Archived Release Notes



(12/03/2004) Build 20041203

(10/04/2004) Build 20041004

(3/23/2004) Build 20040323

(12/11/2003) Build 20031211

(12/07/2003) Build 20031207

(09/04/2003) Build 20030904

(07/25/2003) Build 20030725

(07/02/2003) Build 20030702

(06/17/2003) Build 20030617 Added the ability to specify sub text of a text selection (word 1 to word 2 of line 3 to line 4 of paragraph 5 to paragraph 6 of textflow...) Added the "line" specifier to specify specific lines of text when getting/replacing text in a textflow. A new command to return a selection of text in Text Field format - "get text". A new command to reload fonts on the fly - "reload fonts". A new command to list the fonts currently loaded by CreatorServer - "list fonts". Added font logging. All fonts can be logged every time they are loaded. This is off by default, but logging of bad fonts is on. No more external libraries required! All libraries are now static linked on Linux, and external libraries are included in the Solaris release.
Bugfixes: Text is now reflowed when its container is resized. Files are now saved (and exported to XML) with full paths for graphics. Paths in placed eps/pdf graphics are now properly closed. TrueType fonts containing PostScript names with spaces now export properly.

(05/13/2003) Build 20030509 Fixed a crashing bug when rendering certain characters of certain fonts ('t' in Arial for example) Fixed embedded Type1 fonts in PDF. Added the ability to export a specific page or spread to PDF. Modified log format. Commands are sequenced so that the command and response are easier to match up in a heavily session-interleaved log. Each command that does more than change Server state (ie. not commands like "set default") are now timed, with the time taken (in milliseconds) listed with the response entry. The actual text of the command or response are also left unquoted now and simply follow a ':'. More font name tweaks.

(04/16/2003) Build 20030414 Revised and updated documentation. Log now named "creatorserver.log", more in keeping with UNIX naming conventions. Added new escape characters for certain special Unicode characters, usable in text field mode (block break, em space, en space, thin space, page number, quad). Added duplicate element command. EPS DCS2 now only contain plates that have some object on them. Spot colors are not converted to composite when exported to composite EPS - they separate as spot colors when the PDF is imported into an application that understands PDF spot colors, such as InDesign. Fixed Mac OS X build to correctly handle files with "/" characters embedded in them. Fixed bug with unique element name generation on Mac OS X, Linux and Solaris. Fixed crashing bug on Mac OS X and Solaris when loading a document with missing EPS graphic.

(03/04/2003)Build 20030221
(03/04/2003) Note: The correct binaries for Mac OS X really are there now. Honest.
(03/03/2003) Note: Wrong binary included in Mac OS X release of Creator Server and Document Master builds 20030221 is now fixed.

(02/24/2003) Build 20030221 Creator Server and Document Master will accept Targa images (placing and converting, not as a destination format). Added ability to switch character maps (codepage) in Server. Fixed bug that caused failures to update changed element properties. Support for ZIP and JPEG compression in Photoshop 7 TIFF files.

(01/14/2003) Build 20030110 Build corresponds to Creator Pro 6.5.3 (numerous bug fixes, including an EPS spot color bug). Fixed default document parsing in textflow specs. OpenType fonts with the ".otf" file extention now recognized.

(10/16/2002) Build 20021011 Added RTF import, either by creating a new text block or using an existing element as a text block. Font handling fixes (fractional font sizes, naming problems). Fix format bug in setting tracking with Server script. Added perl sample code to Creator Server examples.

(9/06/2002) Build 20020905 Fixed problem with crashes on first network connect to Server on Mac OS X. Fixed problem with graphic file paths when opening Mac Creator documents on Mac OS X. DSC1 exports on Windows fixed. Added sample code to the Server SDK (Java, PHP, and C). Startup Item scripts for Mac OS X (Server and Document Master) expanded to support "start", "stop" and "restart" options. This build includes nearly all the core engine fixes that will ship as part of Creator 6.5.1. All documentation now in a more platform-neutral form (html).

Known Bugs and Problems:

There is a default open file descriptor limit on Mac OS X that can cause problems with Server or Document Master loading moderate to large numbers of fonts. Until a code change occurs to fix this, before running either product you may want to execute "unlimit descriptors" from the command line (or as part of your launch script, if any).

The font loading code has been modified with build 20021011 to build font names correctly. If you are still finding fonts that fail to load (resulting in Creator files to fall back to a default font instead, or failing to show up in the list of fonts given with the "-fonts" command line option), email Anthony Feick with further info or use the bug reporting link below.


(8/13/2002) Build 20020809 Distribution change -- now all platforms are distributed as a single archive, and Windows and Mac OS X builds use installers. No more manual installs or upgrades -- UNIX folks should be used to that, so no installers for them ;). Since the installed hierarchy may not mesh with how you have Server or Document Master installed, please install the new releases in a different location or move/delete your old install (if you delete it be sure to keep your fonts and license file for the new install). In the future you can install right over your old version -- the license file and fonts will be untouched.

New features for both Server and Document Master include friendler font handling (shouldn't run out of file handles on some systems anymore); exported JPEG resolution configuration; many speed and stability improvements.

New Server features include anti-aliased bitmap graphics (set via preferences or on a per-session basis); a max sessions preference; graphic scaling; placing Creator documents fixed; Windows Service support.

New Document Master features include configuration of exported JPEG resolution to DocMasterConfig.jar; fixed a bug with converting Creator documents.

Known outstanding issues: Document Master  will fail to convert Creator files with missing graphics or fonts and will give an erroneous message in the log. Note that if Document Master is running on a remote server, it will not be able to find your associated artwork should you submit a Creator file using EPS files or the like.

(7/10/2002) NEW! Now Creator Document Master is available for testing from the Software Downloads page. Creator Document Master is a product based on Creator Server that provides document conversion facilities in a hot-folder environment. You can configure it to batch-convert files to and from: Creator document format, PDF, EPS, TIFF, GIF, and JPEG. It will also convert  PostScript files directly to PDF.

(7/10/2002) Build 20020708 Additions to command language: frame options (solid or dashed lines), arrowheads, color creation/deletion. On Mac OS X, Creator Server can be set up as a Startup Item. Expanded documentation and examples of command language usage.

(6/12/2002) Important Note: Again with build 20020610, we have adopted a new licensing format which requires current licensed beta users to get a new CreatorLicense file. Contact Jeff Schmidt.

(6/12/2002) Build 20020610 Updated licensing scheme to support wider range of server-based products. PostScript engine speed improvements -- exports using true previews improved, loading can be much slower than pre-20020523 builds (optimization work in progress). "CreatorServerResources" is now simply "Resources" (be sure to download and install the new Resources archive). UNIX-based platforms may now start Creator Server in daemon mode (-d or --daemon, or set in prefs file). Fixed grayscale to color export bug. Elements may now be replaced with Creator files. Boolean and negative integer data fixed in parser.

(5/23/2002) Build 20020523 First beta release using PSI PostScript engine (same as in forthcoming Desktop 6.5). Added support for remote printing (LPR) mode.

(4/26/2002) Build 20020425 XML preferences file now found in CreatorServerResources (Preferences.xml). The format is rather self-documenting, and currently only controls logging behavior. For testing purposes, it is useful to turn "LogEveryCommand" on. Extended command language (set fill/frame/shadow attributes [including gradients and textures], graphic element properties, starburst element properties, rectangle element properties).

(4/8/2002) Build 20020405 CreatorServerResources now includes the borders and textures that Creator ships with, and Server will search them for borders and textures. Fixed corrupted black and white image bug. Cross-platform components (docs and resources) now distributed in multiple compression formats (.sit, .zip, and .tar.gz).

(3/13/2002) Build 20020312 Added support for embedded spreads (see documentation). Fixed multiple return codes for some parser commands.

(3/8/2002) Build 20020306 Without a license, the application will run in limited evaluation mode (cannot save Creator files, all image exports are 'watermarked'). Several memory leaks plugged. Revised Unicode entry method (see documentation). Replace text bugfix.

(2/27/2002) Important Note: Starting with build 20020222, we have adopted a new licensing format which requires current beta users to get a new CreatorLicense file. Contact Jeff Schmidt.

(2/27/2002) Build 20020222 New method of referring to elements by their ID (see updated documentation). Optional "name" option added to create element command. New "create element line" command (use instead of the old general "create element" command, see docs). Added ability to use Unicode characters when setting the text of text flows using '\u'. Trying to move element into illegal container (ie. line) no longer crashes. Fixed a "format text" crashing bug.

(2/08/2002) Build 20020208 New example script in documentation archive. Can now open Creator files with missing graphics (returns regular error, but doc now opens so that the graphic can be replaced). High-bit ASCII text spacing fix.

(1/28/2002) Build 20020125 Problems with missing EPS graphics in PDF export fixed. Updated documentation (primarily regarding client data commands). Basic logging (located at "CreatorServerLog.txt" next to executable). Apply tags command added.


Current release notes.