Identifying User Requirements

To develop an application, you need to know the user requirements. Depending upon the complexity of the application, you may want to write a formal functional specification. The key tasks in defining a functional specification for an EngageOne™ Enrichment application are:

Identify Print Stream Types

EngageOne™ Enrichment fully supports impact, AFPDS, AFP line-data, AFP mixed data, Metacode, DJDE, PCL PDF, and PostScript print streams. Limited EngageOne™ Enrichment processing may be possible with other print stream types. The procedures for extracting data from and adding data to documents vary depending on the type of print stream.

Identify Printer Types

Capabilities for using fonts, drawing barcodes, and doing overlays vary among printers. Before starting an application, you must understand the printers used and their limitations. If you combine print streams from separate applications, the printer must be compatible with each of the print stream formats used. For example, you cannot combine AFP print streams with DJDE print streams without first performing a process (external to EngageOne™ Enrichment) that converts the AFP print streams to DJDE or vice versa.

Identify Input Processes

EngageOne™ Enrichment is capable of performing a host of functions. Generally, these fall into the categories below. You should identify all functions your EngageOne™ Enrichment application is to perform before development begins.

  • Add, move or delete text
  • Add, move or delete barcodes
  • Standardize addresses according to CASS™ regulations
  • Add ZIP + 4® and POSTNET™ barcodes
  • Consolidate multiple documents into a single document (for example, consolidate all documents going to the same address)
  • Merge multiple print streams into a single print stream (commingling)
  • Add overlays to a document
  • Access a relational database for queries or updates
  • Add electronic inserts and banner pages to a document or build custom documents
  • Personalize documents with variable values
  • Use postal Presort or other software to sort documents within a print stream
  • Reorder the pages within each document
  • Convert to multiple-up or duplex formats
  • Divide the documents into multiple outputs at user- or system-defined points
  • Route each document to one or more outputs
  • Create one or more extract files or report files
  • Create a Reprint Index for use with Reprint
  • Create side files for use as Mail Run Data Files (MRDFs) for finishing systems
  • Add color to the document (AFP, Metacode, PCL, and PostScript print streams only)