Need Suggestions for VDP software/system

[gumbylives]

We have a Ricoh Aticio Mp 1350 Printer and are currently using excel and word to create mail merges. However it (word) has loads of limitations regarding placement etc. We run up to 400,000 pieces thru and sometimes it's 4up on a 12x18 sheet.
What product and/or system do you suggest because word is not cutting it.
any ideas would be appreciated.
cheers
Gumbylives

[deckm00@yahoo.com]

Check out Fusion Pro from Printable. They have a desktop version for $599. It's a plug-in for Acrobat (and IDD), works great and is well supported. But it will only work if your 1350 has Postscript on it. Print out a configuration page and it'll tell you if you do.

Printable | FusionPro Desktop

[pa_rider99]

There are alot of different solutions out there. The big players are GMC, Pageflex, XMpie to name a few. These are very pricey but give you all the bells and whistles. A smaller company that we use is called Lexigraph. They work in a pdf workflow and have a amazing set of tools for easy of use.

The cheapest and most robust that I use is Filemaker pro. You can do all the programming in there and send to a wide variety of devices.

Hope this helps.

[Craig]

Fusion Pro Desktop is the best bang for the buck, hands down!

[apeck]

As mentioned above, there are a number of solutions available. FusionPro is an inexpensive solution that would certainly be an improvement over mail merge. Depending on your needs you may want to evaluate some other solutions well. There are currently 14 variable data publishing solutions on the market.

You can check all of them out and conduct side-by-side product comparisons at http://ultimateguide.infotrends.com.

[postnetnc133]

If you are using word and excel you could also use publisher and indesign and have better control of placement etc etc before purchasing a larger program.