The DCS File Support module enables Cumulus to recognize CMYK Desktop Color Separation files so that it can effectively catalog and manage multiple-file DCS assets. This module supports DCS version 1.0. These DCS assets consist of one main file (which may contain a preview image) and the four standard color separation files.

When cataloging a DCS asset, this module creates a record for the main file only. It is important to be aware of this when viewing the Asset Information window, as the information such as file size, etc. only pertain to the main file. Although only one file is cataloged, Cumulus still manages all five. For example, if you move or copy the cataloged DCS asset with Cumulus, all five DCS files will be moved or copied. (No properties to be defined.)

The following variables have to be used in the command line for the input and output files: $INPUT and $OUTPUT. They will be replaced by Cumulus before executing the command line depending on the module task in the following manner:

In case the application to be called expects a special file extension, you can specify the extension directly behind the variable:

In the same manner you can specify suffixes to append at the destination name:

To exactly specify the file name you can assign one:

will be replaced by:

will be replaced by:

will be replaced by:

Generate compressed tar file with specified destination file name:

The MS PowerPoint Asset Processor enables the user to create PowerPoint presentations in PowerPoint 97-2003 format from selected PowerPoint assets (slides, presentations), image assets and previews of other asset formats within Cumulus. For more information on how to use the processor, see “Creating Presentations” .

The Office Open XML Presentation Asset Processor enables the user to create presentations in Office PowerPoint 2007 format from selected presentations (slides, presentations), image assets and previews of other asset formats within Cumulus. For more information on how to use the processor, see “Creating Presentations” .

The OPI System Support module enables Cumulus to be OPI-aware. The Open Prepress Interface (OPI) is a technology that allows placing low resolution versions of image files into page layouts and letting an OPI print spooler automatically replace them with the high resolution versions of the files for printing. If the OPI System Support module is activated, Cumulus will be able to recognize OPI files and carry through the correct handling of high and low resolution versions of OPI files.

The module is able to read path name information and lets Cumulus manage both high resolution and low resolution files from OPI systems like Imation Color Central™, Nine Bits PrintDesk, 4-Sight OPI™ , HELIOS Ether­Share OPI, and HELIOS Image Server.

Cumulus is also OPI-compatible with many other OPI systems that use EPSF or TIFF format files as their low resolution file, like Scitex® APR. With these OPI systems, low resolution files are handled as expected, but the path to the high resolution file might not be automatically recognized.

The OPI System Support module is used for asset access in two different ways:

The module offers special support for the following versions of HELIOS and Imation OPI systems

For both OPI systems you can define additional properties.

If you select the OPI Support entry in the list of Asset Processor modules and then select the Properties button, the OPI Support Setup window opens.

In the section General you can set up the module:

Normally you choose to use the low resolution file. The chosen file version is also used in silent mode. If silent mode is not activated, you will be prompted to choose a version when accessing an OPI asset. Regardless of whether silent mode is activated or not, when you drag and drop assets you will never be prompted to choose the version – with one exception which refers to OS X only . Under OS X special functions for dragging and dropping OPI files are provided. These are as follows:

For HELIOS OPI system it is recommended to catalog the high resolution file as the information on this file will then be available with the catalog.

For all OPI systems (except HELIOS) it is recommended to catalog the low resolution file as only the low resolution file leads to the high resolution file – and not vice versa. If you have cataloged the low resolution files, do not enable Silent OPI File Access along with the option High Resolution File for these OPI systems since this combination will not work.

In the section HELIOS you can set up special properties for HELIOS EtherShare OPI and HELIOS Image Server. Only if the option HELIOS EtherShare OPI Aware is activated will Cumulus catalog either the low resolution layout file or the high resolution file. Although the module recognizes layout files generated in the layouts folder it also supports a name extension for layout files. In the field Layout file name extension (default: .lay) you specify the name extension to identify OPI layout files. You should always specify the same name extension that is used by the HELIOS EtherShare OPI system. A file in the same folder as the high resolution file that has this name extension will be treated as the layout file for this high resolution file. The following two options are important to avoid duplication when cataloging a whole folder. They can be used to create only one record for a pair of high- and low resolution files when cataloging. The option Catalog High Resolution Files Only (default) allows you to catalog only high resolution files. This is useful to get the information (size, resolution) about those files into the Cumulus catalog. By choosing the option Catalog Layout Files Only you can build a catalog of only the layout files.

In the section Imation you can set up special properties for Imation Color Central. Only if the option Imation Color Central Aware is activated, will Cumulus read the IPTC information from the high resolution file while cataloging the sample file.

If the option Add Category for Sample Files is activated, Cumulus will assign every ColorCentral sample file to a special category while cataloging. The category name can be specified in the field below this option (default: Imation Color Central). This option is useful when you catalog both the high resolution and the sample file of an image and you want to distinguish between the corresponding records.

The PDF Page Merge Asset Processor enables the user to create PDF documents from selected PDF page assets and image assets within Cumulus. (No properties to be defined.)

The Pixel Image Converter enables Cumulus to convert any cataloged pixel image into the different formats on the fly: e.g. JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, ScitexCT, PNG, PCX, and PDF. (No properties to be defined.) For more information on how to use the Pixel Image Converter, see “Converting Image Assets” .

The Pixel Image Crop Processor enables Cumulus to crop any cataloged pixel image on the fly, e.g. JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, PNG, etc., and to resize the final output of the cropped section. The resulting image will be saved as a new file. For more information on how to use the Pixel Image Crop Processor, see “Cropping Image Assets” .

The Pixel Image Crop Template Processor enables Cumulus to crop any cataloged pixel image, e.g. JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, PNG, etc., and to resize the final output, by means of predefined templates. The resulting image will be saved as a new file. For more information on how to use the Pixel Image Crop Template Processor, see “Cropping Image Assets with Templates” .

The QXP Server Asset Processor converts QXP documents, layouts or pages to PDF using a QXP Server installed in the network. (No properties to be defined.) For more information on the parameters available for the conversion, see the QXP Server documentation.

The Rename AssetProcessor renames assets according to a predefined rule within a Cumulus Action. It requires that at least one rule has been defined and saved as a renaming set using the Rename Asset dialog (Menu Asset > Rename To > Batch; for more information on how to configure a renaming set see The Rename Assets Dialog. The desired set must be selected in the module’s properties.

The Thumbnail Provider is used with Cumulus Actions only. It provides the thumbnail stored in the asset’s record for a Cumulus Action. Using the thumbnail that is stored in the record might be faster than having the asset converted, e.g with the Pixel Image Converter. (No properties to be defined.)

The Watermark AssetProcessor enables you to embed digital watermarks into the following pixel image formats: JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, PNG, and PCX. You can embed visible text and image watermarks. For more information on the processor and on how to use it, see “Watermarking Assets” .

The XSL Metadata Processor enables Cumulus to create metadata files based on XSL transformations. The XSL transformation is applied to a file that contains all metadata from the catalog for a processed record. Any XSLT style sheet can be chosen for the transformation. The output file is named the same as the asset with a chosen extension added and is saved at a chosen target location. (No properties to be defined.)

The ZIP AssetProcessor enables Cumulus to compress cataloged assets into Zip archives. (No properties to be defined.) For more information on how to use the ZIP AssetProcessor, see “Creating ZIP Archives” .