STREAMdiff FAQs
Please email us for this information at support@s4ssl.co.uk
STREAMdiff requires a Pentium III, 300 MHz (or equivalent) with 512 Mb RAM running on Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/Windows7 32 and 64bit. STREAMdiff supports Windows 10 and 11 in 64bit form.
STREAMdiff Viewer and batch engine runs on Microsoft Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/Windows7 32 and 64bit. You can also run STREAMdiff from the command line on Linux platforms, including Red Hat and Suse.
Data files can be taken from any platform.
STREAMdiff can see any local or network addressable directory from which to take the data files to be compared.
A full user guide and an installation guide come with the software. A quick start guide is supplied to take you through a demo using the supplied AFP sample file which covers 80% of the software's functionality. Excellent online help is also available from the menus within STREAMdiff.
Yes. The batch engine and the windows client can run simultaneously on 1 license.
No. STREAMdiff is application independent. It is able to compare AFP, Metacode, PostScript, PDF, PCL5and Line Data 1403/3211 and 3800-1 print streams generated by any type of program. We work with clients using DOC1, Exstream, Thunderhead, CSF, Isis and many others.
STREAMdiff can compare AFP print streams generated by any type of program. Resources can be inline or external. STREAMdiff with go into the AFP file and utilise any inline resources. If the resources are external a copy will be required by STREAMdiff in the resources directory.
First, the print stream is analysed, and then the changes are verified to make sure that the difference is a visual change. STREAMdiff looks for visual differences between the two print streams, down to the pixel level, and will capture ALL differences between the two files.
First, the print stream is analysed, and then the changes are verified to make sure that the difference is a visual change. STREAMdiff looks for visual differences between the two print streams, down to the pixel level, and will capture ALL differences between the two files.
These are categories describing AFP and Metacode structures. Graphics (know as Vector Graphics on other platforms) are line drawings, shading, charts, tables and graphs that are created using drawing commands. Images are the remaining elements, such as logos, and are bitmaps such as page segments, jpg and gif files.
Yes. You can compare AFP to Metacode or any combination of the supported data streams, providing you have a license for the required data stream file type modules.
Once a visual change is identified, STREAMdiff next delves into the underlying AFP structure to determine what type of change has occurred.
Differences are marked on the Control file because it acts as a reference point. If we marked the Test file, then as the new application changes we would not have a consistent reference point. When you have accepted all differences, then the new file can become the reference point.
Yes, there a batch process within STREAMdiff. You can run this concurrently with the Viewer so you effectively have 2 comparisons running at the same time.
There is no limit. STREAMdiff first compares the initial 20 pages. You can then change the default number to "all" and compare the entire print stream.
The audit file only shows the acceptance rules, because in a large document the audit file could otherwise become larger than the print files.
An acceptance trigger provides a mechanism for indicating where STREAMdiff should look for acceptance rules within the file.
No. A trigger only needs to be set up once for one type of page.
No. Acceptance rules may or may not be utilised. They help you exclude (or ignore) the acceptable changes, so that you can focus on dealing with unexpected or unacceptable changes. If STREAMdiff indicates that acceptable changes are only on a few pages, then you may decide not to use acceptance rules at all.
Yes. If you have a similar application or want to utilise the acceptance rules for another application you can export these as a file and import them into another project.
Single copies are protected with a USB Security Device (Dongle). 5, 10, 15 user licenses and site licenses are protect with a single USB security Device on your IP network. MAC address licensing is available if required.
- Single concurrent user - STREAMdiff can be installed on as many PCs as you wish but only one user can be logged on at any time. Controlled by a network addressable USB security device installed on the same subnet.
- Single stand alone license - installed on one PC with USB security device plugged into that PC. The USB security device can be easily moved between PCs if required, it is not specific to the STREAMdiff installation.
- Five, ten or fifteen concurrent user licenses. Controlled by a network addressable USB security device installed on the same subnet.
- Site license controlled by a network addressable USB security device.
Data stream support
- A single data stream of your choice is included with each user license of STREAMdiff.
- Additional data stream support can be purchased separately.
All updates, fixes, enhancements and versions are included in the maintenance. You will be notified via email when a new release of version becomes available and this will include a set of release notes with deals of the new features and bug fixes.