New function available since January 2009 – Automatic creation of documents with correct corporate design for varying formats

Frankfurt/Main, January 13, 2008 – Since January 2009, CDO launches the “Dynamic Layout” module, a new function for its iBrams brand management solution. This unique tool allows users to automatically adjust the size of existing InDesign documents based on a fixed set of rules and regulations without additional costs. “With this function we are offering our customers a distinct added value which they can only get from iBrams,” said Andreas Michalski, Chief Executive Officer of CDO Corporate Design Online. “There are many reasons why the size of existing layouts must be proportionally adjusted. These include the various different format requirements of magazines and newspapers, the differences between print and web, as well as internationally required format adjustments. The new “Dynamic Layout” function of iBrams eliminates the cost of manually adjusting the layouts to the formats. Instead, intelligent InDesign templates are used, already incorporating the dynamic adjustment regulations.”

“Special attention was given to the administrative functions required for the creation of the dynamic regulations. Using InDesign plug-ins, the respective regulations can be directly assigned to the documents. After the training we were already able to automatically calculate a large portion of our layout adaptations with the help ofhe new iBrams function,” said Gunter Spieler, one of the pilot users of the system. “The combination of InDesign plug-ins with the InDesign Server is a very efficient function of iBrams. It is amazing how simple the system is to handle and what complex options it nevertheless offers.”

Utilizing marketing budgets more efficiently
Previously any changes to an existing layout generated expenses. These have now been eliminated, considerably unburdening the budget of marketing managers. In addition, the automatic processing saves a great amount of time, as the work steps are implemented much faster – while users do not need any technical knowledge at all. “Each iBrams user with the necessary user rights can now implement changes such as changing height and width. Previously these steps cost several hundreds of Euros and took a long time to implement,” describes iBrams’ Head of Development Robert Gies the advantages of the new tool. “At the same time it guarantees 100 percent adherence to the Corporate Design regulations. Thus users can carry out standard processes faster, more cost-effective and better than before.” This is an obvious quality improvement.

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“This newly introduced function is only the beginning of an automation offensive, which iBrams will launch in this year. We are planning to implement an entire range of very expedient innovations, which will drastically simplify many previously manual steps in media production through processes also incorporating the Dynamic Layout. Our next step will be to offer the option of adapting layouts based on data from a database or an Excel file. For this process, the layouter creates a dynamic master with which an adapted version is calculated automatically for each value from the Excel file. This way, an international campaign involving many different formats becomes a matter of a few simple steps. In 2009 we also plan to once again completely overhaul and improve vertical integration tools, such as the handling of advertisements,” said Michalski, describing his company’s plans for 2009.

Download: Technical data sheet "Dynamic Layout"