Defining workflows to process XML
Before you define XML workflows:
- Read the usage scenario for processing orders in an XML file. That scenario uses four workflows to process XML.
- Evaluate the XML files that provide input to the process and decide how many workflows are required to process the XML. See the related topic about preparing to receive XML.
If your company uses a proxy server and your workflow has a DownloadFile step, set up RICOH ProcessDirector to use the proxy server.
- On the Workflow page, add the first workflow.
- After the SetJobPropsFromTextFile step, add a step based on the DetectInputDataStream step template.
- If the workflow creates jobs from XML, add one or more steps based on the CreateJobsFromXML step template.
Set these properties:
- For the XML input file property:
- Use the default value if the XML file is in the spool directory for the job.
- Specify the directory path and file name if the XML file is at another location.
- For the XPath expression to create jobs property, specify the XPath expression that you defined for the step.
- For the Workflow for new jobs property, select the workflow that the CreateJobsFromXML step submits the new jobs to.
- For the Create as child job property:
- To create child jobs, select Yes.
For example, create child jobs for items in an order.
- To create independent jobs, select No.
For example, do not create child jobs for independent orders.
- To create child jobs, select Yes.
- For Stop when no matching elements:
- Select Yes if every XML input file has one or more elements that match the XPath expression.
You want the job to go into error when the step does not find any elements that match.
For example, a CreateJobsFromXML step creates an XML job for each order in an XML input file. Every XML input file has one or more orders. You want the job to go into error when the step does not find any order elements.
- Select No if some XML input files have no elements that match the XPath expression. You want
the job to continue to the next step in the workflow when the step does not find any
elements that match.
For example, a CreateJobsFromXML step creates an XML job for each print item in an order. Orders can have print items, promotional items, or both. You want the job to continue to the next step in the workflow when the step does not find any matching elements for print items.
- Select Yes if every XML input file has one or more elements that match the XPath expression.
You want the job to go into error when the step does not find any elements that match.
- For the Name for new job property, specify the value to use for the Name property of the jobs that the step creates.
- For the XML input file property:
- If the workflow converts XML data to another format, add one or more steps based on
the ApplyXSLTransform step template.As a guideline, add an ApplyXSLTransform step to the workflow that a CreateJobsFromXML step submits jobs to.
The ApplyXSLTransform step can convert XML elements into RICOH ProcessDirector job or document properties that other steps in the workflow use.
- To use a URL to download files for processing, add a step based on the DownloadFile step template.
- Add the steps required for your process.
For example, add the steps required to process PDF files.
- Save the workflow.
- To add the next workflow, repeat the steps for adding the first workflow.
- When you finish adding workflows, test them.