Xmpie Ucreate/UDirect - graphic ADOR imports to bounding box instead of media box and variable layouts

[Ram]

Hi all,

We have been using UDirect for years now.  We generally bring in one PDF and one data source file into a layout in Indesign and dynamic print the output without any graphic ADORs...pretty basic use.

Now, we are looking to bring in multiple PDF files into one Indesign template as graphic ADORs.  Here is how we I am trying to doing it -

I have a data source that has 2 fields that contain the name of the front and back of the PDFs.

 

I set up an Indesign layout for the size of the postcard.  It has two pages one for the front and one for the back.  I linked the data source in UCreate and made the two fields that contain the PDF names to be "graphic" fields.

However, when I link the field to the layout, it seems to be cropping it to the visibility/bounding box as the size is wrong when it comes in.  I need it cropped to media box.  How do I change that?

Secondly, is there a way for me to control the orientation of the ADOR?  E.g. if we put two 5.5 x 11 postcards together, one of them could have a front that is portrait (11 x 5.5) and one could have a front that is landscape (5.5 x 11).  I can have the data source file show that in the name of the PDF. e.g. "ABC_vertical_front.PDF" or "DEF_horizontal_front.pdf".  Is it possible to look at that information and either use a variable layout for the different PDFs or rotate the PDF when it is brought in to fit in the frame.  The other option would be for someone to open the each PDF to see if there are any vertical layouts and change them before we link it in UDirect.

Thanks,

Ram.

[couch]

1) There is a registry setting used by uCreate Print to determine which PDF "box" is used.

The registry key to create is at: 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\XMPie\uDirect\1.00.000\

Create a new string value named: CropToValue

Set the value to be the number 0-7 as detailed below:

The permitted values are:

0 = Visible Layers Only, 

2 is the Art Box, 

3 is the Crop Box, 

4 is the Trim Box, 

5 is the Bleed Box, 

6 is the Media Box and 

7 is All Layers.

If you are using uCreate Print on Macintosh, then the technique is slightly different since there is no registry. Edit the text file called "XMPRegistry.plist" at: Library/Application Support/XMPie/XMPRegistry.plist 

Add the setting like this:

<key>CropToValue</key> 

<string>1</string>

2) If your asset names contain keywords like vertical/horizontal/portrait/landscape in the file name, then you can use two layers or pages with the two different designs catering for both image orientations, and use logic to swap between the layers or pages with a visibility ador expression like this:

if (Find(LCase(|->[photoname]), "portrait", 0) > 0)

{

"Portrait" //show the portrait layer

}

else

{

"Landscape" //show the landscape layer

}

[Jay Ban]

Ahh.. I've been struggling with this for ages because a PDF bounding box is variable whereas media/art box, trim and bleed can be static across all PDFs to be placed.

If it's set on a local machine using uCreate, does that translate over to a uStore/uProduce setting?

Also, shouldn't this setting be an easily selected thing within the software?

Regards

J

[couch]

For uProduce the registry key is the same, but the path is different:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\XMPie\XMPie uProduce Server Object\1.00.000\

In the case of PersonalEffect Enterprise where there are one or more production servers, the key needs to be set on all uProduce servers where print production is occurring.

If better access to this feature is important or helpful for you, you should log a feature request to boost the priority of this with the product manager.

Some purists would probably say that using a whole PDF layout as a graphic asset is sloppy work and that the layout should really be managed in InDesign. - I mean that the asset mechanism was designed to bring an image into a layout, not to bring in a layout to simply overlay dynamic objects. In most cases it is easy enough to ask the client for the original source of the PDF, or to convert or recreate the PDF to InDesign. Yes, it takes time and effort, but the whole job is more efficient, easier to update and maintain. 

I do understand the real business pressures that force designers to take this short cut - and it does work well enough. Maybe it was the same business pressures that forced XMPie's R&D team to implement a registry hack instead of a full blown feature?

[Jay Ban]

Thanks Couch, I'll have to speak with our system manager then :)

The issue I have which this crops up in is where I have a client with say 25 different departments which each have the same umbrella logo but different text underneath - this text of course can also be 2 lined an variable width. Their style guide stipulates that it the logo is aligned based on the common umbrella logo (in this case a roundel of a particular size which doesn't change). Unfortunately with object boundary importing, this could make logos with 2 lines or shorter single lines not scale properly.

Regards

J

[Ram]

Hi Couch,

Thanks for the reply.  I was able to use the visibility layer to show the right orientation using your suggestion....thank you.  

I am not having much luck with the media box issue though.

I am attaching the registry snap shot.  I changed it but the file is still coming in wrong.  When I place the file directly in Indesign without using the graphic ADOR and crop it to media box, the size is 5.75 x 11.25 for all my PDFs.  When I bring in the graphic ADOR, the size that is coming in is different from PDF to PDF.  Some are coming in the right size...some are coming in much smaller.  Some are coming in as 9.342 x 5.463.

Thanks,
Ram.

[couch]

My apologies, i just tested it and it seems the registry key should be in the Common folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\XMPie\Common\1.00.000

[couch]

Also, you should restart InDesign after making the change. And, you may not see any change in the InDesign UI, but you will when you use the Dynamic Output and check the result.