ad tracking software [OT]

[Chris Denesha]

  >> Angela,
>>
>> Our newspaper produces a daily and 15 weeklies.  We use Roundhouse for 
>> Ad Tracking and like it - 14 designers.  I haven't seen any other 
>> solutions in quite awhile so I don't know if it is the best for your 
>> needs or not.  It requires a Microsoft SQL Server database and an 
>> application server to run IIS web server for system management and 
>> proofing (for a smaller shop can be the same server if enough 
>> horsepower).  I think the interface is MAC-only right now (version 
>> 3.5) although there will be a web interface on version 4 (rebranded 
>> IPS Adtrac - requires SQL Server 2005).
>>
>> Please note that your designers will need to change database statuses 
>> every time they touch the ad, and it will help to have someone 
>> dedicated to assigning incoming ads to a 'received/gatekeeper' status 
>> so you'll know when the ad has been received from the sales rep.  
>> However being able to find where an ad is in the workflow and 
>> determine what has not yet been submitted is Very Nice.
>>
>> I can tell you though that we had Vision Data Total Ad up until 
>> February of this year, so there is a proven export mechanism with it 
>> (they call it an 'MEI export interface').  Roundhouse imports tab 
>> delimited text files, which the Total Ad interface exports.
>>
>> Roundhouse has an automated set of scripts that drive applications on 
>> a standalone MAC workstation called 'DocServer'.  When the job is 
>> placed into a certain user-definable database status, DocServer kicks 
>> in and finalizes it (EPS or PDF).  We actually do not have DocServer 
>> running and are manually finalizing each ad, since there was a bug 
>> with C2 and our Windows file server where it kept prompting for 
>> 'missing' parts that were actually there.  I just haven't had time to 
>> test it out since we upgraded to C7...
>>
>> You didn't mention what you are using for page-layout software..
>>
>> Hope this helps,
>>
>> -- 
>>
>> chris denesha
>> Advertising & Telephone Systems Support, IT
>> The Day Publishing Company
>> (860)701-4485; OR (800)542-3354, X4485
>> c.denesha at theday dot com - Work email
>> chris-list at denesha dot org - List email
>>
angela deangelo wrote:
> Chris,
> 
> Our workflow right now is all Macintosh-based - ads are created in 
> Creator 4.0.5 (trying to get to Creator 8.0, just bought 14 copies), a 
> person sits and exports the ads as an eps. Pagination is handled on ALS 
> and CLS in MEI, then an overlay from those programs is placed in Quark 
> Xpress 4.11, and we use ScenicSoft (now defunct) Export for Prepress 
> feature to make .EPS files for placement in Preps 4.0. Those files are 
> then sent to an ECRM Server and that goes direct-to-plate.
> 
> We also have Total Ad from Vision Data. I don't have much experience on 
> it, because it is used mainly by our business office. (on still an other 
> side note - how does that run for you?? Seems like our Business Manager 
> is always resetting the Sun Server it runs on, people tell me they are 
> slow on it, etc.)
> 
> We feel like we are 15 years behind everyone else when we look at 
> demonstrations of Ad Tracking programs. Even if we got the lowest form 
> of Ad Tracking, we'd still be light years ahead of where we are at now. 
> I can imagine it is VERY NICE when you can find an ad on the fly, and 
> have all the artwork along with the ad (people always forget to move all 
> art to one folder, etc.)
> 
> Thanks for your input. I do appreciate the time it took to explain it all.
> 
> Ang
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------
> 
> Angela DeAngelo
> Macintosh Specialist
> Kapp Advertising Services, Inc.
> 100 E. Cumberland Street
> Lebanon, PA 17042

Angela,

We had issues with Total Ad in several ways.  It was indeed quite slow, 
especially with many users on it.  We upgraded hardware ($$$) which only 
helped somewhat.  Their database structure/software is quite ancient in 
my opinion, which could be much of it.  We replaced it this past 
February with FutureProof from Miles33, which has its own Planning 
software to replace ALS and CLS.  They also have a Production module, 
but it is years behind Roundhouse.

Frankly I like Roundhouse from MEI, it has been very solid for us (I've 
been the administrator for 4 1/2 years). Their upgrade from 2.5 to 3.5 
implemented multiple production sites (which we do not use), multiple 
zone groups that can handle multiple zones (which we don't use), and 
multiple front-end interface support (which was a life-saver being able 
to retain a live Total Ad system while building out and testing the 
FutureProof system).

IMO MEI Roundhouse support has gone downhill since a key person left for 
another company.  I didn't utilize ALS/CLS support much because we were 
running in a very simple way with older software (only up to ALS 3 and 
CLS 3 when we switched to Miles33).  Out of curiosity, what version of 
CLS are you having trouble with?

It is indeed Very Nice to have all parts associated with a job when you 
need to 'pick it up' and copy it to the new ad number.  Of course, this 
still means your users will need to retrain themselves to place ALL art 
in the parts field for the job and not Import directly from the Desktop 
etc.  Also be aware that it can be tough to keep the parts clean, i.e. 
how do you remove the parts from a job when you aren't using them 
anymore because you have changed to a new season with new art?  The 
parts folder can get bigger and bigger each time the job is copied, 
taking up server space etc.  Probably would be a good question to ask 
the various vendors if they have a good way to handle it.

-- 

chris denesha
Advertising & Telephone Systems Support, IT
The Day Publishing Company
(860)701-4485; OR (800)542-3354, X4485
c.denesha at theday dot com - Work email
chris-list at denesha dot org - List email