New Workflow Suite from Metacommunications

Metacommunications has introduced a new workflow tool titled Workgroups 2006. The cross-platform software suite for creatives, publishers, and prepress techs includes new versions of Metacommunications’ products-Job Manager 4.0, Virtual Ticket 7.0, and Digital Storage Manager 2.0-as well as a new product called Approval Manager 1.0. Workgroups 2006 is scalable from a few users to thousands over multiple locations; components can be purchased individually or as the integrated suite.

Approval Manager 1.0 helps users with the traditional difficulties involved in managing, tracking, and scheduling approvals within the creative and production environments such as multiple proofing rounds, multiple proof reviewers, and tight deadlines. Approval Manager provides proof approval across many digital proofing technologies including Adobe Acrobat, Kodak RealTimeProof Partner, and Microsoft Word. It provides a Web-based interface that is Mac OS X- and Windows-compatibleto allow users to type in file comments, round comments, and annotations.

Job Manager 4.0 includes a new cross-platform browser-based client and usability enhancements such as: auto-complete, which suggests the closest match to whatever a user is typing in a text field to help them complete forms faster; and a “My Items” section, to keep frequently accessed customers and jobs.

Virtual Ticket 7.0 includes interface enhancements, an integrated and improved form-editing tool, find categories, Adobe Creative Suite 2 and Mac OS X Finder plug-ins, simplified deployment tools, support for Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, and enhanced JDF support.

Digital Storage Manager 2.0 helps users find files and assign useful metadata automatically, automate workflow, and store and retrieve files from online and offline media. The new version includes interface enhancements, an improved forms-editing tool, find categories, simplified deployment tools, and support for Microsoft Report Services.

A JDF Solutions Framework is available for Virtual Ticket, allowing it to be used as the front-end graphical interface to JDF-enabled production workflows. Workgroups’ Solutions Libraries feature prebuilt functionality and can be imported; they include prebuilt forms, finds, and reports.

METACOMMUNICATIONS
www.meta-comm.com