Client version 5.63 is another large release for BLOX Total CMS. It increases the foundations necessary for Automated Production and adds features to already in use Distributed Production feature. In addition it adds Folio Text Variables and finishes the <&insert: Translate Script command to drive rulesets based upon the page, domain, color, or a variety of other items.
The Goal of 5.63
This version also enables the write-back of Related Content edits from Adobe InDesign and Adobe InCopy.
An additional major feature of this version is the addition of Passive Budgeting. This allows for an automatic search for assets using the site's slugging convention.
This version adds additional foundations for Automated Production. It also improves the Distributed Production features. And it adds additional Folio Text Variables to automate unique situations.
Note: For sites using BLOX Total CMS VSAL (Simple ad Layout) option:
Path-name changes in build 5.62 and beyond require updated BLOX VSAL folder scripts. Download and unzip from this link; Backup/rename the existing tcms_data\Add-ons\BLOX_V_SaL folder and replace.
5.63.00-13 Released 2022.11.10
Snippet Export: A bug with exporting snippets with images has cropped up again. It has been fixed. (INDESIGN-3975)
5.63.00-12 Released 2022.11.07
Cut Overset to New Asset: A change in client 5.62 broke the use of BLOX Total CMS > Trimming > Cut Overset to New Asset… This function is operational again. (INDESIGN-3971)
This dialog allows you to set the parameters for a new Article asset that is to be created from the overset of the selected Article asset frame.
5.63.00-11 Released 2022.10.26
Multiple Ad Layout Formats support: We fixed some user interface inconsistencies from some of the prior updates in this version. The function now works as documented. (INDESIGN-3946)
Document Check-In Canceling: When a distributed production document check-in was canceled following a document close, the close would continue. Now, when the user clicks the cancel button, the document remains open. (INDESIGN-3377)
5.63.00-8 Released 2022.10.20
Bug fix for <&insert:(variable,: There was a logic error that prevented the insertion of text variables options using the revised <&insert:(variable, Translate Script option. This has been fixed. (INDESIGN-3933)
5.63.00-7 Released 2022.10.13
Pre-Placed Asset Policy Dialog Change: For a second time we’ve changed the Pre-placed Asset Policy to allow the users to see the OK/Cancel buttons on very short monitors as can be encountered when using terminal services/Citrix/remote desktop environments. The most recent change will display the radio buttons in two columns. (INDESIGN-3889)
5.63.00-6 Released 2022.09.09
Configuring Multiple Ad Layout Support and Custom Entries: Over two years ago in client version 5.44 we added a feature that allows a domain to have support for multiple Ad Layout Formats. This is very useful for sites that are transitioning from one Ad Layout system to another. This version completes the support for Custom ad layout formats. Custom formats are those that don’t yet have an option in the browser based user interface. However, this version builds in support for the Naviga XML sectionLetter format and thus currently there aren’t any unsupported Custom formats to use. Click here for directions. (INDESIGN-3946)
The Development Mode dialog which allows a site to use multiple Ad Layout File Formats at will within a single domain.Â
Internal Change for Checking Uploaded Folio Properties: The client for Remote Distributed Production users always checks for newly uploaded folio properties files. Unfortunately, when none exist, the client was logging an error and slowing the Log In process. This has been fixed. (INDESIGN-3955)
5.63.00-5 Released 2022.09.07
Additional Logging when using Jump Items: One of the problematic functions for Adobe InDesign is the conversion of placeholder codes to Adobe InDesign’s markers for use in Jump Items to signify prior or next pages. When the formatting Paragraph Styles use Nested Styles that break at odd points with certain fonts, crashes can occur. To help TownNews troubleshoot such cases we now log the contents of the frame and the paragraph style in use. Users will notice no difference. (INDESIGN-3213)
Change for Naviga XML sectionLetter Ad Layout Format: At a site’s request we added a new custom ad layout format for a revised version of Naviga XML back in client version 5.59. That site, and another, requested a change in the support which we have now made. (INDESIGN-3945)
5.63.00-4 Released 2022.09.01
Improvement for Slow Line Finder: The Slow Line Finder (found in the Support tab of BLOX Total CMS > Settings and Support...) has been updated with some revised function names for user interaction. In addition, we now include information on the Asset Manager timing and memory usage. The Slow Line Finder can be used if you have a particular user complaining about performance. Another option to compare performance is the Development Mode’s Benchmark Mode function. (INDESIGN-2343)
5.63.00-3 Released 2022.08.31
New Template Master Feature for Folio Text Variables: The internal code that makes date ranges for folio text can now be requested to not include the days of the week. There is no default text variables that provide these esoteric versions, but the BLOX Total CMS engineers can create custom text variables if needed. Links below offer additional information. (INDESIGN-2034)
New Feature to Display Asset Notes during Check-out: We had a request from a site that makes strong use of the BLOX Total CMS Asset Notes. They use this field, as intended, to share design notes about assets. But they wanted the notes to appear on check out returning from the editors. So that option is now available. To turn it on, have the user’s select the Display Asset Notes during Check-out option in the Translation Options tab of BLOX Total CMS > Settings and Support... This option is separate from the Display all Asset Notes option which will show all Asset Notes during initial placement even if they don’t have the Alert tag. (INDESIGN-1109)
Improvements for Edition Reports: Edition Reports have existed for nearly five years and we continue to make improvements as we get requests. In this version we gain a progress bar, counts for assets, advertisements, and pages. In addition, there is some additional cleaning up of the text in some fields such as the print headline. Page Size and Segment Area are now listed as square inches instead of square points. Choose BLOX Total CMS > Documents > Build Edition Report… for a current sample. As always, the export is an industry standard csv file that sites can massage as needed. (INDESIGN-2251)
Page Notes dialog now shows Document Jump Page Information: The Page Notes dialog now includes information about Document Jump pages. It will display Document Jump Page or Receiving Page depending on the purpose of the page. No information is displayed for Dynamic Jumps nor Dead Jumps. (INDESIGN-3261)
New Copy Fit function to Remove Vertical Justification: The Copy Fit functionality smartly relies upon using Adobe InDesign’s Vertical Justification feature. But that feature will likely confuse some Adobe InDesign users. So there is a menu option to turn off the setting. This essentially becomes a shortcut for using Object > Text Frame Options... and setting the Vertical Justification Align: option to Top. Only the selected frames whose alignment is currently set to Justify will be changed to Top and then this feature also UNchecks the Balance Columns option, when it is checked. (INDESIGN-3713)
5.63.00-1 Released 2022.08.19
Asset Manager Improvement for Syndication Tab: There is a newly activated preference for Creative Cloud users that allows multiple assets to be imported from a syndication channel simultaneously. To activate that, select the Allow Multiple Imports option in the Syndication tab of the Asset Preview tab of the Preferences tab in the Asset Manager. This option will allow the user to select multiple assets and then click the Import button. While the assets import the Asset Manager will appear locked/busy. But then the Basic Search panel should appear. Users can then work with those assets as desired including merging them. (INDESIGN-1755)
New Folio Text Variable for Season: There was a request to automatically add a folio text variable for the season of the year (Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall) based upon the publication date. This has been added as H6. (INDESIGN-2665)
Template Master Spawn Template Option: Template Masters can now request that the zero point not be changed when using Spawn Template. This is for a handful of sites that use custom baseline grids which don't count nicely from the top of the live area. (INDESIGN-2881)
New Purge Feature available for Remote Distributed Production users: Remote Distributed Production users have been operating for several months now and most users/sites don’t have a way to purge the document folders on the remote computer. To aid with the purge process we have added a purge for Remote Distributed Production users. When a user accesses the Open by Status dialog, an idle task will be added that will check for documents whose modified date is more than 30 days from the current time. Then, during the next Adobe InDesign idle event, that folder will be purged of those old files. This might slow down Adobe InDesign for those Distributed Production users the first time is processes those folders. But because of the limited number of files from the document storage folder that would be in any one folder, this should be reasonably fast. The removed files are actually moved to the local trash/recycle bin. So in the case of something truly odd happening, the files could be recovered from there. And, since this is a Remote user, all pages/files that would be removed could be re-downloaded from Page Tracker by opening them in the Open by Status dialog. The goal, is to help keep the remote workstation from getting bogged down by out of date while not constantly searching for files to purge. Note: The way this behaves is rather dependent up the folder options in the browser based Page Creation Settings. If a site has segregated files by months, then files can accumulate for a year. (INDESIGN-3356)
Improvement for Open by Status: There is now a refresh icon in the Open by Status dialog to allow it to re-check page statuses. Without this, the only way to get the current status would be to click the Cancel and then select BLOX Total CMS > Documents > Open by Status... again. (INDESIGN-3365)
Additional Logging when Canceling Check In for Distributed Production Documents: To provide some additional accountability, when a Distributed Production user cancels the check in of a document Page Tracker will recored that. (INDESIGN-3377)
Performance Enhancement for Create Pages based Document Check In for Distributed Production: When checking in pages for use with Distributed Production, the process has been sped up slightly by not opening the documents in the foreground. This makes the process about 10% faster. (INDESIGN-3392)
Snippet Export for Distributed Production: When any graphic is included in a frame set being exported as a snippet, there is now an option to embed those links so that remote users can access them. The option is automatically selected for Distributed Production Local and Remote users. Legacy Normal users can choose the Embed Links option in the Export Snippet dialog as shown below. (INDESIGN-3395)
New Components for Automated Production: The Add Components function used by Template Masters has a new set of items that can be added for Automated Production. (INDESIGN-3564)
More checking for invalid publication details: For multiple versions, a publication’s Volume and Issue information has been able to be determined from the Edit Publication information as shown below. Unfortunately, that browser-based interface allows the Volume start: date to be blank, or filled in with gibberish, or even an improper date. Unfortunately, some of those options would cause an internal confusion. Now, when the Volume start: can’t be parsed into a date, the current date will be used. This too, causes an improper determination on the number of issues, but it at least provides a value. (INDESIGN-3572)
Major New Feature for Automatic Budget View Searching from Slug: Nearly all our sites have smartly enacted a slugging convention for assets as it aids in locating assets for editing, and placement. And some sites religiously use the budgeting process to assign those assets to an Edition, print section letter or page. Client 5.63 now adds a feature of the Budget View of the Asset Manager to automatically provide an Edition budget view search. In this initial version of the feature the slug is hard coded to assume that slug convention follows this format:
YYYYMMDD-%%pubcode%%
Where YYYY is a 4-digit year, MM is a 2-digit month, and DD is a 2-digit date of month. For example, Independence Day 2022 would be specified 20220704. %%pubcode%% would be converted to the active publication code of the document as lowercase. There is a hyphen between the two. So if the publication code was TRN, then the full slug prefix for that date would be:
20220704-trn
As soon as the supporting Page Tracker code is released, sites can select their own slug convention at either the domain or on the publication level.
This feature is only available for our Adobe Creative Cloud based-sites and it will be automatically enabled when BLOX CMS 1.63 is released. (INDESIGN-3609)
New W6 Folio Text Variable with a short day of the week: There is a new W6 folio text variable that is a title case version of the first three characters of the date of the week. This is valid in Spanish or English. Click here for documentation. (INDESIGN-3670)
Related Content Write-Back Fully Supported: After many years and setbacks, the write-back of Related Content items from Adobe InDesign and Adobe InCopy is now supported. Click here to follow the setup guide. (INDESIGN-3682)
Change in Behavior for Associated Press channels in the Syndication tab of the Asset Manager: Since it was initially implemented, some Associated Press assets have an indication of a Preview URL that won't resolve. This in turn caused users to see a warning about it after clicking on an asset. This warning is no longer presented. (INDESIGN-3688)
Improvement for Image Selection during Automated Production: An earlier feature in client 5.60 automatically limited the number of child assets placed to speed up everybody in the system. Auto placing all children is very inefficient. The smart user will select which image(s) to use before placing it in Adobe InDesign. It is common, however, to always use all images with a Mugshot Presentation Mode so now all of those images will be placed. Be sure, however, to arrange the images so that the process can find the requisite number of images before it encounters the mugshots as they will be counted and it will fulfill the user’s preference for maximum images. (INDESIGN-3812)
InCopy: There was a bug showing up in some Adobe InCopy logs related to checking out all when the site’s Adobe InDesign clients hadn’t properly made the assignments by removing the captions from the image assets. This has been fixed and results in slightly faster response in Adobe InCopy. (INDESIGN-3852)
Change in the Client Verification: We’ve had sites that have managed to mess up the installation of the client and merged more than one version of the client. To help prevent this, we’ve added two warnings when the installation of the client doesn’t match its internal version and build numbers. Those dialogs are shown below. (INDESIGN-3877)
Asset Manager Syndication Tab Previous and Next Page Controls Removed: The VCR controls for the next page or prior page of assets had been failing to work because the requisite web-services weren’t returning the results. While those are being fixed, both controls in the Asset Manager in the BLOX Total CMS client for Adobe InDesign and InCopy have been removed/disabled. (INDESIGN-3887)
Pre-placed Asset Policy Dialog Change: The dialog has been adjusted so that when the screen resolution is below our recommended minimum height in pixels that the OK/Cancel buttons can be displayed. (INDESIGN-3889)
Log Out menu item moved: The Log Out menu has been moved towards the bottom of the main menu as shown below. (INDESIGN-3891)
Modified Template Master option to Add Components to support adding additional Text Variables: The Template Master option to Add Components had a function to add a set of Standard variables that were all based on the common components of the naming convention. However, with the plethora of additional text variables that the recent versions of the BLOX Total CMS client for Adobe InDesign has added, we added a simpler method to view and configure all of them. This includes those that might be left over from the site’s legacy folioProperties.jsx files. The new function is an All Text Variables checkbox in the Folio Text Variables area of the dialog viewable at BLOX Total CMS > Development > Add Components... as shown below. This offers an improvement over the prior back and forth between a live document and the Master Document. Previously the Master Document wouldn’t add these Folio Text Variables because those documents are purposely not named as a live document. This new function generates a document name and generates the folio text variables from that generated name. (INDESIGN-3892)
Open By Status Change: The Open by Status function used to allow the user to attempt the same document more than once. For normal users, this isn’t a problem, other than it wastes time. But for Distributed Production users, they would get an error as it attempted to download the .zip version of the document and save over the existing open document - something that Adobe InDesign, rightly, doesn’t permit. Now, when the user attempts to open a document that is already open, it ignores that request. (INDESIGN-3893)_
Folio Text Variables for the year of nearby dates: There were existing D1, D8, and D9 as well as M1, M8, and M9 text variables for the dates and months of the next and prior publication days. But year values didn’t exist for now. There are now Y1, Y8, and Y9 values. Click here for more information. (INDESIGN-3894)
Additional Default Folio Text Variables: There are now two additional folio text variables for two days after the publication date and two days before the publication date. These are F2 and F8 respectively and are documented here. (INDESIGN-3895)
Slow Line Finder: The Slow Line Finder, a built-in tool to asses problems with slow responses within and around the BLOX Total CMS client for Adobe InDesign and Adobe InCopy, was broken by a function renaming occurring with the recent support for alternate languages. The functionality has been restored. (INDESIGN-3897)
Distributed Production: We’ve seen where if a Distributed Production uses BLOX Total CMS > Documents > Close All… while having the option to check in documents when closing an error could be displayed. This has been corrected. (INDESIGN-3912)
Folio Text Variable Fix for ‘F1' and 'F9’ values: These options were added back in client version 5.53, but a site just found a bug on edge cases at the start and end of the months. This has been fixed. (INDESIGN-3914)
Distributed Production: It was possible to select File > Open BLOX Total CMS Document by status... even though the user wasn’t logged in. While, it correctly didn’t allow documents to open, it was throwing an internal error that has now been fixed. (INDESIGN-3916)
New <&insert: options for Rulesets: The <&insert: translate script command has been updated for the first time since 2013. There are now options for page color, Distributed Production, Automated Production, translation source, and more. Click here for documentation. (INDESIGN-3933)
Support for AP Media API Subject category searches: Sometime in that past several months the Associated Press added an additional branch of category searches known as Subject. It includes things like environment and nature, general news, health, oddities, and technology that aren’t in the legacy ANPA categories. This makes them prime targets for searches. Unfortunately, the way those options were implemented didn’t allow them to work with the legacy method for handling category searches in the Asset Manager. This has been modified and they can now be used. (INDESIGN-3932)
Log Change for Language logging: We no longer treat the language translation logs the same as regular Adobe InCopy or Adobe InDesign logs. They should no longer be making _BU versions or get copied to the Crashes folder. (INDESIGN-3935)
Search for assets Placed or Not Placed: The Advanced Search tab of the Asset Manager now has functional options for searching for assets that are placed in a publication or not-placed in a publication. This requires BLOX CMS version 1.63. (INDESIGN-3938)
Prior Version
The release notes for client version 5.62 can be found here.
