Online Technology March 2000
SaxoTech goes Publicus in the U.S.
By Kevin Juhasz
Editor
NEW ORLEANS -- SaxoTech Inc. introduced its Publicus online publishing system to the U.. market at Interactive Newspapers.
The system is geared toward small and medium-sized publishers.
Publicus is designed to be interactive and contextual, helping users find additional information based upon the links they follow.
Web pages are not static, but are dynamically created from a database of content running from the server. Publicus formats the content as the user requests it.
Pages are created using templates that are a simple extension of HTML. Tags are inserted wherever a newspaper wants objects displayed. The system imports most image formats and processes them according to their required use on the site.
The Publicus Web Server is the heart of the publishing system. It includes several modules to extend the functionality; a full-text indexing engine, which creates keyword indexes for the site; image processing; browser- based editing and administration; a smart caching system, which updates the cache as content is updated; load balancing to help with faster processing; and intelligent statistical analysis, which provides newspapers with counts on visitors to the site.
The system offers several different ways for newspapers to handle the content they have. It can be used in print first, using any publishing system, and then moved to the Web.
Or the system can take content that was online first and convert it for print. It can also track content that is meant for online publishing only. The modules are designed to make the system interactive and more useful for users.
The base module includes integration to the publishing system, wire-system integration, theme-based publishing and over 150 import and export filters and a Web-based archive.
The portal module allows newspapers to create a community area with e-mail and news applications, chat areas and more.
The advertising module creates ads for print or online, including display, banner and classified ads, and tracks online ad placement and impressions.
The multi-channel module allows newspapers to take the same content and prepare for delivery via several methods -- Web browsers, personal digital assistants, cell phones, WebTV and more.
The query module is for online polls. Visitors to the site are permitted to answer a question only once, and the site gives them a view of the results as soon as they answer.
The agenda module will take calendar information from visitors to the site and format it for online use. The module also accepts QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign documents.
Newspapers may purchase the system as an extra to their SaxoPress Content Management System. Content created in the management system is automatically published on the newspaper's Web site.
Newspapers can also use the system as a stand-alone. SaxoTech says the system can be integrated with most front-end systems, accepting content in over 150 different formats.
SaxoTech can also host a newspaper's Web site.
The company plans to add more functionality to the system throughout the year.
SaxoTech
301.294.0805
www.axotech.com