In version 3.98.10.49, released Feb 2024, we replaced the AutoNaming tool with an all-new, ground-up replacement, Auto Name. We do not support the use of any AutoNaming utility release prior to that version. If you are using an older version, upgrade today.
All previous versions of any Autonaming utility are deprecated and do not work.
Issue
Auto Naming stalls or fails to suggest appropriate Page Names.
Discussion
Issue 1 - PDFs Converted to TIF
For years, we recommended converting PDFs and other files to TIF. In fact, we added a feature years ago that prompted users to convert PDFs to TIFs when you open the Image Tab. This was to ensure users with limited system resources had a better experience with the product.
As time went by, most users are now using fairly powerful computers to run the software and converting to TIF doesn't need to be done in all situations. Most times, PDFs work just fine in OST, in their native format.
Converting to TIF caused two problems:
- The TIF files were much larger than the PDFs (dimensionally). The program converts all files to JPGs for processing in the Auto Naming system. Unfortunately, large TIFs create very large JPGs and the upload could time-out causing the Auto Naming process to just stall.
- The TIF files, converted to JPGs were lower quality than the PDFs converted to JPGs (converting a converting file not only created very large files, but each time, the quality dropped).
Issue 2 - High Resolution images are not enabled
By default, again, to ensure users running the software on limited-resource computer experienced acceptable performance, we used to ship On-Screen Takeoff with the option "Enable Color PDFs" disabled. This option not only displays images in color, but at higher resolution (8-bit vs 2-bit). We changed the name of this option and its functionality in v.3.96 to make it clearer that checking this option "Disabled high resolution images".
Again, most times, there is no longer a reason to display low-resolution images - most computers can handle the higher resolution images just fine. Also, if you do enable the color/hi-res images, when you convert to TIF, you create a higher resolution/quality TIF that doesn't lose artifacts and isn't 'grainy'.
Resolution
First, we want to ensure you that we are committed to continual improvement/refinement of the Auto Naming feature.
While we make those improvements on our end, we recommend:
- Open Tools > Options and ensure that "Disable high resolution images" is not checked. And, even more important...
- Do not convert PDFs to TIFs before running Auto Naming. Add your PDFs, then run the Auto Naming process. Once you receive the Suggestions from the Auto Naming server and make any adjustments, accept the suggestions. Then, if you still want to convert to TIF, on the Image Tab, select Image > Convert Current Image to TIF. The program prompts you to "Convert All" - go ahead and select "Yes". You'll get the performance benefits of TIF files, but the high-quality you expect from PDFs.
