. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (e) is performed using a MICR printer, a MIDAX printer, or a Xeikon printer as the drawing device. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising marking the levy file prior to step (e). 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the levy file is displayed based on criteria defined during the execution of step (a) and then drawn. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed to add all of a variable paragraph, a variable tag, and a variable image. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) executes adding at least one of a TIFF image, a PDF image, and an entire PDF page as variable resources. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (b) further executes rotating the variable resource in 90 ° increments. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is performed to generate another levy file using the same .pdf layout to execute step (e) in a second drawing device. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a computer comprising a monitor and an input device is used, wherein steps (a)-(c) are performed by selecting and entering options and data using the input device and displaying information on the monitor. Way. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising marking the levy file prior to step (e). 3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (a1) is executed using QUARK XPRESS software, step (a) is executed using Acrobat Distiller software, and steps (b) and (c) are acrobat exchange software. Method executed using. To create a variable document with static content from a document layout that contains variable data in a .ps file: (a) converting the .ps file into a .pdf layout; (b) opening the .pdf layout and adding at least one of a variable paragraph, a variable tag, and a variable image; (c) opening the .pdf layout and generating a charge file: and finally (d) drawing a variable document in a first drawing device using the working folder. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) is to generate another levy file using the same .pdf layout to perform step (e) in the second drawing device. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising marking the levy file prior to step (d). 15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (b) executes adding at least one of a TIFF image, a PDF image, and an entire PDF page as variable resources. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein step (b) further executes rotating the variable resource in 90 ° increments. As a variable document production system: First drawing device; A computer including a monitor and an input device; And Computer control for the first drawing device, The computer control includes (i) defining variable data in a .pdf layout that includes variable content generated and stored on static content; (ii) open the .pdf layout and add at least one of a variable paragraph, variable tag, and variable image; And (iii) open the .pdf layout and generate a charge file; Includes front end software accessible by the computer for The computer control, or other computer control using output from the computer control, operates the first drawing device to draw a document having static content and variable data. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the levy file comprises: a levy file including a first levy file and of a different type than the first drawing device, using a second levy file generated by the computer control from the same .pdf layout; And a second drawing device controllable by the computer control. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first and second drawing device is selected from MICR, MIDAX, and Xeikon printers. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the variable resource comprises a PDF page and a variable image. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the front end software for defining variable data in a .pdf layout comprises software for storing a document layout as a .ps file and converting the .ps file to the .pdf layout. . 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the front end software opens and changes QUARK XPRESS for storing a document layout as a .ps file, an Acrobat distiller for converting the .ps file to the .pdf layout, and the .pdf layout. A system comprising acrobat exchange for adding all of a paragraph, variable tags, and variable images. Apparatus for performing the method of claim 1. Apparatus for performing the method of claim 14. A variable document having static content, a variable image, a variable paragraph, and a variable tag produced by the method of claim 1. A variable document having static content, a variable image, a variable paragraph, and a variable tag produced by the method of claim 14. A press sheet corresponding to a levy file made according to the method of claim 1.