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Surreal space scene: An astronaut in an orange spacesuit sits in dark, swirling clouds and reads a book. The astronaut‘s helmet reflects a bright light, possibly from a moon or a distant sun. The atmosphere is dark and mysterious, with dramatic contrasts between the bright orange of the spacesuit and the dark, stormy clouds in the background. The image conveys a mood of isolation and discovery in the cosmos.

EasyCatalog

Automated and database-supported creation of catalogs and price lists using Adobe InDesign.

Even in times of online retail, catalogs still have their place and are an important part of the communication mix of high-revenue multichannel retailers. Product information must not only be presented in the online store, but also prepared for print catalogs and other publications.

Especially with a broad product range and international, multilingual sales, catalog creation quickly becomes very time-consuming and expensive.

EasyCatalog allows you to create catalogs, price lists and other media automatically and with database support. For example, the layout program Adobe InDesign is connected to a data source such as Pimcore.

Why EasyCatalog? The Advantages at a Glance

Consistent and reliable data : Central, media-neutral data storage ensures uniform information across all media.

Publications are always up to date: Even last-minute data changes are no problem, as documents are automatically updated at any time.

Time savings : Automation significantly shortens production times and creates space for additional publications.

Error reduction : An integrity check of documents ensures that the document content matches the source data.

Reduced work load: No more tedious manual searching, matching and entering of data.

Cost savings : The considerably lower personnel and time expenditure - also for corrections - ensures significant cost savings.

The graphic shows a simplified process of how a product information system (PIM) can be used to automatically update and disseminate product information.

 

Database Publishing Made Easy with EasyCatalog

With Blackbit's Data Director, you can connect the popular EasyCatalog database publishing software to Pimcore - automating your print production and creating a wide range of publications with data from the PIM at the touch of a button.

No programming is required to use EasyCatalog. However, a scripting module is available for developers.

After installation, the InDesign plugin provides you with a table similar to an Excel file as a palette in the layout program. The rows can be sorted and grouped in this table. The placeholders in InDesign can be filled either by drag-and-drop or automatically. If the information in the data source changes, the changes are displayed in InDesign and the document can be updated in a further step.

EasyCatalog Box

 
Thousands of users from over thirty countries already rely on EasyCatalog as one of the most powerful and flexible database publishing solutions for Adobe InDesign. The seamless integration of the database publishing tool allows users to work in a familiar InDesign environment.

Automated Catalog Creation in Adobe Indesign

Screenshot of data palette in InDesign

The URL generated in Pimcore is inserted in the corresponding dialog in Adobe InDesign.

Screenshot InDesign palette in tabular view

In InDesign, the data is displayed in a tabular view, the so-called palette.

Screenshot of layout modules created with placeholders in the InDesign library

Layout modules created with placeholders are saved in the InDesign library and filled with data and placed in the document using drag-and-drop.

Screenshot of an unfilled and a filled library object.

An unfilled and a filled library object: The green markings indicate that the data placed in the document is up-to-date.

Screenshot of red markers indicating changed data .

Red markers, on the other hand, indicate changed data - they can be updated via a simple dialog.

The Most Important EasyCatalog Features

Import data from anywhere: Import data for your catalogs, brochures, etc. from a simple Excel, CSV or text file, an XML file, an ODBC database or via a URL feed.

Link to the document: Bidirectional linking of your data (text and images) to the InDesign document means that changed content can be synchronized at the touch of a button.

Edit and format data: Common functions such as sorting, grouping and filtering data can all be performed using InDesign without having to switch to your data source.

Create dynamic libraries and document templates :Integrate placeholders into your templates, which are later automatically filled with the desired live data - for the creation of complex, design-oriented pages in seconds.

Insert table data :Use the EasyCatalog data palette to define the order of data records and fields and simply click the Insert button - the new InDesign table with linked live data is inserted into your document.

Check errors: EasyCatalog highlights fields in the document and in the palette whose contents do not match the original data - to avoid costly errors.

Update document: If data has changed, EasyCatalog intelligently transfers the new content to your document and ensures that any formatting is retained.

EasyCatalog Modules: Your Database Publishing Grows with You

Another advantage of EasyCatalog is the modular structure of the software. This allows you to put together exactly the functions you currently need and expand your database publishing solution at any time as required.

Sartorius price list created with EasyCatalog

In order to use our EasyCatalog integration for Pimcore, you need the XML Data Provider module. This plugin allows you to import XML data from Pimcore directly into EasyCatalog via a URL.

A bidirectional linking of the content ensures that your data changes in the InDesign document are automatically transferred to the source data or that the InDesign document is also updated when the database is updated.

Once the XML data has been imported into EasyCatalog, you can edit it in the same way as when importing from an ODBC database or from a delimited file.

Request the case study "Pimcore as a PIM system" now.

You can also read in our case study how the delicatessen importer Antonio Viani Importe GmbH optimized its catalog production and e-business through professional product information management.

You Can Also Choose from These EasyCatalog Modules

XML Data Provider: The XML module is required to connect EasyCatalog to Pimcore via the Data Director. This connection can also be bidirectional, so that any changes to the data in Adobe InDesign can be updated back to Pimcore.

ODBC Data Provider: Use the ODBC module to create a bidirectional connection to your ODBC-compatible database (MySQL, SQL Server, FileMaker or Oracle) - ideal for constantly changing databases, as the database does not have to be exported as a file before it can be imported into EasyCatalog.

Pagination module: Choose from five pagination types and number thousands of pages at the touch of a button - perfect for publications where the data dictates the display style.

Enterprise Data Provider: Link EasyCatalog directly to popular systems such as Sales Layer, Adam, Elvis & Salsify - for up-to-the-minute information as often as you want and without complex configurations.

Relational modules: Combine data from different sources into a single EasyCatalog palette. In conjunction with the Pagination module, this allows you to restructure and paginate even the most complex data, such as products with multiple sets of attributes.

EasyCatalog Scripting module: Use the EasyCatalog advantages via Javascript, AppleScript or Visual Basic - ideal for integrating EasyCatalog into your individual workflow.

Blackbit - Your Experienced Partner in Database Publishing

The Blackbit team supports you in finding and implementing a database publishing solution that is precisely tailored to the requirements of your company and your publication channels.

Print catalogs can be created cost-effectively, websites can be updated automatically, data can be made available to customers in industry-specific or industry-independent exchange formats and e-commerce applications can be supplied with information.

Case Study 7DAYS Marc Staperfeld Gmbh: PIM System with Product Data Extraction for Online Store and Print Catalogs

Read how Blackbit enabled production planning directly in Pimcore, which is more convenient and less time-consuming than with EasyCatalog. The InDesign templates created by Blackbit also enable 7days to design and publish the pages easily and independently.

Creating relevant added value with Pimcore

We develop e-commerce solutions, booking and event platforms, PIM systems and corporate websites. Find out all about Pimcore and our services as a Platinum Partner and Enterprise Subscription Integrator.

What is Pimcore?

Pimcore, as a comprehensive open source platform, offers unique solutions in the field of data and experience management.
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DAM

Pimcore offers out-of-the-box open source digital asset management that can be accessed via webdav or web.
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Pimcore CMS & DXP

As a content management system (CMS), Pimcore allows you to create and manage content centrally and edit it directly on your website.
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E-commerce with Pimcore
significantly increase sales and offer your customers fascinating, customized shopping experiences.
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Data Director

The interface between Pimcore and your data sources. Reduce effort and shorten the time it takes to get your Pimcore project up and running.
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Web-to-print

Produce flyers, product sheets, price lists or complete product catalogs conveniently via the Pimcore backend.
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Pimcore Cloud Hosting

Blackbit has over twenty years of experience in hosting and managing e-commerce systems.
Learn more