Used at more publications worldwide than any other automated ad layout solution, ALS lets you control and manage the ad layout side of your publication. In just a matter of seconds, you can create a complete ad dummy that can be opened in QuarkXPress or Adobe InDesign. With its robust feature set and high degree of accuracy and flexibility, ALS saves time, reduces costs and increases the efficiency of your workflow.
You’re in charge
ALS is powerful, yet easy to use. You have complete control and can automate as much or as little of the layout process as you require. ALS builds runsheets and dummies, creates ad stacks according to specific page gravity and generates reports based on cost and issue information. You can manage ad placement by advertising ratios and color press configuration while monitoring placement of ads that require special consideration (such as coupon ads or ads that must run in specific sections). In short, it does everything you need and much more!
Any type of ad you want
ALS supports unlimited ad types and as many import maps as necessary, including bringing over late inserts, updates and kills from your order-entry system. Information such as ad name, number, size, color, coupon status, market, advertiser, requested section or page and pickup instructions are poured directly into a the runsheet.
Put ads in their place
Once the issue is set and the ads are imported, you can automatically flow them all at once, letting ALS choose the spots based on your rules. You can also drag ads out of the runsheet individually, or use the Layout palette to direct them in specific ways, such as a group of ads to be distributed evenly throughout a section.
Size things up
It can be tough to determine how many pages are required to satisfy advertising and editorial goals, particularly when some of the ads aren’t in yet. ALS streamlines that task even before ad layout begins. The Pagination Manager can calculate optimal issue size based on criteria you set, such as existing and projected ad linage, minimum page count, budgeted editorial-only pages and target ad ratios. The powerful Color Configuration Manager lets you define and store unlimited press configurations, complete with setup and runtime costs, so you can quickly determine the impact of any color request. With ALS, you make intelligent pagination decisions that cover all the “what-ifs.”
Work smarter with ALS
To get the most out of ALS, package it with IPS AdTrac, MEI’s premier ad-tracking and asset-management system, or ALS Direct, which links ALS to your editorial department’s K4 Publishing System. No other ad placement solution works as well as ALS. If you’re not using it, maybe it’s time to join the crowd of publishing professionals who have grown accustomed to the features, control, and flexibility of ALS.
ALS Editions Module
The Editions Module provides a tool for tracking ads through multiple editions and zones in a single ALS document. Placing and tracking ads through selected editions and zones can be confusing; with the Editions Module, ALS keeps those items straight while flagging conflicts, providing immediate access to the ads for a particular issue. The Editions Module can make your regional ad placements blend easily with your common ads.
ALS HTML Report Generator Module
This module makes it easy to generate a Web-based report in ALS. Users can create a customized report or select a pre-defined matrix, then export it as ASCII text, XML or HTML for viewing in any browser. The HTML Report Generator can count ads and pages, generate subtotals or totals for section measurements, and much more. Report templates can even be customized to include a company logo or graphics.
ALS Forms Module
Ideal for use by broadsheet newspapers and magazines with complicated section configurations, Forms Manager adds functions to automate and manage forms or incremental issue breaks. It allows for quick placement of inserts, new forms or forms templates. It also offers customized folios, deadline alerting and quick calculation of press setup and running costs.
ALS Sections and Booking Module
With the Sections and Booking Module, you can automatically apply editorial content requirements as you build the ALS issue. Standard configurations for daily, weekly or monthly editorial space are matched to advertising information, including requested section placement. Imported editorial linage statistics figures are automatically listed in the Booking Module and used in ad-to-editorial calculations.
ALS StatusWatch and ImageView Module
StatusWatch interacts with a database or management application, such as Baseview's AdManagerPro or the Quark Publishing System, or a front-end order entry system to track advertising and editorial production throughout the publication process. The optional ImageView displays any ad that has a digital file name and path information.
PowerPC processor — G4 or G5
Intel processor
ALS 5.3 is also supported on Macintosh OS X 10.4.11.
ALS 5 is compatible with QuarkXPress versions 6.5-7.x and InDesign CS2-CS3. It comes bundled with ALS XT and AdImport Plug-in, which allow paginators to import an ALS issue into QuarkXPress or InDesign. ALS XT and AdImport Plug-in are available for both Windows and Macintosh platforms.
ALS runs on the Macintosh platform only.
For more information about ALS and to arrange to see a demonstration, fill out the form below.