FlightCheck 2024 supports CreativeCloud 2024
FlightCheck 2024 supports CreativeCloud 2024
New version of FlightCheck now also supports the latest version of Adobe CC
The best document check for prepress is called FlightCheck. The new version supports more formats than ever before.
Adobe CreativeCloud
If you work with Adobe CreativeCloud, you can always download the latest versions. It is therefore important that additional tools support these new versions. The latest version of FlightCheck 2024, which has just been launched, also supports the new document format from Adobe CreativeCloud 2024.
Document check via drag-and-drop
It couldn’t be simpler. Documents from InDesign, XPress, Publisher, PDF and many other formats are automatically recognized by FlightCheck. It is therefore sufficient to simply drag such a document onto the FlightCheck 2024 program to check the document immediately for possible errors. Drag-and-drop is all it takes.
If you want to parameterize the result even better, or, for example, map the requirements of the printing press in the test, then all elements can be easily adjusted.
Another advantage of Adobe products is the Markzware menu in InDesign, for example. FlightCheck 2024 preflighting can be called up directly from there.
Detection of image manipulation with artificial intelligence
If you check Photoshop files from Creative Cloud 2024, for example, image elements that were created using artificial intelligence (such as Adobe Firefly) are also marked.
Video
Ensure quality
Preflighting software can be used to ensure the output quality. But that’s not the only advantage. During work preparation, you can also check the incoming documents for possible sources of error, missing images, special colors and the like. This simplifies communication with the customer, shortens any queries and prevents undetected errors from being recognized during or after production. Preflighting prevents costly errors.
FlightCheck (Mac)
CHF 247.00 – CHF 396.00
Simple steps to maintain your WordPress website
Simple steps to maintain your WordPress website
This is what matters when maintaining your website
In this post you will find helpful tips on how to keep your WordPress website up to date. Kursiv offers this as a service, but you can also do it yourself. Maintaining a WordPress website is simple. You just need to keep it up-to-date, secure and optimized. The decisive factor is regularity. How do you go about it and what should you look out for?
Strategic planning
After the initial euphoria about the new website, it is the website operator’s job to keep the website alive. What can you contribute yourself?
Perhaps the most important thing is to realize that not everything works “by itself.” Because it doesn’t, or only for a certain amount of time. It takes strategy and ongoing attention to keep a website up to date. Those who ignore this run the risk of losing their website.
Two things are important for a successful website:
- On the one hand, it is about publishing new articles on a regular basis. These show the visitor that your business or website theme is active. The website can be compared to a shop window, which must be periodically adjusted.
- On the other hand, it is also about the maintenance of the website. This post is specifically about maintaining your WordPress website and what it takes to do that. We offer this “maintenance as a service“, but anyone can do it themselves if they are willing to put in the time and learning effort. Here you will learn what you need to pay attention to.
Update of all components
Challenge: WordPress websites consist of many components and technologies. All these elements require care. One can think of further developments, adaptations to new operating systems, closing security gaps and the like. Question: How do I keep my website structure up-to-date?
Solution: Maintain regular updates. WordPress makes it especially easy to add updates and shows available updates directly. Because most websites work with a particularly large number of components (WordPress core, plug-ins, themes), you should check the website for new features and install them daily, or at least several times a week. Before each update, it is recommended to create a backup. An update can lead to incompatibilities between components in exceptional cases. It is important to remember that not every combination can be tested. So check your own website regularly.
Recommendation: Directly on the website itself or with a central solution like Updraft Central. The Easy Updates Manager plug-in is also helpful.
security
Challenge: The wide distribution of WordPress makes the platform attractive to hackers. Criminals try to gain access to websites. At the same time, the website itself is only a means to an end. People misuse the website to distribute malicious software, advertisements, or hijack the website so that it becomes part of a hacker network. Every website owner should be aware that websites are never 100% secure. Once the website is hacked, this can also indirectly harm one’s own company, for example by marking one’s own website out of “danger”. The following question should be asked: What are best practices to increase safety?
Solution: Installing and setting up a security plug-in. Regularly check settings and search for malicious software. Furthermore, regular backups are important.
Recommendation: iThemes Security.
Backups
Challenge: Websites are not unbreakable. It is a technical marvel, but that also makes it vulnerable. If one day a website stops working, one is glad to have a so-called “backup”, a copy of the website that may not be too old. Many hosting companies now have an automatic backup once a day. Additional security is provided by regular, approximately hourly backups to external servers.
Solution: Install and set up a backup solution. There are several plug-ins for WordPress that make this possible. Most of the time, they create a backup within the website. If you want to store this externally, it often requires paid solutions. It is worth investing in it, because such security is always cheaper than the long-term failure of the website.
Recommendation: Updraft Plus
Caching
Challenge: WordPress websites are built dynamically. In a web browser you always see HTML pages. This is the result of a complex process. Each page is built from different building blocks. This takes time, which slows down a website. The solution is called “caching”. The building blocks of each page are precalculated and already stored as HTML pages. When the website is accessed, these ready-made HTML pages are called, which is much faster.
Solution: Install and set up a caching solution. Some hosting companies have caching that can be turned on for websites. However, most websites require a plug-in. There are several ways to do this, which vary in how easy it is to set up, and not all of them are free.
Recommendation: WP Rocket
Image optimization
Challenge: Each image has a certain “weight” when a website is loaded. If you use large images, it makes a website slow. The question is: How can I get smaller files while maintaining the same image quality and size? There are, of course, various solutions for this. A minimum requirement is to set images to a standard dimension (like 1600px or 2000px on the longest side) even before uploading. This prevents you from uploading oversized images that have no place on the website. WordPress automatically creates different thumbnails and preview images from these original sizes after upload. In each case the best size is delivered automatically. However, if you want to optimize all these different image sizes, you can’t avoid a specialized solution.
Solution: There are several plug-ins that can optimize images.
Recommendation: ShortPixel
Summary
These are the central themes for a WordPress website. Of course, there are other topics or subtopics, depending on the requirements. Those who prioritize worldwide accessibility may want to deploy a CDN (Content Distribution Network). Those who struggle with incorrect user logins will find specialized solutions for this as well. Almost everywhere it is worth hiding the default login page of WordPress, possibly disabling certain features of WordPress. For many tasks there are also several solutions.
Every website owner deals with technology. You don’t have to do everything yourself, but as an owner you should at least have an understanding of some of the interrelationships. This makes it easier to decide whether you want to take charge of the tasks yourself or prefer to assign them to someone else.
OmniMarkz combines all previous conversion solutions from Markzware
OmniMarkz combines all previous conversion solutions from Markzware
Quick conversion of PDF, INDD and QXP
The preparation of digital documents is often demanding. This not only applies to the output, but also applies to the data that you receive from customers or suppliers. How do you open different document formats? One method is to insist on “standards”. However, the fact is that there are several established data formats. As a professional contractor, you should be able to handle all formats. There is now OmniMarkz, an all-round tool from Markzware for converting important prepress document formats.
Data conversion
Almost every software has its own document format. This is often very useful when working with a particular program. But if you want to exchange documents, each party must be able to read these documents. That is not always cleared up straight away. It annoys me if you tacitly assume that everyone works with Microsoft products and everyone does their graphic work with Adobe products. This has not been the case for a long time.
The trend is towards diversification. There are more programs available, and each of these programs often has its own format. Exchange formats are also becoming increasingly common. For example, InDesign can generate so-called IDML files. They can now also be opened in other programs, whereby the IDML file is then automatically converted into the internal format.
Exchange formats are therefore important for collaboration. They make it possible to create a work here and process it there. It should be noted, however, that all software “interprets” a document. So there may be minor differences between the display on two different platforms. Rounding differences in the spacing of a font can, for example, lead to the very last word in a line of text sliding to the next page, even though this is not wanted at all. Control is therefore mandatory after every conversion.
The best way to compare data conversion is to adopt a standing sentence. For example, the customer only has a PDF file of an old travel brochure and no longer has original files. With a suitable conversion solution, you can now convert the PDF file to an original file in XPress, InDesign or Affinity Publisher. This would allow the old document structure to be rebuilt much faster than preparation for the new prospectus.
OmniMarkz is the Swiss Army Knife for file conversions
Document conversions are demanding. Markzware already offers 3 proven software solutions:
- IDMarkz converts INDD files from InDesign.
- QXPMarkz converts QXP files from QuarkXPress
- PDFMarkz converts PDF files from almost any source.
All three products are now summarized in OmniMarkz. So you are armed for almost any eventuality.
OmniMarkz imports INDD files as well as QXP and PDF files. Original software does not even have to be available for this. OmniMarkz also works if it is the only program on the computer where incoming jobs are checked and prepared. This need not be a fully equipped publishing workstation.
Thats how it works
Conversion solutions from Markzware convert internally to IDML and from there to the big wide world. IDML is a format that is already read by many programs today because it is a well-structured and open description of a file. OmniMarkz can already show an approximate preview of the file and also allows you to scroll through the file. If everything fits, you can start a conversion. There are various options to choose from:
- Conversion to various image formats and PDF
- Direct opening in XPress, InDesign or, for example, Affinity Publisher.
Conversion Limits
Data conversion is perfect for converting existing documents into another format once. However, these solutions are not suitable for constantly moving documents back and forth between several layout programs. A file conversion should be viewed as a one-time takeover of standing sentence. A control is always required after the conversion.
The fact that a file conversion is now often extremely successful should not hide the complexity of the challenge. There are big differences between different layout programs, even if they solve similar things. The conversion looks for the best match for the other program – provided that it is there.
Evaluation of a solution
The best question when evaluating a software solution like OmniMarkz is always this: How much time can I save? For example, if it takes 8 hours of work to rebuild the document identically without conversion, how expensive would that be? The more time has to be invested, the cheaper the conversion solution appears. It should be noted, however, that the conversion must always be checked. It would be better if you clarify for yourself how much time (and thus money) you want to save and where.
Depending on the situation, it can also be stated that some things cannot be solved at all if no conversion software is available.
- How do you convert a Word document to InDesign?
(by creating a PDF file and then converting it to InDesign in no time with OmniMarkz) - How can the elements of a website be used for a new XPress document?
(by converting the website to PDF and from there using OmniMarkz to XPress) - How can I open InDesign documents if I don’t have InDesign (any more)?
(by converting the INDD file to another format via OmniMarkz)
OmniMarkz (Mac)
CHF 386.00 – CHF 594.00
5 tips for a better website
5 tips for a better website
The website as a communication tool
There was a time when you saw your own website as a business card. There you could look up the address of the company, maybe check the opening times, find an email address and things like that. That time is over, because your own website is now a means of communication. Let your website do the work for you!
The website as a point of contact
Today’s websites are not static information, but living organisms. In the best sense of the word, websites today can be a point of contact between website owners and website visitors. Just as today, for many people, email has been replaced by messaging or the phone has been replaced by WhatsApp video calls, so the idea of a website as a mere address card has long been outdated.
Websites are points of contact today. Here not only factually correct information is conveyed, but also useful tips and tricks as well as emotions and ideas. Comment functions allow interaction. Maybe there is a newsletter or small surveys are made. On a website you not only refer to yourself and your own products or services, but also offer solutions to specific challenges. The website visitor “feels” the quality of the offer on the website.
5 tips for a better website
- Topicality
Write regularly. It is better to collect small contributions frequently than to publish a compendium once a year. - Concrete benefits
With a web offer, the benefit for the website visitor should always be in the foreground. It is best to put yourself in the shoes of the visitor and take up questions that can be written about. - collect ideas
Questions are often asked, especially when talking to customers. Each question is perfect as a basis for a post. Of course, you don’t always have the opportunity to write an article straight away. That’s why I made a list myself, where I can quickly write down ideas for new topics. Otherwise they will be forgotten. This is how you help yourself. - planning
For some people the texts and ideas are bubbling up, while others struggle with it. Anyone who is responsible for their own website has to think ahead. If you don’t like to write yourself, does someone else do it? A good rule of thumb is to provide updates at least once a month. As soon as a post is recorded, it can be used for newsletters or for distribution via social media. Are new posts recorded on a regular basis – no matter how small! – any planning can be advanced more easily. - customer service
A website is also something like a shop window. Customer care starts here. It is important to write new things regularly even when there is no news to report. Use these “dead times” for tips and tricks. The website visitors will be grateful for that.
The main topic: generating values
Whether you have the structure or rather the content of your website in mind during an evaluation does not initially matter. In all considerations, only the values that you generate for your customers are really important. In times of social distancing and limited customer contact, the website can play a decisive role.
No website is made to last. What works well in creating the website may not work after two or three years. Make an evaluation of the benefit every now and then. Is the structure correct? Are the right topics being addressed? Do new ideas have to be implemented?
Many companies have significantly less work these months. Is this the perfect opportunity to improve something on your own website in small steps?
Finally get a grip on your data with FileMaker
Finally get a grip on your data with FileMaker
Automation of everyday tasks
Who is working is generating data, i.e. information about the work. From the customer address to the production status, data is collected, offers and invoices are written and a thousand other things are processed. Most daily tasks are repetitive and can therefore be recorded in a structured way. This increases transparency, reduces the risk of errors and enables a targeted approach to business.
Use the time in lockdown
We live in a challenging time with unique opportunities. The COVID-19 virus will shut down the global economy for months. Governments “close” entire countries, and suddenly everyone is forced to improvise. It will take some time before it’s all over. It is still unclear how any exit strategy will work out after a relaxation. It seems certain, on the other hand, that the consequences of this period will linger with us for a long time to come.
I consider myself as pragmatic. I ask myself what I can do today which helps me tomorrow. During this time one must keep a cool head and look ahead courageously. We can think about that now.
Those who pave the way for new options today will have better chances of standing their ground in the future. The evaluation and simplification of internal company processes play an important role here. Think of automation requirements in day-to-day operations.
Now is a good time to contemplate workflows and software in your company.
Automation with FileMaker
FileMaker is a platform to develop business solutions. It’s not a specific software solution, it’s the software that allows you to create solutions. It’s like speaking of a word processor, which can be used to write different texts.
Many businesses use Excel to manage their data. This is a very powerful tool, but Excel is not a database, nor does it allow you to create intuitive interfaces. FileMaker, however, organizes data in an intuitive way. It’s used to create attractive and efficient software solutions that work on both Mac and Windows, and can also run on the web or iOS. One data format for a wide range of applications!
With FileMaker, you can automate business processes and bring them together on one platform. FileMaker solutions can be secured, shared over a network, and accessed by multiple people with their individual accounts and access rights.
In short, with FileMaker you can take control of your data.
Jump-start help for FileMaker developers
Kursiv Software builds solutions for FileMaker developers and those who want to become one.
FM Starter
With our startup file “FM Starter” there is a quick start for every new FileMaker project. With FM Starter you get a proven project structure and many generic tools are already integrated (navigation, multilingualism, user management, etc.).
FM Registrations
Do you want to convert your FileMaker development into standard software and sell it multiple times? If so, “FM Registrations” can be of help. With FM Registrations you can create license keys for your own FileMaker solutions. Therefore you can easily sell the same solution to multiple customers.
Kursiv provides help to self-help
Decide for yourself whether you prefer to develop on your own or whether you prefer assistance with the project. Kursiv offers optimal help for both scenarios. You can use our cost-effective FileMaker solutions or order coaching and training. We support on site or remotely.
Where can I get further information?
On our website fmstarter.com you will find many free example files as well as documentation and videos about our commercial FileMaker products. We are also part of an active FileMaker developer group in Eastern Switzerland, accessible via the website filemaker-kompetenz.ch. If you want to learn more about the possibilities of FileMaker or if you want to join us as a developer, we recommend the German FileMaker Conference. This conference takes place once a year and further information is available on filemaker-konferenz.com. The FileMaker Magazine is a website with magazine but also a very active forum with German-speaking developers. All this can be found on filemaker-magazin.de. If you want to start with self-study, you can find introductory videos about FileMaker and many other topics on the website com2publish.ch.
Working in times of crisis
Working in times of crisis
Don't panic - how we make the best out of adversity
Slowly, the full force of the coronavirus threat is also beginning to reach Switzerland. Switzerland currently ranks second in terms of worldwide infection, if you calculate per capita of the population instead of only assuming absolute numbers (statistics). Many are already working from their home office. Other companies suddenly have no more incoming orders. What is the best thing to do in these challenging times?
The Good News
Kursiv has some good news: Our products are virus-free. We also can guarantee that there is no danger of infection for humans, if you download our software solutions from kursiv-software.com or fmstarter.com. This applies for the publishing tools, the FileMaker solutions or also for our keywording software for photographers.
Normal everyday life: Urgent before important
Daily life used to look like this: If job prospects are good, we plan and produce. We are busy. Business is running well. However: Often urgent things are done first. Strategic decisions are postponed. This will happen in many small businesses. This situation now has suddenly changed. Nothing is urgent anymore, because orders are postponed, projects cancelled. Nobody knows how long this will last.
The opportunity: Important before urgent
The seriousness of the situation also brings with it opportunities. If the category “urgent” suddenly no longer exists, another category can be given attention. Today is the time when “important before urgent” can be cultivated. This involves strategic considerations and the evaluation of the value chain. Whoever has time to evaluate these things now is in the best position for the time after the wave of infection.
Focus on software
Almost all business processes today can be optimized with software. A first step to an evaluation would be the clarification of internal business processes. Where does information flow together and how is it managed? Where are there redundancies? Are there clear structures? Which pieces of the puzzle are missing today? The time that is perhaps unintentionally available today can be put to good use to solve any issues.
Implementing ideas
You have to have ideas and then implement them. As FileMaker developers we support companies with the realization of their own software projects. We coach and train and often do this remotely. We also provide proven development tools such as “FM Starter”, a start file for new FileMaker projects. On the website fmstarter.com we offer free FileMaker modules, sample files and further help.
Anyone who comes up with ideas and strategic considerations has already won in many ways. Panic and lethargy are no good guides in today’s world. If you take advantage of the possibilities, you create a good starting position for yourself. In this way, a virtue can be made out of adversity.