Application on demand variable data software suppliers that had traditionally offered systems merging forms with variable data for transaction printing are now offering solutions that blend the transaction document with marketing messages. Companies like us initially developed on demand variable data software applications that made the migration of pre-printed impact printer applications to laser printers simple and cost effective.

 

Today, we have expanded our design capability and incorporated conditional print capability that prints text, graphic elements and images on the fly based on the information available in the data stream. At the same time that the document is being sent to the printer, the information can simultaneously be archived for future viewing or distributed electronically via e-mail or fax. A number of firms built business models around the creation of complete document composition systems.

 

Historically, these on demand variable data software systems focused on complex, structured documents that required a program that handled repeating elements (headers, footers), table of contents and index generation, page numbering, and integration of static and data driven graphics and other elements including spreadsheet and database elements. These programs combined word processing, desktop publishing and graphics in one package. Because of their complexity, the learning curve was steep and a solid IT background was required.