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Avenza Releases MAPublisher 11.7 for Adobe Illustrator

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Toronto, ON, May 27, 2025 – Avenza Systems Inc., producer of the Avenza Maps app for mobile devices and geospatial extensions for Adobe Creative Cloud, including Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop, is pleased to announce the release of MAPublisher version 11.7 for Adobe Illustrator. This version introduces support for database formats to the Manage Data Links tool, compatibility with FME Form 2025, as well as other performance enhancements and bug fixes.

MAPublisher cartography software seamlessly integrates more than seventy GIS mapping tools into Adobe Illustrator to help users create beautiful maps from geospatial data. Import industry-standard GIS data formats and make crisp, clean maps with all attributes and georeferencing intact using the Adobe Illustrator design environment.

New features of MAPublisher 11.7 for Adobe Illustrator include:

  • Manage Data Links with database connections: The Manage Data Links tool now supports connections with PostGIS databases and Esri Geodatabases, including some user interface upgrades.
  • FME Form 2025 compatibility: MAPublisher now supports the recent FME 2025.0 update when using the FME Auto add-on.
  • Additional performance enhancements and bug fixes

To utilize the improvements and enhancements offered in MAPublisher 11.7, users require a valid Adobe Creative Cloud subscription and a compatible operating system. For questions and information on how compatibility requirements may affect your organization, please contact our Support Centre.

MAPublisher 11.7 is immediately available free of charge to all current MAPublisher users with active maintenance and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users starting at US$999. New licenses are available from US$1,749. MAPublisher FME Auto and MAPublisher LabelPro are also available as add-ons starting at US$599. Academic, floating, and volume licenses are also available. Prices include one year of full maintenance. Visit www.avenza.com/mapublisher for more details.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools to make better maps. Avenza also offers the mobile Avenza Maps app to sell, purchase, distribute, and use maps on iOS and Android devices. For further information contact:  416-487-5116 – info@avenza.com – www.avenza.com

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PDF Press Release

What’s New in MAPublisher 11.7?

Resources

We are thrilled to announce the release of MAPublisher version 11.7, the latest update to our MAPublisher extension for Adobe Illustrator. 

MAPublisher 11.7 introduces support for database connections in the Manage Data Links tool, compatibility with FME Form 2025, as well as other performance enhancements and bug fixes.

Here’s what you can expect with the latest MAPublisher 11.7 release:

Manage Data Links with database connections

Are you tired of re-importing your databases every time you make changes to them? Well we have great news for you! We are excited to report that with MAPublisher 11.7, the Manage Data Links tool now supports connections with database formats such as PostGIS databases and Esri Geodatabases!

Visual cues for out-of-date datasets

Linked databases can now be managed and updated using the Manage Data Links dialog box, which can be accessed from the MAP Views panel. Database formats such as MDB or GDB will display a yellow warning icon in the status column to notify you that the source database is out of date. Simply click the Update button in the bottom right corner of the dialog box to sync your data changes!

Linking your databases to MAPublisher is also a great way to quickly sync and update the data on your maps without having to re-style the data. MAP Themes are automatically applied to new data added to a previously styled MAP Layer. 

In the example below, a map showing campsites within Glacier National Park has campsite point data and contour line data stored in a PostGIS database.

Opening the Manage Data Links window is not the only way to update your linked databases. The MAP Views panel also features visual cues that warn users whether their datasets connected from linked databases are out of date or available to be updated. These will appear as yellow symbols for file-based databases such as GDB and MDB. 

Unlike file-based databases, which store data as files with detectable modification timestamps, PostGIS databases are server-based and do not provide a reliable way to track changes. As a result, MAPublisher cannot automatically detect updates in PostGIS datasets. Instead, PostGIS datasets will display a grey update icon next to them, allowing you to pull possible updates at any time. 

Clicking this icon will open a prompt where you can confirm which MAP Layers you would like to be updated.

After updating, you can see that new campsites and more detailed contour lines have been added to the map and styled accordingly. With a quick run of the LabelPro tool, the labels for the new campsites have been added and the map is fully updated in just a few minutes!

User interface improvements for databases

The Import dialog box for database formats now features a few upgrades to the user interface to make the import process clearer. The Select Tables window now has the option to select all or clear your selections at the bottom, and also shows the number of currently selected tables.

To learn more about the Manage Data Links tool, check out its support article.

Compatibility with FME Form 2025

MAPublisher FME Auto is a Windows-only powerful add-on that connects the GIS data processing environment of FME Form to the cartographic design and publishing environment of MAPublisher and Adobe Illustrator. MAPublisher 11.7 is the first version of MAPublisher to provide support for the recent FME Form 2025.0 update.

MAPublisher 11.7 is available now!

If you want to learn more about the new MAPublisher 11.7 features or have any questions, please check out our Support Centre. MAPublisher 11.7 is immediately available today. It is free to all current MAPublisher users with active maintenance subscriptions and available as an upgrade for non-maintenance users.

Point Scaling Using the Add Calculated Data Tool in MAPublisher 11.6

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We are thrilled to offer a deeper dive into another helpful enhancement new to MAPublisher 11.6: Point Scaling, now a calculation option available in the Add Calculated Data tool.

Scaling points is a simple and easy-to-understand method to visually represent the differences in magnitude within a point dataset directly on your maps. Whether you’re mapping city population sizes, earthquake magnitudes, or any other quantitative data, point scaling makes it easy to convey differences in quantity at a glance directly through your map symbols.

In our most recent video, we take you through a basic workflow for setting up a Point Scaling calculation using the Add Calculated Data tool and then scaling your points based on the output of the calculation. Using a map of the Netherlands, the example in the video shows you how to scale city points based on population values.

The video contains an overview of how to set up a Point Scaling calculation, including the four scaling methods available in the tool—Area, Exponential, Flannery, and Radius—as well as selecting the proper Source variable, Target attribute field, and value range.

Once the Point Scaling calculation is run, the video also shows you how to use the newly created attribute with the Scale & Rotate by Attribute tool to resize your points. An even quicker option for scaling your points is to select the Automatically Apply Point Scaling to Layer checkbox before running the calculation!

The Point Scaling feature is ideal for users who want to make their maps more infortmative without manual resizing, complicated workflows, or cluttered supplemental text. With just a few clicks, you can transform your data into an intuitive visual representation!

Ready to try it out? Watch the full demonstration below to see how Point Scaling works in action, and how you can enhance your own maps with smarter symbol sizing in MAPublisher 11.6.

For more information on Point Scaling calculations and the four scaling methods, check out our Support Page for the Add Calculated Data tool.

How to Create Waffle Charts in MAPublisher 11.6

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We’ve recently added a deliciously useful feature to MAPublisher: waffle charts!

Waffle charts are grid-based visualizations where each cell represents a fixed quantity of data. They offer a clear, easy-to-read alternative to traditional pie charts, especially when comparing multiple categories or displaying categories with small percentages. Whether you’re working with population figures, economic data, or any other dataset, waffle charts can help your map users quickly compare proportions or observe patterns.

In our newest video, we walk you through the process of creating waffle charts in MAPublisher 11.6, starting in the MAP Themes panel. Our demonstration compares exports between Canada and the United States across nine different categories, from oil and minerals to food and transportation products.

The video contains a brief overview for creating a waffle chart, using the Edit Chart Theme window to specify your settings (including some new options specific to waffle charts), and how to set up a legend to assist users in interpreting your charts.

With editable styling options that allow full customization of the appearance of your waffle charts, this new chart type is a fantastic way to enhance the visual storytelling power of your maps. Waffle charts can even be styled using native Illustrator graphic styles or custom swatches you’ve created yourself!

Ready to get started? Watch the full demonstration below to find out just how easy it is to bring your data to life in a new way with waffle charts in MAPublisher 11.6.

For more information on waffle charts, check out our Support Page for Chart Themes.

Avenza Releases MAPublisher 11.6 for Adobe Illustrator

News

Toronto, ON, March 25, 2025 – Avenza Systems Inc., producer of the Avenza Maps app for mobile devices and geospatial extensions for Adobe Creative Cloud, including Geographic Imager for Adobe Photoshop, is pleased to announce the release of MAPublisher version 11.6 for Adobe Illustrator. This version introduces waffle charts to the MAP Themes chart types, adds a Point Scaling option to the Add Calculated Data tool, and offers other performance enhancements and bug fixes.

MAPublisher cartography software seamlessly integrates more than seventy GIS mapping tools into Adobe Illustrator to help users create beautiful maps from geospatial data. Import industry-standard GIS data formats and make crisp, clean maps with all attributes and georeferencing intact using the Adobe Illustrator design environment.

New features of MAPublisher 11.6 for Adobe Illustrator include:

  • Introduction of waffle charts to MAP Themes chart types: Waffle charts can now be created in MAPublisher by opening the MAP Themes panel, creating a Chart Theme, and selecting “Waffle chart” from the Type drop-down menu.
  • Addition of a Point Scaling option to the Add Calculated Data tool: The Add Calculated Data tool now features a Calculation type of “Point Scaling,” which creates an attribute for point scaling values derived from an existing attribute in a dataset.
  • Additional performance enhancements and bug fixes

To utilize the improvements and enhancements offered in MAPublisher 11.6, users require a valid Adobe Creative Cloud subscription and a compatible operating system. For questions and information on how compatibility requirements may affect your organization, please contact our Support Centre.

MAPublisher 11.6 is immediately available free of charge to all current MAPublisher users with active maintenance and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users starting at US$999. New licenses are available from US$1,749. MAPublisher FME Auto and MAPublisher LabelPro are also available as add-ons starting at US$599. Academic, floating, and volume licenses are also available. Prices include one year of full maintenance. Visit www.avenza.com/mapublisher for more details.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools to make better maps. Avenza also offers the mobile Avenza Maps app to sell, purchase, distribute, and use maps on iOS and Android devices. For further information contact:  416-487-5116 – info@avenza.com – www.avenza.com

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PDF Press Release

What’s New in MAPublisher 11.6?

Resources

We are excited to announce the release of MAPublisher version 11.6, the latest update to our MAPublisher extension for Adobe Illustrator. 

MAPublisher 11.6 introduces waffle charts to the MAP Themes chart types, a Point Scaling option to the Add Calculated Data tool, and other performance enhancements and bug fixes.

Here’s what you can expect with the latest MAPublisher 11.6 release:

Waffle chart option added to MAP Themes

The MAP Themes panel welcomes a brand new chart type to MAPublisher 11.6: waffle charts! A waffle chart is a grid composed of equally sized cells, each coloured to depict different categories or segments. It is useful for comparing categories and displaying proportions. Waffle charts are typically used as an alternative to pie charts, making it easier to compare areas, visualize categories with small percentages, and generally make charts more readable.

To create waffle charts in MAPublisher 11.6, open the MAP Themes panel and create a Chart Theme as you usually would. When you open the Edit Chart Theme window, you will notice the brand new “Waffle chart” option in the Type drop-down menu.

As seen in the above image, configuring a waffle chart is very similar to configuring the other chart types with the usual option tabs such as Source Data, Chart Options, General Options, and Title available for customization. The Chart Options tab features a few new options specific to creating waffle charts, including a Calculate Default Scale button to help select a suitable value for the data represented in each cell.

To learn more about creating waffle charts in MAPublisher, check out the support page for Chart Themes.

Add Calculated Data now features a point scaling option

The Add Calculated Data tool—found in the Data Creation section of the MAP Toolbar—gains a new calculation option in MAPublisher 11.6. When the selected Layer is a point layer, the brand new “Point Scaling” option will become available in the Calculation drop-down menu.

The Point Scaling option adds a field to your attributes containing a calculation for point scaling sourced from an existing numeric attribute. The “Automatically Apply Point Scaling to Layer” checkbox allows you to immediately resize your points according to the selected scaling settings upon clicking “OK” to close the window instead of creating a new attribute. There are four Scale Methods to choose from, each calculating the scale slightly differently depending on which factors are important to you. For example, selecting the Flannery method applies a correction factor to account for natural human bias that causes us to underestimate the size of larger symbols. In contrast, choosing the Exponential method increases the size of symbols exponentially relative to their data values to emphasize differences, especially among larger values.

MAPublisher 11.6 is available now!

If you want to learn more about the new MAPublisher 11.6 features or have any questions, please check out our Support Centre. MAPublisher 11.6 is immediately available today. It is free to all current MAPublisher users with active maintenance subscriptions and available as an upgrade for non-maintenance users.

Map Spotlight: Heavens by Matthew Chwastyk

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In this Map Spotlight, we are showcasing the Grand Prize winner of the 2024 Avenza Map Contest—Heavens: Majesty of the Night Sky by Matthew Chwastyk of National Geographic, with additional contributions from Patricia Healy, Heidi Schultz, Eve Conant, Caroline Braun, Scott Zillmer, and Sandi Owatverot-Nuzzo. This particular map was created for inclusion as a poster in the special space issue of National Geographic Magazine, using the most recent NASA data on star locations, constellation boundaries, asterisms, and deep-sky objects.

Matthew plotted stars of magnitude 5 and brighter, which marks the threshold for naked-eye visibility. Star magnitudes and variable stars are represented by graduated symbols, with brighter stars appearing larger. The stars are plotted on a supplemental set of hemispheres featuring the latest whole-sky survey projected into the map view to display how the sky appears in infrared, including a glowing representation of the Milky Way galaxy. Stars are labeled in both their traditional names and in Greek letters using the Bayer system. Matthew further enhanced the visual appeal of the map with a key containing representative images of deep-sky objects on the bottom left side.

Connect with Matt on X (Twitter) @mapchwastyk.

Select the images below to see a detailed look at Matthew’s map

Making the Map

One of the most eye-catching visual elements of this map is the sky imagery on which the star data is displayed. Matthew prepared this imagery to be used for the map by reprojecting it in Geographic Imager using the Transform tool. This is how the hemispheres of the two main maps were created, after which they were imported into MAPublisher.

In MAPublisher, Matthew used the MAP View Editor tool to create a workspace that utilized a hemispherical-shaped coordinate system, such as the stereographic projection. The MAP Point Plotter tool was used to place selected deep-sky objects on the map using estimated coordinates.

The MAP Themes tool was essential in allowing Matthew to approach the styling of the stars in a hierarchical format by categorizing them based on magnitude, ensuring the most prominent stars stood out the most. Stars were then labeled using the MAPublisher LabelPro add-on, with manual adjustments minimized by the intuitive nature of the tool.

Matthew used the Create Knockouts tool to improve label legibility by creating a mask around text in busy areas of the map. Map legibility was also improved by using the Simplify Art tool to generalize the detail on constellation lines. The Join Lines tool was used to group lines constituting asterisms together, making them easier to manage and style.

Read our other Map Spotlight blogs here, and check out the other winners of the Avenza Map Contest 2024 here!

Map Spotlight: Yedoma Permafrost Coverage by Sebastian Laboor, Jens Strauss, and Guido Grosse

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In this Map Spotlight, we are showcasing an honourable mention of the 2021 Avenza Map Contest: Yedoma Permafrost Coverage by Sebastian Laboor, Jens Strauss, and Guido Grosse of the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). This map shows the extents of the world’s most ice-rich and climate-sensitive type of permafrost: Yedoma permafrost. This permafrost has been permanently frozen since the last Ice Age, when mammoths still roamed the Arctic tundra, and covers parts of Siberia, Alaska, and Yukon. The team at AWI worked with an international research team from various countries to determine the distribution of Yedoma permafrost, which resulted in this map—the first-ever Arctic-wide Yedoma map.

Creating this map was a tremendous journey, bringing together more than 25 researchers and their decades of permafrost expertise. It is an important step towards understanding how Yedoma permafrost and the massive organic content it has preserved since the last ice age may contribute to future greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere once the area begins to thaw. This map is importantly filling a critical research gap, being used as an important input dataset for new climate models that predict the trajectory of permafrost carbon and its future environmental impacts.

This map and the geospatial dataset are open access and freely available to the public.

Select the images below to see a detailed look at their map

Making the Map

To create the Yedoma permafrost dataset used for this map, Sebastian utilized Adobe Illustrator and MAPublisher as a manual vectorization and attribution tool. Scanned and georeferenced Russian Quaternary geology maps were vectorized using native Illustrator tools, such as the pen and pathfinder tools, and then the MAP Attributes panel was used to assign attributes to these features, and also edit them as necessary later.

The Import tool was essential in allowing them to bring in their supplementary geospatial data to build out the rest of the map. The MAP Views panel and the MAP View Editor were important tools for defining projections, scales, and positions of their map layers. The point data for field sites was added to the map using the MAP Point Plotter tool.

Sebastian used the MAP Vector Crop tool to crop many different layers at once to the map’s extent, allowing for a clean and organized workspace. He also used the MAP Selections and MAP Themes panels to create classes for the data.

The initial positioning of labels was conducted using the MAPublisher LabelPro add-on, with manual adjustments made as needed. Finally, Sebastian added a grid and graticule as well as a North Arrow to complete the finishing touches to the map.

Check out our other Map Spotlight blogs here!

Avenza Releases MAPublisher 11.5 for Adobe Illustrator

News

Toronto, ON, November 5, 2024 – Avenza Systems Inc., producer of the Avenza Maps® app for mobile devices and geospatial extensions for Adobe Creative Cloud®, including Geographic Imager® for Adobe Photoshop®, is pleased to announce the release of MAPublisher® version 11.5 for Adobe Illustrator®. This version introduces several compatibility updates, importing Vector Basemaps from custom tile sources, the ability to use the Join Table feature with existing MAP Layers, a new Split Line path utility, and several performance enhancements and bug fixes.

MAPublisher cartography software seamlessly integrates more than seventy GIS mapping tools into Adobe Illustrator to help users create beautiful maps from geospatial data. Import industry-standard GIS data formats and make crisp, clean maps with all attributes and georeferencing intact using the Adobe Illustrator design environment.

New features of MAPublisher v11.5 for Adobe Illustrator include:

  • Adobe Creative Cloud 2025 compatibility: MAPublisher now supports Adobe Illustrator 2025 (version 29.0) on both Mac and Windows
  • macOS Sequoia compatibility: MAPublisher also officially supports the new macOS Sequoia (version 15) update
  • FME Form 2024 compatibility: MAPublisher now supports the recent FME 2024.1 update when using the FME Auto add-on
  • Importing Vector Basemaps from custom tile sources: Vector Basemap data can now be imported from custom tile sources such as Mapbox, Esri and OpenStreetMap. Data can be imported unstyled and later configured with the brand new “MAP Basemap Styling” panel, which can be found under the Thematic Tools section of the MAPublisher Toolbar.
  • Join Table from existing MAP Layer: Users can now use the Join Table feature in the MAP Attributes panel to join tables from existing MAP Layers using the “Source Type” drop-down list. These layers may be contained within the active document or any other currently open document.
  • Split Line action added to Path Utilities menu: The Split Line utility splits a selection of lines into two separate segments at a certain specified length, which can be either relative (i.e. as a percentage of the total line length) or absolute (i.e. at a specified distance in selected units).
  • Performance enhancements: MAPublisher v11.5 has improved performance when working with files containing a large number of features and attributes. Users can expect improved performance in multiple areas including coordinate system reprojection, applying stylesheets, deleting art, moving art between layers, and splitting layers.
  • Additional performance improvements and bug fixes

Users require a valid Adobe Creative Cloud subscription and a compatible operating system to utilize the improvements and enhancements offered in MAPublisher v11.5. For questions and information on how compatibility requirements may affect your organization, please contact our Support Centre.

MAPublisher v11.5 is immediately available free of charge to all current MAPublisher users with active maintenance and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users starting at US$739. New licenses are available from US$1,699. MAPublisher FME Auto and MAPublisher LabelPro are also available as add-ons starting at US$569. Academic, floating, and volume licenses are also available. Prices include one year of full maintenance. Visit www.avenza.com/mapublisher for more details.

More about Avenza Systems Inc.

Avenza Systems Inc. is an award-winning, privately held corporation that provides cartographers and GIS professionals with powerful software tools to make better maps. Avenza also offers the mobile Avenza Maps app to sell, purchase, distribute, and use maps on iOS and Android devices. For further information contact:  416-487-5116 – info@avenza.com – www.avenza.com

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PDF Press Release

What’s New in MAPublisher 11.5?

Resources

We are excited to announce the release of MAPublisher version 11.5, the latest update to our MAPublisher extension for Adobe Illustrator. 

MAPublisher v11.5 introduces several compatibility upgrades, support for importing vector basemaps from custom tile sources, new functionality for using the Join Table feature with existing MAP Layers, a new Split Line path utility, and other performance improvements and bug fixes.

Here’s what you can expect with the latest MAPublisher v11.5 release:

Compatibility upgrades

We’ve been hard at work this fall, and we’re delighted to share that MAPublisher 11.5 is fully compatible with Adobe Illustrator 2025 (version 29), which was released this October. MAPublisher 11.5 also supports the newly launched macOS Sequoia (version 15) and FME Form 2024 (version 2024.1).

Import Vector Basemaps from custom tile sources

We’ve heard your requests and are thrilled to announce that MAPublisher now supports importing Vector Basemaps from PBF file-based custom tile sources like Mapbox, Esri, and OpenStreetMap! You can access this feature under the “Service” option within the Import Vector Basemaps dialog box. You can add your service by clicking the green plus/+ button next to the drop-down list. This will open up a new window called “Edit Tile Service” where you can give your service a name, provide its URL, set a preferred style if desired, and select whether or not you wish to import unstyled art.

You might also notice that the Configure Vector Basemaps option has moved from the Vector Basemaps button on the MAP Toolbar to its own dedicated button, “MAP Basemap Styling,” located under Thematic Tools.

Visit our Vector Basemaps support page for​​ more detailed information on importing vector basemaps from custom tile sources, including URL formatting!

Join Table now supports tables from existing MAP Layers

The Join Table tool—available from the MAP Attributes panel—has also been enhanced with new functionality in MAPublisher 11.5. The “Source type” option now lets you select either an external file or the new “MAP Layer” option, enabling you to join tables directly from an existing MAP Layer. This layer can be sourced from within your active document or any other currently open document in Illustrator.

Split Line action added to Path Utilities

Split Line is a new option added to the Action menu of the Path Utilities tool. This action splits a selection of lines into two separate segments at a specified length. This length can be measured from either end of the line and can be set as either relative (i.e. as a percentage of the total line length) or absolute (i.e. at a specified distance in selected units).

The Split Line action is an ideal solution for tapering only the endpoints of lines, such as at river mouths. This circumvents the limitation of Illustrator’s native Stroke properties, which automatically taper paths evenly from start to end. With this utility, you also have the option to store the output in a New Layer, allowing for easy selection and batch styling of all end segments.

Other performance improvements

Lastly, you can expect to see improved performance in the following areas:

Improved order of operations on import

In MAPublisher 11.5, we have fixed an issue where data was being simplified before any spatial filtering was applied. Now, the spatial filter is applied first, and art is only simplified if the remaining data exceeds Illustrator’s limit of 32,000 points per path.

Attribute table and projection performance improvements

You should also look for smoother and quicker software performance when working with files containing a large number of features and attributes. These enhancements can be seen in multiple areas, including coordinate system reprojection, applying stylesheets, deleting art, moving art between layers, and splitting layers!

MAPublisher 11.5 is Available Now!

If you would like to learn more about the new MAPublisher v11.5 features or have any questions, please check out our Support Centre.

MAPublisher v11.5 is immediately available today, free of charge to all current MAPublisher users with active maintenance subscriptions and as an upgrade for non-maintenance users. Download here.

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