February  2, 2006

Happy New Year everyone!   We hope the busy holiday season kept everyone, well, busy.  We have released new versions of the ROES DP2  and ROES Fuji Servers today, and later today we will be releasing the updated ROES Client with the new text entry for everyone (what was optional before/during the busy season).  Those who were waiting to update will have it in place for all users by Monday night.  Details on the new features and attributes are below, some were published with the optional release while others are newer.  Some tips and reminders follow.

New ROES DP2 Server Link and Features Available In the Update:

The new ROES DP2 Server version 1.032 is available at the top of our downloads page when needed via www.softworksroes.com/ROES/DP2_Server/Server.zip .  This download includes the server install and the updated User's Guide.  Updates in the server are listed here, the most important one is one of the Options for Smart Dp2 Package Lookup, for most labs this should be checked as only a few labs will need special handling for the way they process DP2 Packages into their workflow:

DP2 Package crop/handling updated

Option to remove rotation from EXIF headers ( i.e. camera applied rotations)

Updated handling for IC/IL node layering/rendering with Pager-created products

Multiline text should fully listed in all reports

Updated handling of DP2 preview threads during rapid start/stop cycling of the server

Unicode job file creation option

Multiple comma separated email addresses in a field support

Added these report/e-mail template macros:

 PAYMENT_FORMATTED_CREDIT_CARD_NUMBER (will break the 16 digit number into the four groups of four with dashes in between)

 SELECTED_UNIT_OPTION_LABEL_BY_ID_IN_ORDER

 SELECTED_UNIT_OPTION_LABEL_BY_LABEL_IN_ORDER

 SELECTED_UNIT_OPTION_TEXT_BY_ID_IN_ORDER

 SELECTED_UNIT_OPTION_TEXT_BY_LABEL_IN_ORDER (these 4 work like the similar macros for Order Options but will look through the Unit List)

New ROES Client Features/Attributes  Available In the 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.       

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 and quantitymaximum Attributes

These 2 new attributes work similar to the priceminimum attribute and is placed directly on the Order Options element in your Templates.  However, where priceminimum will force a price to appear if a dollar amount below the defined number is ordered, quantityminimum will flash a warning message that the specified minimum number of prints has not been reached and not allow the order to be sent.  The quantitymaximum attribute will also flash a warning message that the defined maximum number of prints for an order has been exceeded and some need to be removed.  Additionally, these 2 attributes can be used together with the same value to force a set number of prints into an order, so you can use catalogs to define album sizes where a set number of print pages need to be ordered (like 36 for an 18 page bound album).  Both attributes do list the actual number so they can know how much they need to add or subtract from the order, and the default verbiage in the dialog windows can be altered if desired.

New orderminimum Attribute

This new attribute, when placed directly on Order Options, can be used to replace the priceminimum attribute and will not allow an order to be sent if the value in dollars has not been met or exceeded.

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 Rendering 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.