-     Database Module Exemplifies Switch's Unique Application Empowerment Abilities

-     XMP Metadata Can Be Added or Modified in Switch Jobs

-     iPad App Offers Switch Job Management & Monitoring from the Road

-     For Adobe CreativeSuite 5.5, Ready with New Functionality & Processing Benefits

Enfocus Switch, the automation platform receiving this year's 2011 InterTech Technology Award, moves into an increasingly central position within organizations' publishing production and supply chain systems with the important release of Switch 10 Update 1 and the optional Database Module, available immediately.

"Switch's ability to help inter-connected systems exchange, modify, and utilize different types of data automatically, has resulted in its organic growth in many directions," says Elli Cloots, Enfocus Director of Product Management.

"Switch's capabilities are not exclusive to graphic arts," Cloots says, "and in many cases our Switch customers are showing us exciting applications they've conceived of themselves. Some of the most immediately apparent and effective uses of Switch across different operations tie production data such as job ticket information, to inventory, shipping, and billing databases."

The Database Module

This highly powerful, optional module for PowerSwitch sites brings unprecedented automation to often cumbersome and expensive database-related applications.

The Database Module makes it possible for Switch to immediately utilize existing databases for automated processing; handling jobs differently based on information stored in the database. Just a few examples are preflighting files based on the actual order, archiving based on the customer information or job ID, etc. Enfocus has also added the ability to update, add or remove records through SQL without the need for scripting thereby keeping databases synchronized and up-to-date with anything that transpired during file processing in Switch.

These benefits are made even more appealing by Switch 10, Update 1's increased support for XMP, a new feature detailed below.

"We've made it really simple to integrate Switch with existing business and prepress systems by making it easier for the software to communicate with various database solutions," says Dieter Wullaert, Enfocus Switch Product Manager. "Users can utilize existing data in just a few clicks!"

Total Support for XMP

The new ability to embed Adobe's Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) provides a common way for design applications, workflow systems, and backend publishing systems to capture, share and process metadata. Switch previously supported use of jobs' existing XMP data, but now professionals can, for instance, insert a complete job ticket. They can also update existing XMP information with, for example, job information gathered while processing the file.

Support for XMP becomes even more advantageous when PowerSwitch professionals choose to purchase the Database Module. The combination provides users with even better tracking, accessibility and application use of the XMP data that becomes available.

SwitchClient is an iPad App

SwitchClient for iPad is one of the numerous product deployments Enfocus is developing to accommodate iPad, and other tablet, users. While SwitchClient for iPad is a convenience product, allowing professionals to monitor and manage their Switch jobs via iPad, Enfocus is also developing solutions to assist publishers and other stakeholders in simplifying crossmedia workflow processes for legacy, as well as new content. One of the first examples is a PDF crossmedia conversion feature in the latest version of Enfocus PitStop Server, which can be used in Switch through the PitStop configurator.