This latest release from Enfocus combines an enhanced version of the new browser-based Switch Client and various other new features, as well as integrations with solutions from several new solution partners. “With this release, we completed the migration of all the features that were available in the previous native Switch Client application to the all-new web-browser-based Job Client, which we released with Switch 2017 last February,” said Toon Van Rossum, Switch Product Manager at Enfocus. “The move from a native application to a Web Portal has been well received by our customers. Besides the ease of deployment and the ability to use it from any location, it gives us a new ‘playground’ for new-feature development. With Switch 2017, we opened up several of our APIs to the user, enabling them to easily build integrations between their own solutions and Switch. Combined with the integrations from our Solution Partners and the vast growing number of apps that our Switch app creators provide through our Enfocus Appstore, I can honestly say that Switch is the most diverse and open automation solution on the market.”
Enhanced Job Client. The browser-based Job Client now includes all the features that customers were accustomed to with the previous native Switch Client application. The Job Client embodies a floating license mechanism, allowing customers to access their Switch from anywhere on the LAN or WAN. Customers can purchase as many Job Client ‘seats’ as they require. When more users want to connect to Switch than there are seats available, Switch will automatically sign out a client session that has been inactive for more than 5 minutes.
Editing, locking and replacing jobs. Users can now download a job, edit it locally and replace it. While editing the job, it can be locked to prevent unwanted access by other users.
Downloading and viewing reports. Downloading reports from jobs at a Checkpoint is now also possible from within the Web Portal. This can be a preflight report generated by PitStop Server, or any other type of report that’s generated in a Switch flow.
Web Services. All Web Portal features are available through a REST API for easy integration with other solutions. Customers wanting to integrate their solution(s) with Switch, can consult the freely available Switch Web Services REST API documentation and download a set of resources from the Switch manuals section of the www.enfocus.com website.
Extending integrations with new solution partners
- GMG GmbH & Co. KG, GMG ColorServer. GMG is a leading developer and global supplier of high-end colour management software solutions. GMG’s customers span a wide range of industries and application areas including advertising agencies, prepress houses, offset, flexo, packaging, digital, and large-format printers, as well as gravure printers. In combination with Switch, testing PDF files and colour converting them is fully automated, guaranteeing consistent results for a variety of printing processes and substrates.
- Meadows Publishing Solutions, DesignMerge Pro. Founded in 1991, Meadows Publishing Solutions is a commercial software development and integration company that specializes in database publishing and variable-data printing automation. DesignMerge Pro, its flagship variable-data printing tool, works directly with the Adobe InDesign page layout application to produce personalized output in a variety of optimized formats. In combination with Switch, thousands of records of variable data can be automatically processed, producing variable-data output in the PDF, PDF/VT, or PPML output format, all with complete error checking.
- Rti-rips.com, Harlequin RIP. Rti-rips.com (RTI) was founded in 1994 and has sold more than 5,000 Harlequin RIPs worldwide. RTI was an early adopter of Internet marketing and has had a website focused on the sales and marketing of its products since 1995. RTI sells integrated RIP and workflow solutions, based on the Harlequin RIP, as well as thermal imaging systems, to the screen printing, flexographic, direct digital, and offset printing markets. In combination with Switch, adding an RTI RIP-Kit will enable users to automatically and directly drive a wide variety of prepress imaging devices including CTP, CTS, CTF, as well as digital proofers.
- Enhancing existing integrations – Apple Automator. A new Apple Automator configurator is available, completely rewritten to allow the distribution and management of the configurator independently from Switch.
Accessing the update
Maintenance customers will automatically receive the download link to the Switch 2017 Update 1 product installers through their local Enfocus Channel Partner or OEM Partner. New customers will automatically receive the latest Switch 2017 Update 1 with their purchase. Customers using a previous Switch version without annual maintenance, should contact their local Enfocus Channel Partner for the best options to upgrade to Switch 2017 Update 1.
