Managing Editor Inc. (MEI), a software development and integration firm, announces the availability of version 5.1 of the K4 Publishing System, the premier professional publishing solution for Adobe® InDesign®-based workflows. Featuring support for regional editions or multi-version publications, e-mail notifications of assignments, virtual layouts for issue planning integration, and object rules for connecting digital asset management systems, version 5.1 expands the range of workflow setups with K4 and provides better overall integration into publishing enterprise environments. MEI will feature K4 version 5.1 at its free K4 for Editors seminar tour starting February 1, 2005, in New York. Registration details are available at https://www.maned.com/k4editors/.
Variants for text, image, ad and multimedia objects
In K4 version 5.1, each frame in an InDesign document can contain multiple variations of text, images, ads or multimedia content, dramatically increasing the flexibility of K4 and its adaptability to different types of publications. For multi-language publications, each set of text frames can contain a different language variant. For educational textbooks, variants can be used to represent content that conforms to specific state certification standards. For regional newspaper editions, K4 can manage zoned ads in the same image frame, associated with or independent of different text variants for selected articles. All variants share the same layout geometry, and each text variant can be checked out and edited by a separate user in Adobe InCopy®.
When it’s necessary to create different versions of the overall design for the same content, K4 allows InDesign layers to be used to create design variants. Depending on site preference, K4 determines whether editors working in InCopy can see all layers contained in the InDesign file, or just the layers visible when the layout file was saved to the database.
Virtual layouts and object rules
K4 version 5.1 allows data from ad layout and asset management systems to be sent to K4 directly via XML as object rules. K4 can read and interpret these rules to build layouts and/or place objects dynamically, then send back information about the placed files and page status-as well as JPG previews of InDesign pages-to the integrated system.
For example, if a four-page layout with two half-page ads is defined by an object rule from the ad layout system, K4 will show a new item in the K4 palette in InDesign. By double-clicking this item, K4 automatically builds the four-page layout and places the ads in their correct positions. Once the InDesign file is saved to the database, K4 can send a preview image of the page back to the planning solution. If a change is made in the ad layout system, the K4 layout designer is automatically alerted of the requested change to his layout file and all changes-including adding or removing objects and pages and renumbering pages-is executed automatically. The layout designer has a rule list at his disposal and can easily determine that all objects on the page are in compliance with their rules. Should an object violate the rules, the InDesign user is alerted when he checks in the file.
Object rules for images or multimedia objects can be sent to K4 from asset management systems or image databases in exactly the same way. K4 saves metadata on the use of an image-including its scale, rotation, offset and shear-and can transfer this information to other systems.
Object rules can be used to automate an almost unlimited number of layout tasks in K4, such as controlling page counts in multi-chapter publications and auto-populating layouts with specific text and image objects from other databases. K4 users are prompted to observe and comply with all rules upon checking in their layouts.
OTHER NEW FEATURES INCLUDE:
Process Automation
- E-mail address can be included in each user profile, with automatic, customized e-mail notification of assignments sent from K4 to users
- In conjunction with third-party applications, automatic preflight, PDF creation, packaging or printing of InDesign files can be triggered by status or metadata change, with processing results reported back to the K4 user
- A time stamp can be used to trigger a script for advancing previous, current and next issue to the next values
Enhanced Metadata Handling
- New metadata fields for text objects that display the number of characters, words, lines, and amount of overset or under-set in the K4 palettes
- For every number, date or time metadata field, up to three colors can be associated with a specific value or value range for highlighting metadata fields in K4 palettes
- New metadata search criteria: checkout state, object rule compliance, variants
- K4 Query palette contents can be exported for printing or other uses
Improved Productivity
- Override checkout allows users to undo checkout of a file by another user
- Optional checkout of InCopy files as text only
- Optimized check-in process of layouts for greater speed
- User names and colors for the Notes and Track Changes features in InDesign and InCopy automatically set per user login
- Enhanced layout preview in K4 Query palettes displays all pages and corresponding InCopy articles, text objects and variants
About K4 Publishing System
Developed by SoftCare and distributed in the Americas by MEI and its distribution partners, the award-winning K4 Publishing System has become the new standard for professional publishing workflows based on Adobe InDesign and Adobe InCopy. With its multilevel security controls, ease of use, and robust customization options, K4 supports a transparent and secure production workflow for individual workgroups or entire publishing enterprises. K4 offers secure content management, simultaneous workflow between layout and editorial, copy editing to the page, content and layout change alerting, workflow routing, status tracking, automatic version control, multi-view editing mode, full template management, customizable workflows by object type and robust editorial tools. One of the hallmarks of K4 is its Open-SQL interface, enabling other systems such as asset management, issue planning or automated prepress to be linked to K4. Articles are stored in XML format and can be easily repurposed for use on the Web. K4 has been sold to 65 sites in 9 countries (33 sites in the U.S.), supporting more than 3,200 users (2,050 users in the U.S.).
Availability
K4 Publishing System 5.1 is available for Mac OS X and Windows XP/2000/2003. Its versatile, TCP/IP-based SQL database can run on OS X server, Windows XP/2000/2003 server, Linux and Sun Solaris. Contact your MEI sales representative at 800-638-1214. Additional information can also be obtained on the K4 product page at MEI’s website. https://www.maned.com/k4.
About MEI
Managing Editor Inc. (MEI) is an industry leader in the development of quality, proven software solutions for the evolving publishing industry. The Page Director® Series of Advertising and Classified Layout Systems, K4 Publishing System, TruEdit® Collaborative Workflow System, AdWorks Ad Management System, and the Roundhouse® Ad Tracking System deliver automated pagination and workflow solutions to newspaper and magazine publishers, as well as to other print and electronic publishing markets. Founded in 1990, the company was named a laureate of both the 1999 and 2000 Computerworld Smithsonian Collections. Managing Editor is a portfolio company of Adobe Ventures LP, the investment arm of Adobe Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: ADBE), as well as the exclusive distributor of the K4 Publishing System in The Americas. Additional information regarding MEI’s products and services can be found on the company’s website at https://www.maned.com.
This article was last modified on March 5, 2025
This article was first published on January 27, 2005
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