Positional job properties

For example, two different steps based on the RunExternalProgram step template can process jobs by running two different external programs. The External command job property specifies the program that each step runs to process jobs.

Other step templates share the same value for each job property across the steps in the same workflow. When you change the value of a job property for one step based on the step template, the value of the property for the other steps changes.

For example, a workflow has two branches, and each branch has a different RetainCompletedJobs step. The Requested printer job property specifies the printer requested for the job. If you change the value of the Requested printer property for one step from PrinterBldg1 to PrinterBldg2, the value of the property for the other step changes to PrinterBldg2.

If you want two different branches of a workflow to print their jobs to a different printer, you must place a step based on the AssignJobValues step template before each PrintJobs step. Set the values you want for each branch of the workflow on each AssignJobValues step. The value of the Requested printer property in each AssignJobValues step overrides the Requested printer property value in the two PrintJobs steps.

To see the positional properties for a job in the jobs table on the Main page of the user interface, right-click the job and select Properties.

On each tab in the job property notebook, positional job properties are displayed under a heading that gives the names of the phase, workflow, and step.

For example, if a job in the PDF workflow has a RunExternalProgram step in the Prepare phase, the External command property is displayed under this heading: Prepare - PDF - RunExternalProgram.