Copy Groups and Subgroups

A single form definition can contain several subsets of page controls, called copy groups. Copy groups define each physical page in the file. When you are printing jobs in duplex, the copy group defines both sides of the physical paper. Copy groups, in turn, can contain up to 127 subgroups, each of which creates a different set of modifications for the same page of data.

A series of copy groups can be used where either the data or the printing requirements call for a variety of page control schemes. Part of the file can be printed from one (bin) paper source and part from another. Part can be printed duplex; part can be printed simplex. Duplex commands can be specified for a printer that does not support this function. This command treats the two adjacent pages as duplexed. A variety of controls can be contained in one form definition having several copy groups.

You can control the following options within a copy group:

  • Position of the logical page on a sheet of paper
  • Duplex printing
  • Type of cut-sheet paper to be printed on (by choosing between paper input sources in page printers that have more than one paper source)
  • Offset stacking or copy marking of parts of a print job in the output stacker
  • Printing one, two, three, or four logical pages on a single side of a sheet
  • Vendor-attached devices for post-processing functions to be performed on the sheet
  • Print-quality level

To access a new copy group within a form definition you can:

  • Add to your data file an Invoke Medium Map structured field immediately before the page of data that requires the new copy group.
  • Use a page definition that specifies conditional processing. When you access a new copy group, printing begins on the next physical sheet of paper.

For more information on the Invoke Medium Map structured field, refer to Mixed Object Document Content Architecture Reference.

Subgroups allow the same page of data within a file to be printed more than once, using different sets of modifications each time the page is printed. One example is the printing of an invoice and a packing list from the same records in a data file.

The following modifications to the page of data can be specified in a subgroup:

  • Selection of suppressed fields for the page
  • Selection of overlays used with the page
  • Selection of forms flash with the page (only on the 3800 printer)
  • Selection of the modification for front, back, or both sides of a sheet
  • Selection of the number of copies of the subgroup to print
  • Selection of the input bin

Parent topic: Using Form Definition Commands