Here is a great free download with PDF software tools and workflow solutions, which includes Markzware’s FlightCheck, from XChange. In part this resource is described as:

The X-PDF 9 Guide includes categories for Automation, Creation, Editing/Management, Output/Imposition, Preflight and a new section dedicated to Crossroads Workflow Solutions. The piece is now available for download at the XChange UK website, or users can contact XChange UK to receive a printed copy free of charge.

“We are frequently asked for a comprehensive listing and summary guide of the popular tools available for PDF workflows, and by working with our vendors and developers we have produced the PDF and printed versions of the X-PDF 9 Guide for just that reason. The piece provides users with insight into the type of technology out there — and more importantly — how they might utilize it to optimize and streamline their workflows,” states Greg Stodghill, Support Services Manager at XChange UK.
SOURCE: http://graphicstart.com/viewarticle.php?articleid=299

You can download the guide here:.
http://www.xchangeuk.com/xpdf9dl

GWG has come out with it’s new Ghent Output Suite 3 of workflow test files. As we read here, it sounds quite handy as a test suite:

“The latest set of Ghent Workgroup tests to determine whether PDFs will be processed as expected in real-world production environments, is now available at http://gwg.org/ghentoutputsuite.phtml

Both design and production PDF workflows can be tested using Ghent Output Suite 3. The Suite is widely accepted and utilized among graphic arts professionals worldwide.

The new version adds testing for White Overprint, Rendering Intent, ICC-based Overprint and Source Profile consideration. The Ghent Workgroup has also made adjustments to the all of the test files and documentation to make them clearer and easier to understand.”
Source: http://members.whattheythink.com/news/newslink.cfm?id=36122

I’ll add, that such a suite of test files, coupled with advanced preflighting, is the key to a sound workflow.

05-29-08 Show
Carey Holzman – Thursday, 29 May 2008, at 10:58 p.m.

Hour one: Markzware. This software publishing company, caters to the worldwide graphic, printing and publishing industries. FlightCheck Professional is a stand-alone application that can inspect over 45 layout application types and hundreds of image types. The amazing thing is that you do not even need to purchase Acrobat to perform quality control checks on PDF files!

Whenever print shop managers make the decision to adopt a PDF workflow, they need preflight and conversion tools that can easily accept a wide variety of file formats. Increasingly, customers are using business office software applications like Microsoft Word and Publisher. This is bad news for printers since they would rather be dealing with QuarkXPress or InDesign files.

The solution is a combination of Markzware’s wide technical knowledge of file formats and our applications like FlightCheck, Q2ID, ID2Q and MarkzTools. All of these are easy-to-use, cost effective solutions for prepress and print shop managers. While plugins and XTensions like Q2ID, ID2Q and MarkzTools convert and migrate date from application to application, FlightCheck then checks those files, including PDFs to ensure proper printability.  Read more... (209 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)