Avanti Slingshot Connect

The Avanti Slingshot Connect feature lets you exchange information with the Avanti Slingshot Management Information System (MIS) software. After creating orders, Avanti Slingshot can send PDF print jobs with JDF job tickets to RICOH ProcessDirector. Alternatively, RICOH ProcessDirector can send Avanti Slingshot the information required to create orders for jobs in RICOH ProcessDirector workflows.

After RICOH ProcessDirector receives jobs from Avanti Slingshot or sends order information to Avanti Slingshot, the feature automates the reporting of job processing time to Avanti Slingshot cost centers. When a job finishes printing, the feature reports this information:

  • The amount of time the job spent on the printer.
  • The total pages or sheets printed on specific media by name and by product ID when that property is defined.
  • Whether the job was printed with CMYK ink or toner or only with black ink or toner.

RICOH ProcessDirector and Avanti Slingshot exchange information over an HTTP connection.

To configure your Avanti Slingshot system so that it sends jobs to RICOH ProcessDirector or receives order information from RICOH ProcessDirector, contact your Avanti support representative.

If Avanti Slingshot sends PDF files with JDF job tickets, RICOH ProcessDirector receives them in a hot folder input device that uses the JDF Batching method. The hot folder has the same name as the line item on the sales order. RICOH ProcessDirector acknowledges receipt of each job and reports status to Avanti Slingshot as the jobs move through the workflow.

If Avanti Slingshot receives order information from RICOH ProcessDirector, Avanti Slingshot acknowledges receipt of the information for each job. RICOH ProcessDirector reports status to Avanti Slingshot as the jobs move through the workflow.

Avanti Slingshot Connect does not provide the Avanti Slingshot software. You must purchase and install Avanti Slingshot with the JDF Integration add-on.

Collecting ink usage data

When you define a Ricoh continuous forms printer as a Ricoh TotalFlow Printer, you can specify the ink and protector coat that is loaded using the ink names set in Avanti Slingshot.

Every time RICOH ProcessDirector sends a job to the defined Ricoh TotalFlow printer, the printer tracks the amount of each type of ink or protector coat that is used. The collected ink amount is sent back to RICOH ProcessDirector when the job finishes printing or is canceled.

If any part of the job is reprinted, the ink used for the reprints is reported to RICOH ProcessDirector as well. RICOH ProcessDirector stores the total volume of ink used for each job in the cumulative ink usage properties.

The job information sent to Avanti Slingshot from RICOH ProcessDirector includes the values of the cumulative ink properties and the ink names. Thus, you can determine the amount of a certain ink the job used.

Step template

Avanti Slingshot Connect provides the CreateOrderInSlingshot step template. A step based on this step template lets you call an Avanti Slingshot web service that creates an order for a job received from RICOH ProcessDirector.

Note: The feature also includes these templates: CallRESTService and CallSOAPService. They are not required to communicate with Avanti Slingshot.

Properties and reporting

Avanti Slingshot Connect adds two properties to all steps in a workflow: Slingshot cost center and Slingshot milestone status. You can associate one or more steps with a single cost center to identify all the time spent on processing by the cost center.

You define the Avanti Slingshot cost centers used by RICOH ProcessDirector in an avanti.cfg control file.

RICOH ProcessDirector reports the time when a job enters the first step associated with an Avanti Slingshot cost center. RICOH ProcessDirector also reports the time when a job completes the last step associated with the cost center.

Avanti Slingshot Connect adds these properties to the property notebook for each RICOH ProcessDirector printer:

  • Slingshot cost center

    RICOH ProcessDirector reports the time spent printing the job to this Avanti Slingshot cost center.

  • Job color to report

    RICOH ProcessDirector uses this property when it reports the total pages printed in a job. The property specifies whether all the pages in the job were printed with CMYK ink or toner or only with black ink or toner.

  • Print unit to report

    RICOH ProcessDirector reports the print volume to Avanti Slingshot in pages or sheets.

  • Cyan ink

    Specifies the cyan ink name defined in Avanti Slingshot.

  • Magenta ink

    Specifies the magenta ink name defined in Avanti Slingshot.

  • Yellow ink

    Specifies the yellow ink name defined in Avanti Slingshot.

  • Black ink

    Specifies the black ink name defined in Avanti Slingshot.

  • Protector coat

    Specifies the protector coat ink name defined in Avanti Slingshot.

  • MICR ink

    Specifies the MICR ink name defined in Avanti Slingshot.

  • Highlight ink

    Specifies the highlight ink name defined in Avanti Slingshot.

RICOH ProcessDirector automatically reports the total pages printed on specific media.

In this section:

  1. Usage scenario for receiving jobs from Avanti Slingshot
    In this scenario, a print shop creates a sales order with two jobs in Avanti Slingshot and sends the jobs to RICOH ProcessDirector for processing. RICOH ProcessDirector sends Avanti Slingshot the time required for preflight operations and printing.

Related information:

Setting up RICOH ProcessDirector and Avanti Slingshot to exchange information
Submitting jobs when using Avanti Slingshot
Modifying a workflow to send order information to Slingshot
CreateOrderInSlingshot
Avanti Slingshot Settings Page
Parent topic: Features