International Business Machines Corporation

Jason R Albright

Kyle P Manning

Carol L Dwyer

Michael A Bartholet

Ronald E Graham

Ying-Che Yang

A method is provided for generating a variable data file to be used to generate custom printed articles. A template including a plurality of tokens is read, and a data structure including a plurality of printed article ID's is generated. A record in a database is identified using a first printed article ID, and data is extracted from a field of the record which is specified by a first token in the plurality of tokens. The data is outputted to the variable data file. In a preferred embodiment, an index is incremented to point to a second printed article ID in the data structure in response to reading a second token in the template. Also provided is a system for producing custom printed articles.

Method and apparatus for generating a variable data file to be used to generate custom printed articles

A method is provided for tracking printed articles. Input indicating that a first carrier is being mounted to take up printed articles is read, and an ID of the first carrier is read in. A record associating the printed articles with the first carrier is made. In a preferred embodiment, the ID of the first carrier is read in by reading a bar code of the first carrier. Also provided is a system for producing custom printed articles.

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Louisville, CO, United States of America

Jason R Albright