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The PictureManager XTension
INTRODUCTION
The PictureManager XTension™ gives you the power of OPI without the expense. It allows for the batch reimporting of images into your documents. The access paths to the graphics can be redined and it even allows for the reimporting of images with different filename extensions. Whether replacing or just updating graphics you are guaranteed that all image settings such as scale, position, rotation, etc. will be maintained. The XT incorporates a comprehensive caption management utility that allows you to create credit boxes for graphics with ease. Many other features of the XTension help to streamline tedious graphic related production tasks from the initial importing of the picture to finally transfering the document to a service bureau.
The File Mover option allows you to select a document and specify a destination disk and/or folder where you want to copy the file. The document and all its linked graphics (Including DCS files if required), Screen and Printer fonts (Including EPS fonts) will be transferred. The PictManager also provides a facility to report whether TIFF and EPS graphics are RGB or CMYK files
• The user can specify all the necessary defaults that will be applied to the caption text box that is created for a graphic. These include text attributes, style sheets, caption frame and background options, caption positioning options relative to the graphic, including distance and orientation as well as default text for the caption.
• When a caption is created for a graphic, it is automatically sized and placed in the desired location. Any attributes of an individual caption box or contained text can be easily edited.
• When moving or copying a file, the user may select to also move the XPress Preferences file and other required auxiliary files at the same time.
• The Auto Updater is a high performance search utility that will search through predefined volumes or folders for missing or modified graphics and optionally update them. The user can completely control the process by specifying default search paths and/or update options.
• Greeking can be easily turned on and off for all or individual picture boxes.
• It is possible to suppress the printout of picture boxes or just the pictures on a global or individual basis.
• The Picture Batch utility provides high speed searching for graphics based on document names and types.The resultant batch of files is displayed in a floating palette. Any file can be selected from the list and precisely inserted in any open document.
We recommend you make a back up of your original XTension disk, and keep the original in a safe place.
The PictureManager is easy to install: Simply place the XTension file 'PictManager' into the QuarkXPress program folder and launch QuarkXPress. New menus, commands and dialog boxes are seamlessly integrated into the program. If you wish to remove the XTension's functionality from XPress, just move the XTension file to a folder other that the one containing the XPress program.
FUNCTIONS
Each CompuSense XTension that is sold, has been configured to run with an individual copy of QuarkXPress® (i.e tied to the serial number). If the XTension is launched with a copy of XPress having a serial number other than this, the XTension's functionality will not be available.
Once QuarkXPress is launched with the PictureManager XTension present in the program folder, 'PtMngr' will be available on the main menu bar.
The Credit Manager module provides a simple mechanism to automate the process of adding caption boxes to graphics or photographs in your document.
The first option of the pull down menu is 'Credit Defaults…'. This allows you to specify defaults for all the attributes that new caption boxes will take on.
The 'Def Text' button presents a scrollable window to allow entry of default text. Typing 'Return' gives a new line. The 'Enter' key activates the 'OK' button Up to 255 characters can be entered.
Similarly the 'Frame Options' button allows you to set defaults for the caption frame attributes.
Defaults to be applied to caption text can be specified by choosing the 'Text Options' button.
The default position of the caption box relative to the graphic can be set using the following controls.
You can specify the distance that the caption box will be from the graphic it is associated with. If a negative value is entered then the caption box will be created inside the graphic.
You can also specify a default color and percentage shade for the caption background.
All of the above described how to specify defaults for caption boxes. To actually create a caption for a graphic, first select the graphic box then use the ‘Item Credit Info’ menu items. If you are happy with the general defaults and just want to edit the caption text, then choose the 'Text…' menu option. However if you wish to change other attributes such as caption position etc. then use the 'Attributes…' menu item. The use of both of these options is as described above for the defaults. Once the 'OK' button is clicked the caption will be created with the correct size and location. To Delete a picture's caption. Select the 'Delete Credit' option. If the picture box has been resized or otherwise altered then the caption box can be redrawn in its new relative position by selecting ‘Redraw Credit’.
The Update All and Replace All menu options use a high performance search utility that will search through predefined volumes or folders for missing or modified graphics and optionally update them. The user can control the process by specifying default search paths and/or update options. By selecting 'Updater Defaults' from the pull down menu the following dialog is presented.
To alter or set what the 'Search Path' will be use the 'Add Path' and 'Remove Path' buttons to designate the folders where searching will take place. Folders will be searched in the order that they are listed. If the 'All Volumes' button is selected then every volume that is currently mounted added to the list.
Clicking under the ‘Search Subfolders’ heading controls whether subfolders within the specified folder will be searched or not.
If the ‘Match Original’s File Type’ check box is turned on then the XTension will only consider a missing file to be found if both the file name and the file type match that of the original graphic file in the QuarkXPress document. If this option is off then only the file names are compared in the search process.
The Update all Modified Pictures check box allows you to specify whether pictures with a modified status should be automatically updated during the Update process.
The "Find Missing Pictures' check box specifies whether pictures with a missing status will be searched for and updated if found. The check box 'Manual Find if auto search fails' provides a mechanism to manually search for the missing files if they are not found in the specified search folders.
Once you are satisfied with your search criteria, and have selected the required search path, you can initiate the update process by choosing 'Update All' from the pull down menu. Astatus dialog will be presented displaying the current directory being searched. It is possible to stop the search by holding down the Command key and typing a period (.).
If you wish to replace graphics with others having different file names then you should use the ‘Replace All’ option. Utilising this you can have the XTension search for files with a filename extension added as a prefix or a suffix. Alternatively the search can be for file names that have a specified prefix or suffix stripped from the existing name of the graphic that is linked in the document.
The PictureManager XTension has a number of menu entries to allow you to easily toggle certain attributes for Graphics in your document. These include Greeking, Suppressing Print of the Graphic and/or the complete picture box, and the ability to invert pictures to produce negatives.
The 'Greeking' menu item allows you to turn
Greeking on or off for the currently selected graphic or for all the pictures in the document.
It is possible to use the 'Suppress Print' menu item to prevent the printing of the complete picture box or just the graphic. Similarly the 'Invert' menu item provides a mechanism to produce a negative for graphics. This option also works for the currently selected graphic or for all the pictures in the document.
Note. Not all graphic types can be inverted.
It is possible to set all of the above described attributes for graphic boxes by using the 'Picture Manager…' menu item which presents the following dialog: As well as listing all the graphics, their types and current status, the list also gives details of the 'Greeking', 'Suppress Print' and 'Negative' settings.
If you want to change the settings for a particular picture box, select it from the list and choose the 'Settings' button. The settings dialog is presented:
Turn the relevant attributes on or off as required. The new settings will be applied when the 'OK' button is chosen.
To view a picture within the document, select it in the list and click Show Me. The document scrolls to display the picture.
To locate a picture that is missing, select the picture in the list and you can choose either the Update or Auto Update buttons. Clicking Update displays the Find directory dialog box which enables you to find and re-import the picture. Auto Update will search for the missing file using the criteria specified in the Updater Defaults. To update a picture that has been modified, select the picture in the list and click Update. The picture will be re-imported.
To obtain additional information about a picture, select the picture in the list and click Pict Info. A dialog is displayed.
The Full pathname of the file, it's creation and last modification dates as well as the file size are listed.
If an EPS file is selected then the Fonts and Colors contained in the EPSF can be listed.
It is possible to use the Picture Manager to delete graphics, graphic boxes and even the graphic picture file on disc by using the ‘Delete Graphic’, ‘Delete Box’, and ‘Delete Picture File’ push buttons respectively.
The ‘Rename File’ push button allows you to change the name of the graphic file on disk.
The Picture Batch utility provides high speed searching for graphics based on document names and types.The resultant batch of files is displayed in a floating palette. The utility not only facilitates finding of files that you need but it also allows you to easily place the graphics in any open document. Choosing the Batch Picts… option from the menu presents the following resizeable floating palette:
You may specify where you wish to search for the required graphic set. If the All Volumes radio button is checked, then every volume that is currently mounted will be searched. If the Specified Folder radio button is checked, then you may select a specific starting folder to where searching will be confined by clicking on the current search pathname.
The Search Subfolder check box lets you control whether subfolders within the specified folder should be searched or not.
You can use the File name contains: field to restrict the graphic search to files whose names containing certain character strings. It is also possible to specify the graphic type to search for by clicking the appropriate check boxes for EPS, TIFF, RIFF, Paint, PICT, CT, LW, or JPEG files.
Once you are satisfied with your batch criteria, and you have selected the required search path, you can initiate the batch process by clicking the search button. A status dialog will be presented displaying the current directory being searched. It is possible to stop the search by holding down the Command key and typing a period (.). The resultant batch of files is displayed in a scrollable list. To obtain additional information about a graphic file, select the picture in the list and click Pict Info. The Full pathname of the file, its creation and last modification dates as well as the file size are listed.
If a picture box is currently selected in the document and a graphic file is selected from the list then the Insert button is made available. From the Scaling popup you are provided with different options on how to import the graphic to the current box. The Current Scale option allows a picture to be imported while retaining the scaling factors already selected for the current picture box. If Normal size is chosen then then the graphic will be imported at its full size without altering the size of the picture box.
If AutoScale is picked then the picture is scaled to the current box dimensions.
HorzScale Resize scales the imported graphic by a factor to ensure the picture fills the horizontal size of the box, it also scales the graphic’s Y percentage by the same factor and will resize the box’s vertical dimension to fit the scaled graphic.
Similarly VertScale Resize imports and resizes based on the vertical scale needed to fit the current picture box.
You can also scale the graphic based on the horizontal or vertical dimensions of the box by choosing HorzScale or VertScale respectively. These options will not cause the picture box to be resized.
The final option ScaleBox will scale the current picture box to precisely enclose the Graphic at 100% scale.
When importing a graphic to a picture box that already has attributes set which are not the defaults, you may choose to keep these settings by checking the 'Keep Current Box' settings. Attributes such as Greeking, suppress print, rotation angle etc, will be maintained.
The Batch Palette can be reduced to an Icon by clicking on the Zoom box. It can be restored to its normal size clicking once more on the Zoom box.
The Mover option allows you to copy a file to a destination folder. If the document has some missing attached graphic files then you can specify default folders that the PictManager should scan in an effort to locate the relevant files. Selecting 'AutoFind Defaults' from the menu presents a dialog.
The 'Add Path' and 'Remove Path' buttons allow you to designate the folders where searching will take place. Folders will be searched in the order that they are listed.
If the 'All Volumes' button is selected then every volume currently mounted is added to the list.
Clicking under the ‘Search Subfolders’ heading controls whether subfolders within the specified folder will be searched or not.
If the ‘Match Original’s File Type’ check box is turned on then a missing file will be moved if both the file name and the file type match that of the original graphic file in the document. If this option is off then only the file names are compared in the search process.
At the end of the 'Move File' procedure the XTension will optionally present a 'Special Instructions' Dialog ( As shown on top of next page) which allows you to direct the recipient as to which Print Medium, Film setting, Screen line setting, and Resolution to use.
You can use the 'Instructions Defaults' menu option to customise this dialog to your particular needs.
The 'Titles' list on the left hand side of the dialog contains the names of the seven popup menus provided in the Special Instructions dialog. By clicking on any of these you can edit or alter the menu items for that particular popup.
The Items listed on the right reflect the current contents of the popup.
The 'Insert', 'Replace' and 'Remove' buttons can be used modify the old menu items.
Details listing the creators contact name, address etc. will be included as part of the Special instructions file that is created. You can enter your own relevant particulars through this dialog.
The Mover submenu provides a number of utilities to help you to easily prepare a job for delivery to a service bureau for output. It will copy all the required graphic files as well as the original file to a designated destination.
By selecting FileMover… a standard file dialog will appear allowing you to choose the file to be moved.
By clicking on the 'Move Fonts' check box, you can specify that all fonts used in the file should also be moved. All screen and printer fonts that can be located will be transferred.
When the 'Move Fonts' check box is selected, A'Move EPS Fonts' check box is made available. This option allows you to move screen and printer fonts that are used by EPS files. The PostScript font name is matched up with an installed TrueType font, if one exists, if not, then a bitmapped font is copied.
Note. Most font manufacturers require that you license their font software before use. It is the user's responsibility to ensure that they are not in breach of copyright law.
By clicking on the 'Move Preferences' check box, the XPress Preferences file will be moved to the same destination as the other files.
The 'Delete Originals' check box allows you to specify whether the original copies of the moved files should be deleted once the files have been moved. Note. This option will also cause all the original linked graphics to be deleted. However the Preference file and the fonts will not be affected.
This option will produce a text report for the document being moved. It includes general document attributes, as well as information about graphics, fonts, colors, style sheets etc. The report that is produced will be placed in the destination folder.
By selecting the Auto Find Graphics check box you ensure that the XTension will search for any missing graphic files using the criteria specified in the Auto Find Defaults.
If the 'Special Instructions' check box is turned on then a dialog will be displayed at the end of the move procedure to allow the user to give additional directions on how to handle the job.
Use the popups to specify what Print Medium, Film setting, Screen line setting, and Resolution to use. Popup menus to instruct the receiver as to the priority of the job as well as trapping instructions are available.
Shipping and general comment fields are also provided.
This dialog also allows you to see exactly what color plates are required for each individual page, therefore you can accurately instruct as to what plates are to be output on a page by page basis.
All Items in the Special Instruction dialog are user configurable.
If a QuarkXPress document is open then that file may be moved by choosing the 'Move Current' button in the File.
As soon as the file to be moved has been chosen, then a dialog to select the destination folder will be presented. Use the standard controls to select the destination folder. The 'New Folder' button can be used to create a new destination folder.
Once the destination has been chosen the XTension will proceed to move all files and fonts as required. Reports will be generated according to the move settings.
The 'Font Mover…' option works similarly to the FileMover option just described, the difference being that only the file's fonts are moved. Once the relevant file and destination folder have been selected, a folder containing all the screen and printer fonts will be created.
Note. Most font manufacturers require that you license their font software before use. It is the user's responsibility to ensure that they are not in breach of copyright law.
The 'Move Defaults…' menu option allows the user to set defaults for the move dialogs and also to select files that should always be copied. These may include special files that may be necessary for printing the document or perhaps an auxiliary dictionary attached to the file.
The 'Add' and 'Remove' buttons allows you to select or delete files as required. The functionality of the majority of the Check box items has already been explained.
The ‘Screen Fonts in one suitcase’ allows you to have separate suitcase files for each family of fonts or else for them to be all copied into one suitcase.
If ‘Printer and Screen Fonts in one folder’ option is selected, then the printer fonts will be copied to the same folder as the Screen fonts’ suitcase(s).
The ‘AutoFind Printer Fonts’ option forces the XTension to search all of the paths specified in the ‘AutoFind defaults…’ dialog for any printer font files that are missing.
The Screen Warnings option allows the user to have a dialog alert displayed if any fonts or graphic files cannot be located.
Certain fonts are always resident in some Postscript printers so it may be redundant to move them. The 'Exclude Printer Fonts' check box and Popup menu allow you to specify what printer fonts NOT to copy. Three sets of fonts are predefined. It is possible to see what fonts are included in the set by clicking on the 'List Set' button. This will display a list of all the printer fonts that will not be copied if ‘Exclude Printer Fonts’ option is on.
If the ‘Move DCS Separation Files’ option is on then any required DCS color separation files that can be found will be moved to the destination folder.
If the Collect Embedded EPS Files option is on then FlightAlert will extract the names of any such embedded files by reading EPSFs. It will then attempt to locate and copy all such files.
The ‘Delete All Links’ menu options are new features to version 1.51 and greater of the XT. Essentially they allow the user to sever all the links between graphics and picture boxes in a document, i.e., reverting all the picture boxes to an ‘empty’ box state.
Delete All Links to the Current Document acts on the current selected document whereas the ‘Select Folder’ option allows you to select a folder in which the XTension will open each QuarkXPress document it finds in the selected folder so as to delete all graphics from picture boxes in the documents.
Warning: This option should be used with extreme care!
QuarkXPress® and XTension™ are trademarks of Quark Inc.
Macintosh™ is a trademark of Apple Computer Corporation.
PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems,Inc.
QUARK, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE ENCLOSED COMPUTER SOFTWARE PACKAGE, ITS MERCHANTABILITY, OR ITS FITNESS FOR ANYPARTICULAR PURPOSE. QUARK INC. DISCLAIMS ALLWARRANTIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF THE DISTRIBUTORS, RETAILERS AND DEVELOPERS OF THE ENCLOSED SOFTWARE.
WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALLQUARK, INC. BE LIABLE FOR ANYSPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIALDAMAGES IN ANYWAYRELATING TO THE USE OR ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE ENCLOSED SOFTWARE. QUARK, INC'S LIABILITYSHALLIN NO EVENT EXCEED THE TOTALAMOUNT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE/LICENSE FEE ACTUALLYPAID FOR THE USE OF THE ENCLOSED SOFTWARE.
SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND/OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTALOR CONSEQUENTIALDAMAGES, SO THESE EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS MAYNOT APPLYIN PARTICULAR COUNTRIEs
Developed by CompuSense Ltd
The ideas for the features in this product are a result of feedback from many QuarkXPress® users around the world. We continue to welcome suggestions on how the functionality can be further improved and enhanced.
This manual and the Picture Manager software are copyrighted, with all rights reserved. Under the copyright laws, this manual and software may not be copied or reverse engineered, in whole or in part, without the written consent of CompuSense Ltd.
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