INFOMAKER NEWSPILOT
Newspilot System Platform
Newspilot® is built on the best server architecture available,
Java 2 Enterprise Edition. J2EE defines the standard for
developing multitier enterprise applications. The J2EE
platform simplifies enterprise applications by basing them
on standardized, modular components, by providing a
complete set of services, and by handling many details of
application behavior automatically.
JBoss
Passive Server
JBoss
Application server
Client
Services
READ MORE ABOUT SYSTEM PLATFORM
Database
master
Database
slave
The result is a very stable and reliable system that requires
a minimum of maintenance and which can meet the
demands of the future.
OPEN SYSTEMS
The Newspilot system take advantage of some of the best
open source projektcts available, like Solr that is used for
indexing large amounts of material.
Newspilot allows you to integrate the products and
solutions of other vendors. There are web services-, Javaand Rest API:s available in Newspilot, as well as built-in
export/import functions in order to integrate, import or
export diﬀerent kind of objects.
MODERN, MULTILAYERED ARCHITECTURE
J2EE is a hyper- modern, stable and secure platform that
allows for the construction of server solutions and
applications that will function with many diﬀerent
operating system like Windows, Linux and OS X.
J2EE is scalable from a few to a great number of users.
DATABASE SERVER
Newspilot is database independent and allows you to use
database servers from a number of diﬀerent developers.
However, we recommend Oracle or MySQL since we have
good experience of these database servers.
THE CLIENT APPLICATIONS
The client applications are written in Java and are available
for Mac OS X and Windows. The client update process is
automatic and built-in. Newspilot integrates with Adobe
InDesign through Plugins.
SERVICE FLOW
OPEN STANDARDS
One of the reasons behind
developing Newspilot was the
frustration we felt with the
many standards independent
manufacturers kept inventing.
Unlike them, we opted to build
Newspilot on already existing
standards such as TCP/IP, Java,
J2EE, SQL, PostScript, HTML,
XML, PDF, Unicode, XSL-FO
and AppleScript.
THE J2EE ARCHITECTURE
Why reinvent basic technologies when you can make use of
the best server architecture on
the market? The J2EE standard,
defined by Sun, is thoroughly
tested, scalable and reliable. It
incorporates a number of key
technologies that we employ
in Newspilot, technologies that
many claim they want to use in
the future. We do it today.
The J2EE platform is compatible with virtually all operating
systems, such as Mac OS X,
Windows, Linux and Solaris.
System Requirements
CLIENT MAC / WINDOWS
MINIMUM MAC:
Intel 1.5 Ghz and at least 2 GB RAM. The
application will use about 80 MB hard drive
space. Mac OS X 10.6 or later. Java 1.6 or later.
RECOMMENDED MAC:
Intel Core duo, 1.6 Ghz or faster, 4 GB RAM.
For image and page editing we recommend
more RAM and faster processors.
MINIMUM WIN:
1.5 Ghz with at least 2 GB RAM. The
application will use about 80 MB hard drive
space. Windows XP or Windows 7. Java 1.6
or later.
RECOMMENDED WIN:
Intel Core duo or the equivalent, 1.6 Ghz or
faster, 4 GB RAM. For image and page
editing we recommend more RAM and
faster processors.
DATABASE SERVER
We recommend Oracle MySQL database
server. It can be run on many platforms like
Windows, Linux, OS X and Solaris.
The hardware requirements depend on the
number of users and configuration.
APPLICATION SERVER
The Newspilot server is deployed using
JBoss application server that can be run on
Windows, Linux, OS X and Solaris. In most
cases, the application server can be
installed on the same hardware as the
database server. We are happy to discuss
diﬀerent solutions with you.
STAND-BY SERVER
We recommend that you set up a stand-by
server which is continually updated by the
primary server. In case of a computer break
down, all operations are transferred to the
stand-by server. The stand-by server should
be similar to the main server. Newspilot
comes with a number of diﬀerent backup
and security solutions. We are happy to
discuss these solutions with you.
NEWSPILOT SERVICES
Normally, several of the service functions
below can be run on the same machine.
Most often, two machines are needed for all
the services below (please note the separate
comment regarding the backup service and
PageRobot). We recommend a fast machine
with one CPU core á 2 Ghz and 1 GB RAM /
Newspilot service. We recommend Mac OS X
> 10.6 or Windows (Windows 2003).
THE MEDIA DISTILLER SERVICE
Media Distiller adds image and metadata
support to Newspilot as well as image
processing capabilities. Requires
GhostScript. For large installations, several
servers may be required.
THE IMPORT SERVICE
Import of news wires, articles, images,
pages, mail, RSS, Word and more.
THE MEDIAEXPORT SERVICE
Export of material from Newspilot in a
native or processed format.
THE CMS INTEGRATOR SERVICE
Integration of web systems and digital
publication.
THE PAGESYNC SERVICE
Integration of ad systems.
THE BACKUP SERVICE
Emergency backup. Mac with OS X or PC
with Windows (not 2003 server),
recommended: Intel core duo, 2 Ghz,
>4 GB RAM. Storage space for the files is
also needed. We recommend that the
backup service is installed on a separate
machine that also serves as an emergency
file server.
THE IFRA TRACK SERVICE
Integration with Ifra Track systems.
THE SERVICE FILE MANAGER
Takes care of deletion of files such as pages,
production images etc.
ARCHIVE
Newspilot can communicate or be
integrated with most archival systems on
the market, in particular Open Content /
XLibris® from Infomaker. The type of
hardware needed depends on the archival
solution you want. We are happy to discuss
diﬀerent solutions with you.
THE PAGE ROBOT SERVICE
Page Robot handles page automation tasks
like Article Preview, Page Editing, Output,
Writeback and Editions.
Page Robot requires Adobe InDesign Server.
The FileFlow service operates your file
workflow.
We recommend a fast machine with one
CPU core á 2 Ghz and 1.5 GB RAM /
InDesign Server session + 2 free CPU cores
and 2 GB RAM for PageRobot and FileFlow
itself. For large installations, several servers
may be needed.
XML – A DYNAMIC
DATABASE
The primary function of XML is
to structure information. Instead
of having everyone managing
information their own way, XML
provides a standardized method. If you use XML and Unicode
you will not have any trouble
with characters such as åäö
even when they are transferred
between Mac and PC.
In Newspilot we also use XML
to store information in a more
dynamic way than was previously possible. Even if Newspilot can be adapted and developed with each installation, it
will still be essentially the same
Newspilot application that
you use. Many other systems
that are tailored for a customer
remain precisely that; tailored
systems that are expensive and
difficult to update.
CO-OPERATION
We work closely with companies such as Adobe, Apple, Oracle, Lingsoft, Fotoware, Atex,
the Drupal community, Wizrt
and Polopoly.
INFOMAKER NEWSPILOT
Newspilot Service
Newspilot® provides you with a standardized way of
share common resources like backup and integrating
3:rd party solutions like Fotoware or InDesign Server.
This integration gives you access to the function directly
in Newspilot® without the need for additional client
software.
Newspilot
server
Service administrator
Log
Spell and
grammar
check
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Client
Media
Distiller
Automatic
image
processing
Automatic
image
processing
Page
Preview
A service client handles all communication between
the actual service and Newspilot. In this way, the service
software itself does not need to be able to communicate
with the rest of the system.The service can receive and
dispatch assignments through watched folders, web
services, messages, http or in other ways.
AUTOMATIC SHARING OF WORK LOAD AND BACKUP
If you need more capacity, just add one more of the service.
Newspilot handles load balancing and monitoring of the
services. It is easy to build a pool of service resources, for
instance a cluster of InDesign servers.
SERVICE FLOW
LOGGING AND STATISTICS
All assignments are logged by Newspilot. You can get
statistics concerning how many assignments have been
processed, how long at time they have taken, errors and
bottle necks. For instance, you will be able to see that the
PageRobot service averages 4 seconds except at 4 p.m.
when there is a lot of traﬃc. This may suggest that you need
to install yet another InDesign server to help with Page
automation.
• The assignment is sent to
the Newspilot server, which
logs it and sends it on to
the service manager.
EVERYTHING CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE CLIENT
All services can be accessed through the Newspilot client.
In other words, you will not need additional client
software. Fewer components to install and maintain saves
time and makes life easier for both users and maintenance
personnel.
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
All services can be monitored from the Newspilot client.
You can also configure some of the service settings
centrally.
• A user requests automatic
image processing of an image through the Newspilot
client.
• The service manager sends
a message to all services
which may be able to deal
with this assignment. It
then ensures that the image is retrieved from the
server and made available
for processing by whichever
service can deal with it at
the time.
• The assignment is performed and the service
sends the result back to the
service manager or directly
to the client.
• This is a long chain of
events but due to a very
fast communication system
everything happens instantly.
• The services can be physically present at
the newspaper or located
anywhere in the world.
INFOMAKER NEWSPILOT
Newspilot Architecture
Newspilot® is made for cross media publishing. Focus is
on print and digital content. Newspilot® is a system that
is truly open towards other systems via standard and open
API:s.
Text, images
wires, pages
archive,
other …
Job
Information
Planning
Text
Images
Sounds
Video
Background
material
Files
Layout
Writer
Newspilot client
Layout
Newspilot
Mediabase
Video
Sound
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Media
distiller
Application
server
Import
Text
Images
Print
(QXP, InD)
Print
(XSL-FO)
Web
Mobile internet
Mobile messaging
Other …
Service administrator
iPlay
Spell and
grammar
check
Media
Distiller
Page
Preview
Automatic
image
processing
Newspilot® is constructed to function in an open, modular
and multi layered way. Newspilot includes a unique
service manager that makes sure that central services
from different developers are integrated without difficulty,
regardless of computer platform or where in the world the
service is located.
STORE EVERYTHING IN THE DATABASE
A central component of Newspilot is a media database that
stores all text, images, other types of documents including
Meta data.
STRUCTURE – DIFFERENT MEDIA
Since Newspilot always structures articles and other
information you are able to use the same text for diﬀerent
media, without having to manually convert the text.
Newspilot’s Export Module ensures that the information is
properly formatted when it is used, regardless of whether
the destination is InDesign, web, iPad or a smartphone.
THE NEWSPILOT SERVER
The logic of the system is located in the application server.
Frequently used material is stored in an eﬀective cache for
super-fast retrieval. The server is also equipped with diﬀerent
interfaces that could be used to exchange information with
Newspilot. The multi-layer model makes Newspilot eminently
scalable. Newspilot can handle everything from a few to a
large number of users. The Newspilot Server is deployed using
the JBoss application server.
IMPORT MODULE
The system also includes an advanced import module
which manages wires, E-mail, material submitted over the
web, watched folders, RSS flows, PDF-files, images, XML
files, Text files, InDesign files, Word documents, Excel
document and more.
GET UPDATED
Newspilot automatically updates you with the latest information. As soon as something
happens that a user is interested in he or she will be updated
by Newspilot. This system is
unique to Newspilot and it automatically gives you access to
current information, round the
clock, instantly.