Adding Lines

[hopkinsprinting]

Hi everyone,

I am working on an Action List to add FPO fold lines for folding brochures. My first attempt is for a tri-fold brochure. I have configured the Action List with variables so the user can manually enter the fold positions. This works well accept that I also want the action list to add the fold lines to the inside spread and the issue is that I cannot figure out how to mirror their positions.

So from left to right on the outside spread, the positions are 3.625 and 7.3125 but on the inside spread, the positions from left to right would need to be 3.6875 and 7.375. I would prefer to only have to enter the positions once. Is there any way to do this?

Thank you,
hp

[JimmyHartington]

If you add it on the first page make them in a Color you can select afterwards. Also add a box based on the media box.
Select the lines and media box.
Copy.
Paste on page two and flip on the center.
Remove the box based on the media box.

I would add a spot color called Delete and add the box with this color.
It is then easy to select at the end.

[hopkinsprinting]

YES! That worked!

Thank you so much,
hp

[freddyp]

I would add a spot color called Delete and add the box with this color.
It is then easy to select at the end.

Nothing wrong with that of course, but just for didactical purposes here is an alternative:
Add box
Select last added objects
Save selection instead of Change color
...
Restore selection instead of Select by color
Remove selection

[JimmyHartington]

Thanks Freddy for the new method.
Maybe Save selection was not available first time I used this technique and have just then used what I knew.

[hopkinsprinting]

I am kind of new to the variable aspect of Action Lists. Could a drop down be added that allows the user to select what type of line (the choices would be "Score" and "Perf" with each having its own corresponding color). Based on which the user chooses, could lines be added in the color that corresponds with the choice the user selected?

[loicaigon]

Hi,

Yes you could do that using variables.

A first variable "userColor" would be to have the end-user selects the color. It would be a text based variable and you can set specific values.
You can't define a "color" variable based on that input. However, you can use the value of the first variable to condition which color will be applied.

So you may other variables of type boolean that are rule based: if "userColor" equals "Score", then value is true, otherwise false.
You need one per color: isScopeSelected, isPerfSelected.

Now you need to use Preflight Profile as the "container" for your Action Lists. Add an Action List that does the "add score lines", and one that does the "add perf lines" to the "EXTRA"/Changes.

Enable variable Names in that EXTRA/Changes section and set the boolean variables to the Action Lists. In other words:

[isScopeSelected] addScopeLines
[isPerfSelected] addPerfLines

Then when the Preflight Profile is run, your Action Lists will only be executed based on user input.

Loic

[hopkinsprinting]

I managed to get this working but now I have another question. I see that Pitstop's variable capabilities include a "Calculation-based" option.

Given the original scenario of an 11 x 8.5 trifold brochure where the fold positions on the outside spread from left to right are 3.625 and 7.3125 (3.625 + 3.6875), could the calculation-based option be used such that instead of having to add 3.6875 to 3.625 ahead of time to get the second fold position, that I could just enter the actual panel widths instead and Pitstop will add the widths to get the fold positions?

I've tried this but so far am not having any luck.

Thank you,
hp