WebEdit

WebEdit is web-based.

Main Window

When a user logs on, the Main Window appears (see illustration). All the baskets that the user has access to display in the left-hand column, the Basket List. These are SQL or file-based folders on one or more servers, and are user defined. The baskets (catalogs) can have unlimited sub-baskets (i.e. Desk as main basket, with Sports and Results as sub-baskets).

Article List

Clicking on an article name in the Article List activates that article. Detailed information appears in the Article Information window in the top right hand corner, and the text appears in the Text preview window below. This text will be the latest saved version and can be read by everybody with access rights at the same time as the article is being edited. (two users can never open an article at the same time for editing purposes.) Information about the baskets, such as numbers of articles included, is displayed on the menu bar. To find an article as quickly as possible, and to be able to work on articles in the right order, the Article List can be sorted according to different criteria. Articles can be moved from one basket to another.

Article info

In Scoop Edit, article information is updated automatically:
• When the article was created, and by whom.
• If it is locked (opened for editing), by whom and when.
• Where the copies have been sent and when
• If the article is placed in QuarkXPress or InDesign, in which document and when
• The size of the article in characters
In addition, some data fields are updated manually:
• Article name
• Which pictures belong to an article

Text editor

A new article can be created from the Basket List by clicking on the basket name and the button New Article. Existing articles are edited in a similar way. That will open the text editor together with the style sheets palette. The style sheets are set to the same formats as corresponding style sheets in the page layout program, shortening the production chain. The editor permits features such as search/replace, spell checker, thesaurus, undo, autosave etc. The editor keeps track of the number of characters in each article segment and offers a warning for overflow.

Pictures and captions

Pictures can easily be attached to an article from Picture Manager. Embedded captions in the picture files are included and can be edited. When the article is placed on a page in Quark or InDesign the pictures and the captions will automatically follow.

Comments

Comments can be sent with each article, which are automatically displayed every time the article is opened for editing. Who the message is intended for is indicated when the article is sent to a certain basket.
Instant messages can also be sent directly between users in the network.

Groups, users, security

Users are divided into groups to make maintenance easier, although personal features can be added. All set-up of access rights and copy flow are made by defining users in the system. Preferences are saved on a common server and retrieved automatically when a user logs on to the system. Every user is assigned individual access rights to the different baskets. Even though a user can send messages to other users, he/she cannot read the contents in a colleagues personal folders. No one can edit directly in incoming texts from wire service baskets, although some users are allowed to take copies. All users may read incoming texts. When you write an article, this is automatically saved at a defined frequency.

Connection to QuarkXPress and InDesign

Scoop WebEdit is closely integrated with QuarkXPress and InDesign. The Scoop Article Place Palette offers full control and preview of all articles and wires that are ready to place.

Templates

All articles are based on article templates. This enables the reporters to write directly to ready-defined spaced on the newspaper pages. Each template has separate boxes for headline, fact boxes and caption for each picture.

On assignment

WebEdit allows journalists in the field to enjoy integrated newsroom functionality. WebEdit facilitates remote reporting from all over the world. Photos can be attached to stories with captions, and the images are sent to the newsroom server.

System

The database is based on PostgreSQL. The system is server-based and runs on any standard web browser. No further installation is needed. Scoop WebEdit is available in English and Swedish versions. More localised versions are produced on demand.