Release History and Information

ProStock Agency v8 Release 8.0.0301

Version 8 contains the following new features

  • Inactive Staff
    • Mark Staff member as "Red" (by clicking the STAFF button above the name)
    • This will remove Staff member from Client, Invoice, and Memo screen lists
  • Batch Auto-Pay Commissions
    • Pays all photographers in one batch operation
      1. Click the drop-down next to the "Supplier" icon
      2. Select "Commissions Due Report"
      3. Mark photographers you want to pay
      4. Click the drop-down again, and select "Auto-pay Commissions"
    • Creates text or pdf files automatically in a "Commission Reports" folder
      1. These can be emailed to the supplier
    • Online royalty or sales reports are available
  • PLUS Licensing
    • Use our PLUS calculator or build your own offline or online calculator
    • Integration with both PsWeb and ProStock
    • Support for RM and RF pricing, as well as stills, footage, and audio
  • Support for Flash Movies with Watermarking
    • Flash Previews
      1. Jpeg Previews are also automatically created
    • Flash Thumbnails
    • Watermark FLV and MOV files
  • Multilanguage Keyword Support
    • Support for English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, Polish, and Italian
  • Client Email Opt-in
    • New checkbox on Client screen shows whether client has opted in or out for emails
  • Subagent Status for Clients
    • There is a new checkbox on the Client screen to designate a client as "subagent" or "distributor" of yours.
    • On the image screen there is a new button that lists all the subagents that an image is out to - their country and company name
    • New reports are available to list:
      1. Images out to Subagents
      2. Subagents sales
    • New methodology for subagents distribution. Here are the steps:
      1. Create DDM for subagents
      2. Search for newest images
      3. Add to DDM
      4. Duplicate DDM to other subagents
      5. Remove restricted suppliers from any memos where required
  • Export all Catalogs with Image Export
    • When exporting images, you have always been able to designate a particular catalog to export. Now you can export all the catalog information that goes with an image.
    • To export all catalog information:
      1. On the Export Selection screen, check "Export Catalog (All or Specific)"
      2. In the drop-down, select "All Catalog Info" (you will see the text box change to "Semi-colon delimited")
      3. When the export is complete, all catalogs associated with a particular image will be in the CATALOG column - semi-colon delimited.
  • Pro forma Invoices
    • Save, Print, Convert to Invoice
    • Click the drop-down next to the Invoice button on the toolbar
  • ProStock Remote New Memo Options
    • Convert Client Lightbox to Memo
    • Convert Delivery Memo to Lightbox
  • Model & Property Releases
    • Save model and property releases with each image
    • JPEG, PDF, TXT, DOC formats
    • Export releases with HR images
    • Synch with Web
    • Option to deliver releases with HR downloads (zipped)
    • Manually set up Release structure
      1. Create a folder within your company folder (in "/data") called "Releases"
      2. Create subfolders from the first three characters of your image id's
      3. Put your releases in the correct subfolders - ProStock will then know they are there
      4. Be sure that the image id is part of the name of the release file. Replace spaces with underscores. Our convention for naming release files is:
        • Company_Name-Image_Id-Model_Name.jpg
        • Company_Name-Image_Id-Model_Name.pdf
        • Etc.
  • New Toolbar Options
    • New icons
    • Horizontal vs. Vertical Toolbar
      1. Click the drop-down next to Configuration
      2. Select Horizontal or Vertical Toolbar
      3. The Vertical toolbar may be moved
        • ProStock will remember your choice
        • Quick search will "fly out" from the toolbar when you click the SEARCH button.
    • Hide Icons
      1. Click the drop-down next to the 20/20 Logo button
      2. Select Customize
    • Hide Menu bar
      1. Click the 20/20 Logo button - the menu bar will disappear
      2. Click it again - the menu bar will reappear

ProStock Agency v7 Release 7.9.0701

The July update contains the following changes

  • Image Browser - Managing Archival TIFF's
    • The Image Browser now has added functionality for managing archival TIFF images.
      • Rename image to equal the image id
      • Copy image to ProStock folder structure
      • Automatically create High Res JPEG and Preview and Thumbnail
      • Copy original TIF file name to SOURCE or USER-DEFINED field
      • Read IPTC header and transfer information to the ProStock Image Screen
    • Instructions for setting up system:
      1. Open the Image Management Screen and enter or find an image.
      2. Click Media Processing | Browse Images.
      3. On the Browse Screen, click Options | Transfer Archival File Name - and then choose an Image field to transfer the source file name to (usually the SOURCE field).
      4. Choose whether to remove the extension (leaving only the ID portion of the file name) or transfer the full file name.
      5. On the Browse Screen, click Options | Archival TIFF - and then choose whether to copy the file from its source location (like a DVD) or keep it in place - and whether to update the Image "Archival" file pointer. The options are:
        • Don't update the File Pointer
        • Copy the image to ProStock's normal folder structure and update the file pointer
        • Leave the image in place (on the DVD, for example), but update ProStock's file pointer to to point to that location
    • Instructions for using the new functionality:
      1. Open the Image Management Screen and enter or find an image. SAVE the image!
      2. Click Media Processing | Browse Images
      3. To RENAME and/or COPY the archival TIFF, press
        • Depending on your settings from above, ProStock will either rename and copy the image or rename and leave it in place
        • Depending on your settings above, ProStock will update the Archival file pointer to the new name and location
        • Depending on your settings above, ProStock will copy the original file name (with or without the extension) to one of the Image Screen fields (SOURCE or USER-DEFINED).
      4. To TRANSFER the image and make High Res, Preview , and Thumbnail, DOUBLE-CLICK the image
        • Depending on your settings from above, ProStock will either rename and copy the Archival image or rename and leave it in place
        • Depending on your settings above, ProStock will update the Archival file pointer to the new name and location
        • Depending on your settings above, ProStock will copy the original file name (with or without the extension) to one of the Image Screen fields (SOURCE or USER-DEFINED).
        • ProStock will then make a JPEG High Res, a Preview, and a Thumbnail automatically. When you save the Thumbnail, ProStock will save the Preview and the High Res also (the Archival will have already been saved if your settings tell the program to do so).
        • Write IPTC on Export
  • Write IPTC on Import
    • A setting has been added to the Export checkbox screen whereby you can tell ProStock to automatically update IPTC headers on any resolution of deliverable images.
    • This supplements the existing functionality of writing IPTC headers when creating a Digital Delivery Memo
    • The resolutions affected are:
      1. Low Res
      2. Med Res
      3. High Res
      4. Super Res
      5. Ultra Res
  • Synch To Web (Batch)
    • Batch Synch now has two options
      1. Synch using Batch File (the previous default)
      2. Synch using Date Range
    • Click the PsWeb menu at the top of the Toolbar
    • Click Export to Web
    • Choose either Export Using Batch File or Export by Date Range
  • Write Owner URL to IPTC
    • This function was not working properly if you had Owner URL in one of the User Defined fields
    • Be sure to put your website address on the Configuration screen in the space allotted
    • Remove Owner URL from the User Defined fields (as this is no longer necessary)
  • Auto-pay commissions in Batch
    • ProStock has supported Auto-pay of commissions for quite a number of years. Starting with the July release, it will also support auto-pay of commissions in batch.
    • Instructions for Auto-Pay
      1. Click the Photographer icon drop-down and select Commissions Due Report
      2. Run the report for the date range of the pay period (this report will work best if run in Internet Explorer - and may not work with other browsers)
      3. Select the photographers to pay and click the Save to Batch button (click Ok or Yes to any warnings)
      4. Keep the report on-screen for quality-control
      5. Click the Photographer icon drop-down and select Auto-pay Commissions Due
      6. Make sure that the date range, settings, and next check number are correct, then click Proceed
    • Best practices for Auto-pay in batch
      • Audit all photographers before running the Commissions Due report
      • Make sure that the starting check number is correct
      • After the payment process is complete, list checks in numeric order - descending. The checks you just wrote will be at the top.
      • Make sure that the amounts of the checks match the report (taking into account any chargebacks applied)
      • Open a half-dozen checks to make sure the check is retrieved with the correct details (you'll know because the amount of the check stays the same as on the list.
      • Open a half-dozen photographer ledgers to make sure the ledgers look correct and the photographer balances are also correct.

    ProStock Agency v7 Release 7.9.0401

    The April 1, 2009 version upgrade contains the following changes:

    • Color Management
      • ProStock’s native color space has always been Standard RGB (sRGB); and thumbnails and previews were saved without a color profile attached (the absence of a profile is functionally equivalent to sRGB when it comes to the web).
      • The April release continues to save thumbnails and previews in the sRGB color space, but it does two things differently:
        • It recognizes and alerts you to source images that are in a different color space: Adobe RGB, ProPhoto, and Colormatch.
        • It converts thumbnails and previews to sRGB and embeds the color profile.
        • It retains the color profile of images (high res) that are in either Adobe RGB, ProPhoto, or Colormatch.
    • Export Keywords
      • A new option has been added to the export screen allowing you to export keywords in one “column” as either comma-delimited or semi-colon-delimited.
      • Note that if you are exporting keywords with codes, priorities, dates – to a PsWeb website – then you must continue to use tab-delimited keywords.
    • ProStock Remote – Backup / Restore
      • A new menu has been added to the main TOOLS menu that allows you to quickly backup and restore any ProStock data file.
      • This gives you the ability to run a data-intensive routine and restore the previous data if you don’t like anything about the results.
      • Note that everyone will most likely need to be out of ProStock for either the backup or restore process to work.
    • Custom Apps
      • A new menu has been added to the main TOOLS menu that allows you to run any custom apps that we have written for you directly from within ProStock.
      • These apps must be added to a special folder in your DATA folder. 20/20 will help you with this if you have any custom apps.
      • Note that this feature also allows you to run ANY app from within ProStock, simply by adding a shortcut to that application into the CUSTOM APPS folder.

    ProStock Agency v7 Release 7.9.0101

    The January 1, 2009 version upgrade contains the following enhancements:

    • ProStock Agency and ProStock Remote Version 7
      • ProStock has been reworked and recompiled so that it can now run as either a local application on your own server (as always) or as a remote application hosted by us over the internet.
      • ProStock Remote can site side-by-side with your website and directly read and write web databases for instant access to these files. With ProStock Remote you will no longer need to have multiple installations of your database.
      • ProStock Remote also supports the combination of local data and live web data simultaneously so that you can "author" content before making it live.
    • New Digital Pointers
      • Super Resolution
      • Ultra Resolution
      • Archival Location and Name
    • Weighted Keywords
      • In addition to being able to weight keywords on individual images (using the image screen), you can now weight batches of keywords on the keywording screen.
      • Do a search for a keyword and click "View Images" (either list or thumbnails)
      • Select the images that will get the new priority
      • Click "Keyword | Rank Keyword"
      • Set the priority for this keyword and click Ok
      • You can only prioritize individual keywords and keyphrases, not multiple keywords
      • You can also weight the keywords that are part of the caption (see below)
    • Export Hidden Keywords ("dash-dash" keywords)
      • Both on Synch with Web and on Standard Export, you can designate whether to export the "hidden" words (those starting with a double-dash)
      • Go to "Configuration | Miscellaneous", and check the box that says "Export -Hidden-Keywords"
    • Sales Tax and VAT
      • Saving and resaving an invoice during invoice-creation may cause a rounding error in sales tax (or VAT) calculation.
      • The program has been modified to remove that rounding error.
    • ICC Profiles
      • You may now add ICC profiles to a folder of images.
      • Click "Utilities | Image Conversion Utility"
      • Click "Add/Change ICC Profile"
      • Designate whether you are adding or changing the profile "in place"; or you are making a copy of the images
    • Revised support for QuickTime Movies and Sound
      • Ability to play the newest CODEC's
      • Create Thumbnail
      • Create "Preview" clip using timings (coming soon)
    • Re-pointed Help Menus
      • Help menus have been repointed to the updated ProStock Online Help
      • Note that ProStock's Online Help system will undergo a major updating in the first quarter of 2009
    • Invoice Printing
      • Image Notes now print on invoices (be sure to space out the right brace when printing image notes on an invoice)
    • Rounding errors on Photographer Commissions
      • Penny rounding errors caused by odd commission amounts (and especially foreign conversions) have been (hopefully) eliminated!
    • Image Import
      • Now you can set keyword priorities for the caption-to-keywords function. If you check the box "Captions'Keywords" you will see a drop-down that allows you to set the priority for those words converted from the caption. All regular keywords will inherit the priority of the image itself.
      • The reasoning behind this new feature is that the words in the caption are likely to be the most important words associated with the image and therefore should be prioritized.
      • If the same word is in the caption and also in the list of keywords, that word will get the higher priority that you designate on the Import screen.
      • You can also use this feature to re-import image captions and thus turn the caption-to-keywords into higher priority.
      • Remember with priorities in ProStock, the lower the number, the higher the priority.
    • IPTC Support for TIFF's
      • ProStock (and PsWeb) can now read and write IPTC/XMP data in TIFF images.
      • Note that TIFF images saved in programs other than PhotoShop and ProStock may have corrupted headers, leading to an benign error message when opened in PhotoShop (although the TIFF image itself should appear correctly).

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.8.0701

    The July 1, 2008 update contains the following enhancements:

    • Batch delete images
      • Adds the ability to delete images in batch using a list contained in a "batch file".
      • This batch file may be based on a full import from ProStock, or any other file that contains the image id as the leftmost column in the file.
    • Summary of Image Import Options
      • Make keywords from captions
      • Remove plurals
      • Parse phrases
      • Build MySQL search file
    • New of Audit-Keyword options
      • TURN KEYWORDS TO ALL CAPS
      • Turn Keywords to Proper Case
      • Turn first keyword to proper case
      • turn all keywords to lower case
      • Leave keywords as they are
    • Additions to Release Status: These new options are on the Image Screen. The image export and synch-with-web support these new options. 20/20 can implement them on your website.
      • 0 = Not Released
      • 1 = Model Released
      • 2 = Property Released
      • 3 = Model & Property Released
      • 4 = Release Not Required
    • New Keyword Ranking!
      • The image screen now supports keyword ranking on images. Click KEYWORD | RANK KEYWORDS. Move keywords into priority "bins" based on their importance to the image.
      • The image export and synch-with-web support this new feature.
      • PsWeb supports the new feature natively. You do not need to modify your website to take advantage of the new weighting.
    • Payables Screen
      • Payment option now gives choice between putting payment type or invoice # into the check memo. The default is invoice #, as this usually gives more information.
      • Note: Vendor Ledger always puts payment type into the check memo!

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.8.0315

    The March 15, 2008 update contains the following changes

    • IPTC Headers
      • Adds the ability to read and write the caption field in ProStock to the headline field in IPTC. Set this on the Configuration screen; Miscellaneous tab.
      • Adds the ability to read and write the notes field in ProStock to the description field in IPTC. Set this on the Configuration screen; Miscellaneous tab.
    • Checkbook Balances
      • "Create New Year" procedure (runs automatically at the beginning of the new year) does not always create accurate start balances in all checkbooks. The "General Audit" now fixes this.
    • Search and Store Marked Images
      • No longer prompts for what version to save (Dupe or Original). Saves all digital images with their normal ID code.
      • Only prompts once for a batch storage file; then remembers that file for the session.
    • Save High Res, Preview, and Thumbnail from Browse Screen
      • No longer prompts for each resolution; saves all three resolutions in one action
    • Make Commissions
      • No longer prompts to force you to apply a commission rate. Skips "zero-discount" sales and keeps a log of skipped commissions.
    • Import Web Clients
      • Makes "00" account for companies that don't have one

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.7.1201

    The December 1, 2007 update contains the following changes

    • Invoice Screen
      • Conversion rate increased to 15 significant digits
      • Allows user to change photographer commission rate if invoice has been paid
      • Accrual-based businesses can now create commissions when the invoice is first raised. Cash-based businesses still only create commissions when the invoice is paid.
    • Image Import
      • Added ability to parse phrases during the import
      • Added ability to remove plurals during the import
      • Added the ability to create the enhanced (MySQL) search file during the import
    • Synch with Web
      • Exports "www=0" images. This feature is used to "turn off" images on the web.
    • Import Sales
      • The feature was expanded to allow sales imports with or without providing an invoice number. If you provide an invoice number in the list, be sure that this number does not already exist. If it already exists, the sales will be added to the existing invoice.
      • If you don't provide an invoice number in the list, ProStock uses the next available invoice. You must provide a client id in the list in the correct format. ProStock will look at the clients in sequential order and will create a new invoice for each client it comes to in the list.
        • Remember, Client IDs are six digits followed by two. So an company id like ACME must be followed by two spaces before putting the sub-id in: ACME 01.

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.7.0715

    The July 15, 2007 update contains the following enhancements

    • Write IPTC Headers
      • Up to now the “Write IPTC headers on Save” wrote all related keywords (hierarchy and synonyms) to the IPTC/XMP header. The Tools | Write IPTC Headers function wrote only the “root” keywords on the image.
      • A checkbox was added to the Configuration Screen, Miscellaneous tab. This checkbox signifies whether you want to write only the keywords directly on the image (root keywords) to the IPTC/XMP header; or write all related keywords (hierarchy and synonyms) to the IPTC/XMP header.
        • Check the box if you want to write all related keywords; leave it unchecked if you want to write only the root keywords.
        • Now, both “Write on Save” and “Write from Tools Screen” operate the same way.
      • Another pair of checkboxes was added to the Tools | Read IPTC Headers screen. This allows you to choose whether to replace the database keywords with the keywords in the image; or add the image’s keywords to the keywords in the database.
      • In PhotoShop, the IPTC Content “Provider” field is the same as the “Credit” field. Changing one changes the other. ProStock defaults to writing the credit as “Photographer / Agency”. You can change this on-the-fly on the Tools | Write screen.
    • Image User Fields
      • Length of text has been increased from 50 characters to 64 characters
    • Image Conversion
      • A file conversion utility has been added that allows you to convert any folder of images from TIFF’s to JPEG’s.

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.7.0501

    The May 1, 2007 update contains the following additions, fixes, and changes:

    • Data Browser
      • Moved Data Browser from REPORTS to UTILITIES
      • Added a Query history
      • Added a Cancel Query option if the user executes the query by mistake
      • Modified query processor to accept recognizable dates in the form mm/dd/yyyy
      • Added option to toggle Auto-Date conversions from coded numbers to recognizable dates
      • SQL text box and Run Query button now resize properly
      • Choosing Cancel from the Select Table Dialog closes Data Browser
    • Web Sales Import
      • Modified the Merge Web Sales function, to disallow an end date of the current day or later (you must download yesterday's sales or earlier)
      • Modified Web Sales Import so that it correctly imports CD Sales
    • Memo Ship-To
      • The original memo ship-to function allowed the same ship-to to be entered into the database multiple times. The correct functionality is to allow the ship-to to be allowed into the database only once, but to be attached to multiple consignees (for instance, a free-lance researcher working for multiple publishers). Version 6 implemented that technology. The May version changes the entry procedure to make it more obvious and user-friendly.
      • When entering a ship-to, the program now asks first for the email address. If that person already exists in the database, the program will notify you of that and ask if you want to add this ship-to to the current client.
    • List/Print/Export Dialog Box
      • Clicking the Printer radio button, and then clicking the Screen radio button no longer makes the Reports listing disappear
      • Clicking the Reports button (to bring up the selection listing of Crystal Reports), and then clicking on Templates again now makes the list refresh and display Templates
      • Program no longer continues when the export file specified is invalid or locked
    • Photographer Functions
      • Modified Photographer search (and Category Search) so that bad image data does not stop the search
      • Modified Chargeback routine so that it does not apply Chargebacks to VAT or GST (this may be modified again to automatically create VAT or GST chargebacks)
      • On the Photographer Screen, pressing the BACK button without a photographer already on screen no longer causes a crash
      • In the Edit Commission screen, upon changing the rate no longer causes occasional crashes
      • Modified tab order on Photographer Screen
      • Changed behavior of Edit Commission screen to disallow direct entry of data on the grid itself (which could result in unintended changes)
    • Miscellaneous
      • Added new Audit files to the Recover/Compress routine. To recover an audit file, type 39a (Invoices), 39b (Cash), 39c (Payables), 39d (Images), 39e (Memos), 39f (Data Browser SQL), or 39g (Data Browser Other)
      • On the Invoice Screen, adding charges after #5 now refreshes the screen properly
      • On the Invoice Screen, disallowed adding an invoice with no Client selected

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.7.0201

    The February 1, 2007 release makes the following fixes and enhancements:

    • Importing Hierarchy and Synonyms into blank Library file is enabled.
    • Importing Synonym list: Fixes bug where the user reverses the master synonym and slave synonym the program crashes.
    • Listing clients shows client color in listing box.
    The February release updates the following file:
    • Photo Requests (Ps026.dat) - brings this file into line with the Memo File, which was updated in the October release.

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.7.0101

    The January 1, 2007 update (along with the December 5th update) adds the following features:

    • The keyword field length has been increased from 30 characters to 64 characters.
    • Priorities and Image Dates have been added to the keyword file so that customers with PsWeb sites will be able to prioritize keywords on images. The user interface for prioritizing keywords will be added in the first quarter of 2008.
    • Audit Trails for invoices, commissions, memos, and images have been added. After beta-testing these audit trails, we will add a viewer for audit trails.
    • Quick Search (as in the previous version) has been added to Version 6.
    • Maintain Aspect Ratio is automatically selected when resizing an image. Resize is changed from BILINEAR to BICUBIC.
    • Search Results TN View has been increased to show more images per page on larger screens.
    • Search Results TN View now has auto-zoom so that you can see Previews without double-clicking the image.

    The January 1, 2007 update makes the following fixes:

    • Editing a payment detail on the checkbook screen resulted in loss of data. This has been fixed.
    • Invoice screen gives unnecessary warnings about conversion-rate changes. This has been fixed.
    • The photographer audit was not adding prior-year on-account payments properly (resulting in an inaccurate view of the Balance Forward). This has been fixed.
    • Image labels were only allowing three lines on the caption label, when there was room for four. This has been adjusted, and now the labels can contain up to four lines. This does not affect Zebra labels, which have always been able to hold four lines.
    • Importing clients from the website was overwriting the internal id with the web id (when they were different). This has been fixed.
    • Listing images licensed from the Client screen now scrolls properly.
    • Adding search results from a Memo-search asks whether to add originals or dupes (or leave as marked). The previous version automatically entered the images as dupes.
    • Choosing Homonyms during import presented a box too small to be able to make a choice. The box has been lengthened.

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.6.1201

    The December 1, 2006 update adds the following new features:

    • Keyword field in the Master Library (Ps015.dat) has been increased from 30 characters to 64 characters.
    • Search table (Ps016.dat) has been modified to include priority and date fields. This will allow prioritizing keywords on images (a feature that will be added in 2008).
    • Audit trails for Invoices, Payments, and Commissions. Other audit trails will be added in a future release.
    The update will "recover" files 15 and 16, and will copy the new audit-trail files into the CURRENT folder. Be sure that everyone is out of the current company data before proceeding.

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.6.1001

    The October 1, 2006 update changes the way in which shipping addresses are saved in ProStock. This change will be invisible to you, but requires that the program update three files: Ps010.dat, Ps010a.dat, and Ps012.dat (shipping files and memo file).

    After you click OK, the program will proceed to update these three files. Note that some may have no records. This is perfectly fine.

    ***

    ProStock Agency v6 Release 6.6.0101

    ProStock Agency v6 is now out of Beta. The full release of ProStock Agency v6 is now available on our website.