System objects
A RICOH ProcessDirector system is made up of several objects.
In this section:
- Primary serverThe RICOH ProcessDirector base product is made up of the primary server, the user interface, and the information center. The primary server includes the IBM DB2 database, the PSF print driver, and other components. The primary server can interact with application servers and secondary servers. The number of application and secondary servers required depends on the needs of your environment. The primary computer is the computer that the primary server, along with the rest of the base product and most features, is installed on.
- Secondary serversSecondary servers let you distribute processing, so that your RICOH ProcessDirector system runs more efficiently.
- Application serverIf your workflows require processing by applications that run on Windows, you can access those applications by installing an application server on a Windows computer.
- WorkflowsA workflow defines a set of steps that a job follows through the system. A printing process can contain one or more workflows, depending on the type of processing required and the configuration of your system.
- Step templates, steps, and step chainsStep templates are the basic building blocks for processing on the RICOH ProcessDirector system. A step template contains the code that does a specific action, such as creating or removing a job. It can also define default job property values. When you add a step to a workflow, you select a step template to use as the basis for the step.
- Input device typesInput devices receive input files, create jobs, and submit them to the RICOH ProcessDirector system for processing.
- PrintersPrinter objects represent the printers in your environment that receive print jobs from RICOH ProcessDirector.
- LocationsA location is an object that you create to represent a geographical or physical location, such as a name city or a room number in a building. You can also create locations to reflect limited-access spaces, such as a secure print area where sensitive jobs are produced. After you create locations, you can use them to restrict access to objects. Many objects have a Location property, including printers and jobs.
- Media objectsMedia objects represent the paper, forms, or envelopes that jobs are printed on. RICOH ProcessDirector uses them to determine the media that jobs request and to schedule jobs to printers.
- NotificationsNotification objects define the events that cause the system to generate notifications. You can define any number of notification objects based on the needs of your shop.
- Users and groupsAll RICOH ProcessDirector users must have a unique RICOH ProcessDirector user name and password and must belong to at least one RICOH ProcessDirector group.
- System user and groupWhen you install RICOH ProcessDirector on an UNIX-based system, the installation program creates a RICOH ProcessDirector system user as a member of the RICOH ProcessDirector group. You use the system user to log in to the system that RICOH ProcessDirector runs on.
- CredentialsA credential object specifies the user authentication information required to access an SFTP server or another application. You can use credentials with input devices, steps, and data transmitters that need access to other servers or applications.
- Step resourcesA step resource identifies a file that is used by a workflow step for its processing. Some step templates allow you to specify a file for the step to use when processing jobs. Some of these files might be created on your workstation but need to be available to the workflow when it processes jobs. You can view, retrieve, and replace the file by editing the step resource object.
- Custom job and document propertiesCustom properties are properties that are unique to your implementation of RICOH ProcessDirector. You create them when the standard job and document properties do no meet your needs.
- LogYou can use the system log to view messages and other information about the primary RICOH ProcessDirector system.
- Barcode format objectsBarcode format objects help RICOH ProcessDirector interpret barcodes that you scan while jobs are processing. When your barcode format objects are configured correctly, you can scan a barcode and use the information in it to find a document in RICOH ProcessDirector.
- Barcode readersBarcode readers represent the cameras and barcode scanners in your Automated Verification installation that read barcodes on documents in a print job to verify that each document has been processed.
- Data CollectorsData collector objects capture property values during job processing and store them in a PostgreSQL database. You can access that data and use it as input to your business intelligence software.
- Data TransmittersData transmitter objects let you configure what data in the PostgreSQL Reports database to send to another application.
- DocumentsA document is the smallest unit that can be tracked by a workflow. For example, a document can be a set of pages that make up one bill, one statement, or one mailpiece.
- Inserter controller objectsInserter controller objects represent the inserter controllers in your installation. An inserter controller is software that runs on another computer (such as a Windows computer) and can manage several inserter devices that insert printed documents and additional inserts (such as marketing materials) into envelopes.
- RepositoriesRepository objects hold job and document data that you want to store so you can retrieve it later. When you retrieve the job or document information, you can view the job, submit it again, or review detailed information about the job or document and its processing history. You can create multiple repositories, each with a unique retention period.
- Service policiesA service policy defines job checkpoints and the service level agreement (SLA) deadline. Checkpoints let you track the progress of jobs as they flow through the system; the SLA deadline represents the time that the job must complete a specific processing step to meet your commitments to your clients.
- No-service periodsA no-service period defines a period of time when an installation does not provide services (for example, a holiday). No-service periods work together with service policies but are not considered for deadlines set by the SetDeadline step or the Change Deadline action.
- Expected workExpected work objects represent jobs that are scheduled to arrive at specific intervals. You can associate expected work objects with input devices so the input devices can monitor for those jobs to arrive. If they do not arrive when they are expected, the system alerts you.
- Property mapping objectsA property mapping object defines the relationship between the headings in a preferences file and the document properties defined in the system. The property mapping is used by the ApplyPreferences step in a workflow to add or change values in the document properties file (DPF) for the job.
Parent topic: Product overview