wp-2imagine-solutions-for-retail.docx Page 1 of 7

White paper Solut ions for retai l market

How to use 2imagine with Easycatalog plugin for

the retail market

Executive summary 2imagine provides the power to edit Adobe InDesign documents online via a standard Internet browser. Graphic productions for retail tend to be complex : agencies need to process large quantities of (changing) product data and tight deadlines. The production often results in multiple correction cycles and high margin for error, with large consequences if a wrong price is published! 2imagine can offer an immediate return on investment by shortening this correction cycle and avoiding content mistakes. This white paper covers the various scenarios how 2imagine can be implemented in workflow and approval processes typical for the retail industry. How approval processes on standard InDesign files can shorten the production. Also scenarios with a more sophisticated use case, for documents populated with data from external data sources.

«2imagine»

wp-2imagine-solutions-for-retail.docx 29/04/15 - 2

USE CASE 1:

Approval process for (standard) InDesign documents. The design agency or internal graphic department receives a briefing for a new retail brochure. The briefing generally is an excel spreadsheet with the page setup and the product data of all to be published products. After the graphic designer has finished his design work in Adobe InDesign on desktop with copy & paste the data from the excel file, the approval process commences.

1. Instead of sending PDF files for approval – with sticky notes on the objects needing correction – the end user / customer can modify the content of the InDesign file online in the 2imagine editor. The designer will upload the InDesign file in 2imagine. And assign the approval task to the end user / customer. By applying intelligent restriction presets in 2imagine, the user can only edit the content of certain layers and objects. The User Interface will be adapted to his profile and skills. 2. The end user makes his corrections (in the InDesign document) online and approves the (lores) preview. He assigns the task back to the designer or agency. No misunderstanding – no need for many correction cycles – because the end user is in charge and approves the print preview. 3. The designer receives the notification of his task. He logs in in 2imagine and downloads the modified InDesign file. And prepares the document for print. He can also use the hires PDF created by the InDesign server.

Main benefits: • Easy and fast uploading process of InDesign files – without the need for programming. • Control on the editing of objects in the InDesign file and the end user Interface • End user does not need InDesign license or graphic training • True WYSIWYG editing and preview by InDesign server • Multi-tenant and scalable solution for agencies

«2imagine»

wp-2imagine-solutions-for-retail.docx 29/04/15 - 3

USE CASE 2:

Approval process for InDesign documents – with (dynamic) content

from external data sources. The design agency or internal graphic department receives a briefing for a new retail brochure. The briefing is an excel spreadsheet with the page setup and the product data of all products to be published. The agency has all the product images in a DAM system – with the correct meta-data and file naming. This scenario describes the automatic creation process of the InDesign document with the product data and images. INDESIGN TEMPLATES PREPARATION The InDesign brochure is prepared for dynamic publishing: the designer prepares product snippets. Using an InDesign plugin, called EasyCatalog (from 65bit), the designer will tag each object in the product snippet – linked to the matching field in the product data excel (or XML file). Once all objects in the snippet templates are tagged, the designer can automate the brochure production.

The Easycatalog plugin has various methods to create the publication by merging the data from the excel file with the template snippets and insert new pages automatically - with the correct snippet is applied. See website of 65bit for more information on automatic pagination options. 2imagine supports the most common used Easycatalog pagination scenarios. In the 2imagine online editor, the easycatalog tags are visible and the user can edit the content (in the tags). Various scenarios are possible for updating the document with data from the modified excel or XML file : • Designer can update the document on InDesign desktop • End user can update the document in 2imagine (if this workflow is configured – see use case 3)

«2imagine»

wp-2imagine-solutions-for-retail.docx 29/04/15 - 4

Use case step by step: 1. In InDesign on desktop, the designer uploads the product data (.CSV or .XML) in the easycatalog panel. With

the InDesign template open, he will select the products for the merge. And performs the pagination process. (action in Easycatalog to merge the data and insert pages if needed)

2. After the merge, the designer finalizes the design in InDesign on his desktop.

3. Designer uploads the InDesign file in 2imagine for approval by his end user of customer.

4. The end user(s) can edit the document online.

5. Approve the lores preview and assign back to the designer / agency.

6. The designer downloads the modified InDesign file. And prepare the document for print. He can also use the hires PDF created by the InDesign server.

«2imagine»

wp-2imagine-solutions-for-retail.docx 29/04/15 - 5

USE CASE 3:

Approval process for InDesign documents - with (dynamic) content

from external data sources – created and updated by the end user. This use case describes the process where the end user or customer (retail shop owner) will create the publication himself with product data (excel or XML file) in 2imagine. 1. The role of the designer is different: he will prepare the InDesign files with easycatalog and upload in

2imagine. These files become templates and snippets in 2imagine. The end user or customer can choose from these templates to create his personalized version.

2. End user selects a template Creates a new document

3. End user uploads the product data (excel or XML file) and performs the merge. 4. End user can download the PDF result – or edit the result in the editor if some adjustments are needed. 5. Designer can download the InDesign file – in case he needs to finalize the document on desktop and finalize

for print.

NOTE: This way of publishing is recommended with templates that require no or very few manual correction. Price tags, price lists, and very well structured publications provide the best result. For more “graphical” documents, the designer can be included in the production process to download the result InDesign file and prepare for print.

«2imagine»

wp-2imagine-solutions-for-retail.docx 29/04/15 - 6

USE CASE 4:

End user creates retail promotion folders with own product selection

in the 2imagine online editor This use case provides advanced functionality. It allows the end users (retail shop owners), to create and edit promotion material in the online editor – with a selection of his own products. It is an easy and intuitive approach for non-graphical users. And create a professional brochure – in the branding of the Retail group. 1. In the 2imagine online editor, administrators can configure a form (using javascript). The form will be configured as a drop down list with all the products to be used in the retail brochure. (The product data can be an .CSV or .XML file uploaded by the end user – or an integration via web services with a PIM system.) The agency / designer has prepared an InDesign template with product snippets (tagged with easycatalog) and uploaded in 2imagine. With this configuration, the end user can create his own retail promo brochures: 2. End user logs in and will choose a template and create a new document 3. He will upload the product data (CSV or XML) – or query the PIM system for his product list 4. He will assign products to the snippets on the page 5. Save and preview the result. (The InDesign server and easycatalog will update the snippets). 6. End user can edit the snippets in WYSIWYG mode (or Story Editor) – finalizing the design.

The end user can also remove snippets and replace them by another snippet from the Snippets library. (this is an optional panel in the 2imagine editor showing the content of an Adobe InDesign library.).

7. Optionally, the document can be assigned back to the designer for further processing and finalizing the design

on his InDesign desktop.

This way of publishing revolutionizes the way retail (end) customers can personalize promotion brochures.

«2imagine»

wp-2imagine-solutions-for-retail.docx 29/04/15 - 7

Assigning products to page snippets in the 2imagine editor:

Edit product content or add new products.

After SAVE & PREVIEW, the snippet becomes editable in WYSIWYG mode- for more (layout) editing.