Objectif Lune PlanetPress Design - 7.0 Reference Guide

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Title PlanetPress Design Reference Guide

Revision 2009/10/21

Table of contents

1 Other Documentation....................................................................................................................................................................................... 1

2 Understanding the PlanetPress Suite............................................................................................................................................................... 2

2.1 Key Concepts..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

2.1.1 The PlanetPress Suite ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3

2.1.2 Document ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

2.1.3 Date and Time Format .............................................................................................................................................................................. 5

2.1.4 Variable Content Document....................................................................................................................................................................... 5

3 PlanetPress Design Basics................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

3.1 Key Concepts..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

3.1.1 The PlanetPress Design Program Window................................................................................................................................................... 8

3.1.2 Object Preview ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10

3.2 Detailed Directions ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 11

3.2.1 Dock and Undock Areas of the Program Window....................................................................................................................................... 11

3.2.2 Named Colors......................................................................................................................................................................................... 12

3.2.3 Remove Background Color ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12

3.2.4 Show or Hide Areas of the Program Window............................................................................................................................................. 14

3.2.5 Use the Messages Area ........................................................................................................................................................................... 14

3.2.6 Use the Object Inspector ........................................................................................................................................................................ 14

3.2.7 Use the Object Preview ........................................................................................................................................................................... 15

3.2.8 Use the Zoom Tools................................................................................................................................................................................ 16

3.2.9 Using the Work, Hand, and Zoom Tool Pointers ........................................................................................................................................ 16

3.2.10 Close a Document................................................................................................................................................................................. 16

3.2.11 Start PlanetPress Design ....................................................................................................................................................................... 16

3.2.12 Exit PlanetPress Design ......................................................................................................................................................................... 17

3.2.13 Create a New Document ....................................................................................................................................................................... 17

3.2.14 Open a Document................................................................................................................................................................................. 17

3.2.15 Refresh a Document ............................................................................................................................................................................. 18

3.2.16 Save a Document ................................................................................................................................................................................. 19

3.2.17 Save and Open a Document Template.................................................................................................................................................... 19

3.2.18 Set a Password on a Document ............................................................................................................................................................. 19

3.2.19 Undo and Redo Commands ................................................................................................................................................................... 19

3.2.20 Use Online Help.................................................................................................................................................................................... 20

3.2.21 Expand and Collapse Elements in the Structure Area ............................................................................................................................... 20

3.2.22 Select and Move Elements in the Structure Area ..................................................................................................................................... 20

3.2.23 Cut, Copy, and Paste Elements in the Structure Area............................................................................................................................... 21

3.2.24 Change the Display Name of an Element in the Structure Area................................................................................................................. 22

3.2.25 Drag and Drop Files into the Program Window Areas............................................................................................................................... 22

3.2.26 Resize the Program Window Area .......................................................................................................................................................... 23

4 Preferences and Toolbars............................................................................................................................................................................... 24

4.1 Key Concepts................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25

4.1.1 Toolbars ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25

4.1.2 User Options .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 26

4.2 Detailed Directions ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 28

4.2.1 Change Languages ................................................................................................................................................................................. 28

4.2.2 Set User Options (Behavior): Notification Messages................................................................................................................................... 29

4.2.3 Set User Options (Behavior): Pictures....................................................................................................................................................... 31

4.2.4 Set User Options (Behavior): Color .......................................................................................................................................................... 32

4.2.5 Set User Options (Behavior): Object Duplication ....................................................................................................................................... 32

4.2.6 Set User Options (Behavior): Miscellaneous .............................................................................................................................................. 33

4.2.7 Set User Options (Editor): Editor.............................................................................................................................................................. 35

4.2.8 Set User Options (Editor): Display............................................................................................................................................................ 37

4.2.9 Set User Options (Editor): Color............................................................................................................................................................... 38

4.2.10 Set User Options (Appearance): Object Inspector ................................................................................................................................... 39

4.2.11 Set User Options (Appearance): Document Structure Area....................................................................................................................... 40

4.2.12 Set User Options (Appearance): Rulers................................................................................................................................................... 41

4.2.13 Set User Options (Appearance): Document Page..................................................................................................................................... 41

4.2.14 Set User Options (Appearance): Compiler Messages ................................................................................................................................ 42

4.2.15 Set User Options (Document default values): Document and Pages.......................................................................................................... 43

4.2.16 Set User Options (Document default values): Pictures ............................................................................................................................. 44

4.2.17 Minimize and Customize the Ribbon ....................................................................................................................................................... 45

5 Capturing Data ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 46

5.1 Key Concepts................................................................................................................................................................................................... 47

Table of contents

5.1.1 Sample Data File .................................................................................................................................................................................... 47

5.1.2 Spool File............................................................................................................................................................................................... 47

5.1.3 Data Capture Tool .................................................................................................................................................................................. 47

5.2 Detailed Directions ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 48

5.2.1 Capture Sample Data Using the Data Capture Tool ................................................................................................................................... 48

6 Setting Up a Document .................................................................................................................................................................................. 53

6.1 Key Concepts................................................................................................................................................................................................... 54

6.1.1 Document Setup..................................................................................................................................................................................... 54

6.1.2 Digit Substitution.................................................................................................................................................................................... 54

6.2 Detailed Directions ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 55

6.2.1 Set Up a Document ................................................................................................................................................................................ 55

6.2.2 View or Edit the Properties of a Document ............................................................................................................................................... 59

6.2.3 Associate Attachments with a Document .................................................................................................................................................. 59

6.2.4 Set Up Pages: Cachable Execution Options ............................................................................................................................................... 60

6.2.5 Set the Maximum Data Line Length ......................................................................................................................................................... 60

6.2.6 Create and Use FreeForm Documents in PlanetPress Design ..................................................................................................................... 61

6.2.7 Create and Use FreeForm 2 Documents in PlanetPress Design ................................................................................................................... 62

6.2.8 Create a Document in VPS or VDX Format ................................................................................................................................................ 63

6.2.9 Create and Use a Document in VDX Format.............................................................................................................................................. 64

6.2.10 Use the VPS RIP ................................................................................................................................................................................... 66

6.2.11 Use the VIPP RIP .................................................................................................................................................................................. 66

6.2.12 Add or Remove PPDs ............................................................................................................................................................................ 66

6.2.13 Refresh the PPD Lists............................................................................................................................................................................ 66

6.2.14 Define a Custom Paper Size................................................................................................................................................................... 67

6.2.15 Specify PlanetPress Suite Job Information in a PlanetPress Design Document............................................................................................ 67

7 Selecting an Emulation................................................................................................................................................................................... 68

7.1 Key Concepts................................................................................................................................................................................................... 69

7.1.1 Data Page .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 69

7.1.2 Hex Viewer ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 69

7.2 Emulation........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 70

7.2.1 Line Printer Emulation............................................................................................................................................................................. 70

7.2.2 PDF Emulation........................................................................................................................................................................................ 70

7.2.3 ASCII Emulation ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 70

7.2.4 Channel Skip Emulation........................................................................................................................................................................... 71

7.2.5 XML Data Emulations .............................................................................................................................................................................. 71

7.2.6 Comma Separated Value (CSV) Emulation ................................................................................................................................................ 71

7.2.7 Database Emulation................................................................................................................................................................................ 71

7.2.8 User-Defined Emulation .......................................................................................................................................................................... 72

7.3 Data Selector................................................................................................................................................................................................... 73

7.4 Detailed Directions ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 75

7.4.1 Use the Data Selector ............................................................................................................................................................................. 75

7.4.2 Associate a Sample Data File with a Document ......................................................................................................................................... 76

7.4.3 Select and Set Up an Emulation ............................................................................................................................................................... 77

7.4.4 Stabilize Your Data ................................................................................................................................................................................. 79

7.4.5 Set Up a Database Emulation .................................................................................................................................................................. 80

7.4.6 Export or Import a Database Emulation Configuration ............................................................................................................................... 82

7.4.7 Create a User-Defined Emulation ............................................................................................................................................................. 82

7.4.8 Use the Hex Viewer ................................................................................................................................................................................ 83

8 Setting Up Pages ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 87

8.1 Key Concepts................................................................................................................................................................................................... 88

8.1.1 Page...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 88

8.1.2 Execution Order of Pages ........................................................................................................................................................................ 89

8.1.3 Executing a Page vs. Including a Page in Output....................................................................................................................................... 89

8.1.4 N-Up Object ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 90

8.1.5 Cut Marks .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 90

8.1.6 Guidelines for Working with Pages ........................................................................................................................................................... 90

8.1.7 Layout Features...................................................................................................................................................................................... 91

8.2 Detailed Directions ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 92

8.2.1 Add a Document Page ............................................................................................................................................................................ 92

8.2.2 Set Up a Page ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 92

8.2.3 Associate Attachments with a Page .......................................................................................................................................................... 95

8.2.4 View or Edit the Properties of a Page ....................................................................................................................................................... 95

Table of contents

8.2.5 Scroll on a Document Page...................................................................................................................................................................... 96

8.2.6 Navigate the Pages of a Document .......................................................................................................................................................... 96

8.2.7 Edit the Order of Pages........................................................................................................................................................................... 96

8.2.8 Duplicate a Page .................................................................................................................................................................................... 97

8.2.9 Delete a Page......................................................................................................................................................................................... 97

8.2.10 Create an Overlay Page......................................................................................................................................................................... 98

8.2.11 Execute Pages N-Up.............................................................................................................................................................................. 98

8.2.12 Add or Remove Overlays ....................................................................................................................................................................... 99

8.2.13 Use Guides......................................................................................................................................................................................... 100

8.2.14 Use the Rulers .................................................................................................................................................................................... 101

9 Selecting Data .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 102

9.1 Key Concepts................................................................................................................................................................................................. 103

9.1.1 Data Selection ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 103

9.1.2 Arabic Support in the Data Selector ....................................................................................................................................................... 103

9.1.3 Data Selection Objects .......................................................................................................................................................................... 104

9.1.4 Postal Address Objects.......................................................................................................................................................................... 104

9.2 Detailed Directions ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 105

9.2.1 Add a Data Selection Object .................................................................................................................................................................. 105

9.2.2 Add a Postal Address Object.................................................................................................................................................................. 107

9.2.3 Create Data Selections within Objects .................................................................................................................................................... 108

9.2.4 Create Data Selections in Database Emulation ........................................................................................................................................ 109

9.2.5 Create Data Selections in XML Emulation................................................................................................................................................ 110

9.2.6 Use the Data Selector to Create a Data Selection .................................................................................................................................... 111

9.2.7 Edit a Data Selection............................................................................................................................................................................. 113

9.2.8 Define Email, PDF, and Index Information for PlanetPress Image............................................................................................................. 114

9.2.9 Define Index Terms for PlanetPress Search ............................................................................................................................................ 114

9.2.10 Define Fax Information for PlanetPress Fax .......................................................................................................................................... 114

9.2.11 About PlanetPress Design XPath .......................................................................................................................................................... 115

9.2.12 Associate XML Data Selection with Objects ........................................................................................................................................... 115

9.2.13 Setting Repeat Properties .................................................................................................................................................................... 116

9.2.14 Navigate Data Pages........................................................................................................................................................................... 116

10 Adding Text ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 118

10.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 119

10.1.1 Text and Box Objects.......................................................................................................................................................................... 119

10.1.2 Styles ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 119

10.2 Encoding Tables........................................................................................................................................................................................... 120

10.2.1 Why have different encoding tables? .................................................................................................................................................... 120

10.2.2 Encoding Tables in PlanetPress Design ................................................................................................................................................. 120

10.3 Double-byte Character Sets .......................................................................................................................................................................... 121

10.4 CID-Keyed Fonts .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 122

10.5 Arabic Content in PlanetPress Design Documents ........................................................................................................................................... 123

10.6 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 124

10.6.1 Apply a Style ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 124

10.6.2 Create a MICR Style for Account Information on Cheques ...................................................................................................................... 125

10.6.3 Create a Style..................................................................................................................................................................................... 125

10.6.4 Delete a Style..................................................................................................................................................................................... 127

10.6.5 Edit the Encoding Table for a Style....................................................................................................................................................... 128

10.6.6 Export an Encoding Table.................................................................................................................................................................... 130

10.6.7 Insert PlanetPress Talk Code Before or After Individual Paragraphs ........................................................................................................ 131

10.6.8 Refresh the Font Lists ......................................................................................................................................................................... 131

10.6.9 Set a Default Encoding Table............................................................................................................................................................... 132

10.6.10 Set the Default Style for New Objects and Groups ............................................................................................................................... 132

10.6.11 Spell Check Text in a Text Object....................................................................................................................................................... 133

10.6.12 Use the Thesaurus ............................................................................................................................................................................ 135

10.6.13 View or Edit the Properties of a Style.................................................................................................................................................. 136

10.6.14 Add a Box Object .............................................................................................................................................................................. 137

10.6.15 Install a PostScript Font in PlanetPress Design .................................................................................................................................... 137

10.6.16 Add a Text Object ............................................................................................................................................................................. 138

10.6.17 Define the Colors or Borders of a Box or Text Object ........................................................................................................................... 139

10.6.18 Change the View on the Text Properties ............................................................................................................................................. 142

10.6.19 Change the Width of the Text Object in the Text Area ......................................................................................................................... 142

10.6.20 Change the Background Color of the Text Area ................................................................................................................................... 143

III

Table of contents

10.6.21 Adjust Margins and Indents ............................................................................................................................................................... 143

10.6.22 Set Tabs........................................................................................................................................................................................... 144

10.6.23 Select, Cut, Copy, Paste, Move or Delete Text in a Text Object............................................................................................................. 146

10.6.24 Undo or Redo Editing Operations ....................................................................................................................................................... 147

10.6.25 Insert Text from an External Application into a Text Object.................................................................................................................. 148

10.6.26 Use Variables in a Text Object ........................................................................................................................................................... 148

10.6.27 Apply a Style to Text in a Text Object................................................................................................................................................. 150

10.6.28 Adjust Text Justification and Lines per Unit ......................................................................................................................................... 151

10.6.29 Position Text within the Text Object ................................................................................................................................................... 152

10.6.30 Turn Word Wrap On or Off ................................................................................................................................................................ 153

11 Adding Shapes............................................................................................................................................................................................ 154

11.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 155

11.1.1 Shapes............................................................................................................................................................................................... 155

11.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 156

11.2.1 Add a Shape....................................................................................................................................................................................... 156

12 Adding Resources....................................................................................................................................................................................... 158

12.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 159

12.1.1 Resources .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 159

12.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 160

12.2.1 Add Resources.................................................................................................................................................................................... 160

12.2.2 Update All Image Resources in the PP7 File .......................................................................................................................................... 160

12.2.3 Add PostScript Attachment Resources .................................................................................................................................................. 161

12.2.4 View or Edit the Properties of a PostScript Attachment Resource ............................................................................................................ 161

12.2.5 Edit a PostScript Attachment Resource ................................................................................................................................................. 162

12.2.6 View or Edit the Properties of an Image Resource ................................................................................................................................. 162

12.2.7 Edit an Image Resource ...................................................................................................................................................................... 163

12.2.8 Replace a Resource............................................................................................................................................................................. 164

12.2.9 Delete a Resource............................................................................................................................................................................... 164

12.2.10 Remove Unused Resources................................................................................................................................................................ 166

12.2.11 View the Individual Pages of a Multi-Page PDF Resource...................................................................................................................... 166

13 Adding Images ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 167

13.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 168

13.1.1 Static and Dynamic Images ................................................................................................................................................................. 168

13.1.2 Supported Image Formats ................................................................................................................................................................... 169

13.2 Image Formats: Bitmapped, Vector, and Metafile Formats............................................................................................................................... 171

13.2.1 Bitmapped File Format ....................................................................................................................................................................... 171

13.2.2 Vector File Format ............................................................................................................................................................................. 171

13.2.3 Metafile Formats................................................................................................................................................................................. 171

13.3 Resolution ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 172

13.3.1 Image Resolution Settings in PlanetPress Design................................................................................................................................... 172

13.3.2 Suggested Resolution Settings ............................................................................................................................................................. 172

13.4 Color Depth ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 174

13.5 Pixel Dimensions .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 175

13.6 Image Quality .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 176

13.6.1 Line Art Quality................................................................................................................................................................................... 176

13.6.2 Photo Quality ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 176

13.6.3 Image Quality Settings ....................................................................................................................................................................... 176

13.7 Scanline Orientation ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 177

13.8 Image Size on the Document Page ................................................................................................................................................................ 179

13.9 PlanetPress Talk Expressions for Dynamic Images that Reference Image Resources ......................................................................................... 180

13.10 PlanetPress Talk Expressions for Dynamic Images that Reference External Images ......................................................................................... 181

13.10.1 Physical Location of Dynamic Images ................................................................................................................................................. 181

13.10.2 Host-Based or Printer-Based Document Execution ............................................................................................................................... 181

13.10.3 Image Format................................................................................................................................................................................... 182

13.10.4 Summary of Execution Environments.................................................................................................................................................. 183

13.10.5 Examples of PlanetPress Talk Expressions that Resolve to Pathnames................................................................................................... 184

13.11 Image Name and Pathname Resolution in Dynamic Images........................................................................................................................... 187

13.12 Caches ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 188

13.12.1 Host-Based Cache ............................................................................................................................................................................. 188

13.12.2 Printer-Based Cache.......................................................................................................................................................................... 188

13.13 Guidelines for Optimizing Images ................................................................................................................................................................ 189

13.14 Optimization .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 190

Table of contents

13.14.1 Displaying the Image ........................................................................................................................................................................ 190

13.14.2 Optimization Factors ......................................................................................................................................................................... 190

13.14.3 Fit Setting ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 190

13.14.4 Image Resolution.............................................................................................................................................................................. 191

13.14.5 Color Depth ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 192

13.14.6 Scanline Orientation .......................................................................................................................................................................... 193

13.14.7 Image Contents ................................................................................................................................................................................ 193

13.15 Detailed Directions ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 195

13.15.1 Add a Static Image ........................................................................................................................................................................... 195

13.15.2 Change the Image Resource Associated with a Static Image ................................................................................................................ 197

13.15.3 Add a Dynamic Image that References Image Resources ..................................................................................................................... 197

13.15.4 Add a Dynamic Image that References External Images ...................................................................................................................... 199

13.15.5 Change the Size of an Image ............................................................................................................................................................. 201

13.15.6 Adjust Image Resolution.................................................................................................................................................................... 202

13.15.7 Convert Color Images to Grayscale..................................................................................................................................................... 203

13.15.8 Adjust the Pixel Dimensions of a Bitmapped Image ............................................................................................................................. 204

13.15.9 Adjust the Image Quality Options....................................................................................................................................................... 204

13.15.10 Adjust the Scanline Orientation of Images......................................................................................................................................... 206

13.15.11 Copy External Images for a Dynamic Image to the Runtime Environment............................................................................................ 206

13.15.12 Troubleshoot Image Problems.......................................................................................................................................................... 209

14 Barcodes and Business Graphics................................................................................................................................................................ 210

14.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 211

14.1.1 Barcodes............................................................................................................................................................................................ 211

14.1.2 Information on the Barcodes Supported by PlanetPress Design .............................................................................................................. 211

14.1.3 Business Graphics ............................................................................................................................................................................... 227

14.1.4 Excel Business Graphics ...................................................................................................................................................................... 228

14.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 230

14.2.1 Add a Barcode .................................................................................................................................................................................... 230

14.2.2 Add a Business Graphic ....................................................................................................................................................................... 230

14.2.3 Add an Excel Business Graphic............................................................................................................................................................. 232

15 Working with Objects................................................................................................................................................................................. 235

15.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 236

15.1.1 PlanetPress Design Object ................................................................................................................................................................... 236

15.1.2 Object Layering Order ......................................................................................................................................................................... 236

15.1.3 Group ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 236

15.1.4 Snapping Points.................................................................................................................................................................................. 237

15.1.5 Repeat Properties of an Object or Group .............................................................................................................................................. 240

15.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 244

15.2.1 Convert an Object to PlanetPress Talk .................................................................................................................................................. 244

15.2.2 Debug an Object or Group................................................................................................................................................................... 245

15.2.3 Set the Basic Attributes of an Object or Group ...................................................................................................................................... 245

15.2.4 Set the Manipulation Properties of an Object or Group........................................................................................................................... 247

15.2.5 Select Objects and/or Groups .............................................................................................................................................................. 247

15.2.6 Lock and Unlock Objects and Groups ................................................................................................................................................... 248

15.2.7 Reposition Objects and/or Groups ........................................................................................................................................................ 249

15.2.8 Resize Objects and/or Groups.............................................................................................................................................................. 249

15.2.9 View or Edit the Properties of an Object or Group ................................................................................................................................. 251

15.2.10 Delete Objects and/or Groups ............................................................................................................................................................ 251

15.2.11 Align Objects and/or Groups .............................................................................................................................................................. 252

15.2.12 Rotate Objects and/or Groups............................................................................................................................................................ 253

15.2.13 Duplicate Objects and/or Groups........................................................................................................................................................ 253

15.2.14 Snap or Unsnap Objects and/or Groups .............................................................................................................................................. 254

15.2.15 Group and Ungroup Objects and/or Groups ........................................................................................................................................ 256

15.2.16 Use the Repeat Properties of an Object or Group ................................................................................................................................ 256

15.2.17 Edit the Layering Order of Objects ..................................................................................................................................................... 258

15.2.18 Copy Values of Properties between Objects and/or Groups .................................................................................................................. 259

16 Working with Metadata.............................................................................................................................................................................. 260

16.1 More on Metadata ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 261

16.2 Add a Metadata Field.................................................................................................................................................................................... 269

17 Graybar Reports ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 270

17.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 271

17.1.1 Graybar Report................................................................................................................................................................................... 271

Table of contents

17.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 272

17.2.1 Create a Graybar Report ..................................................................................................................................................................... 272

18 Conditions .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 275

18.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 276

18.1.1 Conditions .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 276

18.1.2 Global Conditions................................................................................................................................................................................ 276

18.1.3 Local Conditions ................................................................................................................................................................................. 277

18.1.4 Line Conditions ................................................................................................................................................................................... 277

18.1.5 Variables............................................................................................................................................................................................ 278

18.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 280

18.2.1 Add a PlanetPress Talk Object ............................................................................................................................................................. 280

18.2.2 Enter a PlanetPress Talk Expression in a Text Box ................................................................................................................................. 280

18.2.3 PlanetPress Supports Global Variables in the Global Function Library Manager......................................................................................... 282

18.2.4 Use the PlanetPress Talk Properties ..................................................................................................................................................... 282

18.2.5 Create a Global Condition .................................................................................................................................................................... 285

18.2.6 View or Edit the Properties of a Global Condition................................................................................................................................... 287

18.2.7 Apply or Remove a Global Condition..................................................................................................................................................... 287

18.2.8 Use a Global Condition as a Variable .................................................................................................................................................... 288

18.2.9 Create a Global Variable ...................................................................................................................................................................... 289

18.2.10 View or Edit a Global Variable ............................................................................................................................................................ 289

18.2.11 Delete a Global Variable .................................................................................................................................................................... 290

18.2.12 Combine Global Conditions ................................................................................................................................................................ 291

18.2.13 Override a Global Condition ............................................................................................................................................................... 293

18.2.14 Delete a Global Condition .................................................................................................................................................................. 294

18.2.15 Create, Edit, or Delete Local Conditions .............................................................................................................................................. 295

18.2.16 Create or Remove a Line Condition .................................................................................................................................................... 296

18.2.17 Verify a Condition ............................................................................................................................................................................. 297

18.2.18 Add a Global Function ....................................................................................................................................................................... 298

18.2.19 View or Edit a Global Function ........................................................................................................................................................... 298

18.2.20 Delete a Global Function.................................................................................................................................................................... 299

18.3 Code Samples .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 300

18.3.1 Print a variable number of copies of a page based on a value in the datastream ..................................................................................... 300

18.3.2 Store two lines of input data on one line of the data page ..................................................................................................................... 300

18.3.3 Print a page n-up................................................................................................................................................................................ 300

18.3.4 Print a line of text on odd-numbered pages .......................................................................................................................................... 301

18.3.5 Determine the proper page to print based on the width of the data in the data page ............................................................................... 301

19 Printing a Document .................................................................................................................................................................................. 302

19.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 303

19.1.1 Trigger............................................................................................................................................................................................... 303

19.2 Trigger Syntax ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 304

19.2.1 Trigger Syntax for Documents Installed on a Hard Disk ......................................................................................................................... 304

19.2.2 Trigger Syntax for Documents Installed in RAM..................................................................................................................................... 304

19.2.3 Trigger Syntax for Documents Installed in Flash Memory ....................................................................................................................... 304

19.3 Techniques for Inserting Triggers .................................................................................................................................................................. 306

19.4 How a Variable Content Document Runs on a Printer...................................................................................................................................... 307

19.4.1 Phase 1: Data Reading........................................................................................................................................................................ 307

19.4.2 Phase 2: Global Condition Resolution ................................................................................................................................................... 307

19.4.3 Phase 3: Document Page Printing ........................................................................................................................................................ 307

19.5 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 308

19.5.1 Run a Document Installed on a Printer ................................................................................................................................................. 308

19.5.2 Run a Document Installed in a PlanetPress Suite Workflow Tool............................................................................................................. 308

19.5.3 Run a Document that Uses a Database Emulation ................................................................................................................................. 309

19.5.4 Run Several Documents as a Single Job ............................................................................................................................................... 309

19.5.5 Troubleshoot Execution Problems ........................................................................................................................................................ 310

20 Managing Documents and Printers ............................................................................................................................................................ 311

20.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 312

20.1.1 Information about Documents on a Printer ........................................................................................................................................... 312

20.1.2 Printer Firmware Version ..................................................................................................................................................................... 312

20.1.3 Printer Settings................................................................................................................................................................................... 313

20.1.4 Form Cache........................................................................................................................................................................................ 313

20.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 314

20.2.1 Obtain Information from a Printer ........................................................................................................................................................ 314

Table of contents

20.2.2 Delete Documents or Files on the Printer.............................................................................................................................................. 314

20.2.3 Control Versions of a Document........................................................................................................................................................... 315

20.2.4 Adjust Printer Settings ........................................................................................................................................................................ 317

21 Previewing and Installing Documents ....................................................................................................................................................... 318

21.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 319

21.1.1 Converted Document .......................................................................................................................................................................... 319

21.1.2 PP7 File.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 320

21.1.3 PTK File ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 320

21.1.4 Printing Using a Windows Driver .......................................................................................................................................................... 320

21.1.5 Soft Proofs ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 320

21.1.6 Previews of Documents that Use ASCII Emulation ................................................................................................................................. 321

21.1.7 Virtual Drive Manager ......................................................................................................................................................................... 322

21.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 323

21.2.1 Preview a Document On Screen ........................................................................................................................................................... 323

21.2.2 Print a Document Preview ................................................................................................................................................................... 326

21.2.3 Print Using a Windows Driver............................................................................................................................................................... 327

21.2.4 Generate a Soft Proof ......................................................................................................................................................................... 329

21.2.5 Convert a Document and Save It to a File............................................................................................................................................. 331

21.2.6 Control Access to Your Locally Installed Services ................................................................................................................................... 332

21.2.7 Install a Document ............................................................................................................................................................................. 333

21.2.8 Perform a Batch Conversion and/or Installation..................................................................................................................................... 336

21.2.9 Print a Document without Data ............................................................................................................................................................ 337

21.2.10 Exclude the Sample Data File from the PP7 File................................................................................................................................... 337

21.2.11 Move a Document between PlanetPress Design Installations ................................................................................................................ 338

22 Color Management ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 339

22.1 Key Concepts............................................................................................................................................................................................... 340

22.1.1 Color in PlanetPress Design ................................................................................................................................................................. 340

22.2 Detailed Directions ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 343

22.2.1 Install Profiles..................................................................................................................................................................................... 343

22.2.2 Set Up Color Management in PlanetPress Design................................................................................................................................... 343

23 Optimization............................................................................................................................................................................................... 345

23.1 Maximum Line Length .................................................................................................................................................................................. 346

23.2 Comma Separated Value (CSV) and Database Emulations ............................................................................................................................... 347

23.3 User-Defined Emulation ................................................................................................................................................................................ 348

23.4 Optimize Search in User-Defined Emulation.................................................................................................................................................... 349

23.5 Conditions ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 350

23.6 Fonts........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 351

23.7 Images........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 352

23.7.1 Scanline Orientation............................................................................................................................................................................ 352

23.7.2 PDF Resources ................................................................................................................................................................................... 353

23.7.3 Pixel Dimensions of Bitmapped Images ................................................................................................................................................ 353

23.7.4 Image Quality..................................................................................................................................................................................... 354

23.7.5 Full Page Image of Graphical Elements................................................................................................................................................. 354

23.7.6 Image Color Depth ............................................................................................................................................................................. 354

24 Keyboard Shortcuts.................................................................................................................................................................................... 355

24.1 PlanetPress Design General........................................................................................................................................................................... 356

24.1.1 Exit PlanetPress Design ....................................................................................................................................................................... 356

24.1.2 Use the Help System........................................................................................................................................................................... 356

24.1.3 Show or Hide Areas of the Program Window......................................................................................................................................... 356

24.1.4 Work with Hierarchies ......................................................................................................................................................................... 357

24.1.5 Work in the Document Structure Area .................................................................................................................................................. 357

24.1.6 Work with Documents ......................................................................................................................................................................... 357

24.1.7 Preview and Install Documents ............................................................................................................................................................ 358

24.1.8 Work with Pages................................................................................................................................................................................. 358

24.1.9 Adjust the Zoom ................................................................................................................................................................................. 359

24.1.10 Use Basic Editing Commands ............................................................................................................................................................. 359

24.1.11 Work in the Data Pane ...................................................................................................................................................................... 360

24.1.12 Work with the Data File ..................................................................................................................................................................... 360

24.1.13 Work with Data Selections ................................................................................................................................................................. 361

24.1.14 Use the Hex Viewer........................................................................................................................................................................... 361

24.1.15 Work with Objects ............................................................................................................................................................................ 362

24.1.16 Work in the Text Properties of a Text Object....................................................................................................................................... 365

VII

Table of contents

24.2 PlanetPress Talk Editor ................................................................................................................................................................................. 366

24.2.1 General.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 366

24.2.2 Show or Hide Areas of the Editor ......................................................................................................................................................... 366

24.2.3 Expand or Collapse Groups in the Commands Area................................................................................................................................ 367

24.2.4 Work in the Code Area ........................................................................................................................................................................ 367

24.2.5 Use Command Name Completion/Argument Insertion ........................................................................................................................... 367

24.2.6 Undo Commands ................................................................................................................................................................................ 367

24.2.7 Work with Selections........................................................................................................................................................................... 368

24.2.8 Add/Remove Comments ...................................................................................................................................................................... 368

24.2.9 Indent Code ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 368

24.2.10 Search ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 369

24.2.11 Jump to a Specific Line...................................................................................................................................................................... 369

24.2.12 Use Bookmarks................................................................................................................................................................................. 369

24.2.13 Execute a Program............................................................................................................................................................................ 369

24.2.14 Debug Code ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 369

24.2.15 Print the Script.................................................................................................................................................................................. 370

VIII

1 Other Documentation

For more documentation on different PlanetPress Suite Products, refer to:

PlanetPress Design User Guide PlanetPress Talk Reference Guide Trigger and Data Capture Guide PlanetPress Search User Guide

2 Understanding the PlanetPress Suite

This section introduces PlanetPress Suite and its components.

This section contains answers to the following questions:

• What is the PlanetPress Suite and what is the role of each product in the suite? (Page 3)

• What is meant by the term document? (Page 3)

• What is a variable content document and how does PlanetPress Design implement variable content

documents? (Page 3)

2.1 Key Concepts

Before you begin to create documents, you should understand the following key concepts:

• The PlanetPress Suite (Page 3)

• Document (Page 5)

• Variable Content Document (Page 5)

• Date and Time Format (Page 5)

2.1.1 The PlanetPress Suite

What is the PlanetPress Suite and what is the role of each product in the suite?

PlanetPress Suite is a tightly integrated set of products for creating, executing, distributing, and archiving variable content documents. PlanetPress Suite is designed to handle high-volume variable data printing on PostScript® printers and is optimized to enable such printers to operate close to their rated engine speed.

There are five products in PlanetPress Suite:

• PlanetPress Design (Page 3)

• PlanetPress Watch (Page 4)

• PlanetPress Office (Page 4)

• PlanetPress Production (Page 4)

• PlanetPress Imaging (Page 3)

▪ PlanetPress Fax (Page 4) ▪ PlanetPress Image (Page 5) ▪ PlanetPress Search (Page 5)

PlanetPress Watch, PlanetPress Office and PlanetPress Production are PlanetPress Suite Workflow Tools.

PlanetPress Design

PlanetPress Design is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) authoring tool for variable content documents.

PlanetPress Imaging

PlanetPress Image

PlanetPress Image adds PDF capabilities to the PlanetPress Suite Workflow Tools. You use PlanetPress Image to create a PDF copy of a document to email, or to create PDF archives of documents that you, or others in your company, can then search using PlanetPress Search.

PlanetPress Fax

PlanetPress Fax adds fax capabilities to the PlanetPress Suite Workflow Tools. This means one of the output streams for your document may be a fax output.

You can define the number of times you want PlanetPress Fax to attempt to send the fax. If PlanetPress Fax is unable to transmit a fax successfully, it can print or email the fax, enabling you to track any faxes that do not successfully transmit. PlanetPress Fax also maintains a log of its operations that you can consult for information about its fax activity.

PlanetPress Search

Understanding the PlanetPress Suite - Key Concepts

PlanetPress Search is a plug-in for Adobe® Acrobat® or Adobe® Reader® that you can use to search the PDF archives you create in PlanetPress Image. You define the search indices for a document when you create it in PlanetPress Design.

PlanetPress Office

In addition to all of the options and functions available in PlanetPress Watch, PlanetPress Office also offers:

• Capturing inputs from any host systems

• Document Input: using PDF documents as data files.

• Windows Input: capturing print job sent from any Windows application.

• Output on any number of non-PostScript devices and all licensed PostScript devices.

PlanetPress Production

PlanetPress Production is the fully functional workflow tool, offering, in addition to all of the options and functions available in both PlanetPress Watch and Office, the following extra features:

• Output on any number of PostScript or non-PostScript devices, whether licensed or not. Obviously, printing on a PostScript device in printer centric mode will require said device to have a valid and active license.

PlanetPress Watch

PlanetPress Watch opens the door to more complex document processing, distribution, and archiving possibilities. In PlanetPress Watch, you create tasks that control your document management workflow. You create a set of different tasks that make up processes that carry out various actions, such as receive data, analyze it and the send it to the appropriate printer. The flexibility of PlanetPress Watch, in concert with the capabilities provided by PlanetPress Image, PlanetPress Search, and PlanetPress Fax, also provides a means for more fully automating and increasing the efficiency of workflows.

In PlanetPress Watch you can:

• Run jobs immediately or schedule jobs to run automatically.

• Produce multiple output streams for jobs. For example, you might set up a single PlanetPress Watch process to print a copy of an invoice to send to a customer, fax a shipping confirmation to the customer, email a Portable Document Format (PDF) copy of the invoice to accounting, and archive a PDF copy. PlanetPress Fax and PlanetPress Image provide the faxing and PDF capabilities, respectively.

• Split a large print job over several printers, including printers in different geographical locations.

• Use variable content documents that dynamically pull information from an Open Database Connectivity compliant database.

• Write scripts to dynamically process the variable data for a document.

• Query printers on their current state, and take an action based on the response. For example, if a query determines the toner is low in a printer, the action might be to send an email to the technician responsible for maintaining that printer.

PlanetPress Fax

PlanetPress Fax adds fax capabilities to PlanetPress Watch/Server. This means one of the output streams for your document may be a fax output.

Understanding the PlanetPress Suite - Key Concepts

PlanetPress Image

PlanetPress Image adds PDF capabilities to PlanetPress Watch/Server. You use PlanetPress Image to create a PDF copy of a document to email, or to create PDF archives of documents that you, or others in your company, can then search using PlanetPress Search.

PlanetPress Search

PlanetPress Talk

PlanetPress Talk is not a product as such, this is why you do not find it listed as one of the components of the PlanetPress Suite. In fact, PlanetPress Talk is a language developed for the PlanetPress Suite components, which you can use to customize PlanetPress Design documents as well as PlanetPress Watch/Server configurations.

For detailed explanations on the PlanetPress Talk language as well as on all its commands, refer to the PlanetPress Talk Reference Guide.

2.1.2 Document

What is meant by the term document?

A document is essentially anything such as an invoice, financial statement, monthly report, brochure, booklet, cheque, form letter, catalogue, price list, graybar report, survey, shipping label, cheque, insurance policy, tax return, bank statement, receipt, notice, price list, and direct mail material.

Related topics:

• Variable Content Document (Page 5)

2.1.3 Date and Time Format

What format should I use to enter dates and times?

To simplify things and to prevent errors, date and time formats have been standardized.

• Date are entered and displayed as yyyy/MM/dd (2007/06/13, for example).

• Times are entered and displayed using the 24 hour format as HH:mm:ss (3:38:54 PM, for example, is entered and displayed as 15:38:54).

2.1.4 Variable Content Document

What is a variable content document and how does PlanetPress Design implement variable content documents?

Understanding the PlanetPress Suite - Key Concepts

A variable content document is one that can dynamically change its content and appearance based on the data it receives at runtime.

3 PlanetPress Design Basics

This chapter provides basic information about the PlanetPress Design user interface and how to use it.

In this section, you learn to:

• Start PlanetPress Design (Page 16)

• Exit PlanetPress Design (Page 17)

• Create a New Document (Page 17)

• Open a Document (Page 17)

• Refresh a Document (Page 18)

• Save a Document (Page 19)

• Save and Open a Document Template (Page 19)

• Set a Password on a Document (Page 19)

• Undo and Redo Commands (Page 19)

• Use Online Help (Page 20)

• Expand and Collapse Elements in the Structure Area (Page 20)

• Select and Move Elements in the Structure Area (Page 20)

• Cut, Copy, and Paste Elements in the Structure Area (Page 21)

• Change the Display Name of an Element in the Structure Area (Page 22)

• Drag and Drop Files into the Program Window Areas (Page 22)

• Resize the Program Window Area (Page 23)

• Show or Hide Areas of the Program Window (Page 14)

• Dock and Undock Areas of the Program Window (Page 11)

• Using the Work, Hand, and Zoom Tool Pointers (Page 16)

• Use the Zoom Tools (Page 16)

• Use the Object Inspector (Page 14)

• Use the Object Preview (Page 15)

• Use the Messages Area (Page 14)

• Remove Background Color (Page 12)

• Named Colors (Page 12)

This section also answers the following questions:

• What are the elements of the PlanetPress Design Program window? (Page 8)

• What is the Object Preview? (Page 8)

3.1 Key Concepts

To use the PlanetPress Design interface effectively, you should understand the following key concepts:

• The PlanetPress Design Program Window (Page 8)

• Object Preview (Page 10)

3.1.1 The PlanetPress Design Program Window

What are the elements of the PlanetPress Design Program window?

The following key elements show when you start the PlanetPress Design user interface: the PlanetPress Design Button; the Quick Access Toolbar; the Ribbon with its Tabs, Groups and Controls; the Document Structure area; the Object Inspector; the Data Pane; the Messages area; the Document Page area and the status bar. When you start PlanetPress Design for the first time, these elements appear in their default positions.

The descriptions that follow include references to PlanetPress Design objects used to add data, text, graphics, and intelligence to your document.

A) PlanetPress Design Button. B) Quick Access Toolbar. C) Ribbon Tabs. D) Ribbon Groups. E) Ribbon Controls. F) Object

Inspector. G) Data Pane. H) Document Structure area. I) Document Page Area. J) Status bar.

Related topics:

• The PlanetPress Design Button (Page 8)

• The PlanetPress Design Ribbon (Page 8)

• The PlanetPress Quick Access Toolbar (Page 9)

• Document Page Area (Page 9)

• Data Pane (Page 9)

• Document Structure Area (Page 9)

• Object Inspector (Page 10)

• Messages Area (Page 10)

The PlanetPress Design Button

The PlanetPress Design Button replaces the File menu from previous versions, and provides access to the File menu options.

The PlanetPress Design Ribbon

The PlanetPress Design Ribbon replaces the main menu and toolbars of previous versions, and centralizes commands, organizing them into a set of Tabs, each Tab containing Groups of Controls. Each tab on the Ribbon displays the commands that are most relevant to a given feature set. For instance, the Objects tab in PlanetPress Design is used to draw any of the supported objects.

You can minimize the Ribbon by right-clicking on it and selecting Minimize the Ribbon.

You can also customize the Ribbon's color scheme in the User Options window.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Key Concepts

The PlanetPress Quick Access Toolbar

The PlanetPress Design Quick Access Toolbar is displayed, by default, on the right side of the PlanetPress Design Button, and provides one-click shortcuts to commonly used functions and features.

You may customize the commonly used shortcuts you want by right-clicking on any element you would like to assign to the Quick Access Toolbar and selecting Add to Quick Access Toolbar. Conversely, you can remove any element by right-clicking it on the Quick Acces Toolbar and selecting Remove from Quick Access Toolbar.

The Quick Access Toolbar can also be displayed either above or below the PlanetPress Design Ribbon.

Document Page Area

The Document Page area displays the pages of your document. You can set the paper format (8.5 x 11 inches, A4) for the entire document as well as for each individual page of the document.

You can also set the default paper format in the User Options dialog box, and the Page area displays one page of your document at a time.

Data Pane

The Data Pane is a view on your input data, and one of the ways you can select data to include in your document. The Data Pane is a component of the Data Selector and its contents and appearance reflect the options set for it in the Data Selector.

You can drag and drop a data selection directly from the Data Pane into the Page area to quickly create a data selection object, a bar code object, or a business graphic object.

In the Document Structure area or in the Page area, when you select a data selection, bar code, or business graphic that uses a Contiguous data selection, PlanetPress Design highlights the data selection for that object in the Data Pane.

Document Structure Area

The Document Structure area is a hierarchical representation of all the elements in your document. You can use the expand/collapse buttons in the hierarchy to expand and collapse the top level folders of the hierarchy as well as the contents of each page, and the contents of any group of objects.

You can use the Structure area to do the following:

• Assign and View multiple sample data files.

• View all the elements in a document.

• Select any element in a document.

• Add or delete document elements.

• Copy, cut, and paste elements in a document.

• Select objects.

• Navigate among the pages of your document.

• Dock and undock the Structure area or hide it, and can configure the appearance of the Structure area.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Key Concepts

Object Inspector

The Object Inspector displays the element’s properties (object, group, page, document, condition, style, attachment, image resource, global variable, global function) currently selected in the Structure area or in the Page area. If you select several elements, the Object Inspector displays values only for those properties that are common to all the selected elements. If you select an image resource, the Object Inspector also displays the image.

The number of elements currently selected appears in the upper left of the Object Inspector, and you use the Object Inspector to view and edit properties.

You can dock and undock the Object Inspector, or hide it.

Messages Area

The Messages area displays messages from the PlanetPress Talk Converter, and is useful when you add PlanetPress Talk objects, or objects that include PlanetPress Talk statements to your document. Any errors the PlanetPress Talk Converter encounters in your code, it displays in the Messages area. These include converter errors, run error messages, and any debugging strings you instructed your code to output using the PlanetPress Talk outputdebugstring() command.

PlanetPress Design also uses the Messages area to report any problems it had carrying out certain operations and how it resolved those problems (for example, opening a document that references unavailable fonts, or importing a PlanetPress Design 3 document that used the same name for two different elements).

The type of message appears to the right of the message itself, and you can set a distinct color for converter errors, for run errors, and for debugging strings. This makes it easier to quickly distinguish one message type from another. Notification messages always appear in black.

You can double-click a message to have PlanetPress Design display the source of the error, and you can dock and undock the Messages area, or hide it.

PlanetPress Design clears the Messages area automatically when you open an existing document, or import an FSL form or PlanetPress Design 3 document. You can also clear the area manually.

3.1.2 Object Preview

What is the Object Preview?

The Object Preview is available when you add an object or group to your document, or edit its properties.

You use it to preview the effect of property settings, and to help determine the appropriate setting for a given property. As you change the property settings of an object or a group, the Object Preview updates to display the result of the modifications. It can also display messages from the PlanetPress Talk Converter that can help you debug the object or group.The default zoom level in the Object Preview is 75%.

3.2 Detailed Directions

This section includes the following procedures:

• Start PlanetPress Design (Page 16)

• Exit PlanetPress Design (Page 17)

• Create a New Document (Page 17)

• Open a Document (Page 17)

• Refresh a Document (Page 18)

• Save a Document (Page 19)

• Save and Open a Document Template (Page 19)

• Set a Password on a Document (Page 19)

• Undo and Redo Commands (Page 19)

• Use Online Help (Page 20)

• Expand and Collapse Elements in the Structure Area (Page 20)

• Select and Move Elements in the Structure Area (Page 20)

• Cut, Copy, and Paste Elements in the Structure Area (Page 21)

• Change the Display Name of an Element in the Structure Area (Page 22)

• Drag and Drop Files into the Program Window Areas (Page 22)

• Resize the Program Window Area (Page 23)

• Show or Hide Areas of the Program Window (Page 14)

• Dock and Undock Areas of the Program Window (Page 11)

• Using the Work, Hand, and Zoom Tool Pointers (Page 16)

• Use the Zoom Tools (Page 16)

• Use the Object Inspector (Page 14)

• Use the Object Preview (Page 15)

• Use the Messages Area (Page 14)

• Remove Background Color (Page 12)

• Named Colors (Page 12)

3.2.1 Dock and Undock Areas of the Program Window

To undock an area:

• Double-click the title bar of a docked area or group (tabbed or stacked areas). In the case of a group, you can undock a single area in the group by double-clicking its tab.

To dock a floating area:

• Double-click the title bar of a docked area or group (tabbed or stacked areas). PlanetPress Design docks the area in its most recent docked position.

To show an area within a tabbed group:

• Click the tab of the area you want to show. If the tab is not visible, use the navigation buttons located to the right of the tabs.

To expand or restore an area within a stacked group:

• Click the area’s expand ( ) or restore ( ) button.

To reset all areas to their default docking positions:

• Press CTRL when you start PlanetPress Design. Note that this also resets the toolbars to their default position.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

Related topics:

• Resize the Program Window Area (Page 23)

• Show or Hide Areas of the Program Window (Page 14)

3.2.2 Named Colors

To display the Color Picker:

• In the properties dialog box of an object, click .

To select a color using the color box:

1. In the color spectrum box, click on a point, or click and drag a point to a new color.

2. Release when the pointer is over the color you want.

To select a color from the palette:

• Click in the color pot that contains the color you require.

To select a color using a CMYK or RGB settings:

1. Choose the color model you want to use in the drop-down list.

2. Click and drag the sliders for each one of the basic colors.

To select a grayscale value:

1. Choose the GRAY color model.

2. Click and drag the slider to the new value.

To select a color that appears anywhere on the screen:

1. In the Color Picker, click .

2. Position the crosshair over the color you want to select and click.

To create a custom palette:

You create a custom palette whenever you make any change to the colors displayed by default in the color palette.

1. If necessary, change the current color to one you want to add to the custom palette.

2. Click in the current color and drag it to one of the color pots. The color pot may or may not be empty. A

color wheel ( ) indicates an empty color pot.

3. Enter the name of the color and click OK.

4. Repeat step 1 through step 3 for each color you want to add to your custom palette.

To reset the color palette to its default colors:

1. Right-click in any of the color pots in the palette.

2. Click Reset Custom Colors to Defaults.

3.2.3 Remove Background Color

In the Color Picker, a new option called Remove background color is available with the CMYK color model.

The main purpose of this feature is to reduce the amount of colored ink used by the printer.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

Bear in mind that this option will modify the colors as they come out at the printer. Also note that colors on the printed page may differ depending on various factors, such as the color itself, the printer and the paper.

A. The new under color removal feature; B. The amount of ink the printer will use to print the selected color; C. The selected color

In the case of the red selected in the previous illustration, using the Remove background color feature saves a considerable amount of cyan, magenta and yellow ink, as shown below.

A. The Remove background color feature selected, colored ink is replaced by black ink when possible; B. The amount of cyan, magenta and yellow ink used to print the selected color is now 50% less and the amount of black ink is now 50%

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

3.2.4 Show or Hide Areas of the Program Window

To show or hide a Program window area:

• Choose View and then the area you want to show or hide. PlanetPress Design updates the Program window to reflect the requested show/hide.

Related topics:

• Dock and Undock Areas of the Program Window (Page 11)

3.2.5 Use the Messages Area

To find the source of an error:

• In the Messages area of the PlanetPress Design Program window, double-click the error.

To clear some or all of the messages in the Messages area:

• Right-click in the Messages area and choose either Clear all messages or a given message category (converter error, run error, outputdebugstring, or notification).

To save the contents of the Messages area to a file:

1. Right-click in the Messages area and choose Save PlanetPress Talk Messages.

2. In the Save PlanetPress Talk Messages dialog, navigate to the folder in which you want to save the file, enter a file name for the saved file, and click Save.

Related topics:

• Messages Area (Page 10)

• Object Preview (Page 10)

3.2.6 Use the Object Inspector

To edit properties Using the Object Inspector:

1. Select the element (object, page, document, condition, style, attachment) you want to change. To change multiple elements, do a multiple selection (CTRL-click).

2. In the Object Inspector, select the property you want to edit. If you selected multiple elements, only those properties common to all of the selected elements appear in the Object Inspector. If necessary use the scroll bar and/or the expand/collapse button.

3. Edit the property using the appropriate method, as described below:

▪ If the property lets you enter any value, type in the new value and press ENTER. ▪ If the property is associated with a list of possible values, select the new value from the list. ▪ If the property lets you select any value, click the selection button located to the right of the value

field. For example, if the button is for a PlanetPress Talk before, PlanetPress Talk after, or PlanetPress Talk code property, click it to launch the PlanetPress Talk Editor.

To resize the name or value pane:

1. In the Object Inspector, position the pointer over the vertical bar that separates the two panes. The pointer changes to a double-headed arrow.

2. Drag left or right to resize the panes.

To expand or collapse a group:

• In the Object Inspector, click the expand/collapse button for the group.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

Related topics:

• Object Inspector (Page 10)

3.2.7 Use the Object Preview

The Object Preview window lets you see objects before they are actually created. The object preview window has its own Message area displaying PlanetPress Talk error messages.

Note that if you hide the Object Preview, it will remain hidden for all objects and groups. Also note that the Object Preview remembers its last state.

A) Object Preview toolbar. B) Object Preview window. C) Object Preview Message area. D) Object Preview Zoom In button. E) Object Preview Zoom box. F) Object Preview Zoom Out button. G) Fit in Window button. H) Fit Object Width in Window button. I) Show Messages button.

To show or hide the Object Preview:

• In the properties dialog box of any object, click .

To update the Object Preview after entering PlanetPress Talk code:

• In the PlanetPress Talk properties in which you entered the PlanetPress Talk code, click Refresh Preview.

To show or hide the Message area of the Object Preview:

• In the Object Preview toolbar, click Show Messages.

To clear some or all of the messages in the Messages area of the Object Preview:

• Right-click in the Messages area and choose Clear all messages.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

To adjust the zoom in the Object Preview:

• Click in the Zoom box of the Object Preview toolbar and enter a new zoom value. The zoom value can be any value from 10 to 1000.

To reposition the contents of the Object Preview:

• With the Hand tool selected, position the Hand tool pointer over the contents of the Object Preview, click and drag.

3.2.8 Use the Zoom Tools

To set a specific zoom level:

• In the Zoom toolbar, click in the Current zoom factor box and enter the new zoom. The zoom factor can be any value from 10 to 1000.

To zoom in or out using the Zoom toolbar:

• In the Zoom toolbar, click Zoom In or Zoom Out.

To zoom in or out using the Zoom tool pointer:

1. Select the Zoom tool pointer.

2. To zoom in, click anywhere in the Page area.

Related topics:

• Using the Work, Hand, and Zoom Tool Pointers (Page 16)

• Use the Object Inspector (Page 14)

• Named Colors (Page 12)

3.2.9 Using the Work, Hand, and Zoom Tool Pointers

By default, when you start PlanetPress Design the Work tool pointer is active. The Work tool pointer is used to select objects. The Hand tool pointer is used to move the document page and the Zoom tool pointer is used to modify the document page’s zoom setting. To select a different tool pointer, simply click the corresponding icon in the Tools toolbar.

Related topics:

• Use the Zoom Tools (Page 16)

• Use the Object Preview (Page 15)

3.2.10 Close a Document

To close a document:

• From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Close.

3.2.11 Start PlanetPress Design

To start PlanetPress Design with a blank document loaded:

• In the Windows Start menu, choose Programs | PlanetPress Suite 7 | PlanetPress Design.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

Related topics:

• Exit PlanetPress Design (Page 17)

3.2.12 Exit PlanetPress Design

1. From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Exit. Yes: Save all unsaved work and then exit. No: Exit without saving any unsaved work. Cancel: Cancel the exit request. Always save before closing: Check to have PlanetPress Design always save any unsaved work

automatically before exiting.

2. Check the option if desired and click the appropriate button.

Related topics:

• Start PlanetPress Design (Page 16)

3.2.13 Create a New Document

If you start PlanetPress Design with a blank document loaded you can create your new document by working on the blank document. Alternatively, if you already have a document open in PlanetPress Design, you can use the following procedure to create a new document.

To create a new document:

• From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose New.

Related topics:

• Open a Document (Page 17)

• Save a Document (Page 19)

• Refresh a Document (Page 18)

3.2.14 Open a Document

You can open the document from PlanetPress Design or from Windows. Documents created using PlanetPress Design6 as well as those created with versions 4 and 5 can be opened directly. Those documents that were created using PlanetPress Design 3 must be imported.

When opening PlanetPress 4 documents created with earlier releases of this software, some style changes may not be imported correctly. When this occurs, you can fix the problem by first opening the documents with a later release PlanetPress 4, by saving it and then by opening it again with PlanetPress Design6. In some cases you may also have to reapply the style changes before opening the document with PlanetPress Design

To open a document edited with PlanetPress Design version 4 to 6:

1. From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Open.

2. In the Open Document dialog box, navigate to the PlanetPress Design document you want to open and click Open. By default, PlanetPress Design looks for documents with the PP6 extension. If the document was created with either version 4 or 5, select the corresponding extension in the File of type box.

3. If the document is password protected, enter the correct password in the dialog box displayed by PlanetPress Design.

4. If the sample data file associated with the document is more recent than the copy in the document, confirm whether or not to update the copy in the dialog box displayed by PlanetPress Design.

5. If any of the attachments associated with the document are more recent than the copy in the document, confirm whether or not to update the copy in the dialog box displayed by PlanetPress Design.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

6. If any of the static image resources associated with the document are more recent than the copy in the document, confirm whether or not to update the copy in the dialog box displayed by PlanetPress Design. The first page of the document appears in the Page area of the program window. The sample data associated with the document appears in the Data Pane.

To open a document edited with PlanetPress Design version 3:

1. From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Import | PlanetPress Design 3 Document.

2. In the Import PlanetPress Design 3 Document dialog box, navigate to the PlanetPress Design document you want to open and click Open.

3. If the document is password protected, enter the correct password in the dialog box displayed by PlanetPress Design.

4. If the sample data file associated with the document is more recent than the copy in the document, confirm whether or not to update the copy in the dialog box displayed by PlanetPress Design.

5. If any of the attachments associated with the document are more recent than the copy in the document, confirm whether or not to update the copy in the dialog box displayed by PlanetPress Design.

Related topics:

• Create a New Document (Page 17)

• Open a Document

• Refresh a Document (Page 18)

• Save a Document (Page 19)

• Save and Open a Document Template (Page 19)

• Set a Password on a Document (Page 19)

• Undo and Redo Commands (Page 19)

• Use Online Help (Page 20)

• Expand and Collapse Elements in the Structure Area (Page 20)

• Cut, Copy, and Paste Elements in the Structure Area (Page 21)

• Change the Display Name of an Element in the Structure Area (Page 22)

• Drag and Drop Files into the Program Window Areas (Page 22)

• Resize the Program Window Area (Page 23)

• Show or Hide Areas of the Program Window (Page 14)

• Dock and Undock Areas of the Program Window (Page 11)

• Using the Work, Hand, and Zoom Tool Pointers (Page 16)

• Use the Zoom Tools (Page 16)

• Use the Object Inspector (Page 14)

• Use the Object Preview (Page 15)

• Use the Messages Area (Page 14)

• Remove Background Color (Page 12)

• Named Colors (Page 12)

3.2.15 Refresh a Document

To refresh a document:

• Choose Page Layout | Refresh.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

Related topics:

• Create a New Document (Page 17)

• Open a Document (Page 17)

• Refresh a Document

3.2.16 Save a Document

To save a document:

• From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Save. If the document has been saved at least once, PlanetPress Design copies the last save of the file to a file bearing the name of the document with the extension .BAK, and then saves the document.

To save a document under a new name:

1. From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Save As.

2. Enter the new name under which you want to save the document, and then click Save.

3.2.17 Save and Open a Document Template

To save a document as a PlanetPress Design template:

1. From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Save As, and enter a name for the document.

2. In the Save as type field, select PlanetPress Design 7 Template and click Save. The document is saved as a template with the file extension tpl7.

To open a PlanetPress Design template:

1. From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Open.

2. In the Files of type field, select PlanetPress Design 7 Template (*.tlp7).

3. Browse to select the template of your choice, and click Open.

3.2.18 Set a Password on a Document

To set a password on a document:

1. From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Set Password.

2. Enter the password in the first box and then re-type the password in the Confirm box to confirm it, and then click OK.

To remove password protection:

1. From the PlanetPress Design Button, choose Set Password.

2. Click OK.

Related topics:

• Open a Document (Page 17)

3.2.19 Undo and Redo Commands

You cannot undo any move of an object or group that were performed using the mouse or shortcuts. Undo/ Redo functionality supports up to 100 levels of undo operations.

Avoid using Undo/Redo to undo or redo a database emulation. If you want to modify the database emulation, re- create the emulation to ensure database integrity and accurate results.

PlanetPress Design Basics - Detailed Directions

To undo a command or a sequence of commands:

1. From the Quick Access Toolbar, click Undo.

2. Repeat step 1 as many times as necessary to move backwards through the sequence of commands.

To reverse the effect of one or more undo commands:

1. From the Quick Access Toolbar, click Redo.

2. Repeat step 1 as many times as necessary to move backwards through the sequence of undo commands.

3.2.20 Use Online Help

The PlanetPress Design online Help system is composed of two distinct Help files:

• The first Help file contains basic user documentation and is provided in a variety of languages.

• The second Help file contains detailed information on a variety of advanced topics and is provided in English only. Advanced topics and procedures include for instance:

▪ How to install new PostScript fonts. ▪ How to set advanced user options. ▪ How to capture sample data using the Data Capture tool.

To display the basic Help file:

• Choose Help | User Guide.

To display the advanced Help file:

• Choose Help | Reference.

The product CD also includes printable documents in the form of PDF files.

To view the printable PlanetPress Suite software documents:

• In Windows, choose Start | All Programs | PlanetPress Suite 7 | Documentation and choose the product-specific document you want to view.

3.2.21 Expand and Collapse Elements in the Structure Area

To expand or collapse elements in the Structure area:

• Click the expand/collapse button to the left of the element you want to expand or collapse.

Related topics:

• Document Structure Area (Page 9)

• Expand and Collapse Elements in the Structure Area

• Cut, Copy, and Paste Elements in the Structure Area (Page 21)

• Change the Display Name of an Element in the Structure Area (Page 22)

3.2.22 Select and Move Elements in the Structure Area

You can select objects in the Structure area, as well as drag and drop any element in the Structure area to reposition it in the hierarchy. Note that in the case of pages and objects, the position of the element within the hierarchy influences the order in which it executes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual