I haven’t shared any news from Pyxis in quite a while, so here are a few updates that might be of interest to the community.

Cloud Clock
Some of your readers have been using our cloud based clock-in / time-keeping application. The news here is that we are currently testing an option that will enable employees to clock-in via mobile devices. For those who might not be aware of this application, here is a brief list of features: 1. Employees can clock-in and out on any computer Windows or Mac (and now via a mobile device). 2. Application automatically creates weekly hours report and sends to administrator(s). 3. Option to setup default daily or weekly hours, for each employee. 4. Employees can request days-off (such as annual leave) through the system. 5. Advance notices of up-coming days off are automatically sent by the application to administrator(s) 6. Option to create weekly rosters. 7. Clock-in and out rounding option to nearest 15 minutes. 8. Option to apply auto-breaks, and to auto-clock out employee after specific amount of time worked. 9. Security: the system can pickup user identity anomalies via key-type security logic . Basically, this application eliminates the task of keeping track of employee hours worked as the application can do it all.

Workflow
This is a complete customer / job management application. Create up to 6 quotations simultaneously. Save popular quotations as templates. Convert quotations to live orders. Assign priorities to jobs. Assign jobs to each team member. Transfer jobs from one to another. Adobe InDesign link option. File Linking option, where the system manages customer and job folders, including all file naming. The above means Workflow can open any design file (via InDesign) on Apple computers, or approved PDF for any job on Windows and Apple computers. Workflow can directly interact with InDesign on Apple computers to create and open the INDD files. Workflow can generate the final PDF and Proof files, with or without bleed, in high or low resolution. Option to clone files and auto rename repeat orders. Workflow can be setup to auto share proof files with customers via dynamically generated web page on user’s website. Optionally setup up to 20 job states, such as Designed, Proofed, Printed, Finished, Packaged, Invoiced (or whatever states the user wishes). Quickly create invoices: one or multiple orders can be added as line-items to invoices. Auto-generate recurring invoices for regular repeating jobs, based on day, week, month, or year. Manually or automatically create month-end statements on a per customer basis. Create business specific stationery internally or use invoices/statement artwork from another application. Optionally transfer print file to print, either via local network or cloud (via FTP). Optionally add supplier data and keep track of purchases figures, including VAT. Optionally create and email stock alerts to admin based on jobs converted to orders. Crate VAT return data for both sales and purchases, via cash or invoice basis. Customer job-ready notification option, via email or text message. Optionally record design time per job. Record design time ‘sold’ on a monthly basis. View recorded sales over time (graph and figures). Remote working option for users, where file-linking has been enabled. * InDesign files can obviously be opened on computers with inDesign where the relevant file is compatible. * Any computer with a PDF reader can open PDF files. * Some basic support for Quark XPress.

WorkflowCRM
We also have a simpler version of Workflow, with the basic functionality, that includes simple quotations, sales and purchases invoice recording, etc. This version can be used by any enterprise (not print specific).

Prepress L&D
Pyxis Imposed, in its various forms, continues to be one of our most widely used applications both in Ireland and Internationally. However, over the past 18 months we have developed a new Prepress application that can be used with both Litho and Digital machines (L&D). While Pyxis Imposed can obviously create files for lithographic printing, this new product includes an option to generate custom ‘plates’, with custom colour bars and registration marks. An ink-key setting graph can also be generated. For the latter, the user chooses the press, plate dimensions and the number of ink keys. The application scans the finished PDF plate, and then creates an initial setting for each ink key, for each CMYK colour. This application also includes an advanced version of our variable data module, where multi-line variables are now possible for the first time. It also has an advanced version of the booklet module. As a fun item, this application has an in-built retro-game called ‘Retro Printer’, where the player’s goal is to complete a rush-job in the shortest time possible.

Madison
This is a customer and advertisement management system for publications, such as magazines and newspapers. Unlimited titles and editions can be created, with custom master pages. File linking and basic integration with Adobe InDesign and QuarkXpress included. It supports boxed advertisements and classified. Auto placement InDesign or Quark via single advertisement or page-lot. This is the third iteration of this solid application.

Many thanks to your readers for the support over the years. This is very much appreciated. Regards, Brendan. If any of your readers is interested in any of the above, drop an email to info@explorepyxis.com or contact me on the mobile, 087 7859713

Kind Regards,
Brendan