CompuSense’s FlightAlert is an XTension for QuarkXPress 4–8 that warns users of a variety of file-creation errors, such as RGB TIFF and EPS graphics, 1-bit TIFFs and EPSes, empty picture boxes, missing or modified graphics, missing fonts in EPS files, text overflow, text with Bold or Italic applied styles, spot colors used, rotated items, suppressed-print items, graphics files larger or smaller than specified allowable sizes, and graphics containing a definable file extension (such as FPO).

Alerts can be displayed at Open, at Close, at Print, at Save as EPS, at Save or Save As, or when collected for output. The collect-for-output mechanism collects a document or multiple documents, all linked graphics, screen and printer fonts (including embedded fonts within EPS graphics), and optionally, the XPress Preferences file. Its AutoFind feature will scan volumes or folders to find missing elements. Collected elements can be compressed into a self-extracting archive.

FlightAlert costs $139.

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet is a contributing editor for Design Tools Monthly, the executive summary of graphic design news. He is also the morning editor and reviews editor for The Mac Observer and iPodObserver.com, and contributing writer for Layers Magazine and Photoshop User. He writes the InBrief column for InDesign Magazine, and is the author of “The Designer’s Guide to Mac OS X,” from Peachpit Press

When Jeff isn’t writing about the graphic design world, he’s talking about it on the Design Tools Weekly podcast with co-host Jay Nelson. He also talks about Apple and the Mac world every week on The Mac Observer’s Apple Weekly Report.

Jeff studies, tests and reviews new software and technologies for the Macintosh community as well as the design and print industries. He is a former Pre-press specialist, and has nearly 25 years experience with computer technology. Jeff trains, lectures and consults on techniques for more efficiently using Mac OS X in creative environments throughout the country.

In the rare moments when he can get away from his MacBook Pro, Jeff spends his time climbing and biking in the Colorado mountains.