Torque TRAFFIC, revolutionary cross-platform ‘dashboard,’ is now shipping!
SAN FRANCISCO, September 1, 1998 – Torque Systems today announced the
availability of version 1.0 of Traffic, unique new graphic arts workflow
software that is the first to offer three key features:
* a visual display of the progress of all jobs in a graphic arts shop
* a groupware discussion feature for comments about each job
* platform independence, so any Mac, PC or UNIX systems can be used
A beta version of Traffic was profiled at length in _The Seybold Report_
earlier this year (Volume 27, Number 14). Stephen Edwards, Editor,
describes Traffic as “a fascinating attempt to deal with a situation that
can be very difficult… which helps not only in moving jobs along their
path, but also in tracking deadlines and sending messages among workers who
need to keep abreast of progress.”
Traffic offers the software backbone for today’s diverse creative and
production needs in prepress, display-house, ad agency and printing
environments. Traffic is built around the concept of stages, which the user
defines as identifiable processes within a job workflow. Up to dozens of
stages can be displayed onscreen as color-coded blocks containing lists of
jobs underway. The first release of the software supports three types of
stages – Automatic stages based on hot folders, Manual stages where jobs
are advanced by double-clicking, and Forms stages for automated order entry
and data input from FileMaker apps or industry-specific accounting
packages.
The software includes unique Tracker and InBox features with key benefits
to the user. The Tracker is an onscreen panel where jobs of onging interest
to that user can be dragged, so that their progress and status is displayed
at all times. The InBox acts like a dedicated version of an email inbox,
displaying job-related comments sent directly to that user, but also cc:’s
of messages and status updates on any jobs in their Tracker. What Traffic
does not do is just as important. In particular, it does not try to replace
software for any of the steps in the workflows it oversees, such as
preflight, ripping, OPI, or order entry. Instead, its open architecture
lets TorqueTraffic monitor existing applications from a range of companies.
In its first release, Traffic can automatically monitor progress in any
application which supports “hot folder” file processing, and follow
operator-entered progress in other applications with a simple double click.
Likewise, Traffic intentionally does not handle image management, searching
or catalogs; instead, it provides hot links to industry-leading database
packages for that purpose. While Traffic keeps a simple list of files and
comments associated with a job, option-clicking on a job name in Traffic
launches the user’s choice of image database for thumbnail viewing of those
files. Torque has formed comarketing arrangements and technical liasons
with many industry- leading vendors, such as Binuscan, Canto, Color
Solutions, DK&A, Extensis, Markzware, Ultimate, and 4Sight. These
arrangements are all non-exclusive, and the company hopes to induce other
key vendors to offer support over time.
Pricing and Availability
Traffic is already installed at several key beta sites; full product
shipments are expected in December. Traffic supports unlimited numbers of
open jobs, with NT or Silicon Graphics server licenses with two clients
priced at $2,995. Additional clients cost $200 each. All versions include
one year of telephone and web support.
Company Overview
Torque Systems is in the business of providing workflow software and server
solutions for the graphic arts market. Founded in 1989, Torque’s history is
one of continuous revenue growth, based on a consistent vision – server
technology for graphics. The company began by developing tools for building
client-server graphics applications. Customer feedback soon drew the
company into providing those applications ready to use. Torque products are
available directly from the company and through a small network of
affiliated dealers. For additional information on Traffic, contact Torque
Systems at (415) 252- 5521, or visit the company’s Web site at
http://www.torque.com.
For further information, please contact
Nysa Kline, Marketing, 415-252-5521 or nysa@torque.com
19 Heron Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
http://www.torque.com
Visit us at Seybold SF 98 in Booth 2436