December  5, 2005

Hello - We have released an optional update for the ROES Client  that we can set for use for by your customers.  Details on the new features and attributes in the Client software are below, with the biggest change being the new text entry.  As usual, some tips and reminders follow.

Support alerts:

Startup Error: Invocation Exception

We have seen several of these pop up of late on both Apple and Windows systems, all in cases where the customer has run the client before.  When this happens, try deleting the Labname.properties file in the .Labname folder in the user's profile under Documents and Settings (in OS X use Finder and search for the file).  For newer labs and as a reminder, the Labname value is usually what appears after /labs/ in the client launch link, i.e. if www.softworksroes.com/ROES/labs/SoftWorks/index.html  is the launch then the folder should be .SoftWorks.

FTP Connection Issues:

As more photographers go digital and look to use online ordering, more and more people with a fear of the Internet will be using ROES to your labs.  This fear will likely lead them to use more personal firewalls, pop-up blockers, security and proxy software on their systems to ward off would be hackers.  In many of these cases, active mode FTP connections back to the client computer will get blocked.  Most of the send errors we see via e-mailed log files are where active mode is in use.  To avoid these issues you can switch to passive mode FTP, which, while it does require a data port range be opened on your firewalls, does not require any changes on the client side for the data transfer.

New ROES Features/Attributes  Available In the Optional Update:

New Text Node Entry!!

The new text entry method now creates an animated drawer that slides out of a text node when selected.  Text can be typed or pasted into the box and rendered immediately into the node.  Changes to the text via options such as font color, font type, or bold/italic options also render immediately upon selection.  Once placed in the node the text does not stretch to fit as before, but formats neatly centered.  NOTE:  The new text entry is optional to use in the new version of the client, so if desired you can use the other new features/attributes listed below and hold off on the text change.

FTP Configuration Available in Templates File via Template Tool

You can now add a new element to your Templates file to effect FTP configuration changes.  This is ideal for emergency situations where a server may go down at the lab or your hosted ISP or even to simply switch ISP's without needing to tell us.  The added data in the Templates file will override any settings we have in the client launch configuration.  When combined with encrypted templates, this can also prevent in any snooping of the FTP connection information in the config.xml file.   Note: The new element is only available currently in this updated client set, so please verify we have you running on it before making any changes.   

New Montage Function in Pager

The new Montage creator in Pager allows customers to create a random set of nodes in a layout, using various offsets to create the added nodes spaced throughout the selected product.   

New quantityminimum Attribute

This new attribute works like the priceminimum attribute and is placed directly on the Order Options element in your Templates.  Where priceminimum will force a price to appear if a dollar amount below the defined number is ordered, quantityminimum will disable the Complete Order button unless the number of prints in the order meets or exceeds the number specified.

New pagereditable Attribute Use On Nodes

The pagereditable attribute can now be used on an existing node defined in the lab layout, enabling the ability to lock down a lab supplied node from being modified by the Pager.

Expansion/Contraction of R endering Pane in ROES Client

The ability to quickly expand or contract  the image rendering pane when working on a product has been added  in the ROES Client.  You will see a new arrow button to the lower right, just above Rotate Image, that will collapse the tools area and give more vertical space to the work area; the arrow when pointing up will restore the tools.  Toggling the hotkey combination of CTRL/CMD-T will perform this function as well.  For more horizontal space, you will see arrows near the top of the pane separator bar.  Clicking the arrow pointing right will collapse the thumbnails area; to restore simply click the arrow above it pointing left.  Toggling the hotkey combination of CTRL/CMD-T will perform this also.  Please note that the Pager node design button area is not affected by the tools collapse.

Reminders for ROES DP2 Server Scripts/Macros:

Exportimages Scripts

The ExportImages scripts for DP2 v7 and DP2 v6.1.46 are both available from the web site at www.softworkssystems.com/Downloads.htm.  After adding DP2 7 updates, be sure to verify the checkbox to Add ROES Comments is still there and functioning; you may need to modify the script and update libraries again (instructions for this are in the readme file in the zip download). 

RollFrameForNode macro to alleviate 'none' entries in the image designation

We have a DP2 macro available for use at the lab to remove the 'none' designation that can be returned when printing image names on proof pages and such.  It is available for download from the web site at www.softworkssystems.com/Downloads.htm.  If you are using OrderRollFRameForNode instead please let us know, we have a revised macro available for use with that one. 

DP2 Macro to remove ROES-added image indices

A macro is available to remove the image indices added at the client (the -1, -2, etc. added to the image name) when creating products in DP2 for printing (used with function calls that place the image name on the print).  It is available for download from the web site at www.softworkssystems.com/Downloads.htm.  Note: If you have had us place the image indices in as a prefix, we will need to remove this before you can use this script. 

Tips/Reminders:

Drag and Drop Sorting of Items in Review Order

When in the Review Order screen, studios can arrange the order items simply by clicking anywhere in the item's area and dragging it up or down to a line between other items and releasing the mouse to place it in a new location.  This should be especially helpful for album orders, where an album cover, even if added to the order at the end, can be dragged up to the top, sliding the other items down.

Use tooltips on products

If you want to be able to convey additional information about a product to studios, try adding an attribute of tooltip to the item and enter text you want them to see pop-up when they mouse over the product in the Sizes palette.  This could be used to add reminders to look at mounting, sprays and other upsell options, to inform customers if an item is Pager editable, or available quantity discounts.

Using links in templates files

Remember that you can use a link to easily replicate products or options where a price remains the same per selection or there is no price at all.  This can be handy on adding image tone changes, strokes, or masks where the jobtext is consistent through the options.  Click on the product, group, or catalog where you want to add the link and select Add - Link.  Then enter the u_id of the source item in the field provided.  This can allow you to make changes to just the source in the templates file and avoid searching for other locations the same item may appear.

Addenabled attribute

Be sure to add the addenabled attribute on multi-image proof sheets (set to true) and informational/advertisement products used as the first template in a group (set to false).  For the proof sheets it will allow customers to add the item to an order with empty nodes (whereas before they had to hold the ALT or OPT key to Add with Empty).  For the informational items it will prevent the item from being added and causing an error upon receipt at the lab.