The Content Station Desktop app is used for setting up the communication between Content Station and other applications and for controlling some of the features of the Desktop app itself.
Figure: The Settings window of the Content Station Desktop app.
It can be used for the following features:
- Defining which version of InDesign should be used for opening layouts
- Defining if articles should be opened in Content Station or in InCopy
- Automatically opening all types of files in their native application
- Setting up a connection to Enterprise Server through a proxy server
- Automatically downloading a file on a user's system when it is routed (Smart Caching)
For more information about these features, see:
- Configuring the opening of files outside Content Station Aurora
- Connecting the Content Station Aurora Desktop app to Enterprise Server through a proxy server
- Automatically downloading a routed file in Content Station Aurora
- Automatically downloading a routed file in Smart Connection
Requirements
Using the Desktop app and its features requires the following:
Operating systems:
- See the Compatibility Matrix.
For use with Content Station Aurora:
- For connecting to Enterprise Server: the Content Station Server plug-in 10.8 or higher
- Google Chrome with the Content Station Desktop app extension installed
- For using Smart Caching: the Content Station Server plug-in 10.28 or higher
For using Smart Caching with Smart Connection for InDesign or InCopy CC 2014 (version 10.3.0):
- For connecting to Enterprise Server: the Content Station Server plug-in 10.28 or higher
Note: Content Station or Google Chrome is not needed for using Smart Caching with Smart Connection.
Installation
The Content Station Desktop app comes in 2 parts:
- The Content Station Desktop app itself
- An extension for Google Chrome
Installing the Content Station Desktop app
Step 1. Download the file named Content Station Desktop App 1.x.x-bx from the Release announcement of Content Station Aurora, unpack it and double-click the file it contains.
Step 2. Do one of the following:
- On Mac OS X: In the installation window that appears, drag the Content Station Desktop app to the Applications folder.
- On Windows: Run the installer and wait for it to complete.
Installing the Google Chrome extension
The Google Chrome extension is installed by launching the Content Station Desktop app.
Step 1. Do one of the following:
- On Mac OS X: Run the application from the Applications folder.
- On Windows: Run the application from the Desktop shortcut or the Start menu.
The following takes place:
- The Content Station Desktop app is added to the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac OS X)
- Google Chrome is opened
- The Web store and the extension for the Content Station Desktop app is accessed
Figure: The extension for the Content Station Desktop app in the Chrome Web store.
Step 2. Click Add to Chrome and confirm that you want to add it.
The extension is added to Chrome and appears in the toolbar.
Figure: The extension added to Chrome.
Accessing the Desktop app
Access the Desktop app by clicking the Desktop app icon in the menu bar (Mac OS X) or in the system tray (Windows).
From here, you can:
- Pause Smart Caching
- Open the Download Progress window
- Access the Settings
- Quit the application
Note: When an old version of the Desktop app is installed, the Settings window will appear immediately after clicking the icon.
Settings
To use the Content Station Desktop app, it needs to be set up. This is done through the Settings window.
Figure: The Settings window of the Content Station Desktop app.
General settings
| Setting | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| InDesign version | Set the version of InDesign in which the layouts should be opened. | |
| Article editor | Choose the article editor to use for opening articles: the Content Station Print editor (default setting) or a version of InCopy. | |
| Language | Set the language of the Desktop app. | |
| Socket port |
For use with Content Station Aurora (Optional) Set the socket port through which the communication between the Chrome extension and the Desktop app should take place. When in doubt which port to use (if any), contact your system administrator. Note: You can also set this by clicking the Chrome extension icon in Chrome. For use with Smart Connection 10.3.x for Adobe CC 2014 (Optional) Set the socket port through which the communication between Smart Connection and the Desktop app should take place. When in doubt which port to use (if any), contact your system administrator. |
|
| Cache size |
Set the maximum disk space used for caching files.1
|
|
| Cache period | Set the maximum number of days that files are kept in the cache. | |
| Clear cached files | Clears the files that are currently stored in the cache.1 | |
| Start application when starting up your system |
(Optional but recommended) Define that the Desktop App should be launched on system start-up (this is the default setting). |
1 Cached files are stored in the following location:
- For Windows: C:\Users\USER_FOLDER\AppData\Local\Content Station\cache
- For Mac OS X: Users\USER_FOLDER\Library\Application Support\Content Station\cache
Smart Caching connections
Smart Caching makes it possible to automatically download a file to a user's system when the file is routed to that user.
The Smart Caching connections window shows all instances of Enterprise Server to which a connection has been made for Smart Caching (by logging in when first using Smart Caching). The settings allow you to enable or disable Smart Caching, disconnect or re-connect from an instance of Enterprise Server, or remove the Enterprise Server instance completely.
For more information, see Automatically downloading a routed file in Content Station Aurora.
Proxy server
(Optional, only when a proxy server is used for connecting to Enterprise Server) Set the proxy settings as described in Connecting the Content Station Aurora Desktop app to Enterprise Server through a proxy server.
Configuration files
The configuration files of the Desktop application can be found in the following locations:
Tip: Use this information for example to place a default set of configuration files on the systems of all users.
- Windows: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Content Station
- MacOS: /Users/USERNAME/Library/Application Support/Content Station
Document history
- 19 February 2020: Updated section 'Requirements' by replacing the list of operating systems with a link to the Compatibility Matrix.
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