ET Adobe is pushing the network publishing message, but for Quark, it's all about media independence. The software combines core QuarkXpress 5 technology in conjunction with Web browsers to enable users to create personalized content. Quark product manager Don Lohse demonstrated the Quark Active Publishing Server, which he indicated will ship later this year. Using QuarkXpress 5, designers can create the needed content in templates that are then distributed via the web.
Designers can specify editing fields that can then be later edited by users on Web browsers.
Fields can include text, images, or other content that may need to be changed later. Quark has also developed a module for Adobe Photoshop that enables users to upload images to Quark Active Publishing Server. Once users have edited the variable fields with the appropriate content, all of the changes are made by the server and displayed via the Web browser in real-time. Output can then be produced in a variety of different formats, for print and for Web. The finished product is expected to be released later this year.