As we're getting closer and closer to the realease of our 4.0 version, I'm getting more and more exited about some of the new features. One of the new features with the most potential surely is the link with Enfocus Switch. This software is well known for its unrivaled prepress automation functionalities. And now the power of the FLO Suite can be called from within the Switch workflows. And vice versa.
Prepress Workflows
Enfocus Switch allows automation of prepress workflows in the widest sense of the word. Administrators visually drag and drop workflow steps on a canvas, and configure them as they would a flow chart. Each individual step can consist of a large number of pre-defined items (sending mails, uploading to FTP, filters on file extensions, etc.). But it can also contain a link to an external application (Enfocus Pitstop Server, PDFSpy, Elpical Claro, and so on). These external applications can be called with command line utilities, but many (for example the list above) can be called through pre-configured configurators. And one of the new configurators available will make it possible to link the workflow to the DMP FLO Suite.
Input
On one side, the FLO Suite can be used to provide input for a Switch workflow. This has always been possible, since Switch often works with hotfolders. Orders placed in the FLO Suite (e.g. from a web2print application) can result in PDF files or InDesign Packages or images to be injected into the prepress workflow.
Output
Similarly, it has always been possible to inject output from the Switch workflows into the FLO Suite's web environment. Images could be placed inside a Switch workflow, and be placed in a FLO Suite dropfolder. From there, all standard FLO Suite functionalities became available.
Configurator
But all of that could be simplified. So a configurator was created to give FLO Suite power to Enfocus Switch prepress workflows. The configurator has a couple of options. First of all, a minimum of configuration (client, url, directory) can result in the creation of assets or artwork in the FLO Suite. These will appear in assetFLO or artworkFLO in the location specified in the configurator. Next to that, a new entry point has been added where scripts can be created which can be called from a switch workflow. In these scripts, variable data publishing or other types of typical FLO functionalities can be called. All of them very fine features, but we have the highest hopes for the final option of the configurator: Online Checkpoints
Online Checkpoints
With these checkpoints, files or jobs in the Switch workflow can be presented to users all over the world for certain decisions. Primarily: is this job good for print, does in need corrections, or is it completely rejected. This way, end users can collaborate more closely than ever in your prepress workflow. And since the interface of this queue consists of a contentFLO application, you have complete control over its look and feel.