Variable Data Publishing Portfolio Gallery
Welcome to a presentation of Active Lightning’s portfolio of automated publishing projects. Each showcase in the gallery features information on a variable data publishing project done by Active Lightning. These projects involve data-driven production of printed marketing communication, including catalogs, a circular, and factsheets. PatternStream automation can also be used to generate html and xml files.
Examples of recent catalog automation can be found for two of our active clients:
Cox Hardware and Lumber, a catalog for each department
Whitehead Industrial, a catalog for each category
The portfolio of variable data publishing projects from the past are described below.
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Customized Product Catalogs
Outdoor Interactive, Inc.
(shown here with dummy product images)
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| each run: |
1 to 10,000 or more catalogs,
24 pages each,
high priority catalogs move
to top of queue during run |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11"
pages imposed on
12"x17.1875" sheets |
| database: |
SQL Server 7 |
| final media: |
offset print, high res, imposed pages with reg marks
printed on an Indigo press |
| frequency: |
daily |
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| pdf doc: |
Test Catalog with dummy product images (5 Meg) |
Comments:
Customer purchase history and self-disclosed information are used to select the products featured in a 24-page catalog. Each catalog is built for a single particular customer. The customer’s name is featured on the cover; the customer’s address, postnet barcode, etc. is featured on the back cover so that the catalog can be easily mailed.
Products featured in catalog come from 8 categories, the category has an associated graphic for the header at the top of the page. Database processing carries out product selection and truncation of long descriptions to deliver the appropriate information to catalog tables in a SQL Server database. A code in one of the tables specifies 1 of 5 layout types:
eighth of a page
quarter page-photo right
quarter page-photo top
half page one column, or
full page
Another code in the database determines if advertisements should be inserted between product patterns. Product pattern has titles, photo, description, and table of related SKU info. A letter to the customer on front inside cover can be customized for each catalog. The publishing machine allows for changing the template in order to change the look for successive seasons or mailings. The status of the catalog record is updated in the database after the catalog is created.
Challenges of this project included: a) imposing catalog and b) achieving short cycle times. Usually the printer handles imposition (arrangement of pages in booklet order for each sheet of paper that goes through the press), but to cut costs and save time we developed batch processing for imposing and prepress preparation so that the printer just prints the pdf file. In order to create 10,000 catalogs so that they can all be mailed within a week or two, the cycle time for the publishing machine needed to be around 1 minute. |
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Product Catalog
Cox Hardware + Lumber
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| each run: |
custom, one to all sections,
1148 pages, 1st release, Fall '02 |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11", facing |
| database: |
Activant Eagle database (runs on a UNIX server) and Microsoft Access |
| final media: |
• offset print (high res
with crop marks)
• laser print in-house
(no crop marks)
• to view and print from CD-ROM |
| frequency: |
on demand, annual printing |
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| pdf doc: |
Safety Section (3.2 MB) |
Comments:
Header on each page includes department name and a running head with current class name. In the body, multiple products related to same photo and description are grouped automatically from data in database based on sequence code and flag for leader. Items are flagged with “New” if they were added to the database within the last 24 weeks. Other product flags are supported. Callout boxes to highlight desired information are inserted between product patterns according to database flag and text in callout table.
The print catalog is built as a book with prologue, table of contents listing dept. sections, section divider pages with table of contents for the classes in the section, patterns of product info for each product in the department (unless flag indicates not to publish), index, and appendix. Resulting pdf file for any section or the entire book is fully searchable with: a) page numbers in table of contents and index hyperlinked to actual page, and b) an automatic link to the company’s web site at the top of each page. |
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Promotional Circular
Cox Hardware + Lumber
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| each run: |
2 pages, front & back of 1 sheet |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11" |
| database: |
Activant Eagle database (runs on a UNIX server) and Microsoft Access |
| final media: |
toner-based print/copy
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| frequency: |
monthly |
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| pdf doc: |
Sept. 2003 edition (934 KB) |
Comments:
This publishing machine provides a semi-automated solution for generating monthly promotional circulars. The publishing machine pulls a few lines of description from the same descriptions used for the catalog; then, some manual labor is done in the resulting FrameMaker document to modify the product descriptions. This approach saves all the time involved in creating the document while also allowing for a dated perishable marketing message. This approach produces one master for copying. Labels generated from the client’s customer database are then used in the address space.
The product picture aligns left in some cells and align right in others. One or more SKU numbers (variable) are featured at the top of each product pattern. If the product has an associated callout, then 2 description bullets are not published.
The publishing machine ties into the table in the Triad database that tracks promotions, and uses this table to select which products are featured. After the circular is released, the Triad database will track the inventory and sales of these items.
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Annuity Generic Single Sheets
MFS Investment Management
Insurance Products Group
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| each run: |
30 docs, 2 pages each |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11" |
| database: |
Oracle 8.0.5 |
| final media: |
• offset print (high res
with crop marks)
• laser print in-house
(no crop marks)
• to view on web (low res) |
| frequency: |
quarterly |
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| pdf doc: |
stock fund (176K) |
| pdf doc: |
bond fund (175K) |
| pdf doc: |
int'l stock fund (176K) |
Comments:
Different queries are used depending on whether the fund is a stock, bond, or international fund. Fund-specific risk notes are inserted in "Investment policies and considerations" section. Red circle at bottom of the first page contains auto page number when offset docs are published in book format. |
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Architect Single Sheets
MFS Investment Management
MFS International Ltd.
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| each run: |
19 docs, 2 pages each |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11" |
| database: |
Oracle 8.0.5 |
| final media: |
• pdf for e-mail and web
• laser print on shell
(logos and back are
preprinted on shell) |
| frequency: |
monthly (quarterly for book) |
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| pdf doc: |
stock fund for printing
on shell (101K) |
| pdf doc: |
bond fund (181K) |
| pdf doc: |
int'l stock fund (182K) |
Comments:
Two different product lines reported on in same document. Product-specific graphs of performance are brought in from a server location; file names are stored in the database. Many different footnotes are published, or not published, based on business rules. Rapid development of ability to publish; these documents never published manually. |
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Bank Trust Single Sheets
MFS Investment Management
MFS Trust Group
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| each run: |
58 docs, 2 pages each |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11" |
| database: |
Oracle 8.0.5 |
| final media: |
• offset print (high res
with crop marks)
• laser print in-house
(no crop marks)
• to view on web (pdf) |
| frequency: |
quarterly |
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| pdf doc: |
stock fund (218K) |
| pdf doc: |
bond fund (220K) |
| pdf doc: |
int'l stock fund (219K) |
Comments:
Different queries are used depending on whether the fund is a stock, balanced, bond, international stock, international balanced, or international bond fund. A different color title bar is published based on the fund category (green for stock, blue for bond and red for international). Fund-specific graph of performance is brought in from a server location (file name stored in database). Many different footnotes are published, or not, based on business rules. Lipper and Morningstar table has a fixed number of rows whether or not data is available to fill rows. |
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MFS Equity Characteristics
MFS Investment Management
MFS Trust Group
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| each run: |
1 doc, 2 pages |
| page size: |
11" x 17" landscape |
| database: |
Oracle 8.0.5 and Access 97 |
| final media: |
• color laser print in-house |
| frequency: |
quarterly |
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| pdf doc: |
BT Equity Char (111K) |
Comments:
Some footnote text is provided by the template; footnotes in bottom half of column come from the database. The database footnotes get numbered sequentially as they flow into the document. Cross-reference links supply the appropriate superscripted numbers following each fund name. Expense ratios were not tracked in the Oracle database and only change once per year. Thus, an Access database was set up for this project to provide expense ratio data. |
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Meridian Single Sheets
MFS Investment Management
MFS International Ltd.
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| each run: |
20 docs, 2 pages each |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11" |
| database: |
Oracle 8.0.5 |
| final media: |
• offset print in book format
(high res with crop marks)
• pdf for e-mail and web
(no crop marks)
• laser print on shell
(no color graphics) |
| frequency: |
monthly (quarterly for book) |
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| pdf doc: |
stock fund (181K) |
| pdf doc: |
int'l stock fund (183K) |
Comments:
Different queries are used depending on whether the fund is a stock, balanced, bond, or international. Fund-specific graph of performance is brought in from a server location; file names are stored in the database. Similarly, the portfolio manager’s picture (hi-resolution) is inserted during processing. Many different footnotes are published, or not, based on business rules. |
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MFD Single Sheets
MFS Investment Management
MFS Fund Distributors, Inc.
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| each run: |
58 docs, 2 pages each |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11" |
| database: |
Oracle 8.0.5 |
| final media: |
• offset print fact sheets
(high res with crop marks)
• offset print pages in book
with pdf pages from
QuarkXPress docs
• laser print in-house
(no crop marks)
• to view on web (pdf, low res) |
| frequency: |
quarterly |
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| pdf doc: |
stock fund (642K) |
| pdf doc: |
bond fund (605K) |
| pdf doc: |
int'l stock fund (637K) |
Comments:
Different queries are used depending on whether the fund is a stock, balanced, bond, international stock, international balanced, or international bond fund. A different color title bar is published based on the fund category (green for stock, blue for bond and red for international). Morningstar rating—and corresponding footnotes—published for funds with 4 or 5 stars only. Fund-specific graph of performance is brought in from a server location (file name stored in database). Many different footnotes are published, or not, based on business rules. Question-and-answer text, developed with portfolio manager, is maintained in the database. Portfolio manager photo is brought in from a server location.
Registration marks for offset printing can be turned off or on as part of the print setup and pdf creation.
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MFD InfoFax
MFS Investment Management
MFS Fund Distributors, Inc.
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| each run: |
1 doc, 7 pages |
| page size: |
8.5" x 11" landscape |
| database: |
Oracle 8.0.5 |
| final media: |
• laser print in-house
• posted to phone line
for faxing (pdf) |
| frequency: |
monthly |
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| pdf doc: |
InfoFax (158K) |
Comments:
Extensive performance information published on each class of each fund. Eighth page of pdf file created in QuarkXPress. Output is published to a telephone line for faxing. |
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MFD Update Performance Pages
MFS Investment Management
MFS Fund Distributors, Inc.
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| each run: |
1 doc, 3 pages |
| page size: |
11" x 17" landscape |
| database: |
Oracle 8.0.5 |
| final media: |
• offset print pages in book
with pdf pages from
QuarkXPress docs
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| frequency: |
monthly |
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| pdf doc: |
Update Performance (175K) |
Comments:
Extensive performance information published on each class of each fund. Yellow shading of rows alternates automatically as defined by table style. One of three shades of blue is published in first cell of bond fund rows—based on database content—to indicate type of bond fund. Output is published as 8.5"x11" pages in the quarterly Update book with the MFD single sheets. |
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Some noteworthy features of these projects include:
- Rules-based processing—the automated publishing utilizes different: queries, publication elements, and formatting, depending on the data values returned from the database
- Publishing machines do NOT need changes to accommodate database version upgrades (eg. MFS Investment Management upgraded from Oracle 8.0.5 to 8.1.7 and their publishing machines did not need to be modified)
- Ability to publish to multiple layouts using a single info machine (see Annuity InfoFax)
- Ability to utilize manually-produced and automation-produced pages in a single pdf file (Quarterly publication called "Update" is composed of MFD Single Sheets, MFD Update Performance Pages, and manually-produced pages from MFD's design group)
- Number of documents and/or pages is data-driven, not fixed
