Reprographic
Systems
5.3.2
Technical Dimension
Reprographic Systems had technology in-house for a number of years
prior to starting the eProofing and eWorking initiatives and technology
in the studio was well advanced. In addition to new PCs and Barco
software being purchased, the organisation had to invest in hardware
and software to ensure the smooth operation of its new email system.
Domain names also had to be purchased enabling each of the employees
in the company to have their own personal email address – previously
there was only one general email address which was accessed through
a simple dial-up connection from a PC in the office.
In order to facilitate the eProofing program, four licences were purchased
for Packedge, the latest version of Barco’s design software.
Of these four licences, three were used in the main design studio
and one was used in Wexford, linked by ISDN, as part of the eWorking
program. To run this new software, four new, high specification PCs
were purchased and added to the studio network, a combination of PCs
running Barco software and Apple Macs running other design software.
Additionally, new PCs were purchased for the office network, (a separate
network that used the same server as the studio network) and a production
database that had originally been written on a Macintosh was transferred
onto a PC.
All the sites around Ireland (including the eWorking site in Wexford)
were linked by ISDN and email. In order to create a PDF document of
a design for proofing, the operator in the studio simply ‘printed’
the document to a PDF creator as though printing to paper. Once the
PDF was created, it was checked by the operator before being emailed
to clients. Though time consuming, the complexity of the Barco Software
package, and the relative newness of the PDF format, meant that checking
of the completed PDF file before sending was essential. This ensured
that the client was being sent a good likeness of the design. The
finished PDF was then emailed to a client for signoff or comments.
5.4 Setbacks and difficulties
The main issues were around setting up the eWorking infrastructure
and ensuring it worked. And it had to work - there was no other way
of ensuring work could be transferred to and from this remote office.
The only major set backs and difficulties were caused by systems outside
Reprographic Systems’ control, namely the installation of ISDN
lines.
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Domain
Names
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| A
domain name is the name by which an organisation identifies
itself on the World Wide Web. Domain names are used for both
email purposes (i.e. jim.smith@acompany.com) and www sites (i.e.
www.acompany.com). Domain names can have a number of extensions
i.e. .com, .co.uk, .net or .i.e. to name but a few. What extension
is chosen is entirely up to the individual organisation. Often
they are used to show where in the world an organisation is
based (for example .i.e. for Ireland). |
Additionally,
the Euro changeover occurred in December 2000. “It
caused us a few small problems but nothing that wasn’t
easily rectified”, said Greene.
5.5
Timeline
Discussions around the strategic direction of the company
started in early 2000, and around the same time, the issue
of eWorking arose. The order for four new Barco Packedge
licences followed swiftly as did purchase of the PCs. The
Wexford site was functional by Christmas 2000. “The
deadline for grant applications, whilst not rushing us into
a decision, did force us to focus our thinking – we
were going down that route anyway but it would have just
happened a little later”, commented Greene.
The sending out of PDF proofs via email started around mid
2001
5.6 Budget
When planning started in 2000, the overall budget for the
project was set at 252,000, a mix of capital invested by
Reprographic Systems, a loan and of course the grant from
Enterprise Ireland. Due to the decision not to proceed with
the website part of the project, the overall spend was less
than that budgeted for.
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