WHAT IS “SEQUENCING”?
Sequencing is literally the order in which the variable records are populated into a layout. In a single-page application, where one printed page is used per record, the sequence would likely not vary from the expected 1,2,3...The first record is populated on page one, the second on page two, etc. However, in an application with more than one record per printed sheet — such as a 4-up Postcard on 11x17 stock — the sequence of the records per page must vary in order to achieve the 4-up layout and maximize the printed material.

WHY IS SEQUENCING IMPORTANT?
Sequencing, or more specifically, the ability to alter the “Link Sequence”, is necessary in order to achieve the efficiencies of multi-up printing. For a variable data job to run 4-up, records 2 through 4 must follow record 1 on the same printed page, otherwise the printed page will have four printed pieces of the same record. This may be desirable on occasion, but the typical print run for a 4-up (or 2-up, 8-up, etc) job requires varying the sequence on that page.

Additionally, sequencing is necessary to achieve Cut & Stack (aka north/south, Z-sorting, etc). Cut & stack is required when a job is printed multi-up and the printed pieces are to be trimmed and need to be stacked in consecutive order. See following paragraphs for a more thorough explanation.

HOW DOES DESIGNMERGE HANDLE SEQUENCING?
With ease! Each variable element on a page has a sequence number associated with it. As a default, every item is assigned a sequence of 1, meaning that the first record in the data file will populate that variable element. The floating DesignMerge palette lists the Sequence in the upper right corner; to change the sequence of a record, the most direct means is to simply select the element in the layout, type the desired record number in the space provided, and select the “Replace” button. The variable link will now reflect the number just entered.

To modify a single item, this is effective. However, a typical page has multiple items — and multiple associated sequence numbers. To simultaneously modify the sequence of multiple items, select a group of elements, then select the DesignMerge menu. Under this menu, select the Change Seq # command.

Enter the number in the resulting dialog box, and click the Replace button. The sequence for the group of items is now modified.

Sequencing items one at a time is necessary when the order of the sequence might change — for example in a Cut & Stack scenario. The “Change Sequence Number” command is the most effective means to achieve this. However, at times entire page sequences may need to be altered — for example, when printing a page duplex. In a 4-up situation, the items on the first page of the layout will sequence in one direction, while the corresponding duplex page will sequence in exactly the opposite direction. The left page (the “front” of the piece) will sequence, for example, left to right, top to bottom; in order to duplex correctly when printing, the right page (the “back”) will sequence right to left, top to bottom. For these situations, using the Sequence Page Items is more effective.

To do so, select the Sequence Page Items from under the DesignMerge menu. This will open the following dialog:



Select the proper order, which boxes will be affected, and the scope of the sequencing. The “sample” is an interactive visual aide and does not affect the layout of your document. It will merely assist in your understanding of how each order will affect the items.

After setting up the sequence in the needed order, DesignMerge will automatically set the Step by: setting in the merge dialog to the highest sequence number on the page. This setting tells DesignMerge to step by X number of records on each new page. Setting this to anything other then the highest number will result in duplicated or skipped records.

VARIATIONS ON SEQUENCING: CUT & STACK

DesignMerge has the capability to allow for cut & stack scenarios — use the Change Seq # command as defined above. In the 4-up example shown, the first stack will contain items 1-250; the second will contain 251-500; the third contains 501-750; the fourth has 751-1000. Set the sequence number for each stack to the first number in each of these ranges: 1, 251, 501, 751. Another way of defining the cut & stack sequence is total # records, divided by #-up, plus 1.

WHAT VERSION/PLATFORM OF DESIGNMERGE SUPPORTS SEQUENCING?
Sequencing is a standard component of DesignMerge on both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Current versions of DesignMerge are v4.25 Macintosh, and 3.01 Windows.

ADVANTAGES OF SEQUENCING IN DESIGNMERGE

• User can SEE what will print before printing.
• Graphical interface allows visual verification of layout.
• User can test layout to ensure accuracy - and make modifications before printing.
• Cut & Stack, North/South, Z-Sort — whatever it is called, it can be done.
• Emits with Optimized PostScript, VPS, PPML, and as of this quarter, VIPP.

VPS Driver for Windows

As always, thank you for your interest in DesignMerge.
Please be sure to visit our website at www.1meadows.com.

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