PTBX CopyTrack is a complete system for organising advertising and editorial copy.

PTBX CopyTrack lets you manage individual copy files, like run-of-press or classsified display ads from creation through to placement.

Send copy to clients for review, using an easy-to-use Web application, or using intelligent drop folders. Use fax or email attachments as you like.

CopyTrack will interface to your SQL-based booking or editorial system. Currently supported systems are AdWise and Atex® Enterprise. Manually booked ads are also supported using a receipt number or other tracking code. CopyTrack will let you see where copy is ready and where it's needed.

Because CopyTrack has a flexible and extensible architecture, you can define your own stages for a piece of copy. At each stage you can offer users different actions to perform.

Typical Scenario

Let's follow a file through a typical workflow - remember that this is just an example and you can define as many or as few steps as you need. Let's start off with the stages the copy will follow.

• READING - the copy is new and should be checked in-house.
• REJECTED - the copy wasn't OK
• PROOF - the copy is at a client for review
• ACCEPTED - the copy is OK and can be published

This scenario represents a company where sales reps have to sign off on the ad. Of course other companies work differently.

Simon creates the copy and saves the EPS in the CopyTrack READING drop folder.

CopyTrack collects the copy, extracts the booking code and looks it up in the booking system

CopyTrack drops the copy into its work area, and records the copy's arrival and status in the tracking database.

Because the CopyTrack administrator set up actions for this hot folder, CopyTrack then generates an annoted print on Simon's printer, and emails Jane, the ad sales rep, that the copy is ready.

Jane opens up the CopyTrack web interface and finds Simon's ad. She checks the email address, checks the on-screen preview and asks CopyTrack to mail a proof to the client.

CopyTrack changes the status to PROOF

Jane's client decides that the ad wasn't quite right, so sends Jane some changes. Jane changes the ad's status to REJECTED. This also emails Simon with the news.

Simon makes the changes and saves the ad's EPS back into the READING folder.

Jane has agreed that provided the changes are made, the client will accept the ad without further inspection. She asks CopyTrack to print a copy of the ad.

The ad is OK, so Jane changes its status to ACCEPTED.

CopyTrack copies the ad from the work area to the "live" area, meanwhile changing the format from a Macintosh EPS to a PC EPS.