CIP4 Announces Milestone in Industry Interoperability
While not a technical reference, the Matrix is a popular and valuable tool for printers. JDF-enabled systems are capable of being integrated in an automated and networked environment, but equipment still needs to be set-up and tested prior to operations. "While two devices may be cable of using JDF to communicate, in set-up, the systems in a workflow need to know what a new device is specifically capable of doing and what it's limitations, capacities and so forth are," said CIP4 Education and Marketing Officer, Mark Wilton of Wilton & Partners Consulting Inc. "If there is a working integration between two devices already in the field, then subsequent installations are much easier and less expensive. In fact, for several JDF-enabled MIS systems and prepress system adding a known device can be a simple as picking name from a list." Interface listings in the Matrix may have one of four "statuses":