PlanSystem4 is based on three tiers, each with its own set of professional tools specifically designed for the job in hand. The modules - Edition Planning, Production Control, and Workflow - are used to create and maintain the edition plan, keep track of the production and offer workflow to all the users, within the office or remote. Using information updated in realtime, they provide up-to-the-minute communication and collaboration between everybody in the production workflow.

PlanSystem4 also has tools running in the background to efficiently handle administration, automation and connection to other systems.

PlanSystem Services form the nucleus of the system. They control access to databases, maintain server functions, provide automation and make sure that PlanSystem4 is configured to its fullest potential.

Edition Planning Module

PlanMaker - builds the edition plan of a publication

PlanMaker creates the virtual equivalent of a flat plan or mock-up of a publication. It shows the production progress in real-time by displaying status information and thumbnails of the pages as they move through the production cycle.

When used in either a creative or production-driven environment, PlanMaker provides significant management control of all aspects of the publication process - managers can assign stories or products to planned pages, designers can refine layouts and production staff can refine content and finalize design. PlanMaker offers the ability to reserve ad places from Excel or ad databases with an optional link to an ad file storage as well. As production proceeds, the plan is automatically updated with page thumbnails as well as complete status and job information on every page and planned entity.

PlanMaker also provides a seamless link to the production environment. Template documents can be dragged into the edition plan for automatic creation of layout, text or image files. Jobs that have been previously created can also be assigned to the edition in a similar way. At every stage, PlanMaker maintains a link between the page numbers used in production and those on the edition plan.

Cross-departmental working is one of the keys to PlanMaker’s success, providing a host of facilities including graphic display and control of signatures and inserts, real-time space allocation ratios and the ability to import data from advertising databases.

PlanSystem WebSolutions - PlanSystem's web client to work remote and view the edition plan of a publication via the Internet

Updated from the original PlanView module within PlanSystem3, PlanSystem WebSolutions moves away from the need for a dedicated web server through the incorporation of Apache Tomcat. The solution allows browser-based interrogation of any edition plan, with element and page status including page thumbnails. With this application, out-of-office personnel, offsite prepress houses and anyone who needs secure, read-only access to production progress information can view the edition status. Depending on the viewing permissions, PlanSystem WebSolutions has a check-in/check-out option which maintains a single marked-up copy that can be routed to the next contact in the comment/approval chain.

An additional feature provided by WebSolutions is the ability to view any publication in simulation mode. Using this tool, the job appears as a virtual so that users can flip through the pages to view the visual status of the whole job in real time. A new report generator enables the system to deliver production and archive data in formats that are most relevant to your business. These can be specified at system set up and customized as required.

iPhone browsing

With the latest iPhone app you can scroll through a flat plan and browse specific pages. The app is available through the Apple App Store.

Production Control Module

PlanControl - senior management production monitoring and control

PlanControl presents authorized users complete access to every aspect of the production workflow. Graphic displays provide the necessary information to reassign work, investigate layout inconsistencies and view the entire system’s work-in-progress. PlanControl also lists jobs per group or user, assignment of jobs, and offers various status details including advanced deadline monitoring in realtime.

Workflow Module

PlanJob - displays the user’s personal workflow

PlanJob offers everyone working for your publication the possibility to check-in and check-out jobs from any place in the world.

PlanJob offers:

• Push button check-out, check-in
• Automated and manual status assignment
• Unrestricted or tightly controlled workflow access

JobBags™ allow a single item or an entire section to be managed as a unit, with PlanSystem4 tracking the tangible and intangible assets.

PlanSystem Plug-Ins

PlanSystem4's unprecedented flexibility allows you to leverage the current functionality and operator experience of many page layout and copyediting applications. Direct connection via the PlanSystem palette is obtained through Plug-Ins that allow you to:

• Connect with Adobe InDesign and InCopy
• Create page thumbnails
• Automatically place ads and editorial
• Place products and copy
• Accommodate simultaneous users on same InDesign® page (Dispatch) by seamless integration between InDesign® and InCopy®
• Check-out jobs in Adobe® InDesign® or InCopy®
• Display space reservations for a page and the jobs attached to that page (Page Info Palette)
• Place images and text from the Page Info Palette directly onto the page (drag and drop)
• Change the status and route the job to another user when checking the job back in.

PlanSystem Article Editor

PlanSystem4 supports cross media publishing capabilities, through its Article Editor and enhanced use of XML. This enables structured data and content to be used throughout the entire workflow including archive and retrieval. The use of data identified in a more accurate, flexible, and adaptable way improves functionality and cross media potential.

Running in the Background

PlanAction – automates manual tasks with optional powerful scripting capabilities

• Automatic page numbering (Adobe InDesign Server required)
• Automatic PDF generation (Adobe InDesign Server required)
• Creates new jobs
• Changes the status of a job
• Imports data automatically
• Generates reports
• Connection to 3rd party databases (ad systems, CMS, DAM, MAM, PDF workflow, soft and color proofing and image processing systems)

PlanAdmin - administrative web module for PlanSystem Server set up

Flexible and easily administered

• Sets publication definitions and publication groups
• Administers privilege-based security and job-specific definitions for users and groups
• Easily creates workflows, including relative deadlines
• Creates job types
• Configures number of historic file versions you want to store and storage location
• Creates user-defined meta data fields
• Create user and user group profiles
• Sets permissions per status

PlanSystem Services

PlanSystem Server takes care of the connection to the database and the file storage, to make sure that the users can access the jobs they have permissions for. The clients connect to the PlanSystem Server, so they don’t need direct access to the file storage and database.

• Application server
• Web server
• File server
• Manages the configuration
• Controls privileges
• Connects to database(s)
• Version management

PlanSystem File Transaction Module is an optional module that gives more flexibility in installations with remote sites.

The PlanSystem Server reads from the database if there is a File Transaction Module available (in any remote site) that can handle this request to retrieve a file, and if so, where it resides. The PlanSystem Server connects the specific File Transaction Module and returns a reference to this module to the client. The client now gets the requested file directly from the (local) File Transaction Module. The file transfer happens only on the LAN.

• Custom created
• Runs as separate module

The File Transaction Module does not need much configuration. It will run on Microsoft® Windows® NT/2000/2003 and MacOS X as a faceless service. It will wait and respond to requests from the PlanSystem Server.

PlanSystem Preview Module creates previews of all jobs that have files of the following file types: PDF, PCX, PNG, PPM, PSD | PBM | PGM, TGA, TIFF, JPEG, GIF*, IFF | ILBM, RAS, EPS, ICO, MNG | JNG, WMF | EMF | APM, PSP, JP2 | JPC (JPEG 2000), YUV, CUT, MOV. These previews are readily available in all the job lists and on the edition plan.