Database publishing

= database-driven publishing.  Database publishing is the English term for the production process of database-based publication creation, the characteristics of which are database basis and automation. The term dynamic publishing is used synonymously. Data are stored in a structured way in a database and automatically formatted by means of layout template which are linked to the data.

Functionality

In database publishing, layout templates for extensive publications, such as catalogs, price lists, or brochures, are linked to database information in a design phase. The actual publication creation takes place "at the push of a button" by automatically filling the layout templates with the content. Subsequent editing of the documents may be necessary. However, mixed processes also exist, in which parts of a publication are created automatically based on the database and others are inserted manually.

Areas of applications

Prerequisites for the economic use of database publishing are structured content and standardizable layouts, high page counts or frequent publication dates of the publications, which amortize the relatively high conceptual effort. Particularly for expansive documents with consistent layout structure, this results in a significant reduction of the production time in layout creation. A field of application is for example product catalogues.

Software

Database publishing programs can be integrated into marketing and publishing solutions or database and layout programs either by means of interfaces or additional programs. Some web-to-publish systems have integrated database publishing functions.

Database publishing functions are used in PIM systems for automated publication creation and are also used in web-to-print and web-to-publish systems to automatically fill defined content areas when calling up templates, e.g. address data in business cards which are derived from the master data of the user.

Automated publication creation with database publishing
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