Header rules files for inserter control files

The header rules file defines the fields in the header record and specifies the value to put in each field of the record. RICOH ProcessDirector uses the header rules file to write the header record at the top of the inserter control file. Typically, RICOH ProcessDirector creates one header record in an inserter control file. Some inserters generate several XML elements in the header, but these elements occur only once in the XML output file. This file is required only if the inserter control file format specifies a header record.

Not all inserter control files require a header record. In this case, no header rules file is required.

Purpose

RICOH ProcessDirector uses the header rules file to write the header record of the inserter control file.

RICOH ProcessDirector provides these sample header rules files in the inserter directory:

  • /aiw/aiw1/samples/control_files/inserter (Linux)

  • C:\aiw\aiw1\samples\control_files\inserter (Windows)

Inserter manufacturer Header rules file
Bowe BOWE.icf.halFile.header.dsc
Bowe with JetVision camera systems None (no header record)
Bowe Bell & Howell None (no header record)
Gunther None (no control file used)
Inserters with Ironsides camera systems None (no header record)
Kern None (no header record)
Pitney Bowes PB.icf.inputFile.header.dsc
Quadient quadient.jaf.inputfile.dsc

In each field, RICOH ProcessDirector can put a fixed value (such as characters, blanks or zeroes) or the value of any of these RICOH ProcessDirector properties:

  • Job properties: Inserter job name (Job.Inserter.JobID), Job name (Job.Name), and Load plan comment (Job.Insert.LoadPlan.Comment)

      Note:
    • If you need to put the value of another job property in the inserter control file, add a line for the job property in file /aiw/aiw1/config/fbi/icf_job_del_properties.cfg.

  • Any document property (document properties start with Doc)

    For example, you put the values of the Doc.CurrentSheets and Doc.Insert.BinTriggers properties in a CEL aggr function to add the number of sheets and inserts in all documents in a job. The function places the total in the PlannedSheetCount field of the header record. An example is in the PB.icf.inputFile.header.dsc sample header rules file.

RICOH ProcessDirector properties for header rules files lists some of the properties that you might want to put in the header record of an inserter control file. You specify properties by their database property names.

RICOH ProcessDirector properties for header rules files

Property (field name) Property (database name) Description Type Length (characters)
Inserter job name Job.Inserter.JobID The job name that the inserter uses for the job. The default value is the Job number (Job.ID) property. character 255
Job name Job.Name The job name. character 128
Load plan comment Job.Insert.LoadPlan.Comment The names of the materials (or inserts) that the operator should load into each inserter bin. character 128

Format

Comment lines start with a pound sign (#).

Each line in the rules file defines a field in the header record. Each line has this format:

field_name,data_type,length,[expr=content_language_expression]
field_name
Specifies a descriptive name for the field in the header record. The name must not contain blank characters.
data_type
Specifies the type of data in the field. Allowed values: character, varchar, integer, bigint, smallint, timestamp, time, date, double, float, real.
length
Specifies the length (in characters) of the field. This field is required for inserter control files with fixed-length records. It is optional for control files with comma-delimited records and files that are in XML format.
[expr=content_language_expression]
Specifies an expression in the RICOH ProcessDirector Content Expression Language (CEL). RICOH ProcessDirector evaluates the CEL expression to determine what value to place in the field. In the expression, you can specify a fixed value (such as blanks or zeroes), or you can specify the value of a RICOH ProcessDirector property. You can also use CEL functions. For information about the CEL language and functions, see the related Reference topic.

This parameter is optional. If you omit it, the field in the control file contains zeroes or blanks, depending on the data type of the field.

Example

This example defines the first two fields of the header record in the inserter control file:
JobID,character,8,[expr=Job.Inserter.JobID]RunID,character,15,[expr="           TEST"]
Assume that the value of the Job.Inserter.JobID property is 10000034. If the inserter control file format is fixed-length records, the header record looks like this:
10000034           TEST