Creating a workflow that transforms AFP or PostScript input to PDF output with media information

If you have installed the Advanced Transform feature, you can create a workflow that transforms AFP or PostScript input into PDF output. The transform also generates a JDF job ticket that has media information, including page exceptions.
To create this workflow, you must have at least one of the following input transforms for the Advanced Transform feature:
  • InputAFP
  • InputPS

To create the workflow, you must also have the OutputPDF output transform.

When the TransformToPDFWithMediaInfo step in the workflow generates the JDF job ticket, it uses the media names in the AFP or PostScript input, for example, TRAY1. The media names in the JDF job ticket must match the names of RICOH ProcessDirector media objects. You can use any of these methods to make the media names match:

  • You can change the media names in the AFP or PostScript input.
  • You can create RICOH ProcessDirector media objects with the same names as the media names in the AFP or PostScript input.
  • You can create a media mapping file that maps the media names in the AFP or PostScript input to the names of RICOH ProcessDirector media objects.

If any media name in the JDF job ticket is not defined as a RICOH ProcessDirector media object when the TransformToPDFWithMediaInfo step finishes processing a job, the job goes into the error state. The Reason for wait status value is No matching media.

To create a workflow that transforms AFP or PostScript input to PDF output with media information:
  1. Click the Workflow tab.
  2. Right-click a workflow that you want to use as a model and select Copy.
  3. Name the copy of the workflow, fill in or edit other values that you need, and click Continue.
  4. Add a step based on the TransformToPDFWithMediaInfo step template to the workflow.
    1. Make sure that you update the value of the Transform input stream property appropriately.
    2. To map the media names in the AFP or PostScript input to the names of RICOH ProcessDirector media objects, create a media mapping file.

      For information about creating a media mapping file, see the related task topic.

    3. If you created a media mapping file, specify the full path and name of the file as the value of the Path to media mapping file property.
    4. If you are retrieving media information from an AFP data stream, edit the value of the Media information command property. Add the -enablefdp argument between the input argument, -i, and the type argument, -type.

      This example shows the edited command:

      perl ${AIWDATA}/bin/callxform.pl -C ${getControlFileName()} -i ${getCurrentFile(${Job.Transform.InputStream})} -enablefdp -type xif -loglevel I -logdate -logtime -logdir ${Job.SpoolFileStem}tmp -logfile ${Job.ID}.xif.log -verbose -relaxed -msg.add PSI3002 -remove abcefhilnoprst01234

      If you are retrieving media information from a PostScript data stream, the command works without any edits.

    5. Update the other properties for the step with the values that you need.
  5. Update the properties for the other steps in the workflow with the values that you need.
  6. Save the workflow.
  7. Enable the workflow and test it.

In this section:

  1. Mapping AFP or PostScript media names to RICOH ProcessDirector media names
    You can create a media mapping file to map media names in the AFP or PostScript input to RICOH ProcessDirector media names. A step based on the TransformToPDFWithMediaInfo step template uses the file when it transforms AFP or PostScript input into PDF output. The step creates a PDF file for the job and a JDF job ticket with media information, including page exceptions.

Related information:

Advanced Transform feature
TransformToPDFWithMediaInfo
Parent topic: Configuring for the Advanced Transform feature