PoINT Publisher NG
Version 3.2
Build 233
© PoINT Software & Systems GmbH 1995-2011. All rights reserved.
ReadMe
General Information
The product "PoINT Publisher NG" enables you to produce CD, DVD and BDs. It consists of the components "PoINT Publisher NG - Server", "PoINT Publisher NG - Control Server", "PoINT Publisher NG - Client", "PoINT Publisher NG - Web Client", "PoINT Publisher NG - ECR" (PoINT ECR) and the "Software Development Kit" (SDK).
Depending on your License Key, one or more of the components will be activated for you.
"PoINT Publisher NG - Server" writes discs according to the specifications of the "Jobs". A "Job" typically consists of a Disc Image and/or a Print Label and additional options. To achieve highest productivity, "PoINT Publisher NG - Server" processes multiple Disc Images and writes to multiple recorders at a time if possible, and it supports autoloaders.
"PoINT Publisher NG - Control Server" allows access to multiple "PoINT Publisher NG - Server" installations using one "PoINT Publisher NG - Client". The optional Load Balacing Service additionally provides advanced features like load balancing, job splitting and failover.
"PoINT Publisher NG - Client" can be used to create Disc Images and to define "Jobs" (based on these images), which are sent over the network to "PoINT Publisher - Server". "PoINT Publisher NG - Client" supports the creation of Data, Audio, Video Images and Disc Copies. Additionally, already existing Disc Images can be used for a "Job" definition. "PoINT Label Editor" helps you designing print files for printing labels on the media.
"PoINT Publisher NG - Web Client" is a client user interface which runs in a web browser. It can be used to start "Jobs" based on existing data images and to print labels on media.
"PoINT ECR" is intended as a tool for simplifying and automating the production of discs in a network environment without the need of builder applications. "PoINT ECR" offers network shares to which data can be copied. According to certain configurable conditions "PoINT ECR" will instruct "PoINT Publisher NG - Server" to produce the discs.
The Software Development Kit (SDK) is an optional extension to the interactive versions of "PoINT Publisher NG". The SDK adds batch processing functionality to "PoINT Publisher NG", so that definitions including imprint file, number of copies and order of jobs for "PoINT Publisher NG" can be controlled by external programs.
"PoINT Publisher NG" includes an interactive setup program to guide you through the installation process. The setup program installs "PoINT Publisher NG" on a local hard disk and creates a new program group.
Please also refer to section Restrictions before installing the product.
The language which will be selected during the installation process will be used by the user interface of the installation wizard and as default language for all installed program components. After installation, a different language can be selected by each user which uses the software.
When installing the "PoINT Publisher NG - Control Server" on the same system as a "PoINT Publisher NG - Server", it
will provide a global registration service which allows clients to access different "PoINT Publisher NG - Servers" by just connecting to
the computer where "PoINT Publisher NG - Control Server" has been installed.
To use the advanced features like load balancing, job splitting and failover, the "PoINT Publisher NG - Control Server"
and the "Load Balancing Service" must be installed on a separate computer. To perform this installation method,
uncheck the option to install the "PoINT Publisher NG - Server" and check the options
"PoINT Publisher NG - Control Server" and "Load Balancing Service".
The following settings must be changed if PoINT Publisher NG is used with an active firewall.
On the PoINT Publisher NG - Server computer, open the firewall settings
and create an exception for the following programs:
C:\Program Files\PoINT\PoINT Publisher NG\CommSvr\CommunicationServer.exe
C:\Program Files\PoINT\PoINT Publisher NG\RegSvr\RegistrationServer.exe
On the PoINT Publisher NG - Control Server computer, open the firewall settings
and create an exception for the following programs:
C:\Program Files\PoINT\PoINT Publisher NG\ClusSvr\ClusterService.exe
C:\Program Files\PoINT\PoINT Publisher NG\RegSvr\RegistrationServer.exe
Please make sure to enter your actual installation path to "PoINT Publisher NG".
The version 3.1 of "PoINT Publisher NG" introduces a new version of the PoINT Label Editor which provides the following new key features:
"PoINT Publisher NG" supports the following media types:
Please note that support for a specific media type also depends on the recorder device.
If you plan to use "PoINT Publisher NG" in a Client / Server environment or you plan to use the "PoINT Publisher NG - Web Client", you must set the Temporary Working Directory to a directory which is readable and writable by the user account that the "PoINT Publisher NG - Server" is running on and additionally for the SYSTEM account and the user ASPNET. This directory can be specified after starting the "PoINT Publisher NG - Server" for the first time or later using the commands Configuration → Settings → Defaults.
PoINT ECR can be applied to network environments with Apple Macintosh clients running "PoINT Publisher NG".
Please observe the following restrictions:
In order to enable printing by the Label Editor "Bar Tender" from Seagull Scientific Inc. in "PoINT Publisher NG" the following conditions must be fulfilled:
Printing of PDF files was tested with Adobe Acrobat Reader X. Other versions can be used if they support printing through the command line.
Please note that printing of PDF files is controlled by the XML file "CmdlineTab.xml" which inlucdes a command line entry for Arcobat Reader which is automatically called by "PoINT Publisher NG". Depending on your installation you may need to adapt this command line entry. "CmdlineTab.xml" is typically located under the following path: "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\PoINT\PoINT Publisher".
If your computers are part of a Workgroup (in contrast to a Domain), you are required to create Windows user accounts on the server computer for the clients. The account(s) used to work with "PoINT Publisher NG" on a client require the same account on the server computer. The account name and the password must be the same on both machines. The password must not be empty.
Also, in Windows XP, the option "Use simple file sharing" must be switched off, in order to permit "PoINT Publisher NG - Clients" to connect to the "PoINT Publisher NG - Server". You can find this option in the Windows Explorer: From the Explorer's menu select "Tools" → "Folder Options", select the "View" dialog page to display the list of options.
On Windows Vista, the default settings prevent the computer from being visable to the network. Also, file sharing is disabled. For client/server operation or use of ECR, these settings must be altered. On the Windows Control Panel select "Network and Internet" and "Network Sharing Center". Switch on "network discovery" and "file sharing".
The following job types are not supported when using the Control Server with Load Balancing:
Please contact your dealer for support and updates.
Give as reference the following items:
You can find these item in the "About PoINT Publisher NG" dialog box. Please add a description of your computer system (CPU, memory, type of hard disks, type of SCSI host adapters, type of recorders, autoloaders, ...).
System Requirements
"PoINT Publisher NG" can be installed on any INTEL PENTIUM based PC (or compatible PC) which satisfies the following minimum requirements.
Supported 32 Bit operating systems are:
Supported 64 Bit operating systems are:
The optional Web Client Server Components which are required to access "PoINT Publisher NG" using
a web browser can only be installed if the Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) has been installed before
installing "PoINT Publisher NG".
To install IIS on Windows XP:
After installing IIS make sure the Web Server is not blocked by your Firewall. When using
the standard Windows XP Firewall, make sure the Web Server (HTTP) is checked in the
Advanced Settings dialog of your Local Area Connection.
To install IIS on Windows Vista and Windows 7:
After installing IIS make sure the Web Server is not blocked by your Firewall. When using the standard Windows Firewall, follow these steps:
It is not necessary to install "PoINT Publisher NG" components on a client computer to enable access to the "PoINT Publisher NG - Web Client". The Web Client fully runs in your web browser. The following browsers have been tested with "PoINT Publisher NG - Web Client":
The Web Client requires that Cookies and JavaScript are enabled. Depending on your web browser it is possible to enabled these features selectively for specific web sites or servers. The "PoINT Publisher NG - Web Client" also requires a Java Plug-in for your web browser. Java Plug-ins for different browsers are included in the Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE). The JRE 5 (Mac OS X) and 6 (Windows) have been tested. However, it is recommended to install the latest JRE which is available for your operating system.
Supported Autoloaders
Note
Please note:
The printer driver or the "TEAC P-55 Disc Label Printer"
should be installed prior to configuring the autoloader in PoINT Publisher NG.
IMPORTANT:
For the proper functioning of the Maintenance Mode of the autoloader the
following must be obeyed:
When PoINT Publisher NG - Server is running, the front power key is watched. If it is pressed, the system is requested to shut down. You will see a corresponding message on the front panel display as soon as the autoloader's current activity will be completed and provided that Publisher is not paused, i.e. the Pause button was not pressed. If the server is processing jobs, these will be completed first. Then Publisher - Server terminates and the system shuts down.
Please note:
The restart function (i.e. shutdown + restart) of the operating system does
not work properly. The hardware unconditionally powers off after 5 minutes.
Regarding support for further Autoloader manufacturers please contact PoINT Software & Systems directly.
By default "PoINT Publisher NG" searches for autoloaders at COM ports 1 through 3.
If your device is connected to a different port, it is necessary to adjust a registry key so that "PoINT Publisher NG"
includes that port in its search algorithm.
To change these parameters, start REGEDIT.EXE with administrative rights and open the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PoINT\Autoloader\General
Then create or modify the DWORD values MinComPort and MaxComPort
which specify the first and last port number to search.
Valid values are 1 through 8. Restart the computer after changing these values.
Contact
Address:
PoINT Software & Systems GmbH
Eiserfelder Str. 316
57080 Siegen, Germany
FAX:
+49 271 3841 151
E-Mail:
sales@point.de (sales and product related inquiries)
info@point.de (general inquiries)
WWW:
www.point.de
License Information
Possession, use, duplication or dissemination of this documentation as well as the software described in this documentation is authorised only pursuant to a valid written license from PoINT Software & Systems GmbH or an authorised sublicensor.
Disclaimer
PoINT Software & Systems GmbH believes the Information included in this publication is accurate as of the date of publication, it is subject to change without notice. PoINT Software & Systems GmbH is not responsible for any inadvertent errors. PoINT Software & Systems GmbH makes no representations that the use of its products in the manner described in this document will not infringe on existing or future patent rights, nor do the descriptions contained in this document imply the granting of licenses to make, use, or sell equipment or software in accordance with the description.
Besides "PoINT Publisher NG" the production of a perfect Disc requires a well configured System environment with a working Recording Device and a flawless Medium. Therefore PoINT Software & Systems GmbH does not warrant in any case that a Disc recorded with the "PoINT Publisher NG" software is readable without errors. It is the obligation of the user of "PoINT Publisher NG" to ensure correct recording by proof reading techniques.