Coming this spring: the latest version of ProductionManagerPro from Baseview, a provider of software tools for publishing systems. The latest version will add compatibility with Multi-Ad’s Creator 6 for ad-building. ProductionManagerPro also works with QuarkXPress (including support for Quark 5), InDesign 1.5, Multi-Ad Creator and Multi-Ad Creator 2.
ProductionManagerPro is a Mac compatible system targeted to newspaper and magazine publishers. It tracks all components of an ad, including fonts, graphics, photos, and logos. New to version 1.7 of ProductionManagerPro is a Find Elements command that allows a production staff to search for elements (graphics, logos, fonts, etc.) based on several criteria. Searches can be by file name, date created, date modified, size, file type, creator, even keywords.
Element searches can be narrowed down so that staff members are searching only ad folders, customer folders or the general folder or any combination therein. The keyword search can also be used to search for keywords placed in documents. The resulting screen can also show the keywords found, if you wish.
On the administration end of ProductionManagerPro, certain statuses can be set up to be monitored, then changed after a specified period of time, according to Baseview spokesperson Jodee Taylor. For example, if a publication moderates its workflow, an ad may only be allowed to stay out for proofing for a couple of hours. ProductionManagerPro will keep the clock ticking; when the time limit hits, will change the status of that ad to “manager’s attention” or “overdue on proof.” The names of the statuses are user-definable.
As with previous versions, the upcoming version of ProductionManagerPro is designed to work with Mac OS 8 and 9. The software is currently in beta testing. Sorry, but still no Mac OS X version, though one is supposedly in the works.