To open the VDP-Editor proceed as follows:

1. Open the desired Article or Print Item of an Order resp. Production Job.

2. Activate the Variable Data tab. In case the tab isn't activated two reasons apply:

• the corresponding licence to create variable data is not available - contact the sales departement.
• the Article resp. the Print Item hasn't been marked as containing variable data yet. Mark the Print Item for the application in the VDP-Editor by choosing an Article resp. Print Item and selecting the command Edit > Edit Article resp. Edit > Edit Print Item in the action bar. Furthermore, activate the option include Variable Data [1]. Additionally add the checkbox Use CSV [2] in case the variable data has to draw on a control file containing variable description resp. links to images as well as color codes.

Figure 1: The File Properties tab of the Edit Article-dialog with marked checkboxes for the usage of an Article in a VDP-Order

3. Open the VDP Editor by clicking on the VDP Editor Browser button. Optionally, you can upload the desired CSV-file beforehand by moving to the dropzone upload CSV-file.

4. After that, the VDP Editor opens, which may take some time for somewhat larger images, since all required resources have to be loaded first.

Figure 2: The standard view of the VDP-Editors in the browser

The user interface of the VDP-Editors consists of the following elements:

• Menu bar [3] – information and functions for saving resp. closing the editor are depicted here. Furthermore, the bar contains a function to dim the static part of a VDP job.
• Rulers [4] – vertical and horizontal ruler in the previously set measuring unit of the system.
• Toolbar [5] – provides tools required to create or edit variable elements.
• Artboard [6] – Workspace for placing objects or for displaying the Print Item including the ImageBox [7]  - final view format - as well as the bleed [8], in which no variable elements should be located.
• Control panels [10] – provides functions and display information, divided into three tabs  [9].

Figure 3: The menu bar of the VDP-Editors

The menu bar of the VDP-Editor contains the following information resp. functions from left to right:

• Print Item- resp. Article name – this may differ from the actual file name.
• Save – Function to save the description of variable defined elements.
• Close – Function to close the VDP-Editor without saving.
• Warning Triangle – display of warnings that occur in the environment of the VDP Editor. Warnings are used to validate VDP jobs so that the user is informed early on where problems occur and which issues can lead to errors in the output.
• Dim static content – by pressing this button all static elements will be dimmed so that variable elements will be highlighted.

The VDP-Editor possesses some tools which can be used for the creation of variable elements. Some tools might already seem familiar from the Impose Editor and the PDF-Editor. Special tools for creating variable elements are additionally at disposal in the toolbar of the VDP-Editor.

Figure 4: The Tool Bar of the VDP-Editor in the Browser with openend sub-tools

The following tools are at disposal from this version on:

• Selection Tool [11] – therewith objects can be selected by clicking on an object. The keyboard shortcut for the selection tool is (V).
• Direct Selection Tool [12] – therewith segments of an object or a path can be selected in order to subsequently modify them. Choose the element which needs to be modified with the Selection Tool (V) and edit it using the Direct Selection Tool.
• VDP Text Tool [13] – therewith the length of a text field is determined by click and drag on a Print Item  and a placeholder - with the standard text »Sample Content« - for a VDP text element is created. The position, the content and the appearance can be subsequently determined  in the therefore provided control fields. By pressing the Shift key the line will be created horizontally, vertically or in 45° steps. When holding down the alt- (Windows) key resp. the option (macOS) key the line will be centered starting from the click point.
• VDP Text Path Tool [22] – therewith the starting point of the path is determined by clicking on the Print Item. Each further click creates a path point and a placeholder with the standard text »Sample Content« and a VDP text element consisting of corner points. Close the drawing process either by clicking on the starting point - the path will be closed - or by pressing the esc-button - an open path is created. The position, the content and the appearance can be subsequently determined  in the therefore provided control fields.  When holding down the Shift key the line will be created horizontally, vertically or in 45° steps.  The path points can then be edited with the Direct Selection Tool, converting them into one curve point, among other things. By pressing the alt- (Windows) key resp. the option (macOS) key additional path points can be added. When clicking on a path point R the path point is deleted.
• VDP Image Tool [14] –  - therewith you are enabled by clicking and dragging to draw a rectangle which serves as a placeholder for the variable image element. By pressing the Shift key while dragging, the placeholder is dragged proportionally. The position, the content and also the formatting can be subsequently determined in the control fields provided for this purpose.
• VDP Barcode Tool [15] – therewith you are enabled by clicking and dragging to draw the placeholder for a barcode or QR code. The position, the content and also the barcode settings or formatting can be determined in the control fields provided. By pressing the Shift key while dragging, the placeholder for the barcode or QR code is created proportionally. By pressing the alt (Windows) or option (macOS) key while dragging, the placeholder is created centered, starting from the click point.
• VDP Object creation Tools [16] – therewith additional graphical objects - no variable elements - can be created
  • VDP Rectangle Tool – therewith the user is enabled to draw a rectangle by clicking and dragging . By pressing the Shift key the rectangle can be drawn proportionally.  By pressing the alt- (Windows) key resp. the option key (macOS) the rectangle can be created from the center.  The position and the formatting is determined in the provided control fields.
  • VDP Ellipse Tool – therewith the user is enabled to draw an ellipse by clicking and dragging. By pressing the Shift key the ellipse is drawn proportionally.  By pressing the alt- (Windows) key resp. the option key (macOS) the ellipse is created from the center. The position and the formatting is determined in the provided control fields. .
  • VDP Path Tool – therewith the user is enabled to determine the starting point of the path by clicking on the Print Item. By each further click an additional path point is created. The drawing process is either closed by clicking on the starting point or an open path is created by pressing the esc-button. The position, the content and the appearance are determined in the provided control fields.
• Measure Tool [17] – therewith the starting point of the measurement can be set by clicking on the Print Item and by another click set to the end point. When moving the mouse pointer, the current measurement distance and the measurement angle are displayed. The keyboard shortcut for the measuring tool is (M). Observe the following notes when using the measuring tool:
  • By pressing the Shift key the measurement is reduced to a horizontal vertical measurement.
  • More measurements can be conducted in succession. All measurement outcomes are shown on the Print Item.
  • When changing the tool the currently effected measurement is removed.
• Hand Tool [18] – therewith the Print Item is moved by clicking and moving the mouse in the working window. This is especially needed in connection with zooming. The keyboard shortcut for the Hand Tool is (G).
• Zoom Tool [19] – by selection of the Tool (Z) the mouse pointer becomes a magnifier icon with a »+« in the magnifier. The keyboard shortcut for the Zoom Tool is (Z). The operating principle of the tool can be described as follows:
  • Zoom-in by clicking
  • By clicking and dragging a rectangle - zoom area - can be drawn which should be depicted enlarged.
  • By pressing the alt (Windows) key resp. the option (macOS) key the Zoom Tool transforms in a zoom out tool which is symbolized as »–« in the magnifier. Clicking again zooms out the view.
• Fit to Width [20] - therewith the width of the subject is automatically zoomed. Note that selecting the tool automatically zooms to the width. The keyboard shortcut for Fit to Page Width is (W).
• Fit to Height [21] – therewith an automatical zoom to the height of the Print Item takes place. Note that selecting the tool automatically zooms to the height. The keyboard shortcut for Fit to Page Height is (H).

The Transform & General Settings tab is displayed with slightly different options depending on the selected object. The tab is divided into two sub-areas - Transform and General Settings.

Figure 5: The Transform & General Settings tab after selecting a VDP text path element.

The »content« tab is used to determine which content is to be used for the variable element. The tab is only accessible if a variable element was created with one of the available tools and the created element is selected.

However, the structure of the tab always follows the same logic. The following three areas are available.

1. Data Source [35] - Select from which source or based on which rule the content should be generated. The following data sources are available:

• Character String - The content can be defined as needed in the text field. Placeholders - entries of a CSV file, serial number or a date - can be used.
• Date –  The content is defined by a date. Further setting options allow to define variable dates or different date formats  consequently.
• Serial number – The content of the variable element is defined with the help of a serial number. The serial number can be configured freely.
• Column index – The content originates from the CSV control file. The column index defines which values from which column are used. Furthermore, which row to start with or whether content must be selected or limited can be defined.
• Column title – The content comes from the CSV control file. The column title defines which values from which column are used. Furthermore, it can be defined whether content must be selected or limited at the beginning or at the end.
• String – The content can be defined by a text field as needed. Additional placeholders - entries of a CSV file, serial numbers or date - can be added and combined.

2. Definition area [36] - Depending on the selected data source, options are offered in this area, with which the user can compile or select the content.

3. Preview [37] - By choosing options in the definition area the content changes. In this area a preview of the content that the user would generate by the selected options is shown. This applies to the current record or the next records .

Figure 8: The three areas of the contents tab with the selected data source string

The »Formatting« tab determines the appearance of the static and variable elements. The tab is only accessible when a variable element was created with one of the available tools and the created element is also selected.

Figure 15: The available control panels for text, barcode, image and object formatting

Depending on which object was selected different options for formatting the object are available in fold-out control panels. The following formatting options for barcodes resp. QR-codes are available:

• Blend Mode [56] – The blend mode defines how the content of an object interacts with the content of the background resp. foreground. For example the blend mode »normal« causes that the background is set to knockout. The blend mode »multiply« causes that the object is set to overprint.  Other available options include Negative Multiply, Interlace, Darken, Lighten, Difference, Exclude, Hue, Saturation, Luminance, Dodge Color, Color Re-Expose, Hard Light, and Soft Light.
• Text Settings [57] - Specify the alignment of the text on the path. Left-aligned, centered, and right-aligned are available.
• Font Settings [58] –  Define the font family, the font style, the font size, the horizontal and vertical scaling and the letter spacing. When you want to add an outline to the text, you have the options of the line width and the possibility to create a dashed line by entering the length of the stroke and the gap.
• Color Settings [59] – therein, on the one hand, the color of the barcode or Q-code can be statically based on CMYK values or spot colors can be selected. On the other hand, entries from the data source (CSV file) can also be consulted and used.
• Stroke Color Settings [60] - therein, on the one hand, static color values for contours based on CMYK values or spot colors can be selected, on the other hand also entries from the data source (CSV file) can be used to generate the colors
• Barcode Settings [61] – The barcode settings offer the already familiar settings which can be defined for barcodes resp. QR-codes. Depending on the barcode type different settings can be defined.
• Background [62]– The background color of the barcodes or Q-codes can be statically based on CMYK values or spot colors. Otherwise, also entries from the data source (CSV file) can  be consulted and used here.
• Image Settings [63] - On the one hand, you can select the alignment - left, center or right - of the image in the placeholder frame, as well as the image fit - Distort, Fit Horizontally or Fit Vertically.
• Rectangle Settings [64] - the line thickness, the corner radius and the input of the length of stroke and gap for the definition of a dashed line can be made. For the ellipse and path settings, the values for the corresponding subset of functions can be used.

In the course of development of this version, the hidden tabs of the Plate -, Sheet configuration, Object creation Tools and the Grid Tool were rebuilt and restructured. Only the user guidance was improved or adapted. The following areas have been adapted:

• Sheet Template - Open the Impose Editor in the desired mode and activate the Edit Sheet Configuration button in the »General« tab.
• Plate Template - Open the Impose Editor in Nesting, Step & Repeat or Manual mode and activate the Edit Plate Template button in the »General« tab.
• Object creation Tools - Open the Impose Editor in the desired mode and activate an Object creation Tool in the toolbar
• Grid Tool - Open the Impose Editor in Manual mode and activate the Grid Tool in the toolbar

Up to version 1.12.0 a hidden tab was displayed when performing the above described steps. Therewith the settings were determined. From version 1.12.0 on, the tabs are completely hidden and a separate control panel is displayed in which the settings can be defined. These control panels can be subsequently closed or saved as a new template. When closing the control panel, the current settings are taken over, but not saved in an own or selected template.

Figure 16: The control panel for configuring the sheet template in "Nesting" mode

In this version, another option has been implemented in the "Nesting" imposition mode for imposing or nesting Print Items with irregular shapes. The new Shape Nesting option makes it possible to generate an optimized variant of nesting by nesting irregular shapes inside each other.

To perform a Shape Nesting in version 1.12.0, the following steps must be completed:

1. Prepare the Print Item for Shape Nesting.

• Print Items that are to be imposed with Shape Nesting must have a dieline.
• Print Items that are to be imposed with Shape Nesting must be masked to eliminate print content of the  Print Item that is outside the dieline.
• Print Items  that are to be imposed with Shape Nesting must have a Shape Nesting path on which the nesting takes place.

2. Select Shape Nesting in the Nesting imposition mode.

3. The degree of utilization can be significantly improved by optimizing the imposition.

With version 1.11.0 the possibility was implemented to use plate templates in certain layouts for printing plates, which are required for conventional printing processes. Thus, to save these plates as a template and to use them as basis for an Imposition. Thereby, the entire Imposition with the Plate Configuration is transfered as a PDF to a platesetter. In this version an additional option has been implemented which allows to align the Impose Sheet on the plate left, centered or right. Follow the steps below in order to conduct and to save this:

1. Open the Impose Editor in Impose mode Manual, Step & Repeat or Nesting
2. Create an Imposition at your discretion
3. Switch to the »General« tab
4. Activate the Edit Plate Template button
5. Select an already created plate template or configure a new plate template
6. Open the Settings area
7. Define the alignment of the Impose Sheet on the configured plate

Figure 22: The three alignments of the Impose Sheet on the Plate

The default behavior for the Imposition height in conjunction with roll media has been changed for the Nesting Impose mode. Previously, the maximum Impose height was derived from the preferred height in the printer configuration, so placing a larger Print Item meant that it could not be used for nesting without changing the default size.

With version 1.12.0, larger Print Items are now imposed anyway and the Impose height is automatically adjusted accordingly. The preferred height from the printer configuration is still used for all Print Items that are smaller. This extension of the Impose height is only activated when:

• roll material is used
• initially the preferred height of the printer is used
• the Impose height is trimmed to the imposed height
• the document larger than the printer's preferred height is placed

In this case, the maximum and final Impose height is at the maximum roll length which stored in the material definition.

As of this version, the PDF-Editor can be opened in 3 different ways:

• Double click on the preview of the Print Item or Article in the detail view.
• Click on one of the separations in the Article or Print Item detail view
• Activating the Open PDF-Editor button [71] above the Print Item or Article preview

Figure 23: Opening the PDF-Editor via the Open PDF-Editor button

Two small functions have been added to the »Analysis« tab in this version. When there are Spot Colors and/or Technical Colors in the Print Item, the two sub-areas are displayed and all Spot Colors and Technical Colors contained in the Print Item are listed therein.

As of version 1.12.0, the respective dimension of each Spot Color and Technical Color is displayed as well as the overprint status.

Figure 24: Dimension display and overprint state of Spot Colors and Technical Colors

The following tools are at disposal from this version:

As of version 1.12.0, a new »Page Geometry« tab is available in the PDF-Editor. This tab provides the function to edit or modify any page geometry boxes in the document. When saving the changes, a fixup is applied which creates a new version of the document and adjusts the page geometry boxes based on the settings.

1. Open the desired Print Item in the detail view.
2. Open the PDF-Editor.
3. Switch to the »Page Geometry« tab
4. The Article or Print Item will open with new setting options:
   • Artboard [72] - The current Print Item or Article will be displayed on the Artboard. Therein, all page geometry boxes contained in the document are depicted in different colors.
     • TrimBox = green
     • BleedBox = blue
     • ArtBox = red
     • CropBox = black
     • MediaBox = violet
   • Control panels - First, all the available page geometry boxes in the document are listed with their current dimensions [73]. For each page geometry box there are setting areas available [74] to exactly modify the page geometry boxes.

Figure 25: The standard view of the PDF-Editor in the Page Geometry tab

In Versions 1.12.0 improvements as well as some rebuilding was done for the following Fixups.

The zoom behavior has been improved or revised in the following areas of the workflow:

• VDP-Editor (Browser)
• Impose Editor
• PDF-Editor (Browser)
• OnPoint - PDF-Editor