Catalog XCMS

Catalog XCMS Automated Catalog Production System

Overview

A powerful automated layout system for catalog production linked with PIM

From creating to selecting

Catalog XCMS is suited to mail-order, food, home appliance, furniture, parts, nursing care, office supply and many other catalog workflows.

Catalog XCMS enables teams to produce catalogs from page planning through first proof without specialized DTP knowledge.

By expanding the database-driven workflow, teams can handle print and publishing media such as catalogs while also connecting content to mobile devices, information appliances, EC sites and other channels.

Produce catalogs in a web browser

Because work is performed in a web interface, teams can produce catalog drafts without operating DTP software directly.

Shorten production time significantly

Page planning, shelf allocation, block editing, table/spec creation and previews can be handled in the browser.

This greatly shortens the time required to produce a first proof.

Reduce proof cycles and human error

When product data is revised, changes can be reflected in DTP data.

Showing and applying changed locations in the DTP layout helps reduce editing mistakes.

Create complex tables

Detailed table settings can be created in the web interface, reducing the burden of data preparation. Teams can immediately preview table images and work efficiently.

Support diverse work styles

Catalog XCMS lets teams revise and review catalog pages from a web browser, making it easier to support remote work, flexible schedules and other changing work styles.

Publishing workflow for many media types

Publishing workflows for many media types

By expanding the database workflow, teams can build publishing workflows for print media, mobile content, information appliances, EC integration and other channels.

Catalog XCMS Benefits

Lower production costs

Information stored in the database is reflected directly, eliminating copy-and-paste mistakes in DTP software and reducing time and proofing costs caused by unnecessary information exchange.

Catalog production beyond dedicated specialists

Complex tables, image placement and layout adjustments can be performed in the browser, enabling catalog draft production without specialized DTP knowledge.

Operational improvement and efficiency

Catalog XCMS automates consistency checks, corrections and input verification that previously depended on manual work. Browser-based operation also supports varied work styles.

Catalog XCMS Use Cases

Case 1

Before Implementation

After first-proof completion, even minor edits such as text corrections, block reordering or page replacement required instruction sheets for the production team. The production team then needed time to review the instructions before editing.

When producing the next issue from a completed catalog, even small text changes required instructions and a production request.

Result after implementation

Catalog XCMS enabled non-production staff to make revisions in the browser, reducing instruction-sheet work and improving efficiency through immediate PDF previews.

Next-issue catalogs can be produced from completed catalog data, so small text or icon changes can be edited in Catalog XCMS while preserving the InDesign layout.

Case 2

Before Implementation

A first proof was produced from product information in Excel, but the information later turned out to be outdated and the work had to be redone.

Copying product information from Excel into DTP software caused incorrect information to be published, delaying the first proof and affecting the overall schedule.

Result after implementation

Updated database information is reflected directly in Catalog XCMS, so the latest data is used after registration changes. Direct database reflection also removes copy-and-paste work and reduces transcription errors.

Case 3

Before Implementation

During catalog production, some product images had been updated, but old images were submitted at delivery.

Result after implementation

Using the InDesign plug-in, teams can run difference checks on images, icons and text, identify changes and reflect them in the page efficiently.

Workflow

Production-time reduction workflow using Catalog XCMS

Planning / MD

Production company

Centrally manage product, image, page-plan and shelf-plan data in the CMS

Planning / MD

Import, edit and manage product and catalog production data centrally in the CMS.

Benefit

Central CMS management enables linkage with page numbering and index information for production assets.

Profield's product information management system

Profield provides XCMS-PIM for product information registration and management.

By linking with XCMS-PIM, the flow from product information entry, update and management through catalog production can be automated more smoothly.

Learn more

Lay out products in a web browser

Planning / MD

Page layouts, block layouts, block editing, table/spec creation and previews can be handled in the browser.

Benefit

After layout, automated composition enables immediate review of a rough first-proof image.

Submit InDesign data to the production company after automated composition

Planning / MD

Catalog information can be composed using InDesign Server, completing the rough layout.

Benefit

Submitting rough-layout InDesign data reduces editing work for the production team.

Fine-tune submitted InDesign data

Production company

Data consistency can be maintained even when layouts are adjusted.

Benefit

Text input errors during DTP editing can be reduced.

Review proofs and revise product data

Planning / MD

Run difference checks and reflect latest data in DTP files

Production company

Benefit

Reflecting database changes across all listed products reduces correction mistakes during editing.

Create a database from final print data

Planning / MD

Index and product information can be extracted and exported in bulk from Catalog XCMS.

Benefit

Index and data extraction costs and time are eliminated.

Functions

Key features of Catalog XCMS

Planning / MD

Production company

Layout functions

Planning / MD

Lay out products in a web browser

Page layouts, block layouts, block editing, table/spec creation and previews can be handled in the browser.

Automatic table creation

Planning / MDProduction company

Create tables from a web browser

Tables can be created easily from the web interface, reducing the burden of catalog data preparation.

Batch automatic change function

Planning / MD

Change product information from a web browser

Price changes are made on the product screen and only changed portions are reflected.

InDesign difference detection

Production company

Reflect changed data in print data in real time

This reduces proof cycles and human error by reflecting product data into DTP data in real time.

Automatic index generation

Production company

Eliminate index and data extraction costs and time

Index and product information can be extracted and exported in bulk from Catalog XCMS.

Options

Catalog XCMS options

Planning / MD

Production company

Sales analysis

Planning / MD

Analyze product sales in a web browser

Analyze product-level sales for catalog listing information by linking with sales data.

Graphical views make results easy to review.

Translation / multilingual function

Planning / MDProduction company

Expand to other languages more easily

Catalog XCMS supports multilingual expansion.

Translation functions can greatly reduce production time spent on translation work.

EC site integration

Planning / MD

Expand the database into workflows for many media types

Data can be linked from Catalog XCMS to EC sites, enabling EC site construction and order handling.

Progress management

Planning / MDProduction company

Manage schedules in a web browser

Progress can be reviewed for each project from the progress management screen.

Administrators can check first proofs, second proofs, final approval and other stages as needed.

Production Patterns

Catalog XCMS production pattern examples

Planning / MD

Production company

Three modes

Planning / MD

Choose from three display modes according to the work required.

Page layout image

New and discontinued products

Product information: sales and blocks

This mode is used when linked with the optional sales analysis function.

Reuse existing pages for new and discontinued products

Patented Technology

Planning / MD

Use the new/discontinued product confirmation mode to show discontinued products, delete or replace products within blocks and change layouts.

Select new layouts and change existing layouts

Patented Technology

Planning / MD

Select a page layout pattern to apply it as a new layout or modify an existing layout.

Select new layouts and change existing layouts

Place new products

Patented Technology

Planning / MD

Drag and drop product information to place new products.

Contact / Consultation

Discuss Catalog XCMS implementation and operations

Tell us about your current workflow and requirements. We will guide you through suitable configurations, implementation steps, materials, demos and environment checks.

View system requirements Contact us

Requirements review

We clarify your workflow, production structure and data management requirements.

Materials and demos

We provide product materials and demo guidance based on your use case.

Environment checks

We review system requirements, integrations and operational prerequisites.