In his blog of December 12, Joeri already talked a little about the next release of FLO version 4.0.
Only one month away from the first public preview of our new version, I think it’s time to tell you a little more about the new features.
| 1. |
Adobe InDesign CS4 Support, which means you are able to upload and download InDesign CS4 documents to and from the FLO server. |
| 2. |
Integration of Elpical Claro Server into the FLO Suite. Automatic image enhancement for dropfolders, and high-quality image transformations. In version 4.0 you will be able to add enhancements for newly added images to our Digital Asset Management system, but think about the possibilities to add this features to your customer front-ends...
No more “poor-quality’ images when a consumer uploads his personal images, but the best possible quality for each purpose... |
| 3. |
Integration with Callas pdfToolBox, which gives us input control on PDF Files, all from within the DMP FLO Suite. And yes: we are already working on version 4.1, 4.2, 4.x of FLO, in which we will add imposition features and output of PDFs which qualify to the Universal Proof Of Preflight... |
| 4. |
Integration with Enfocus Switch workflows, giving you: |
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Input control of images/files through any Automate workflow |
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Visualisation to end-users of decisions in workflows |
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FLO features embedded in any workflow (personalization, variable data, etc.) by means of a configurator |
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Output of any workflow imported into a FLO Suite client |
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And so-one… Just imagine dropping your Excel file into a dropfolder of your workflow, and receiving an approval of your customer a few hours later, without you even having seen the result… FLO connected to Switch makes this possible! |
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| 5. |
Replacement for the Erez Imaging Server by the FLO Media Server and the FSI viewer by the FLO Media Viewer. DMP technology, similar features, more flexibility! And again with 4.x in mind: think about storing video and 3-D documents inside your Digital Asset Management System… That’s why FLO is not a regular DAM anymore, but growing into a full-featured Media Server... |
| 6. |
Tight integration between Visual Studio and the FLO Development Environment. Developers will be able to create FLO Code in Visual Studio with all of the intellisense and syntax checking advantages of the environment. Possibility to create and use external class libraries in the entry point context |
| 7. |
Archiving workflows: FLO will take care of all management of older and archived jobs, not only those created with the DMP FLO Suite. Central (re-use) of assets, logging of asset- and font-usage, easy retrieval of archived, old artwork and jobs, etc. |
| 8. |
MIS/Production Integrations through JDF, JMF and custom XML. We are very pleased to finally offer an integrated but flexible mechanism to connect your customer Web to Print applications to your (or your customers’) MIS or ERP systems for input and administrative purposes, but also to your (PDF-based) production workflows. A few names? |
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| • Axapta |
• Cerm |
• Xerox Freeflow |
| • Claro |
• Print+ |
• Xeikon |
| • PerfectProof |
• Agfa Apogee |
• Screen Trueflow |
| • Multi-Press |
• Kodak Prinergy |
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| 9. |
designFLO. Allow end users to create layouts (including drag/drop and creation of new objects), which are communicated to the studio as an InDesign file for final finishing |
| 10. |
assetFLO: Support for XMP-driven workflows |
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And of course a few existing features are updated, to give them a better look-and-feel, to add functionality, or just to give you the much asked-for new features:
| 11. |
ClientCopy: now allows for selection of files through the browser, besides selecting them from a folder on the server |
| 12. |
New Extra Field Kind: Font Selector, to easily select fonts installed on the server (instead of typing the name) |
| 13. |
New Extra Field Kind: Template Selector, to easily select templates (instead of typing the name) |
| 14. |
Support for the Safari browsers on Mac & Windows |
| 15. |
Updated interface for string-management, with an updated interface and an import-export feature |
| 16. |
assetFLO: search op “Keywords” now also searches inside Extra Fields |
| 17. |
assetFLO: “Maximum output pixels” when ordering files through baskets |
We will start showing version 4 in several places the coming months, so keep an eye out for our News section… It will be worth the effort to come and visit us in Gorinchem, Retie, Tampa, Milano, Gent and probably several other locations the next months.