June  26, 2006

RUG Wrapup

SoftWorks would like to thank all those who attended the ROES User Group this year.  We had a great turnout and welcomed the feedback.  Some of your suggestions have already been incorporated into the latest Client.  Anyone wanting to look over the templates file used for the advanced session can pull it down at www.softworksroes.com/ROES/labs/SARDemo/RUGDemoTemplates.xml .  Examples of links, Linknodes for image and image name-to-text nodes are present.

ROES Client  and DP2 Server Updates

We will be releasing a ROES Client update today which will add in a few new features and functions we have complete.  A new DP2 Server version, 1.033, is also available, of which initial versions are already in use with DP2 Version 8.  Details on the new features and attributes for both are below, along with the usual tips and reminders.  

New ROES  Client Features/Attributes  Available In the Update:

New Attribute: stripextension

When used on a text node that has been linked to an image node node via Linknodes, the file name appearing in the image node will be listed without the file extension.

New Attribute: newlines

This new attribute has been added to prevent users from creating multiple text lines where a single line is desired.  Adding newlines set to false will force just single line entry into the node; coupled with the characterlimit attribute can allow you to control the amount of text each node receives for better rendering.

Change to autorotate Attribute

The autorotate  attribute in Template Tool, when set to true, will now activate the Autorotate button on the pro toolbar.  Previously, true would take no action and false would de-select the option.  After being turned on, the button will remain selected until it is manually de-selected or a product with a false flag is chosen.

Pager - Select All, Flip Horizontal, Flip Vertical

New options are available on nodes via the right-click contextual menu (more info to be included).

ROES DP2 Server Update

The new ROES DP2 Server v.1.033 is available via our downloads page at  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, please look at the User's Guide for additional details:

 -  DP2 Package crop/handling updated  (new Options checkbox item, most labs this should be checked)  

 -  Updated handling of rotation values

 -  Updated for compatibility with DP2 version 8

 -  Multiple e-mail addressees for reports

 -  Added these report/e-mail template macros: 

You can now embed a UNIT_LIST inside of an IMAGE_SUMMARY_LIST to get all order items for a particular image file

 [UNIT_OPTION_QUANTITY] - to get quantity of an option

Reminders/Tips :

ROES Retail Continuing to Grow!

We continue to do demos for labs as more are taking advantage of the new Retail Clients for kiosks and home users!  This is a great avenue to re-capture print business lost to the retail giants - market your product sizes, pro paper, and professional expertise to potential customers in your area or even nationally!

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.

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.

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. 

Lab-Created Pager Templates Can Be Merged Into Your Studios' My Templates 

Any Pager created template items saved can be given out to your studios for merging into their own existing Pager products.  At the lab, you can design 50 items in Pager and save them.  Then take the saved templates.xml.enc file (found in your .LABNAME folder) and e-mail it to your studio customers.  Upon saving the file locally, they can open your ROES Client, then drag and drop the file onto the My Templates palette to merge the items in with their own.

Configuration Setting to Increase Order Item Thumbnail Size

The new Client allows us to set a higher default size for the thumbnails in the Order Review window and Preview/Show Order report.  Since systems typically have more RAM now, we can set an itemthumbnailsize in the config to increase the size for better viewing of order items. 

Configuration Setting to Replace the Default Preview Report Displayed via Show Order 

Your lab's branded ROES Client can be set to use an alternate report for all users if the Preview version with the thumbnails is too long.  By placing a report file on your web site, we can set the ROES Client to pull that report and use that to generate the customer's report of the order.

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. 

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 (it is advised to utilize u_id's that describe the option set type being linked to for easier management).  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.

Image Names Can Be Linked Into Text Nodes

You can now use Linknodes in a composite product to create a text entry of an image name into a text node upon adding the image to the matching image node.  For example, a 6 up proof sheet starting with node id/u_id of 10000 for the first image node and node id/u_id of 10006 as the first text node you would add Linknodes to the product for each pair of nodes to connect and enter the u_id's as 10000,10006 in the field provided.  If the nodes do not have u_id's, simply highlight all of the nodes in the product, then right-click and select Copy node id to u_id.