1 Introduction
1.1 Credits and Copyrights
1.2 What is the FlightAlert XTension?
1.3 Trademarks
1.4 Quark Disclaimer
2 Installation
2.1 Backups
2.2 Serial Numbers
3 Functions
3.1 Main Menu
3.2 Alert Settings
3.2.1 Displaying Alerts
3.2.2 Selecting Items to Monitor
3.2.3 Running Alerts
3.2.4 Detailing Status
3.3 Choosing Auto Find Defaults
3.3.1 Searching Paths
3.3.2 Matching the Original’s File Type
3.4 Setting Up Special Instructions
3.4.1 Modifying Menu Items
3.5 Using C.F.O.
3.5.1 Collecting Fonts
3.5.2 Collecting EPS Fonts
3.5.3 Collecting Preferences
3.5.4 Making Bundles
3.5.5 Naming Bundles
3.5.6 Using the Special Instructions Dialog Box
3.5.7 Using the Doc Info Report
3.5.8 Deleting Originals
3.5.9 Using Auto Find
3.6.1 Collecting Current
3.6.2 Selecting Files and Destination
3.6.3 Batch Processing C.F.O.
3.6.4 Setting C.F.O. Defaults
3.6.5 Excluding Printer Fonts
3.6.7 Placing Fonts in One Suitcase
3.6.8 Placing Printer and Screen Fonts
3.7 Extracting Files from a Bundle

INTRODUCTION

Credits and Copyrights

The FlightAlert XTension™ was developed by

CompuSense Ltd.
Avondale House,
The Square, Ballincollig,
Cork,
Rep. of Ireland.
Tel. (353)-21-871394 or (353)-21-870528
Fax. (353)-21-874513
e-mail: compusen@indigo.ie

The ideas for the features in this XTension 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 FlightAlert 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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FlightAlert is a QuarkXPress XTension that sits quietly in the background and scans for certain problems on Open, Save, Save As, Print, Close, or at any combination of these five prompts. Alerts are only displayed if a problem is identified. Scans locate potential difficulties such as RGB elements (that would not separate properly), unwanted spot colors, TIFFs with a None background, text overflow (unless the overflow is made up of empty lines), missing or modified pictures, suppressed print items, and rotations (other than 90°), among others. It is designed for a pressured production or prepress environment. It identifies key RIP killers and film burners in the background so as not to further hinder work flow.

Although probably primarily a prepress tool, it also includes a full collect-for-output function causing it to also be useful in general production and in-house production environments for preflighting and transmission. A QuarkXPress user with a document on their Macintosh should be able to create a bundle — a self-extracting, compressed file containing a copy of the document, all the graphic files, and all the screen and printer fonts — in such a way that any other user opening the bundle can be as certain as possible that they will find exactly the same environment and resources, and therefore, be assured that the document will print as the creator intended.

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Trademarks

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.

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Quark Disclaimer

QUARK, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE ENCLOSED COMPUTER SOFTWARE PACKAGE, ITS MERCHANTABILITY, OR ITS FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. QUARK INC. DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES 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 ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THE USE OR ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE ENCLOSED SOFTWARE. QUARK, INC'S LIABILITYSHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT 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 INCIDENTA LO R CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THESE EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS MAYNOT APPLYIN PARTICULAR COUNTRIES

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INSTALLATION

Like all CompuSense XTensions, FlightAlert is easy to install and use: Simply place the FlightAlert file into the QuarkXPress XTensions folder and launch QuarkXPress. New menus, commands, and dialog boxes are seamlessly integrated into QuarkXPress.

If you wish to remove the XTension's functionality from QuarkXPress move the XTension file from the XTensions folder to a folder other that the one containing the QuarkXPress program (such as the Other XTension folder).

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Backups

We recommend you make a back up of your original XTension disk, and keep the original in a safe place.

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Serial Numbers

Each CompuSense XTension sold, is configured to run with an individual copy of QuarkXPress. If the XTension is launched with a copy of QuarkXPress having a serial number other than the originally keyed number, the XTension's functionality will not be available.

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FUNCTIONS

Main Menu

Once QuarkXPress is launched with the FlightAlert XTension present, the item FlightAlert appears on the main menu bar.

The first menu item allows you to either turn the automatic monitoring process on or off. If the mechanism is currently turned on, then the menu item will read Turn Alerts Off.

The Run Alerts… menu option allows you to manually activate the ‘trigger’mechanism so that the XTension will search through the document for any problem items as specified in the Alert Settings preferences dialog.

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The Alert Settings menu item (found in the Alert Preferences submenu) presents a preferences dialog.

These settings control exactly when and what will be displayed by the XTension.

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Displaying Alerts

The Display Alert section allows you to specify when the XTension should search through the document for problem items.

By using the relevant check box, it is possible to activate an alert:
— after a document is opened
— when a document is closed;
— at Print; — at Save as EPS;
— at Save or Save As; and/or
— at C.F.O. (when using FlightAlert’s collect-for-output function).

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Selecting Items to Monitor

By selecting the relevant check box or text edit item it is possible to designate whether the FlightAlert dialog should list, if present, the following items:
— RGB TIFF and EPS graphics;
— 1-bit TIFFs and EPS graphics;
— Grayscale TIFFs and EPS graphics;
— Duotones;
— JPEGs;
— PICTs;
— Empty picture boxes;
— picture boxes containing TIFFs that have a Background color of None (which may cause jagged image edges);
— Items that have a rotation of a non-90° incremental angle;
— Items with a suppressed print;
— Missing or Modified graphics;

— Text-overflow items; If the ‘Ignore Empty Lines’ option is selected then text overflow due to extra carriage returns is ignored.

— Graphic files larger or smaller than a user-definable size or that have a user-definable file extension.

— Spot colors used within the document;
— Spot colors in EPS files used within the document;
— All RGB colors used within the document (i.e. regardless of the ‘Spot color’ setting for that color);

— Any EPS files that contain fonts which are not available on the system;

— To have FlightAlert display a Spell check reminder dialog;

— To warn of any fonts that have Bold and/or Italic styles applied to the text;

If the alert monitoring has been turned on, a relevant trigger mechanism (such as opening a document) takes place, and a problem was found, a dialog appears.

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To view a graphic within the document, select it in the list and click Show Me. The document scrolls to display the picture.

If the document contains spot colors and the Display Spot Colors Used option is on, the color names along with an indication of the document elements that the color has been applied to, are listed.

Process Separation can be turned On for all colors that appear in a document by selecting the Separations ON for All Colors Used button. If you wish to reverse this action, select the Cancel button and the process-separation settings revert to their original state.

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Detailing Status

The Status Details dialog box provides a summary indicating problematic attributes that have been found. For a complete description, select the More Status Details button to display more informative comments The remaining menu items all relate to the FlightAlert’s ‘Collect for Output’ functionality and are described in the following pages.

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Choosing Auto Find Defaults

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Searching Paths

The Add Path and Remove Path buttons allow selection of folders where searching will take place. Folders will be searched in the order that they are listed.

If the All Volumes button is selected, every volume currently mounted is added to the list.

Clicking the Search Subfolders heading adds subfolders to the specified folder list.

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Matching the Original’s File Type

If the Match Original’s File Type check box is selected, the XTension only considers 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, only file names are compared in the search process.

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Setting Up Special Instructions

At the end of the C.F.O. procedure, the XTension optionally presents a Special Instructions dialog allowing the user to provide instructions for the receiver specifying print medium, film type, line-screen, color-plate selections, and so on. All Items in the Special Instructions dialog are definable, enabling the user to choose which options appear in the pop-up menu.

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Modifying Menu Items

The Titles list on the left-hand side 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 menu. The Items listed on the right reflect the current contents of the pop-up menu. The Insert, Replace, and Remove buttons can be used to modify the existing menu items.

Details listing the creator’s contact name, address, and so on, will be included as part of the special instructions file that is generated based on your selections here. You can enter your own relevant particulars through this dialog.

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Using C.F.O.

The C.F.O. submenu provides a number of utilities to help you to quickly and easily prepare a job for delivery to a service bureau for output. It will copy all the required high-resolution graphic files, as well as the original file, to a designated destination.

The C.F.O. submenu presents you with three options:
Choosing Select Document prompts a file dialog box allowing you to select the file to be moved.

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Collecting Fonts

Clicking the Collect Fonts check box, enables the user to specify that fonts used in the document should also be copied. All the screen and printer fonts that can be located will be copied.

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Collecting EPS Fonts

When the Collect Fonts check box is selected, a Collect EPS Fonts check box becomes available. This option allows causes screen and printer fonts that are used by EPS files to be copied as well. The PostScript font name is matched to an installed TrueType font if one exists, if not, 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.

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Collecting Preferences

Activating the Collect Preferences check box will cause the XPress Preferences file to be moved to the same destination as the other files being collected.

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Making Bundles

If the Make Bundle option is activated, all the files collected will be compressed into a self-extracting archive or bundle. The naming convention used for the bundle enables the user to immediately identify complete bundles or those with items missing.

If the bundle is incomplete, (e.g., items are missing that would enable the document's recreation), an error report is automatically generated listing missing components.

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Naming Bundles

Asuccessful or complete bundle is named as follows: !X.<document name>.sfx (if the document was named "My Doc," the completed bundle would be named "!X.My Doc.sfx").

If errors are incurred in the move, they are indicated as such in the bundle name with extra characters after the !X but before the period. 'F' — indicates missing screen or printer fonts; 'G' — indicates missing graphic files; 'C' — indicates missing EPSF colors; and 'rx' — indicates XTensions that are required by the user to open the document.

Examples using the above-named document: !XF.My Doc.sea — some fonts are missing. !XFG.My Doc.sea — some fonts and graphics are missing.

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Using the Special Instructions Dialog box

If the Special Instructions check box is turned on, a dialog box is displayed at the end of the move procedure to allow the user to give additional output instructions to the receiver.

Pop-up menus enable the selection of print medium, film settings, trapping, line screen, and resolution. Pop-up menus inform the output service provider of priority and delivery instructions as well.

In addition, the dialog box displays the color plates required for each individual page, enabling the user to accurately instruct the output service provider as to which plates should be output, on a page-by-page basis.

All Items in the Special Instruction dialog box are user configurable.

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Using the Doc Info Report

The Doc Info Report option produces a text report for the document being copied. It includes general document attributes, as well as information about graphics, fonts, colors, style sheets, and so on. The report is placed in the destination folder or bundle.

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Deleting Originals

Note. This option will also cause all the original linked graphics to be deleted, however, the XPress Preferences file and the fonts are not be affected.

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Using Auto Find

Selecting the Auto Find Graphics check box ensures that FlightAlert searches for any missing graphic files using the criteria specified in the Auto Find Defaults.

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Collecting Current

If a QuarkXPress document is open, that file may be moved by choosing the Collect Current button.

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Selecting Files and Destination

Once the file to be copied has been selected, a dialog enabling the selection of a destination folder is presented. Use standard Mac OS navigational commands to select the destination folder. The New Folder button is used to create a new destination folder. Once the destination has been chosen, the XTension will move all files and fonts as required. Status dialogs display the progress.

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Batch Processing C.F.O.

The Batch C.F.O. menu option enables the user to select a number of documents to be copied simultaneously. Files are added to the batch process with the Add button.

The Individual Bundle for each document check box creates a separate bundle for each QuarkXPress document in the batch.

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The C.F.O. Defaults menu item enables the user to set defaults for the C.F.O. dialogs and also to select files that are always be copied to the destination each time the C.F.O. option is employed.
These are special files necessary for printing or other required files.

The Add and Remove buttons enable the user to select or delete files as required.

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Excluding Printer Fonts

As select fonts are resident in some PostScript printers, it may be redundant to copy them. The Exclude Printer Fonts check box and pop-up menu enable the user to specify printer fonts that should NOT be copied. Three sets of fonts are predefined. To view what fonts are included in the set, click the List Set button. This displays a list of the printer fonts that will not be copied if Exclude Printer Fonts is selected.

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Placing Fonts in One Suitcase

The Screen Fonts in one suitcase enables the user to have separate suitcase files for each family of fonts or to copy them into one suitcase.

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Printer and Screen fonts in one folder

If Printer and Screen Fonts in one folder is selected, printer fonts are copied to the same folder as the screen fonts’ suitcase(s).

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Extracting files from the Bundle

Once the document to be copied and the destination has been chosen, FlightAlert proceeds to collect all files and fonts as required. If the Make Bundle option has been selected, a self0extracting archive is created.

To extract the files from this archive, double click on the archive icon. A dialog enabling the selection of the destination of the expanded files is prompted. Anew folder is created and the archived files are stored in the folder.

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