AccurioPro Variable DataAccurioPro Variable Data
Specialized utilities, and custom Rule Action development
The Pro Pack Module allows AccurioPro VDP users to develop their own custom Rule Actions that can be used to address a variety of different and unique variable data challenges. In addition to the custom Rule Action development support, the Pro Pack also enables a number of special features that are ideal for handling specific variable data tasks. These features include our Variable Table feature, which allows you to create variable-length InDesign tables and text flows that span across multiple document pages, plus our new Tray Break Utility that is designed to automatically separate and (optionally) impose VDP output for every Tray defined in your bulk mailing data file. Please see below for more details on all of the Pro Pack features.
The Pro Pack also includes a set of utility functions that have been integrated with AccurioPro VDP software, and are designed for performing various variable data tasks. These Pro Pack functions are available for most versions of AccurioPro VDP software, and represent a very powerful set of tools for specific VDP applications. Some of these features have been developed using the same JavaScript interface provided by the Pro Pack, while others are built-in features of AccurioPro VDP software that are enabled once the Pro Pack has been installed. Each module in the Pro Pack is described below.
| PRO PACK UTILITIES |
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| Variable Table Feature (collapse empty table rows)For variable InDesign tables, it is often desirable to remove table rows that are empty after data has been merged into the document. We call this collapsing the table, and the Variable Table feature is designed for just that purpose. This built-in feature allows you to set specific criteria to determine which rows of an InDesign table should be removed following a variable data merge. Please click here, or see the video below for more details. |
| Frame Action Feature (omit pages with empty text flows)AccurioPro VDP already supports the flow of variable text across pages in a document, but what about those records that do not include enough text to span to another page? In some instances, it is desirable to exclude these overflow pages from the print run. The Frame Action feature, which is included with the Pro Pack, assists in this process by automatically detecting such text flows, and marking the page for omission from the variable print stream. Please click here, or see the video below for more details. |
| Tray Break Utility (split variable PDF files based on mailing trays)For larger bulk mailing jobs, the Tray Break Utility automatically detects all of the Tray Breaks in your data file, then quickly merges (and optionally imposes) the variable PDF files, resulting in a set of press-ready PDF/VT files, optimized and separated for each tray. This powerful feature is sure to speed up the production of even your most complex variable direct mail pieces. Please click here, or see the video below for more details. |
| Price Parsing ModuleMany of the variable jobs encountered by AccurioPro VDP involve variable pricing information. This module provides a method for selectively grabbing just a portion of a particular price. For example, if a client has “2 for 1” pricing, this module allows them to selectively merge just the ‘2’ and the ‘1’ portion of the data independently, allowing for precise styling of this data after import. The price parser module handles many common retail scenarios, including standard pricing and percent-off pricing. |
The unique Variable Table and Frame Action features provided by the Pro Pack can be very handy for handling variable-length InDesign tables, and for working with variable text and table flows across multiple pages. Please have a look at this training video for details on how to use these powerful Pro Pack features.
The unique Tray Break Utility is ideal for larger bulk mail jobs where the data file is sorted by mailing trays. The variable data records associated with each tray are separated and processed to produce a separate PDF file for every tray. This utility will save you hours of time, and has also been full integrated with AccurioPro VDP Imposer, so you can merge and impose the files at the same time. Please have a look at this intro video for more details.
When we designed the list of available Rule Actions for AccurioPro VDP we came up with a standard set of Actions that we felt would be the most popular, serving to address most of your typical variable data challenges. I mean, just about everyone uses the Set Data to… Action, and the Apply Parent Page… Action, but of course we couldn’t imagine all of the things our customers would eventually want to do during a variable data merge. So we developed the Pro Pack module that allows our users to develop their own custom Rule Actions that can be used to address a variety of different and unique variable data challenges.
To develop a custom Rule Actions, the Pro Pack module serves to expose a set of special programming routines that can be used to totally customize your AccurioPro VDP functionality. All custom Actions are developed using JavaScript (a/k/a Adobe InDesign ExtendScript), and can be triggered by any AccurioPro VDP Rule. Using this approach, the Actions you develop will have access to not only the AccurioPro VDP scripting events, but to all of the Adobe InDesign events as well. This means that you can develop a Rule Action to handle just about any variable data need.
| CUSTOM RULE ACTION EXAMPLES |
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| Adjust Width of Custom Book SpineOne client for a custom book publication needed to adjust the width of the spine for a variable book cover based on the number of pages in the book. Each data record held the information for a different book cover, including the number of pages. The customer developed a custom Action for this purpose using the Pro Pack. During the merge, the custom Action was triggered each time the spine frame was about to be processed. The custom Action read the number of pages from the data field, did a quick calculation, then adjusted the width of the spine box, and returned control to AccurioPro VDP to continue processing. |
| Change Color of Text Frame with Pantone ColorAnother client needed to change the background color of a label frame by reading the specific Pantone color to use from a data field. During the merge, the custom Action was triggered each time this specific label frame was processed. It read the Pantone Color from the data field, applied the color swatch to the frame, and returned control to AccurioPro VDP to continue processing. |
| Specialty Bar Code ProcessingOne of our label printer clients had a special requirement for adding start/stop and check digit characters to their bar code data, and they also wanted to trim the data to a specific length. This task was easily handled using a custom Action that read the raw data from the data field, modified the text to the appropriate specifications, and returned the resulting data to AccurioPro VDP software to be merged. |
| Customized Title Case ConversionAnother client had a need for more advanced title case conversion on variable text data. AccurioPro VDP already handles basic case conversion (JOHN JONES becomes John Jones), but what about Mr. VanWinkle, not to mention the McCormick’s and MacDonald’s of the world! This custom action provides a built-in table for handing more complex names, and source code is available, so you can add other title case scenarios if you need to. |
| And More…These are just a few examples of how clients have utilized the Pro Pack to develop custom Rule Actions. The possibilities are truly unlimited! |
To help get you going, we also provide the full JavaScript source code to several other Custom Actions. These samples will show you the basics of how to communicate with AccurioPro VDP, examine the data being processed, modify the data, apply changes to the document, and return new data to AccurioPro VDP for processing. We also provide code to assist in other utility functions such as the ability to scan for and locate AccurioPro VDP placeholders in a document.
So you don’t know (and have no interest in learning) how to code using ExtendScript? Not a problem – just give us a call and we would be happy to discuss your project and work up a custom AccurioPro VDP Action, just for you!
If you are interested in trying the Pro Pack module for yourself, please click the button below to submit your request and we will contact you soon.