StreamTracer is a high-speed print stream comparison application for AFP, Metacode, DJDE, LCDS, Postscript, and PDF formats. In a fraction of the time of manual proofing, StreamTracer compares original and updated versions of a print stream and highlights differences (even ones the human eye can't find) with customizable graphical markers. Changes are quickly and accurately isolated, so you can immediately take the appropriate action.
The main applications of StreamTracer are:
Production print quality assurance - Analyze your production print streams to ensure that there are no unexpected differences between versions. Producing print is similar to producing any good - quality is very important. When one job has tens of thousands of pages, discovering an error too late can be very costly. Not discovering it at all, and having customers discover it instead, can be even worse.
Document Composition Software Upgrades or Migrations - There are many different document composition software packages in the marketplace. No matter which one you might be using, every year you are faced with the need to upgrade to the latest version. In addition, you might also be involved in a project to migrate from one document composition platform to another. Instead of having to print out documents using both versions of the software and then visually comparing them, StreamTracer automates the entire process for you. All you have to do is provide StreamTracer with both files. The product will compare them and display all the differences in a WYSIWYG environment.
If you implement StreamTracer, you will never have to wonder anymore whether the document produced by your old composition software version has remained unchanged. You will know for sure!
Dramatically improves time-to-market
Reduces testing and verification time by replacing manual processes with automation
Expedites the process of upgrading or migrating from one document composition tool to another
Allows multiple print stream comparisons to be run overnight via batch process
Significantly reduces costs
Eliminates expenses associated with correcting errors - such as reprinting, sorting, mailing, etc.
Reduces labor expenses associated with document quality control
Streamlines your current document quality control process
Virtually eliminates document errors
Creates a completely thorough testing process by allowing you to test every element on every page instead of a only a small sample
Ensures that documents are customer-ready by finding errors and changes even the human eye may not find
Guarantees all resources are available prior to comparing print streams
Provides instant visual identification of all expected and unexpected changes with customizable graphical markers
Supplies a detailed list of specific changes, identifying the attributes that have changed (e.g. position, font resolution, color) as well as the cause of the change
Allows you to set global and local rules to accept or reject changes
Tracks changes for multiple types of print streams (IBM AFP, Xerox Metacode, DJDE, PDF, PCL, and PostScript)
Enables instant drag-and-drop acceptance of changes
Allows you to easily see the "before" and "after" with side-by-side comparison
Provides an audit trail by tracking all accepted changes, the approver, and the date
Allows you to view changes by category (e.g. image, font resolution, color)
Recognizes color changes between print streams
Identifies any missing resources prior to comparison
Allows multiple print stream comparisons to be run overnight via batch process
If you are currently relying on the human eye to discover differences between print file versions, you have to give StreamTracer a try! This product automates the process and discovers differences that even the human eye would miss. Streamtracer displays a side-by-side comparison of the test and control documents. Through visual markers, you can quickly see differences so that you can determine if they should be accepted or rejected.
All you have to do, is open both versions of the print file in StreamTracer. The product will immediately highlight all the differences, in a WYSIWIG environment. Obviously, some of the differences will be as a result of intended changes. You will be able to mark those as such, which means StreamTracer will only show you those unintended differences you worry about. This is truly the only way to make sure the document you are printing contains exactly what it should contain and nothing else!
