OL PlanetPress Connect Release Notes 2019.2

License Update Required for Upgrade to Connect 2019.x

From OL Connect 2019.1 onwards, only customers with a current OL Care subscription will be able to update Connect.

Every Connect license will now contain an end date that represents the last day of OL Care coverage for each customer. Upgrades and updates of Connect will be freely available up until that end date, but will not be available thereafter, unless the OL Care period is extended.

This new licensing model requires anyone upgrading to 2019.2 from Connect versions pre-2019.1 to first update their OL Connect License.

A dialog box appears as part of the Connect upgrade process requesting you to do this.

It is heavily recommended that you first update the OL Update Client, as version 1.2.40 of the Update Client can update your OL License to the required version, then install Connect 2019.2.

For further details on how to upgrade the Update Client and update your Connect License see the Update Client 1.2.40 Upgrade Guide.

If issues arise, or if you need to renew your OL Care subscription, please contact your local Customer Care group.

Backup before Upgrading

It is recommended that you always backup your existing OL Connect preferences before upgrading to a new version. This will enable you to revert back to the previous version, in a worst case scenario in which the new version introduces issues with your existing production processes. Whilst the probability of such a worst case scenario is remote, it cannot hurt to take some simple precautions, just in case.

For instructions on how to do so, please see Backup existing Connect version.

Overview

This document provides an overview of the new features and enhancements in PlanetPress Connect 2019.2 and PlanetPress Workflow 2019.2, as well as some important installation information.

Installing PlanetPress Connect 2019.2 and PlanetPress Workflow 2019.2

• PlanetPress Connect is released as a 64 Bit version only (with the exception of the Workflow, Fax, Search and Imaging modules).
• Full details on installing and licensing PlanetPress Connect and PlanetPress Workflow can be found in the online help, which can be accessed from the software and the installer.
• Note that both PlanetPress Connect and PlanetPress Workflow come with 30 day trial license by default.

Connect Templates Used in Workflow

For improved performance we recommend re-saving any Connect templates used in Workflow to the current version of Connect templates.

Workflow Installation requires Administrator rights

To reduce potential later problems, please note that the PlanetPress Workflow installation can only be run by users who have Administrator rights.

Reduced Memory Version (not recommended for production)

It is possible to install OL Connect on a machine with a minimum of 2 GB of RAM. The Connect Designer will automatically detect whether it has been installed on a machine with less than 4 GB of RAM and default to only using one internal Weaver and one internal merge engine on that system. The Server will also run using internal engines.

OL Connect 2019.2 Enhancements

Windows Server 2019 now officially supported

As of PlanetPress Connect 2019.2, Connect is now officially supported under Windows Server 2019. (SHARED-69995)

Performance Scheduling settings simplified and improved

Not only have the Performance Scheduling options been greatly simplified in Connect 2019.2, but the installer now dynamically sets the values such that fresh installations should perform a whole lot better out of the box. So good, in fact, that you might never have to bother with these preferences at all now.

But in case some tweaking is still required, the number of Connect Server settings has gone down from 27 to 13, and those settings that remain have less inter-dependencies. There's now just a single Connect Designer setting, for example.

This results in a much cleaner and easier understood settings, now renamed as "Parallel Processing", to better reflect the reality that these settings impact upon jobs running in parallel.

We have also introduced Performance setting presets. Each preset caters for a different use case scenario. This vastly simplifies optimizing systems for the included scenarios.

Out of the box, OL Connect dynamically matches the setup of the engines with the hardware it is running on, typically giving better performance after a fresh installation. Only users who have a mixed workload with parallel running tasks will need to go beyond choosing a preset.

Connect Server now automatically determines how many engines should participate in Content Creation, and can also dynamically reassign engines to other tasks, if desired. This results in better utilization of computing power, keeping all engines busy when there is enough work and better ensuring large tasks do not block other tasks.

For Output Creation, the licensed speed limit is automatically distributed over multiple tasks when they run simultaneously, continually adjusting as tasks start and finish. The spread of the licensed speed across the job types can be controlled by setting of pages per minute (PPM) target speeds.

Saving Connect files for different versions

You can now save Connect templates and Datamapper configuration files in previous Connect version formats. (SHARED-71187)

Improved PDF Signing

We have overhauled OL Connect’s functionality for digitally signing PDFs. Amongst other improvements, Connect now supports signing certificates on secure devices such as USB tokens, and HSM’s. This enables applying digital signatures for use cases where regulations require secure storage of the certificate. (SHARED-71456)

The PDF signing improvements include:

• Support hardware security devices (USB tokens, smart cards, and Hardware Security Modules) for digitally signing a PDF. The settings for this can be found in the Preferences dialog.
  
• Storing PDF signing passwords encrypted in output preset files.
• More reliable handling of time stamp server requests and responses.
• Can now add a timestamp to all types of digital signatures.
• Support for invisible signatures.
• Better compliance for digitally signed PDF/A-1b, PDF/A3-b, PDF/X-4 or PDF/VT-1 output.

Named parameters in Job Presets

Connect 2019.2 introduces a way for Job Presets to specify which parameters they need from Workflow (or from any other source). Accordingly, the Create Job plugin in Workflow can now display a list of expected parameters that the user can fill with dynamic values. This makes it much easier to pass specific parameters from Workflow to the Connect Server without having to stuff all kinds of information in generic JobInfos.

In future versions, we are planning to make this same method available for data mapping, content creation and output creation.

Performance Improvements

• Improved output engine and DataMapper performance when processing common PDF files. (SHARED-70290)
• Improved default performance, for most users, courtesy of simplified and improved performance settings, and better initial assignment of Engines by the Connect installer.

Installer Improvements

• Issues with license importations have been fixed. (SHARED-67735)
• The Microsoft Access Database Engine has been updated to version 2016 (ACE 16.0) as the previously used engine (2010) is scheduled for end-of-life in 2020. (SHARED-68863)
• Under certain circumstances, some Connect Setups would fail when attempting to add the "Enhance with Connect" association with PDF files. This would then cause the setup to appear to fail. This issue has been fixed. (SHARED-69559)
  

Barcode Improvements

• Added support for the Royal Mail Mailmark 4-State C and Mailmark 4-State L barcodes. (SHARED-63467/69719)
• Several barcode names have been changed to better match how they are referred to in industry. (SHARED-72618)
  The biggest changes are:
  • OneCode has been renamed to USPS IMb
  • IMPB has been renamed to USPS IMpb
  • Royal Mail Mailmark has been renamed to Royal Mail 2D Mailmark
  • Royal Mail 4 State (RM4SCC) has been renamed to Royal Mail 4-state (CBC)

General Improvements

• Extra information has been added to the log files to aid in diagnosing problems. This information includes the Operating System, Regional settings as well as the available system memory and Hard Disk Drive space. (SHARED-70542/70729)

Connect 2019.2 Designer Improvements

Import resources from other Connect jobs

Introduced an option to import resources (such as scripts and snippets) and data models from other Connect template files. This makes sharing existing Connect resources much easier. (SHARED-26597)

Simplified use of dynamic background images

A new scripting wizard has been introduced, simplifying creation of documents with dynamic background images. These images could be stored in the template, on a local folder on disk or remotely on a web server. (SHARED-67948/71096)

Improved white-space behaviour

Designer adds an empty paragraph to each HTML editor, to allow easy (keyboard) editing. When this empty paragraph remains in a (non-remote) snippet, this can lead to undesired white-space in the section in which it gets included.

Designer now removes the empty paragraph from inserted HTML when the snippet is included in a section. (SHARED-68793)

NOTE: To prevent the removal of desired white-space lines (please do consider using styles instead), add a non-breakable space, or some other invisible code point.

Scripting Improvements

• When a master page editor is active in the Designer, the Post Pagination folder in the Designer Scripts panel is now decorated with an icon and a tooltip to clarify that post pagination scripts are not active in a master page editor. (SHARED-68543)
• Scripts can now differentiate between master pages and sections through an attribute selector. (SHARED-69811)
• Matches from cross-section queries are now highlighted when the mouse is hovering over a post pagination script. (SHARED-70156)
• Dragging and dropping a JSON or HTML snippet in the script editor automatically inserts the accompanying script commands (loadhtml() or loadjson()) and sets the path for the dropped resource.
  The loadhtml() and loadjson() functions now also have improved support for code completion. (SHARED-70687)
• The script editor and debugger now automatically mark all occurrences of a selected identifier, as well as marking whereabouts within the script they occur in. (SHARED-71453)
  

Script Debugger Improvements

• New hot keys added to the "Find" control in the Script debugger. They are Enter for "Find Next", and Shift+Enter for "Find Previous". (SHARED-69422)
• Improvements made to the information control that is displayed when hovering over a variable whilst a script is suspended. (SHARED-69861)
• The hover control in the script debugger now allows you to navigate to the children/parent of a results object. (SHARED-69949)
• Improved tooltips in variables panel. (SHARED-69986)
• Pressing Ctrl+F in the script debugger now starts an "Incremental Find" operation. (SHARED-70147)
• Fixed an issue whereby custom expressions were not always refreshed when stepping through the code. (SHARED-71276)
• Some cosmetic improvements made in the scripts overview within script debugger. (SHARED-72034)

General Designer Improvements

• To prevent issues it is no longer possible to replace absolute positioned direct child elements with inline elements in the body of Master Pages. (SHARED-68791)
• Formatting contained within a <pre> tag is no longer pretty-printed in the HTML source editor. (SHARED-69407)
• To prevent issues we no longer allow drag-drop operations in the outline tree if either the Preview or the Live tab is active. (SHARED-69640)
• We now generate a runtime error if a script tries to apply an unknown media or master name. A scripted master name with a NULL value or an empty string now resolves as "don't use a master". (SHARED-69683)
• When a standalone HTML file is opened in Designer, we now hide or disable the menu options that are not appropriate for standalone HTML files. (SHARED-69748)
• Added new html(value) function for Control Scripts that can be used to set the initial HTML of a section or master page. (SHARED-69782)
• Designer can now send more than 200 Emails in a single batch. (SHARED-70188)
• A Collapse All button has been added to the Data Model view toolbar. (SHARED-70451)
  
• Image file size restrictions removed. The only limit to images now is the memory available to Designer. (SHARED-70565)
• If a template is linked to a data model, code completion for record.fields and record.tables will now offer proposals even if no DataMapper config is open. (SHARED-70924)
• Can now drag remote stylesheet resources and remote javascript resources to a section or web context in order to add them to the section or context includes. (SHARED-70937)
• The Send to Workflow and Package dialogs will now only automatically add the latest job and output preset files when there is a template open with a print context. And only if those preset files where created or modified in the current session of the designer. (SHARED-71361)
• Saving a SASS partial file now auto compiles root level .scss files. (SHARED-72224)
• Modern, Roman and Script fonts are no longer available in the Designer Font ComboBox since these fonts are no longer supported. (SHARED-72391)

Connect 2019.2 DataMapping Improvements

Added option to "Stop data mapping"

New “Stop data mapping” option added to the Action Step to stop data processing at the specific record where the selected condition is met. As the data mapping operation then no longer needs to examine any further records, skipping those records can considerably improve performance. (SHARED-70320)

General DataMapper Improvements

• Improved field selection for PDF split fields. PDF split fields now have similar selection behaviour to simple fields. (SHARED-14120)
• Boolean fields can now be set as numerical values. A zero (0) equates to false, and any non-zero value equates to true. (SHARED-42848)
• Improved error messaging in the DataMapper. (SHARED-44404)
• Duplicated fields names in data files are now supported by Connect. (SHARED-49308)
• Improved performance of PDF Data Mapping when not doing any text extraction. (SHARED-67241)
• Significant improvements made to DataModel view when DataMapper is extracting a large number of data fields. (SHARED-67459)
• Improved compatibility with third-party PDF files. (SHARED-68651)
• Added a toolbar button to send the currently opened DataMapper configuration to Workflow server. (SHARED-70561)
  
• Improved Tab navigation in DataMapper workflow view. (SHARED-70738)
• You can now rename DataMapper fields directly. (SHARED-70940)
• Boundary Script changes now activate the 'Save' button in DataMapper. (SHARED-72471)

Connect 2019.2 Output Improvements

Runtime parameters added to Job Creation

Added support for runtime parameters in Job Creation, so we can pass information from the actual runtime environment to compare against in conditions, or to use with external sorting programs. (SHARED-70085)

The runtime parameters will be available for use in Job Filtering and Finishing.

They can also be used as Meta Data fields, or in External Sorting.

The fields can be alphanumeric, numeric, Boolean, or even dates.

You will also be able to pass runtime parameters to the Connect Workflow Job Creation and All In One plugins.

Add customized PostScript commands to Dynamic PPD PostScript output

Added support for customized PostScript commands in Dynamic PPD PostScript printer output. The commands can include metadata values, so dynamic runtime information can be incorporated within the commands. (SHARED-72170)

Added bin selection to PCL output

Added support for bin selection in certain PCL printer definitions that support bins. (SHARED-71560)

Print Output Improvements

• When using a PDF file with a specific combination of page elements as background in the template ("use PDF from datamapper input as section background") and creating PostScript output, it was possible that some page elements could get positioned incorrectly. This has been fixed. (SHARED-68080)
• Fixed potential PDF/A or PDF/X compliance issue when outputting multiple channels or both variants simultaneously (as some custom OL Enhance workflows do). (SHARED-69642)
• PostScript: The output engine can now write tiling and shading patterns directly instead of first rasterizing them and writing them out as images. (SHARED-65125)
• PostScript (Dynamic PPD PostScript): Enable PCL Printer Job Language (PJL) comments to be selected and added to Postscript output as Job Control Language (JCL) blocks, if supported by the printer's PPD file. (SHARED-71504)
  
• PPML: Tray options now available for PPML print output. (SHARED-69314)
  
• Reduced memory usage requirements for large impositioned jobs. (SHARED-71177)
• Modern, Roman and Script fonts have been removed from the additional content font combo boxes since these fonts are no longer supported. (SHARED-72464)
• Ensured that PDF pass through is not active when the output PDF type is not standard PDF. (SHARED-72817)

Email Output Improvements

New Workflow Email plugins

Several new email related Workflow plugins have been created to improve the email sending performance by simplifying the integration with Email Service Providers (ESP). See New email plugins section for further details.

General Email improvements

• Improved the scripting API for email headers. Connect now supports multiple headers with the same key. (SHARED-69927)
• Introduced the Append plain-text copy of the HTML option to email sections, to have a plain-text version of the HTML added to each email that is sent. This option is switched on by default for new templates. (SHARED-48902)
  

General Output Improvements

• Improved error handling when loading a template during output generation. (SHARED-67730)
• TrueType "OS/2" tables in embedded fonts are now passed through as-is, and the output engine will no longer abort if it does not recognize them (for example, a newer version of the format). (SHARED-69378)
• Fixed a problem with simulating font style (generating styled fonts). (SHARED-70471)

General Print Wizard Improvements

• Added support for processing tilde ('~') escape sequences in Additional Content barcodes. (SHARED-69388)
• Fixed handling of line end delimiters in Unix generated PPD files. (SHARED-70344)
• The Additional Content “EAN 128” barcode entry has been renamed to the international standard of "GS1-128". (SHARED-70798)
• Importation of PPDs improved. Some parsing issues were fixed, and the range of PPDs supported increased. (SHARED-71358/71450)

Known Issues

As of PlanetPress Connect 2018.1 the Known Issues have moved from the Release Notes to the Connect online Help.

They can be found here Known Issues.