Pre-evaluation of invariant layout in functional variable-data documents

Abstract

Layout of content in variable data documents can be computationally expensive. When very large numbers of almost similar copies of a document are required, automated pre-evaluation of invariant sections may increase efficiency of final document generation. If the layout model is functional and combinatorial in nature (such as in the Document Description Framework), there are some generalised conservative techniques to do this that involve very modest changes to implementations, independent of details of the actual layouts. This paper describes these techniques and how they might be used with other similar document layout models. 1