More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call  +61 3 9521-8070

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

More information at ...

http://www.atac.com.au/barr.htm

http://www.atac.com.au/emtex.htm

Email David Kirk
or call +61 3 9521-8070

Emtex Processing Speed

How can you speed up the processing speed of your Emtex system?  Emtex is a complex software suite which requires a high-performance PC.  Here are some rough guidelines to enable you to provide Emtex with the resources it needs for FAST processing:

• OPERATING SYSTEM - Windows 2000 (Professional or Server), Windows XP Pro and Windows Server 2003, 32-bit versions ONLY supported.  At this stage, Vista and Server 2008 are NOT supported.  Windows Server 2003 is recommended for client/server setup, as Windows XP does not allow enough open incoming ports to service clients.

• CPU - A dual or even quad core CPU, at least 3Ghz+ with Hyperthreading DISABLED in the BIOS.  Hyperthreading has been shown to preclude Emtex from using multiple CPUs.  With Hyperthreading turned OFF, Emtex will run separate threads on separate CPUs, distributing the load evenly across the physical processor cores in your system.  We've seen a Hyperthread enabled machine, running at 100% on a single CPU, turned into a non-Hyperthread machine, where each of the physical four cpu cores is idling at around 30%.  Performance almost doubled.

• MEMORY - Allow 4GB for the OS and Emtex to co-exist without paging.  There's no point going any higher as a 32-bit OS doesn't support more than 4GB.

• DISK DRIVE - The best you can buy!  We've found that by replacing a 7500rpm drive with a high-performance 15000rpm drive, performance can TRIPLE.  Emtex is a very disk intensive product, with DISK almost always being the performance bottle-neck.

• TEMP (VDD) FILES - should be directed to the (FAST) local disk for LAN-based machines.  (They're easily reproduced anyway, if required.)  We've seen processing speeds DOUBLE, even with "standard" local disk drives, by switching VDD files to the local drive.

• VIRUS/Spyware scanners should be tested carefully for their impact on Emtex' processing speeds.  Sophos is one product known to consume 100% of the CPU for excessive periods, when Emtex outputs to PDF for example.

• CLIENT/Server - Emtex can expand to a full client/server setup, where the server is dispatching jobs to run on client PCs, allowing for virtually unlimited expansion.  One site in USA runs over 100 production printers at rated speeds, via their Emtex client/server setup.

As you can see, there are a variety of things you can look at to speed up your Emtex system.  Contact Atac to discuss further.

Barr ASA Reminders

Barr Version 5.x and higher incorporates a mechanism which pops up an Annual Service Agreement (ASA) reminder when the ASA renewal date approaches.  We've had a few calls from clients concerned that their Barr system will stop functioning on or after the expiry date.  This is definitely NOT the case.  Here are the guidelines, so you know what to expect.

Timing

For purposes of describing the timing-related features, time is divided into 3 periods: more than 30 days until ASA expiration, between 30 and 0 days until expiration, and expiration has already occurred.

More than 30 days until expiration

The ASA renewal dialog never automatically displays during this time period.

Between 30 and 0 days until expiration

The ASA reminder dialog displays 10 minutes after the Spool UI is launched.  Sometimes the system is extremely busy immediately after launching the Spool UI.  We wanted to give the system a chance to settle down before we bother the user with the ASA reminder.

After expiration

If the PC is Internet connected, the ASA reminder dialog displays 10 minutes after the Spool UI is launched, but only once a week.  This will happen indefinitely until the ASA is renewed (ASA date in future more than 30 days).  If the PC is not Internet connected, the ASA reminder dialog will not display after expiration.

ASA Expiration Date

BEPS can get the ASA expiration date from two sources: activation codes and the update service.

Activation Codes

The activation code normally contains an ASA expiration date.  BEPS will store this date and use it as the default ASA expiration date.

Update Service

The update service (http://webservices.barrcentral.com/Updates/Service.asmx) is called when the Spool UI launches if the PC is Internet connected.  The service will return the ASA expiration date, which will override the date received in the activation string.

Remember

In ALL cases where the ASA reminder displays, it can be simply dismissed by clicking the [REMIND ME LATER] button.  The software will continue to function normally, even if the ASA expiry date has passed.

Emtex releases VIP 8.8

This release updates all key components and delivers over 70 enhancements over Version 8.7.  Some of the key enhancements are as follows:-

Support for PDF/A-1b Output; the industry standard for long term archiving of electronic documents

PDF/A is a subset of PDF which excludes features not suitable for long term archive.  It requires that all archived documents can be reproduced in exactly the same way in years to come, by ensuring that each document is 100% self contained, i.e. all of the information necessary for displaying the document is embedded in the file.

PDF/A-1b has the objective of ensuring reliable reproduction of the visual appearance of the document.  (PDF/A-1a includes all the requirements of PDF/A-1b but additionally requires that document structure be tagged, allowing the document content to be searched and repurposed.  PDF/A-1a is NOT supported in this release.)

PDFin RIP2: VDE Support

This enhancement will enable some VDE functionality with a RIP2-based IMAGE mode PDF-in.  In addition to the full-page image, text from the PDF data will be placed in the virtuals invisibly, so that it can be accessed by VDE.

A performance impact may be experienced depending upon the data, the extent of which will range from negligible for jobs with no text or fonts, to around 50% for jobs with a lot of text and many different fonts.

PDFin RIP2: Support for bundled PDFs

This enhancement will enable RIP2 to process bundled PDF files.

Support for IJPDS 600x600

The VERSAMARK VL2000 System employs drop-on-demand print technology with image resolution of 600 x 600 dpi and operates at maximum production capacity of 1,090 A4 (letter sized) impressions per minute.  VDD2IJPDS has consequently been enhanced to output IJPDS at 600x600dpi.

PCL-in Vector/Colour Support

This enhancement will provide the first phase of PCL-in colour support in vector mode.  It will support all relevant PCL colour commands and colour HP-GL/2 jobs.

Contact Atac to discuss your requirements today.

Q & A

Q.  Does Emtex support SPOT (Pantone) colour?

A.  Expected release date for this functionality is end of 2009.

Q.  When we receive Xerox files from the mainframe via IP Printway, the files we receive are broken into many smaller chunks.  What gives?

A.  We receive files from IP Printway via LPR, and obey protocol at all times.  Protocol dictates that when we receive an LPD control file, we create a new file.  A setting on the HOST controls whether the IP Printway sub-system inserts control files for each job step, or not.  The relevant setting is on the IP Printway Options screen and the prompt is Dataset Grouping.  The three options are 1 None, 2 Job and 3 Concatenate Job - you will want to set this to Option 3 Concatenate Job.

Q.  We've just created a BACKUP/DISASTER RECOVERY BARR PC, installed Barr, and performed a RESTORE of a BARRBACKUP taken on the production machine.  The Barr/SPOOL columns, sort order and filters are not as the original machine looked.  Why not?

A.  You need to apply the screen settings to the BACKUP/DR PC the first time you use it.  Choose VIEW | OPEN SETTINGS and choose the .BSP file with the same name as the Spool Window title on the production machine.

Q.  Who is/are Atac?

A.  Atac is the Barr and Emtex Distributor for Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia.  With over fifteen years experience in the market, we support systems running 24x7x365 from Christchurch to Tokyo and Perth to Mumbai, in most of the largest print shops in the region.

Our customers include banks, print bureaux, financial institutions and petro-chemical companies as well as printer and mainframe vendors.  Outsourcing organisations and facilities management companies make extensive use of Atac's expertise.

Atac is privately owned, with an extensive technical background stretching back over forty one years of continuously profitable operation.

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