FOCUS GOLD

Focus Gold makes the task of creating variable data printing jobs easy. This powerful package provides special tools so that you can lay out your variable document in QuarkXPress the way you would any other document. Then you can add all of your variables from within the familiar QuarkXPress environment.

You can choose to substitute new text or graphics in the document, or even vary the location of images, text, and lines on your page. You don’t need to be a programmer to tailor the layout as well as the message to the recipient.

Brochures, postcards, identification badges and even customized catalogs are now easy to create with Focus Gold.

XTending the Dimensions of Publishing

Fully Variable Documents

With Focus Gold, you can generate fully variable documents with ease. It is an XTension for QuarkXPress, which means that designers can already use the layout tools that they are already accustomed to, while adding the variable elements with Focus Gold in that familiar environment. In QuarkXPress, you can generate a multi- page document which is fully variable. Graphics, image location, text, text block location, bar codes and lines are all variable, creating a conditional layout that can support over 1600 unique layouts for a single document. All of it is easy to use with no programming knowledge needed.

Database Compatibility

Focus Gold reads tab-delimited or fixed record length ASCII text files. These files can be created by nearly any database, as well as by spreadsheet programs and word processors. No matter where you store your data, Focus Gold can use it for variable data printing jobs.

System Requirements

Security

Focus Gold keeps your data secure by letting the designer work independently of the database. The innovative Parameter File contains a description of all of the fields in the database which are available for the variable data printing job, indicating the length and contents of the fields without giving the designer access to any real customer data. The entire design process can be accomplished with a Parameter File and a small sample data file, so the design and testing of the variable document can be handled offsite.

Power Macintosh 24 MB RAM Mac OS 7.6 or later QuarkXPress 3.32 or later

Software Features

2000 unique Text Variables per document Unlimited occurrences of each Text Variable 16 Variable Sets per document 16 Variable Images per Set 16 Variable Lines per Set 100 two-level formulas per Set 1616 possible unique layouts Unlimited variable bar codes Default settings compensate for missing data Automatic text hyphenation and reflow Supports EPS, TIFF, RIFF, PICT, Paint, PCX, Scitex CT, DCS, JPG graphics

Error Checking

Focus Gold provides several different kinds of error checking to help ensure there won’t be any surprises when the variable data printing job is merged with the database. The first kind of error checking is the ability to view text variables in the document at their maximum lengths. This lets you anticipate text overflow problems that could occur if all of the fields in a particular record have data of the maximum length stored in them.

A second form of error checking is Focus Inspector. This utility scans a document and reports on any attributes found in the document that will not print properly because of limitations in the RIP or output device being used.

Another error safety measure included in Focus Gold is the ability to set a default value for any variable item. This means that if a field of the database is empty, Focus Gold still has information from which to make decisions about the variable data printing job.

Output Device Compatibility

Focus Gold can print to any output device supported by QuarkXPress, both PostScript and non-PostScript. This covers a huge array of output devices by using the Focus BatchPrint utility. For faster, more efficient output of variable printing jobs, Focus Gold uses a system of plug-ins to support the different variable data optimization requirements of various RIPs and print engines. This plug-in technology gives Focus expandability to access new RIPs or as improvements are made to existing RIP technology.

Focus Gold can print to any output device supported by QuarkXPress, both PostScript and non-PostScript. This covers a huge array of output devices by using the Focus BatchPrint utility. For faster, more efficient output of variable printing jobs, Focus Gold uses a system of plug-ins to support the different variable data optimization requirements of various RIPs and print engines. This plug-in technology gives Focus expandability to access new RIPs or as improvements are made to existing RIP technology.

® 1998 by Vision’s Edge, Inc., All rights reserved. Macintosh and Apple are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Quark and QuarkXPress are trademarks of Quark, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. XTensions is a trademark of Quark, Inc.

800-983-6337 • 850-386-4573

fax 850-386-2594

info@visionsedge.com www.visionsedge.com