Scaleflex
Overview
Scaleflex offers a unique Visual Experience Platform which integrates DAM, Visual AI, Digital Media Optimization and Portals in a single platform for smooth content operations. Scaleflex’s platform is scalable and performance-oriented, offering effective storage, organization, optimization and delivery of digital assets lightning-fast, all around the world, to all kinds of devices thanks to its integrated services.
Scaleflex DAM provides teams with seamless workflows between many creative and productivity suites, from Adobe Creative Cloud to Microsoft Office 365, keeping your assets secured in a centralized repository.
Scaleflex serves as a single-source-of-truth for all of your digital media assets (images, videos, GIF, PDF, etc). It allows effortless and smooth collaboration across applications via its Visual Experience Platform, and proposes a lively ecosystem of plugins and connectors. With Scaleflex’s VXP, no need to concern yourself with linking your media sources to published documents, as it takes care of media lifecycles from A to Z.
Requirements
To use the CI HUB Connector to connect to one of the offered third party systems, you may need a login/user account with the selected system. The availability and/or the right to connect to the third-party system is not part of the CI HUB Connector or the CI HUB Services. To use the third party system there may be additional cost and/or agreements with the provider of the third party system needed. CI HUB reserves the right to remove third party system from the list of avail. Systems or add new third party systems at any time and without notice. To use CI HUB Connector, a full connection to the Internet is required at all time.
Requirements
To use the CI HUB Connector to connect to one of the offered third party systems, you may need a login/user account with the selected system. The availability and/or the right to connect to the third-party system is not part of the CI HUB Connector or the CI HUB Services. To use the third party system there may be additional cost and/or agreements with the provider of the third party system needed. CI HUB reserves the right to remove third party system from the list of avail. Systems or add new third party systems at any time and without notice. To use CI HUB Connector, a full connection to the Internet is required at all time.
Benefits
Accessing Scaleflex’s next-generation DAM will allow you to tackle high volumes of visual content, and collaborate effortlessly across teams.
The Scaleflex DAM enables:
A fully composable, fast and intuitive media hub, that is now connected directly to third party creative suites with automatic linking of media assets when supported.
Upload of new visuals, storage in a flexible and enriched media library that facilitates cross-team collaboration, and integrating a modern template builder within the media hub.
Split-second modification of your visuals, collaboration and easy sharing of assets including external stakeholders through secure repositories and customizable portals.
Avoidance of duplicates, detection of inaccuracies and control of compliance all through customized validation workflows, streamlined with AI-features specific to your industry's visual catalog.
Multiple connections to the same or several individual data repositories/sources are possible. Connections can be named individually and a tooltip shows information about the current user, the system URL and the connection time. If the connection has expired, the connection can be refreshed. Connections can be "active" or "inactive" which simplify the navigation in a context.
The user interface language can be selected from a menu in the panel once selected, any system language strings used in the panel will show in the selected language. If supported by the connected data repository system, metadata fields and values will also be shown in the selected language. The language selection from the hostapplication will be the default.
All searches will be stored in a local "search history" within the CI HUB connector.
This allows efficient work if searches are recurring.
The search history can be deleted.
The CI HUB connector supports the similarity search for all selected assets. You can select any image in the active document or project and search for a similar image in all supporting integrations. If you are connected to a integration that supports similarity search, it will be shown if you select the "similarity search" action (Magnifyerglas with a plus).
CI HUB has 3 different ways to display a result.
- List view
- Grid view
- Detail view
Content that can be displayed in the different views can be configured by the user. The Listview can be sorted by Value. To do so the clumn can be selected. The Grid view will also follow this sort order. All displayed thumbnails can be changed in size for more space or reading comfort within the list view.
The resultview also allows the user to display the folders in the selected navigation. Sometimes this can be confusing, so the user can turn this option on/off.
CI HUB Supports different methods of using assets in the selected host application. In general there are the following options:
- Place and link (Photoshop: Place and Embed)
- Replace
- Open in "program"
- Save local
Place and Link: (Photoshop: Place and Embed)
With this option the asset will be loaded into the hostprograms "cash" and the link (URL) to the asset in the selected integration will be saved.
Replace: With this option, if you selected an asset or a frame in the active document/Project/Timeline, the frame will be replaced with the asset/Conetent. In the case your hostsystem supports "options" you can also select "place with options" to select extended options.
Open in "Program": In this case the selected asset will be opened in the hostprogram. This option is avail. if you select an .INDD in InDesign, or an AI file in Illustrator or a PPT/PPTX in Powerpoint etc.
Save Local: With this option you can download any asset you selected to your local "cash". You can also select the loacation for the local "cash". For all metadata that is displayed in the CI HUB Connector you can drop it into the selected frame of the active document by selecting the metadata you want to use. If the integration supports formatted metadata (the Draft.JS specification need to be used) then the metadata will be inserted in a formatted way.
With this feature, you can relink all previously placed assets from the panel in different supported renditions/conversions and update linkstatus.
Show details about matched assets, including available versions of matched assets, filename, link, object ID of the system, documentID/instanceID depending of supportet function by connected system. Option to replace matched asset link with newer or older version of the asset. Option to upload linked asset if it is not available in connected data repository. Option to relink/update existing links with a different asset rendition (switch from lowres to highres) with one single click.
Support menu item in the burger-menu on the top right side of the panel links directly to support page on ci-hub.com website.
Automatic user license validity check on CI HUB server side.
The CI HUB panel is capable of making some integrations unuseable for a user.
That is realized by a blacklist:
- A blacklist takes care that integrations, that are in that blacklist, are not useable for a user.
Or a whitelist:
- A whitelist takes care that integrations, that are in that whitelist, are useable for a user
CI HUB Connector panel automatically updates to the most current version by simply restarting it (makes sure most recent features and adapters are available to all users without any delay). So you dont have to update manually.
The in-app notification panel shows news and update information. You can find a little letter symbol in the bottom right corner of the panel where you can see all news and updates. It shows up with a red dot, if there are new news available.
Newly registered users can automatically be assigned to a defined licencepool or a black/whitlist. E.g., users whose emailadress ends with the domain "@integrationpartner.com", automatically only get access to the integrations that are intended for this domain.
Load more function in search and folder navigation loads more assets. The paging is defined by the partner.
You can download assets in original scale. This is called regular download. Some integrations may offer downloadable assets in different scales e.g., medium, low, etc. But this feature describes that the integration is cabable of offering assets in original scale.
Metadata that is displayed in the basic area of the asset details section.
These are:
- Name
- Type
- Size
- Width x Height
- Version
- Modified
- Foreign key
- Color space
Linkpanel displays multiple matches with the version of an asset. Not supported in every integration. The link panel shows several matches with the versions of an asset and offers these as an alternative to the currently placed asset. If one of these alternatives is more up-to-date than the currently placed asset, this alternative is highlighted. You have the option of replacing the placed asset with an alternative version directly via the link panel and "linking" it again. Placed assets can also be replaced using "Renditions / Conversions" alternative versions.
Linkpanel does support a upload function. If no linked asset is found in the target system, you can then upload the asset to the target system. After a successful upload and relink, the icon of the target system appears with the respective entry in the link panel.
A check to identify if an asset is already uploaded in the target system, and if there is a newer version avalilible.
Replace / Relink an asset with a conversion or with the original of an asset.
In linkpanel, there is a button that indicates that a newer asset is available. It is shown as a little blue warning sign that shows up at the left side of the "add" button.
In the linkpanel, if you unfold a linked asset-detail there is basic metadata displayed. You can read in the "Basic Metadata" feature what belongs to "Basic" metadata.
The preview thumbnail can be resized in fixed scales. There is a "+" and a "-" button in the right upper and lower corner of the thumbnail preview.
If you click the blue link in the metadata tab in the linkpanel, you highlight the asset in the document. This is very handy because you dont have to search the name of an asset. Just click the link and you see what you are dealing with.
Dropdown button for a new integration connection.
A button that lists more available integrations. To shorten the list, there is a button at the end of the list to show more integrations.
This checkbox can be unchecked in case you dont want to have some integrations in your integrationlist. As you can see in the dropdown menu, there are checkboxes at the right side of every integration where you can check (visible) or uncheck (invisible) integrations.
You can rename a integration connection for personal preferences. This is pretty need when you have more than one connection of the same integration e.g., OneDrive. To keep a clear structure, you can rename the integration connection.
You can enable or disable a connection of an integration, in case you dont need that connection at that moment.
In case your connection has expired, there is a refresh button at the right side of a integration connection. You can refresh your connection by clicking that button. The user is then redirected to the integration specific login workflow.
A little notification sign indicating that your connection has expired. This symbol shows up as a red warning sign in "connections" tab and in the integration connection list at an integration itself.
A textbox that contains a short description text, the version and the logo of the selected integration. This is a compact form of information about a integration.
If you select an asset of your document / workspace it will be highlighted in the linkpanel. Very handy because you can select everything quicker and everything shows up more understandable.
Selected assets in document or workspace show up as a search suggestion in searchbar dropdown. This feature helps having a better workflow.
You are able to relink an asset with other versions of the same asset.
Basic filetype filtering of available assets. E.g., you have a folder with a big variety of assets (images, movies, 3D-Assets etc.), the panel creates basic filetype filters and you can check or uncheck them. So in case you checked the images checkbox, you will get image filetypes.
With this feature you are able to download assets with the same filename but different content. You can find that feature option when clicking "use file" and check the "Enable same filenames" checkbox.
With this feature you are able to upload all assets that are in your linkpanel in the target system. This option can be find in the linkpanel, the very first "plus" button on the right side of "Links".
With this feature you are able to refresh the status of all assets that are in your linkpanel.This option can be find in the linkpanel, the very first "circle" button on the right side of "Links".
The Asset Relations feature can be used to generate where-used lists in the target system when uploading an InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop document. This feature can be used for both - documents and images/graphics. When placing an image into a document, extensive information is stored in the target system. (e.g. image filename, image ID, page of placement, spread of placement, layer of placement, rendition of placed image, etc.). Thus the user in the target system has the possibility to check which image was placed in which documents and which document contains which images.
This feature checks if the same asset is already located in the target system. You get an information when you try to upload an asset that is already located in the target system.
The document you´re currently looking at will be suggested as a search suggestion.
With the CSV-Esport for DataMerge the user can integrate the metadata fields and the images of one or any number assets/objects into a CSV export. This allows to run the DataMerge function in InDesign for serial productions. The user can thus use InDesign templates to automatically generate e.g. product data sheets, catalogs or advertisements in various formats. The export can also be performed without images if, for example, updates have been made to the metadata fields.
You can upload embeded assets in the target system via linkpanel.
With this feature you can replace all assets that are identical in the document with the desired asset. To do this, select the asset that is present more than once in the document and select an asset in the panel that is to replace these assets. Now click on "Use File" and then on "Replace All".
With this feature it is possible to reuse the last used conversion. So if you select and use an asset with the conversion 1024x800, this option also remains for the next asset.
You can create a profile that contains your created connections. This comes in handy when you need to switch between different tasks that require different connections. With the profile load and save function, this is very easy and works effortlessly. You will find the necessary buttons in the panel on the "Connections" tab, on the right. They are called "Load Connections" and "Save Connections". Of course, these two buttons are only visible when the tab is opened.
CI HUB Connector Feature Overview for Scaleflex
This is a list of features for the Scaleflex Integration
Multiple connections to the same or several individual data repositories/sources are possible. Connections can be named individually and a tooltip shows information about the current user, the system URL and the connection time. If the connection has expired, the connection can be refreshed. Connections can be "active" or "inactive" which simplify the navigation in a context.
The user interface language can be selected from a menu in the panel once selected, any system language strings used in the panel will show in the selected language. If supported by the connected data repository system, metadata fields and values will also be shown in the selected language. The language selection from the hostapplication will be the default.
All searches will be stored in a local "search history" within the CI HUB connector.
This allows efficient work if searches are recurring.
The search history can be deleted.
The CI HUB connector supports the similarity search for all selected assets. You can select any image in the active document or project and search for a similar image in all supporting integrations. If you are connected to a integration that supports similarity search, it will be shown if you select the "similarity search" action (Magnifyerglas with a plus).
CI HUB has 3 different ways to display a result.
- List view
- Grid view
- Detail view
Content that can be displayed in the different views can be configured by the user. The Listview can be sorted by Value. To do so the clumn can be selected. The Grid view will also follow this sort order. All displayed thumbnails can be changed in size for more space or reading comfort within the list view.
The resultview also allows the user to display the folders in the selected navigation. Sometimes this can be confusing, so the user can turn this option on/off.
CI HUB Supports different methods of using assets in the selected host application. In general there are the following options:
- Place and link (Photoshop: Place and Embed)
- Replace
- Open in "program"
- Save local
Place and Link: (Photoshop: Place and Embed)
With this option the asset will be loaded into the hostprograms "cash" and the link (URL) to the asset in the selected integration will be saved.
Replace: With this option, if you selected an asset or a frame in the active document/Project/Timeline, the frame will be replaced with the asset/Conetent. In the case your hostsystem supports "options" you can also select "place with options" to select extended options.
Open in "Program": In this case the selected asset will be opened in the hostprogram. This option is avail. if you select an .INDD in InDesign, or an AI file in Illustrator or a PPT/PPTX in Powerpoint etc.
Save Local: With this option you can download any asset you selected to your local "cash". You can also select the loacation for the local "cash". For all metadata that is displayed in the CI HUB Connector you can drop it into the selected frame of the active document by selecting the metadata you want to use. If the integration supports formatted metadata (the Draft.JS specification need to be used) then the metadata will be inserted in a formatted way.
With this feature, you can relink all previously placed assets from the panel in different supported renditions/conversions and update linkstatus.
Show details about matched assets, including available versions of matched assets, filename, link, object ID of the system, documentID/instanceID depending of supportet function by connected system. Option to replace matched asset link with newer or older version of the asset. Option to upload linked asset if it is not available in connected data repository. Option to relink/update existing links with a different asset rendition (switch from lowres to highres) with one single click.
Support menu item in the burger-menu on the top right side of the panel links directly to support page on ci-hub.com website.
Automatic user license validity check on CI HUB server side.
The CI HUB panel is capable of making some integrations unuseable for a user.
That is realized by a blacklist:
- A blacklist takes care that integrations, that are in that blacklist, are not useable for a user.
Or a whitelist:
- A whitelist takes care that integrations, that are in that whitelist, are useable for a user
CI HUB Connector panel automatically updates to the most current version by simply restarting it (makes sure most recent features and adapters are available to all users without any delay). So you dont have to update manually.
The in-app notification panel shows news and update information. You can find a little letter symbol in the bottom right corner of the panel where you can see all news and updates. It shows up with a red dot, if there are new news available.
Newly registered users can automatically be assigned to a defined licencepool or a black/whitlist. E.g., users whose emailadress ends with the domain "@integrationpartner.com", automatically only get access to the integrations that are intended for this domain.
Load more function in search and folder navigation loads more assets. The paging is defined by the partner.
You can download assets in original scale. This is called regular download. Some integrations may offer downloadable assets in different scales e.g., medium, low, etc. But this feature describes that the integration is cabable of offering assets in original scale.
Metadata that is displayed in the basic area of the asset details section.
These are:
- Name
- Type
- Size
- Width x Height
- Version
- Modified
- Foreign key
- Color space
Linkpanel displays multiple matches with the version of an asset. Not supported in every integration. The link panel shows several matches with the versions of an asset and offers these as an alternative to the currently placed asset. If one of these alternatives is more up-to-date than the currently placed asset, this alternative is highlighted. You have the option of replacing the placed asset with an alternative version directly via the link panel and "linking" it again. Placed assets can also be replaced using "Renditions / Conversions" alternative versions.
Linkpanel does support a upload function. If no linked asset is found in the target system, you can then upload the asset to the target system. After a successful upload and relink, the icon of the target system appears with the respective entry in the link panel.
A check to identify if an asset is already uploaded in the target system, and if there is a newer version avalilible.
Replace / Relink an asset with a conversion or with the original of an asset.
In linkpanel, there is a button that indicates that a newer asset is available. It is shown as a little blue warning sign that shows up at the left side of the "add" button.
In the linkpanel, if you unfold a linked asset-detail there is basic metadata displayed. You can read in the "Basic Metadata" feature what belongs to "Basic" metadata.
The preview thumbnail can be resized in fixed scales. There is a "+" and a "-" button in the right upper and lower corner of the thumbnail preview.
If you click the blue link in the metadata tab in the linkpanel, you highlight the asset in the document. This is very handy because you dont have to search the name of an asset. Just click the link and you see what you are dealing with.
Dropdown button for a new integration connection.
A button that lists more available integrations. To shorten the list, there is a button at the end of the list to show more integrations.
This checkbox can be unchecked in case you dont want to have some integrations in your integrationlist. As you can see in the dropdown menu, there are checkboxes at the right side of every integration where you can check (visible) or uncheck (invisible) integrations.
You can rename a integration connection for personal preferences. This is pretty need when you have more than one connection of the same integration e.g., OneDrive. To keep a clear structure, you can rename the integration connection.
You can enable or disable a connection of an integration, in case you dont need that connection at that moment.
In case your connection has expired, there is a refresh button at the right side of a integration connection. You can refresh your connection by clicking that button. The user is then redirected to the integration specific login workflow.
A little notification sign indicating that your connection has expired. This symbol shows up as a red warning sign in "connections" tab and in the integration connection list at an integration itself.
A textbox that contains a short description text, the version and the logo of the selected integration. This is a compact form of information about a integration.
If you select an asset of your document / workspace it will be highlighted in the linkpanel. Very handy because you can select everything quicker and everything shows up more understandable.
Selected assets in document or workspace show up as a search suggestion in searchbar dropdown. This feature helps having a better workflow.
You are able to relink an asset with other versions of the same asset.
Basic filetype filtering of available assets. E.g., you have a folder with a big variety of assets (images, movies, 3D-Assets etc.), the panel creates basic filetype filters and you can check or uncheck them. So in case you checked the images checkbox, you will get image filetypes.
With this feature you are able to download assets with the same filename but different content. You can find that feature option when clicking "use file" and check the "Enable same filenames" checkbox.
With this feature you are able to upload all assets that are in your linkpanel in the target system. This option can be find in the linkpanel, the very first "plus" button on the right side of "Links".
With this feature you are able to refresh the status of all assets that are in your linkpanel.This option can be find in the linkpanel, the very first "circle" button on the right side of "Links".
The Asset Relations feature can be used to generate where-used lists in the target system when uploading an InDesign, Illustrator or Photoshop document. This feature can be used for both - documents and images/graphics. When placing an image into a document, extensive information is stored in the target system. (e.g. image filename, image ID, page of placement, spread of placement, layer of placement, rendition of placed image, etc.). Thus the user in the target system has the possibility to check which image was placed in which documents and which document contains which images.
This feature checks if the same asset is already located in the target system. You get an information when you try to upload an asset that is already located in the target system.
The document you´re currently looking at will be suggested as a search suggestion.
With the CSV-Esport for DataMerge the user can integrate the metadata fields and the images of one or any number assets/objects into a CSV export. This allows to run the DataMerge function in InDesign for serial productions. The user can thus use InDesign templates to automatically generate e.g. product data sheets, catalogs or advertisements in various formats. The export can also be performed without images if, for example, updates have been made to the metadata fields.
You can upload embeded assets in the target system via linkpanel.
With this feature you can replace all assets that are identical in the document with the desired asset. To do this, select the asset that is present more than once in the document and select an asset in the panel that is to replace these assets. Now click on "Use File" and then on "Replace All".
With this feature it is possible to reuse the last used conversion. So if you select and use an asset with the conversion 1024x800, this option also remains for the next asset.
You can create a profile that contains your created connections. This comes in handy when you need to switch between different tasks that require different connections. With the profile load and save function, this is very easy and works effortlessly. You will find the necessary buttons in the panel on the "Connections" tab, on the right. They are called "Load Connections" and "Save Connections". Of course, these two buttons are only visible when the tab is opened.
