Mead & Co releases ScriptX 7.7 'for total printing control'

This article is brought to you by Retail Technology Review: Mead & Co releases ScriptX 7.7 'for total printing control'.

Mead & Co has launched ScriptX 7.7, the latest version of its add-on for controlling the printing of browser-hosted content. ScriptX 7.7 introduces licence validation that does not rely on keeping root certificate authorities up to date, as well as providing full support for older versions of Internet Explorer (up to IE10) and Windows XP. It also features updates to the PDF printing library and a number of improvements driven by user requests.

ScriptX is claimed to provide total control when printing html and PDF documents, labels or barcodes from client and server computers running Microsoft Windows. It ensures that printed formatting and appearance is consistent, whatever the actual browser settings on the individual computer. Over 2 million licensed users print more than 2 billion documents that use the advanced features of ScriptX every year. Millions more use the basic free version.

At the beginning of 2016 Microsoft changed the way in which Windows enforces Authenticode code signing, meaning that it will not trust any code signed with a SHA-1 code signing certificate timestamped after January 1, 2016. Mead & Co has been code signing all of the component DLLs in ScriptX for many years, and those in Script 7.7 have been signed and time stamped with an SHA-1 certificate dated prior to January 1, 2016. This means that the version will be valid until at least 2020. This simplifies license validation for customers – subsequent ScriptX releases will be signed with a new SHA-2 certificate.

ScriptX 7.7 is also the last major release to provide full support for Windows XP and Internet Explorer up to and including IE10, ahead of Microsoft discontinuing security updates and technical support on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 for IE10 and earlier browsers on January 12, 2016. Mead & Co will continue to provide bug fixes for ScriptX 7.7 to assist customers not yet ready to move to IE11 due to the browser's use in legacy applications.

"As we move into 2016, companies who rely on older versions of Internet Explorer within their applications face a loss of Microsoft support," said Jerry Mead, CEO, Mead & Co. "While they manage the change to IE11, ScriptX 7.7 will continue to provide them with full support and functionality, helping to ensure that they remain in control when it comes to the printing of mission-critical documentation across their organisations. Combined with our new license validation feature, this will help improve efficiency and reduce the time needed to manage browser-based printing."

Script 7.7 also incorporates a number of hotfixes, based on user feedback. These include updates to the PDF printing library, improvements to the License Manager application screen layout and changes to the correct selection of paper size when there are multiple matches for the requested size_name and longer size_names are listed first.