Step templates
RICOH ProcessDirector provides many step templates that you can incorporate into workflows; optional features can add even more. You can either use those step templates as they are, or copy and modify them to work in your environment.
Some step templates are particularly important for interacting with other applications:
- SetJobType step templates
Input devices use SetJobType steps to determine which workflow to use to process a print job. The SetJobType step templates are:
- SetJobTypeFromFileName
Uses a pattern-matching string to set the workflow from a portion of the input-file name, such as the file extension. For example, all jobs with the file extension .AFP can be sent to the workflow AFP or all jobs with the extension .pdf can be sent to the workflow pdf. The step can also convert an optional overrides file submitted with a job to a text-based file,
jobID.overrides.text
, which the SetJobPropsFromTextFile step uses to set job properties. - SetJobTypeFromRules
Uses a control file to select the workflow based on the value of a parameter in an overrides files that accompanies the input file. The step can also convert an optional overrides file submitted with a job to a text-based file, which the SetJobPropsFromTextFile step uses to set job properties.
- SetJobTypeFromFileName
- SubmitInputFiles step template
Input devices use the SubmitInputFiles step to send print jobs to the first step in their workflows. It submits a group of input files as a parent job and child jobs according to the batching method specified. It submits a single input file as a single job of the child workflow, without a parent job.
- SetJobPropsFromTextFile step template
The SetJobPropsFromTextFile step is usually the first step in a workflow. It uses a text file that accompanies the input file to set job properties. The text file specifies which properties to set. Values in the text file overwrite any values that have been set previously. After processing an optional
jobID.overrides.text
file, the step looks for an optional Job Definition Format (JDF) job ticket file,jobID.overrides.jdf
, and uses it to set additional properties of the job. - External steps
External steps send print jobs to applications outside of RICOH ProcessDirector for processing such as data stream transforms, address cleansing, and impositioning. The external step templates are:
- RunExternalProgram
Submits the print job to an external program using a command line interface.
- RunHotFolderApplication
Puts the print job in a hot folder that another application monitors. That application picks up the print job, processes it according to its configuration settings, and puts it into an output folder. RICOH ProcessDirector monitors that output folder and retrieves the job when it is ready.
- RunExternalProgram