View what's in this topicCustomer Expectation Document
This topic communicates customer expectations in the areas of system requirements, knowledge, skills and training in order to achieve the best experience and results with XMPie uCreate.
uCreate Print extends Adobe InDesign to allow designers to use Adobe InDesign to create high-end dynamic documents. This is done by linking the InDesign document to a data source, creating content objects, modifying as desired the content object’s rules using the Rule Editor, then placing content objects into the dynamic document. Content objects are the data-dependent areas of the dynamic document.
Software components
This section outlines the individual software components available in the full uCreate family. Each product configuration includes a specific subset of the components mentioned below, depending on the purchased license.
uCreate
uCreate comes in different packages. Each package includes plug-in capabilities depending on the license that you will own. See uCreate packages.
uChart
The desktop version of uCreate allows customers to create charts and graphs directly on the workstation. uChart is available in specific uCreate packages.
uImage
uImage allows customers to generate Photoshop templates directly on their workstations. uImage is available in specific uCreate packages.
System requirements
It is the customer’s responsibility to provide sufficient resources to the system, such as free disk space, data storage and memory. Falling too low on resources might result in system slowdown, failures and unexpected behavior.
All Adobe desktop applications (InDesign, Photoshop) require an active internet connection, due to Adobe’s subscription-based licensing model.
PC workstation – uCreate Print plug-in
|
Processor |
Intel Core i5 or later |
|
Memory |
16 GB RAM or more |
|
Video Card |
If uImage is used:
|
|
Disk Storage |
250 GB |
|
Network |
Gigabit Ethernet adapter |
|
Operating System |
Windows 10 Pro Edition, Windows 11 Note: XMPie supports the following products in 64-bit mode only: uCreate Print, uImage. |
|
3rd-Party Software |
For uCreate Print:
If uImage is used:
|
Macintosh workstation – uCreate Print plug-in
|
Processor |
Apple Silicon M4 chip |
|
Memory |
16 GB RAM or more |
|
Video Card |
If uImage is used:
|
|
Disk Storage |
250 GB |
|
Network |
Gigabit Ethernet adapter |
|
Operating System |
macOS 12 and above |
|
3rd-Party Software |
For uCreate Print:
If uImage is used:
|
Skill-set requirements
Implementing uCreate requires skill sets as outlined below. As a general statement, the degree of technical experience required is related to both design requirements and complexity of logic and business rules for individual campaigns. A significant amount of Variable Data Printing (VDP) design and implementation can be accomplished with intermediate level skills, but the higher degree of complexity for the design, business rules/logic, or data sources may require a greater degree of some skills.
You should not expect to offer very complex documents to your customers without taking the time to build or acquire these skill sets. This becomes a trade-off: the greater the skill sets of the operators, the more complex dynamic documents can be created.
InDesign
An intermediate level of design skills will make for a much more productive experience. From the technical perspective, an operator at this level will understand InDesign concepts such as Text/Object Frames, Layers, Master pages, Object styles, Paragraph styles, Character styles, page layout effects and clipping paths including setting attributes and other properties.
Photoshop
uImage integrates uCreate with Photoshop. Intermediate design skills are necessary to create uImage document templates in Photoshop, depending on the types of uImage generated graphics the customer plans to create. An operator of this level will have a good working knowledge of all Layer types and styles, Smart objects, Effects, Filters and be able to create/use actions.
Data
To get started with variable data production a basic understanding of data and databases is necessary. Typically, your clients will send you a mailing list and perhaps other data in the form of Excel spreadsheets, and/or tab or comma delimited text files. These data sources are typically referred to as flat data files. Your operators will not only need to be able to open and work with these files, they may also need to understand how to handle mailing data. Simple understanding of how to work with data can be acquired during XMPie training only if requested during the scheduling process.
Manipulation of data using text editors, MS Excel, MS Access or mail sorting applications such as CASS are not part of XMPie training. These are beginner level skills. The ability to accept and work with more advanced data sources, such as MS Access databases or query SQL servers would require more advanced data skill sets.
While a large number of customers are very comfortable with simple flat-file data sources, you will want to ensure that you acquire or build more advanced data skills before accepting or working with more complex data sources from your customers.
Programming logic
The level of required skills is directly related to the type of variable data work you will be receiving from your customer. A large number of variable data logic requirements can be met with very basic skills. The most basic of skills necessary for this type of work can typically be acquired during the XMPie training sessions, if they don’t already exist in your operation.
You will want to ensure that you acquire or build more advanced logic skills before accepting more complex work from your customers.
Operators that need to implement logic or rules will do so by creating expressions using the Rule Editor. This editor writes expressions to calculate the end value of a content object. All expressions are written in XMPie’s QLingo programming language. At the most basic level, QLingo is similar to creating formulas and using functions in MS Excel. With the Rule Editor, operators may also edit the QLingo expressions directly as needed.
The more complex the project or campaign, the higher the skill level required to work with the data. You will want to ensure that you acquire or build more advanced skills before accepting complex work from your clients.
Training on non-XMPie products is a customer responsibility.
uCreate operating ranges
The list below represents uCreate operating ranges. Using it with values above these parameters has not been tested and may result in reduced performance or failure to operate properly.
The following are the maximal values that can be used in the campaign:
-
Content objects (ADORs): 1,000
-
Variables: 1,000
-
User Views: 100
-
Functions: 100
-
Filters: 100
Training
Three levels of training are available for uCreate customers: downloadable self-paced tutorials, instructor-led online, and on-site instructor-led training. During each of these options, the attendees will build a live, working VDP application. The amount of training achieved will depend on the skill sets already in place, and the ability of your staff to acquire new skills. While many of our customers require only the downloaded tutorials, XMPie customers participating in either the online or the on-site training report greater abilities to get started quickly.
Extra training time may be required depending on the type of product that has been purchased and the number and types of add-on products (uImage/uChart).
Time frame from purchase to live application
In the XMPie training course attendees will build a simple working VDP job. Because this is a training exercise, all of the necessary elements will be in place. Training does not include the creation of a live job. The creation of a live job for a current customer will be dependent upon having all of the campaign components necessary and the complexity of the campaign. The XMPie work necessary to build a VDP application or campaign from a basic flat-file data source with minimum programming logic can happen relatively quickly – in fact, the real limiting factor will not be the XMPie work required, but the time it takes to accomplish the design requirements within InDesign. Complex VDP applications and campaign timeframe depend on the campaign itself and your growing skills with XMPie software.
Support and maintenance
uCreate is supported for customers under a current Support and Maintenance agreement. As a maintenance and support plan customer you will have full access to the XMPie Support team and free product upgrades. The Support team is intended to provide problem resolution for system errors and software faults. For user error resolution, workflow development and optimization for campaign and job creation the help desk can assist in engaging Professional Services.
Security and privacy
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
XMPie supports GDPR compliance within its products.
The customer, who is the data controller, must take action in order to ensure compliance.
To learn about the steps a customer must take to comply with GDPR when using XMPie products, read GDPR guidelines for XMPie products.
Security
XMPie is committed to the security of its products.
Software patches for XMPie products will be implemented within a required minimum timeframe based upon criticality of exposure, impending risk to customer system resources and data, regulatory requirements and customer contractual requirements, but not to exceed:
-
High/Critical (i.e., CVSS >=7.0) rated vulnerabilities will be remediated within 30 days
-
Medium/Low (i.e., CVSS <7.0) rated vulnerabilities will be remediated within 90 days
Security fixes provided as a patch or as a version installation must be installed as soon as they are released.
Extended services
XMPie provides extended services for customers whose needs exceed the operability and functionality help covered by the Support and Maintenance plan. These services are:
-
Professional Services include application development, programming services, color consultation, implementation services, web development and design services and more. Programming services may also include training and support or use of the XMPie APIs. Other Professional Services work may include error resolution, workflow development and optimization for campaign and job creation.
-
Application Services provide XMPie customers with a tailor-made implementation strategy and service to successfully start working with their XMPie software. By using best practices within the industry, Application Services can help customers to identify where they want to go with the software and help them take their first steps. In addition, they can implement sophisticated projects, plan workflows, mark decision-points, develop custom configurations, or even supply visual and creative campaign elements.