Avallain Author Release 50: Optimised PDF Digital Books, enhanced import workflows, GenAI & MosAIc updates and more.

Backend Enhancements

Digital books

Digital Book creation with Optimised PDF Workflow
Until Release 50, when creating a Digital Book, Avallain Author split PDFs into individual pages. This was time-consuming and often resulted in diminished image quality and the loss of accessibility data.

With Release 50, PDFs are no longer split. Imported PDFs remain as a single file. The process is faster, and there should be little or no impact on visual quality or accessibility.

Workflow changes

All Digital Books are now created using the Optimised PDF Workflow.

• New ZIP books: Users can still create books using ZIP files, either PDF or JPG.
• Existing books: Digital Books created before Release 50 (split PDFs, ZIP PDFs or JPGs) can still be edited or updated via ZIP uploads.

New Optimised PDF workflow books (single-file PDF books created after Release 50) cannot be updated using ZIP uploads. To make updates such as page deletion or text changes, the entire PDF must be re-imported.

Solution pages
There is no change to solution pages. Customers can continue uploading solution pages as individual PDFs in a ZIP, using the correct naming convention.

Delete page button behaviour

If the book is reimported using the Optimised PDF workflow, the button becomes disabled (except for solution pages)

New books (Optimised PDF Workflow)

• Delete page button is disabled for normal pages
• Delete page button remains enabled for solution pages

Old books (split files)

• Delete page button remains fully functional
• If the book is reimported using the Optimised PDF workflow, the button becomes disabled (except for solution pages)

UI enhancements

Content file section
A new section displays the current book file, allows updates via a pencil icon, and provides a history of import logs. This functionality was previously located under the book name.

Editing – file import
As before, clicking Start replaces the button with a loading spinner until the import is complete. After completion, a new dismissible success notification appears in the Content section.

Book-type icons

• Older JPEG books: Horizontal ZIP icon with “Content source” title
• Older split-PDF or ZIP PDF books: Vertical ZIP icon with “Content source” title
• New Optimised PDF workflow books: Document/file icon with uploaded file name, size and actual file title

Book-type indicators
For books created from JPEG ZIPs or split PDFs, a non-dismissible notice appears:

“Optimised PDF workflow is now available.
This book uses the older workflow. You can continue uploading ZIP files, or switch to the Optimised PDF workflow by reimporting the full book PDF for simpler maintenance.
After switching to the full PDF workflow, ZIP uploads will no longer be supported.”

The message is removed once the book is upgraded to the Optimised PDF format.

Upload behaviour – error messages

If a user attempts to upload a ZIP of page corrections to an Optimised PDF book, a dismissible error appears:

“This book uses the Optimised PDF workflow.
ZIP files with individual pages can’t be imported. Please upload a full book PDF instead.”

ZIP uploads for solution pages remain supported.

Default layout for Activity Types

Project Managers can now set a default layout for all Activity Types.

A new dropdown, Default layout, appears under the layout carousel and displays the layouts selected in the carousel. Selecting one assigns it as the default layout.

When a new activity is created, it is automatically assigned that layout.

The Apply button allows the default layout, or any other layout, to be applied to all or selected instances of the Activity Type.

The default layout selection applies across all Design Packs that contain a layout with the same name. If one or more Design Packs do not include a matching layout, activities using those Design Packs will not receive a default layout.

Layout selection behaviour in the carousel remains unchanged.

LO Import with hotspot linking and enhanced error handling

LO Import now supports importing Digital Books with Learning Objects linked via hotspots. Messaging is clearer and failed imports are handled more effectively.

As before, exports must use Scorm 1.2 W/O Assets with Include LO hotspots enabled.

LO hotspot handling

• Include LO hotspots selected: The book and all linked LOs are exported and imported, preserving hotspot links.
• Not selected: Linked LOs are not exported. On import, Avallain Author reports that a single random LO will be linked to all hotspots.

Pre-import dialog

The dialog has been simplified to show only:

• Blockers (Red): errors that stop the import
• Warnings (Orange): issues that allow the import to continue

When clicking Continue:

• Separate progress counters are shown for Assets and LOs
• Assets are imported first, then LOs one by one
• Failed items are listed in a downloadable CSV with columns: Asset Name – Comment – LO Name – Comment
• Individual asset or LO failures no longer block the overall import

Blocking errors (Red)

• Activity Type missing
• Digital Book DP missing
• No LOI.xml
• Invalid LOI.xml with assets
• No valid layout

Warning messages (Orange)

• DP not found
• Layouts missing
• LO hotspots missing
• Shared Text disabled

Project Import enhancements

Project Import now aligns more closely with LO Import.

Key improvements:

Flexible matching

• Activity Types matched by system name
• Design Packs fall back to default LO DP and first listed Book DP

Books and hotspots included, including LO hotspots

Pre-import checks and dialog
Validates:

• Required DPs
• Required ATs
• Metadata schema consistency
• Option list differences

Progress and reporting

• Real-time counters for Assets and LOs
• Failed items exported to CSV with asset and LO details

Messaging

• Red (blocking): missing ATs or DPs
• Orange (warnings): option list differences or non-critical mismatches

Header Media enhancements

Audio playback can now be customised per activity.

When Customize playback per activity is enabled, each screen displays its own properties panel with:

• Starting time (default 0)
• Ending time (optional)
• Max width and Autoplay (unchanged)

Audio plays only within the defined segment, and the scrub bar reflects the defined duration. Ending time supports milliseconds.

Transcripts display per activity screen and must match the defined audio segments.

History versions are not created when editing header media. If screens are moved or removed, manual review is required.

User report export

A Download CSV button has been added to the User page toolbar.

Report columns:

• Username
• First name
• Last name
• Email
• Creation date
• Expiry date
• Status
• Type
• No. of assignments
• Last login date

The number of rows matches the green counter value, which now includes unconfirmed users.

Options

Language-specific quote mark conversions
A new Global Option converts quote marks and apostrophes in CKEditor based on the Language Attribute (en, de, es, fr, it).

Supported languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

GenAI & MosAIc

Activity panel redesign
A new left-hand panel displays selections before confirming screen creation. Selected regions are enumerated and visually reflected on the page.

The creation flow remains unchanged and activity types can still be overridden.

PDF image support
MosAIc displays extracted images from the source PDF in a left-hand panel. Users can select one or more images from any page. Images are added to either the Content area or Supplements area, depending on layout.

Editing generated screens
Using Add from PDF, users can add images or make new selections from the source PDF using the same panel.

Preview

Recording beep override
The recording beep sound can now be overridden in all ATs and syntaxes using a recorder. Design Pack updates are required.

Persisted randomised answer order
Randomised answers now retain their order when reopening a partially completed or submitted LO. New attempts re-randomise as expected.

Mercury Design Packs

• Improved support for table and cell properties
• 01M layout now supports DP option “Size = S”
• Improved line spacing in text gap activities
• End Results Screen button moved to the primary footer

Accessibility enhancements

Mercury and Mercury Vertical

• Expanded support across multiple activity types
• Skip-link navigation
• Consistent keyboard navigation within activity boxes
• Improved bypass block handling