AdForceX - The Layout Standard
AdForceX is the successor to the original AdForce platform, offering a complete reengineering of its predecessor’s core capabilities. For medium sized newspapers.
AdForceX and Key Plugins
AdForceX is a next-generation ad layout system that redefines how newspaper production departments manage ad dummying, layout planning, and integration with editorial workflows. Built by Cognitive Inc., AdForceX is the successor to the original AdForce platform, offering a complete reengineering of its predecessor’s core capabilities. While AdForce was already a powerful tool for ad placement and pagination, AdForceX introduces a modern, macOS-native architecture, deeper integration with Adobe InDesign, and a suite of plugins that streamline every step from ad import to final print.
At its core, AdForceX is designed to save production departments time and money by automating and simplifying the most labor-intensive aspects of newspaper layout. It runs on macOS versions from Mojave through Sequoia and supports both Intel and Apple Silicon processors (M1–M4), ensuring compatibility with the latest hardware. The interface is clean, intuitive, and built for speed, with contextual menus that allow quick access to page actions, runsheet filtering, and ad placement tools. Compared to AdForce, which relied on more manual processes and legacy UI components, AdForceX offers a fluid, responsive experience that reduces layout time significantly.
One of the standout features of AdForceX is its Smart Link ad dummying system, which automatically connects ad records to their corresponding images. This eliminates the need for manual linking and reduces errors during layout. The system also supports batch updates, allowing production teams to make global changes across multiple pages or sections with a few clicks. This is especially useful during late-stage revisions when advertisers submit last-minute changes or when editorial adjustments require ad reshuffling.
AdForceX’s power is amplified by its integration with Cognitive’s suite of plugins for Adobe InDesign: AdImport, Fido, and Split & Folio. Each plugin plays a critical role in the end-to-end production pipeline:
AdImport automates the import of ad data into InDesign layouts. It reads ad booking files and places ads precisely where they belong, respecting size, position, and section constraints. This plugin eliminates manual entry and ensures consistency between the ad system and the layout.
Fido acts as a watchdog for layout integrity. It checks for missing ads, incorrect placements, and layout violations, alerting users before errors reach the press. Fido is especially valuable for quality control in high-volume environments where oversight can be difficult.
Split & Folio handles the final output stage, splitting large InDesign documents into sectioned folios for press-ready delivery. It ensures that each section is properly paginated, labeled, and exported according to press specifications. This plugin is essential for multi-section newspapers and publications with complex folio requirements.
Together, these plugins transform AdForceX into a “plan-to-print” system, where ad booking, layout, verification, and output are seamlessly connected. This integration not only reduces production time but also minimizes costly errors and rework. For example, a layout team using AdForceX can receive ad bookings from the sales department, auto-place them with AdImport, verify the layout with Fido, and export press-ready files with Split & Folio—all without leaving the InDesign environment.
Another key advantage of AdForceX is its support for logical and physical sectioning. This allows users to organize pages by editorial zones, ad categories, or geographic editions, making it easier to manage complex publications. The Page Inspector and Runsheet Inspector tools provide granular control over individual pages and ad placements, including ratio calculations and visual previews. These inspectors are invaluable for balancing editorial and advertising content, especially in publications with strict ad-to-content ratios.
In terms of cost savings, AdForceX reduces the need for manual labor, shortens production cycles, and lowers the risk of errors that can lead to missed deadlines or reprints. Its compatibility with modern macOS systems ensures longevity and performance, while its plugin ecosystem allows for scalable deployment across small weeklies and large dailies alike.
In summary, AdForceX is not just an upgrade—it’s a reinvention of ad layout technology. It builds on the legacy of AdForce while introducing a modern, integrated, and highly efficient workflow that empowers production departments to work faster, smarter, and with greater confidence. Whether you’re managing a single edition or a multi-zone publication, AdForceX delivers the tools you need to streamline ad changes, optimize layout, and ensure flawless output—making it an indispensable asset in the evolving world of newspaper production.
Would you like a breakdown of AdForceX workflows for different publication sizes or a plugin configuration guide for InDesign environments? I can build those out next.
AdForceX
Sold by Cognitive Inc and News Net Inc in North America.
News Net contact, Alan Arthur: alan@newsnet.ca