Adapt Editorial

The Adapt Editorial system brings together the editorial, planning, and production workflows, offers flexibility and scalability and gives publishers the power to work the way they want to. In addition the Adapt Technology architecture allows users to initially start with an XPress or InDesign based system (Mac or PC) and over a period of time, migrate to another platform. With its scalable, com+ architecture, Adapt Editorial enables publishers to streamline their workflow and manage electronic assets. It provides a complete suite of tools that handle copy creation, copy editing, page layout, picture handling, wire integration, asset management and workgroup administrative capabilities. The collaborative workflow lets individuals work on different assets whilst they are simultaneously being assembled in the page layouts. Publication assets can be assigned and routed to the correct user and the system allows you to interrogate the status of each asset as it moves through the workflow. Adapt Technology ensures Adapt Editorial is a truly cross-platform, media independent system utilising at its heart the language of XML to ensure that the system can communicate with all manner of entities. Easily accessible XML messaging is used to transport data to and from an SQL based relational database, with browser based management of assets. It maintains information about users and their privileges, as well as a record for every asset tracked by the system, such as time and date it was assigned, the due date or any other user defined fields. Geometry and the content of the layouts and their associated articles are dynamically maintained to provide consistency across all users. A full text index of all content provides comprehensive search capabilities. The Adapt system is designed to be both scalable and robust. By using middle tier servers located between the users and the main data server, movement of assets around the system remains efficient and effective. The system can quickly and easily adapt to cope with differing levels of workflow activities. Where security is an issue, privileges can be assigned by group and then by individual if required. Each user can be given strictly defined access privileges with individual users' settings, including saved queries, becoming available at log-on regardless of which application and or workstation they use. User activity is stored in a detailed audit log for management information analysis. Comprehensive asset management and tracking In Adapt Editorial editors and production managers can keep track of any asset in the publication, including its location within the production cycle and who is working on it. Assets, such as articles or layouts, can be assigned to users in association with pre-defined templates and by querying the system for information about available assets, dynamic status reporting during the production process gives everyone a clear view of what needs to be done. Completed and in-progress page layouts, viewed through the powerful browser tool, enable managers to see at a glance the status of the publication. Clicking on individual assets in the preview will display detailed information about that asset, such as author, current status and revision history. By storing multiple versions of each asset in the database users can revert to an earlier revision if required. Managing the workflow Adapt Editorial provides a range of tools, many browser-based, to manage the workflow and assets. With most publications incorporating a number of 'asset types', such as layouts, plans/dummies, adverts, pictures, and text, Adapt Editorial comprehensively manages all the assets required for an editorial department to perform its function. Furthermore for those publishers who seek a system that 'does-it-all', integration with Adapt Production and Adapt Planning gives an all encompassing asset management system. The use of templates is a strong theme that runs throughout the system. Any asset type can be assigned as a template so users are able to set up a whole series of time-saving 'short-cuts'. Channels are used for automatic routing & processing. They deal with certain assets in a specific way, and display that information back to the user in the format they require. Channels are totally flexible and can be used in a number of ways to streamline common workflow routines. Asset management is greatly assisted with the implementation of baskets, an electronic adaptation of the pre-computerised newsroom. Here the concept remains ­ named baskets indicate content and destination ­ but using Adapt, access can be restricted by individual basket or group, to guarantee that all work reaches its correct destination. Hierarchies are used to group assets together and can be created with multiple levels, to enable a system to be configured in a very site-specific way. Getting data into the system One way of entering data is through the Adapt Client, which has been cleverly designed as a simple cross platform application. As well as being a useful tasting tool, it provides full copy creation and editing capabilities. Alternatively the Adapt browser gives users the opportunity to create and edit copy through a familiar interface such as Internet Explorer. Copy and articles can also be imported into the system through email; direct from Wire Services; in Microsoft Word format; via the Adapt Editorial XTension; using Adobe InCopy or Quark CopyDeskSE, or as an XML import. Image handling is second-to-none in the Adapt system and helps this product to be a truly multi-media system. With picture management handled by Adobe Graphics Server (AGS), hi-res and lo-res versions of an image can be made available according to publication specific requirements. Pictures are imported and routed through the system in the same way as any other assets in Adapt. Hi-res availability can be controlled at local level, where for example a branch office may only need to see a lo-res image, saving time for those connecting remotely. The Adapt system can extract information from standard IPTC headers that accompany pictures via Wire Service, or this data can be input via the Adapt Client when new pictures are entered into the system. Pictures requiring editing can be checked-out through the Adapt Client and processed within a third-party application, such as Adobe Photoshop. If pictures need to be formatted to a specific set of parameters, a run basket can be created for the purpose of processing pictures automatically.