Managing Editor (MEI), a provider of software solutions for the publishing industry, has released Page Director Ad Layout System 5.5, ALS for Magazines 5.5 and AdForce 5.5.

ALS 5.5 is the first universal version of MEI’s flagship software, certified to run natively on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs. For ad layout staffs exporting finished dummies to Adobe InDesign, ALS 5.5 is compatible with InDesign CS3 and CS4 and will soon be the first ALS release to work with InDesign CS5. For Quark users, ALS 5.5 is also compatible with QuarkXPress 7.x and 8.x.

Another new feature in ALS 5.5 is Check for Updates, which automatically communicates with MEI to see if a new version is available. ALS’s Conflict Rules settings have also been updated. Version 5.5 includes a new palette that combines default and issue rules, purportedly making it easier to review, create, edit, apply and delete them. Additionally, Conflict Rules are now managed as an ALS Properties group.

ALS for Magazines 5.5, a version of MEI’s ad-placement solution built specifically with magazines in mind, and AdForce 5.5, the cost-effective, easy-to-use ad-layout and issue-management system for small to mid-size newspapers, are also now universal applications, and come with Check for Updates. ALS for Magazines also includes the new Conflict Rules enhancements.

Contact MEI (http://www.maned.com) for pricing options.