Praxis Actions
Within the Praxis™ modules, a simple yet powerful metaphor of “Actions” enables extensible automation capabilities with effectively no limitations. Each Action is an independent module highly focused in its scope of functionality, which means it can be quickly implemented, tested and put to use.
The benefit of a 100% modular approach obliterates traditional software development lifecycle costs and delays. Applications that may have taken weeks or months to develop can be implemented in just hours or days using Praxis.
A variety of Praxis Actions perform the following functions:
- Validate, normalize and correct Variable Data Publishing (VDP) input streams, orders and files;
- Automate electronic proofing and approvals with clients;
- Automatically perform press impositions based upon input file page size and output press sheet format;
- Perform document composition;
- Consolidate similarly produced orders to maximize press and finishing operations;
- Produce production and distribution instructions;
- Automate client communications, such as email or SMS text notification for approval of proofs;
- Receive and normalize order files from client procurement systems;
- Interface with customer production and fulfillment systems;
- Provide inter-system communications for order status and queue management.
One example of a particularly powerful Praxis Action is the “performComposition” feature, which is used to develop a PDF from an XML-based instruction file. This is the feature that allows a company to create a document, such as a targeted coupon, on the fly. The Praxis publishing engine uses an object-based architecture, which allows the document designer to combine all elements of the document as loosely or tightly as required. These independent objects can be referenced and utilized via conditional logic to provide a VDP engine without the need for an underlying page layout source document. This makes it easy to integrate digital print media with other forms of communications like email and text.
