RICOH ProcessDirector™ for Windows

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws, in no event will the manufacturer be liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of failures of this product, losses of documents or data, or the use or non-use of this product and operation manuals provided with it.

Make sure that you always copy or have backups of important documents or data. Documents or data might be erased due to your operational errors or malfunctions of the software. Also, you are responsible for taking protective measures against computer viruses, worms, and other harmful software.

In no event will the manufacturer be responsible for any documents created by you using this product or any results from the data executed by you.

• Some illustrations or explanations in this guide could differ from your product due to improvements or changes in the product.
• The contents of this document are subject to change without notice.
• No part of this document may be duplicated, replicated, reproduced in any form, modified, or quoted without prior consent of the supplier.
• Throughout this publication, references to directory paths indicate the default paths only. If you install RICOH ProcessDirector or any of its components in a different location, including a different drive, you must adjust the paths accordingly.

  For example, if you install RICOH ProcessDirector on the D: drive of a computer running a Windows operating system, replace C: with D: in the directory paths.

New functions and updates in Version 3.13

• Order Management feature

  At long last, order support comes to RICOH ProcessDirector! The Order Management feature adds the ability to create and track orders submitted from your MIS or order processing system, or to build orders manually in the Submit Jobs portlet. Submit your order file in XML format and RICOH ProcessDirector interprets the file, creating orders and jobs to your specifications.

  The Order Management feature is included with the base product as a no-charge feature, but is not installed by default.

• MarcomCentral Connect improvements

  With the addition of the Order Management feature, integration with MarcomCentral is easier than ever. Sample workflows provided in the MacomCentral Connect feature have been updated to use the objects introduced by Order Management for faster integration with your Marcom storefront.

• Improved license key installation

  We have redesigned the license installation process to improve the experience. The process is now faster and has better messaging and feedback, so you know which feature licenses are activated.

• Support for RICOH Pro 8400 series printers

  RICOH ProcessDirector now supports sending jobs to these printers with the Fiery EB-36 digital front end:

  • Pro 8400S
  • Pro 8410
  • Pro 8410S
  • Pro 8420
  • Pro 8420S
  • Pro 8420Y (Japan only)

• Usability improvements
  • On the Workflow Editor, step templates and step chains have been moved to a stationary side panel, instead of displaying in a floating window. In the panel, both step templates and step chains have also been grouped into categories, to make finding the item you need easier.
  • In the Migration Assistant, you can now cancel and revert a migration in progress. Objects and files that were migrated are reverted to their pre-migration versions.

New functions and updates in Version 3.12.2

• Integrate document composition using FusionPro into your workflows

  With this release, we introduce the FusionPro Connect feature, which lets you send jobs from RICOH ProcessDirector to FusionPro Server for composition and/or impositioning.

• Run RICOH ProcessDirector with your own PostgreSQL database

  You can now configure RICOH ProcessDirector to use a PostgreSQL database that you install, instead of using the version installed with the product or using IBM DB2. Your database can be installed on the primary computer or anywhere in your network that the primary server can access.

• Migration Assistant enhancements

  The Migration Assistant makes moving from one system to another easier with two major improvements:

  • Configuration file migration

    You can now migrate configuration files stored in the /aiw/aiw1 directory to the target system without manual intervention.

  • Reports database configuration and migration

    The Migration Assistant can help you set up your Reports database on the target system. Whether you want to set up the target system to connect to the same Reports database that the source system currently uses, or you want to create a new database and move your existing data into it, the Migration Assistant makes the process easier.

  In addition, you can now pause/resume and cancel a migration that is in progress.

• Improved security with fapolicyd support

  If your company uses the File Access Policy Daemon (fapolicyd) to secure your computing environment, RICOH ProcessDirector now provides scripts to generate the list of the standard directories that it uses and a list of rules that permit RICOH ProcessDirector to run.

• Support for requesting a printer preset with a job

  If you print AFP jobs, you can now send a printer preset request along with the job. If the printer supports the function, it changes its settings to use that preset automatically before printing the job.

• Embedded Tomcat version updated

  To address security and functionality issues, the version of Tomcat included in RICOH ProcessDirector has been updated to version 9.

New functions and updates in Version 3.12.1

• Updated translations

  The content of the Version 3.12 product interface and the help system has been translated into these languages:

  • Brazilian Portuguese
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Spanish

  To see the translated user interface and help content, download and install the Language Pack for your language.

• Upgrade and migrate to PostgreSQL on the same system

  In RICOH ProcessDirector version 3.12, we introduced support for PostgreSQL as the main database underlying RICOH ProcessDirector. To move to PostgreSQL, you were required to install version 3.12 on a different server and use the Migration Assistant to migrate your data. With version 3.12.1, you can upgrade and migrate your data on the same system. Install RICOH ProcessDirector, making sure to choose the PostgreSQL database configuration. After the installation completes, follow the instructions to migrate your data, then remove IBM DB2 from your primary computer.

• XML-RPC calls no longer supported

  The Connect extension, which let you connect to RICOH ProcessDirector remotely and use XML-RPC calls in scripts, is deprecated and no longer supported. We recommend using RICOH ProcessDirector web service API instead.

• Additional updates include:
  • Ability to save the View job in workflow image
  • Added the StepChainDemo workflow to illustrate the use of step chains
  • Updated prerequisites for the Preprinted Forms Replacement feature, so customers with the AFP Support Feature can install Preprinted Forms Replacement without also installing PDF Document Support.
  • Usability updates for the Migration Assistant

New functions and updates in Version 3.12

• Primary database options now available

  After many years of supporting only one database, RICOH ProcessDirector can now run with PostgreSQL as its primary database. While IBM DB2 is still supported in the same configuration as it has been, PostgreSQL is now the default database configuration. Existing customers can upgrade to version 3.12 and continue to use DB2 with no interruptions, or can choose to migrate their data to a PostgreSQL database.

  Note: To migrate data from DB2 to PostgreSQL, you must install RICOH ProcessDirector version 3.12 on a different computer. You cannot install the PostgreSQL configuration on the same system as an existing DB2 configuration.
• Migration simplified

  One of the most challenging aspects of moving to a new version of an application is ensuring that everything still works. Especially when the upgrade requires moving to a new system, it is challenging to know that you have copied everything that needs to be there. The RICOH ProcessDirector Migration Assistant now makes the process much easier.

  Install the base product on a new system, then log in and start the Migration Assistant. Use the Assistant to connect to your existing installation, choose the objects and settings to migrate to the new one, and let the Assistant do the work. The Migration Assistant can handle moving data from an existing DB2 database to PostgreSQL, and can even work across operating systems.

• RICOH ProcessDirector for AIX replacement

  In version 3.12, RICOH ProcessDirector for AIX has been discontinued. Customers running on AIX can continue to use the application until the end of support date. Alternately, they can migrate to version 3.12 on Linux or Windows and use the Migration Assistant to port their data to a new system.

• New Supported Printers

  RICOH ProcessDirector now supports printer models with the new Fiery® N-series Controller Digital Front Ends, based on Fiery and Ricoh technology. You can define these new printer models as Ricoh PDF printers:

  • RICOH Pro C7500
  • RICOH Pro C9500

New functions and updates in Version 3.11.2

• New support for custom job properties

  With this release, you can create custom properties for jobs. In the past, RICOH ProcessDirector provided 20 job properties that you could use to store custom information. However, you could not rename the fields or change anything about them. With this new function, you can create your own job properties-- assigning unique field and database property names as you want to see them.

  To define custom job properties, use the Custom properties page on the Administration tab. Fill in the property notebook, activate the property, and you can start using it in your workflows!

• An easier way to define custom document properties

  The same Custom properties page used to define custom job properties can also be used to define document properties! This new function significantly reduces the overhead associated with creating custom document properties. You no longer need to update the docCustomProperties.xml file, run the DocCustom utility, or install the new property. Simply fill in the fields in the custom property notebook and activate. Your document properties are ready to use!

• Updated Adobe Acrobat Plug-in

  The RICOH ProcessDirector Plug-in for Adobe Acrobat has been updated to support the OpenJDK™Java® JRE Version 1.8 in addition to Oracle® Java. An appropriate JRE must be installed on your system before you install the Plug-in. With this update, we strongly recommend installing the 64-bit version of the JRE.

  In addition, you can now install the Plug-in with the 64-bit version of Adobe Acrobat Pro.

• Updates to translated publications

  Books and help systems containing translated information for function released in Version 3.11.1 are now available. To see the translated help content and updated books from the help menu, download and install the Language Pack for your language. PDF versions of the books are also available in the RICOH Software Information Center (https://help.ricohsoftware.com/swinfocenter/)

New functions and updates in Version 3.11.1

• Updated translations

  The content of the Version 3.11 product interface and the help system has been translated into these languages:

  • Brazilian Portuguese
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Spanish

  To see the translated user interface and help content, download and install the Language Pack for your language.

• Choose paper for banner pages using media settings

  If you're printing PDF jobs, you can now specify which paper to print banner pages on by media, instead of by specifying a paper tray. Your banner pages print on the correct paper, regardless of where that paper is loaded. This function is available for Ricoh PDF, Kodak PDF, and Xerox PDF printers.

• User interface updates

  The user interface has been enhanced to adjust the size of your portlets to fit inside your browser window. When you change the size of the window (by changing the dimensions of the browser or by moving it to a different screen), the portlets shrink or expand to fill the space available.

• Data capture improvements

  With this update, you can download a data capture file to your system directly from the data capture page, so you don't have to access the primary server to retrieve the file. You can also stop a capture that is already in progress.

New functions and updates in Version 3.11

• Ability to restore to a previous installation of RICOH ProcessDirector

  With this version of RICOH ProcessDirector, you can restore a previous installation using Feature Manager. With this new function, you install a new feature and then effectively back it out if you decide that it does not meet your needs. Or, if you apply an update but something goes wrong during the install process, you can restore the installation from before the update to get back to a stable state before you try to update again.

• New data collector to collect information about processing durations

  Now, you can use the Job Step Duration data collector to collect information about how long each step was in the queued and processing states, as well as the total length of time it takes for each step in a workflow to complete processing. You can also select job properties to capture at the end of each step.

• Operating system support changes

  In this release, we have removed support for installing RICOH ProcessDirector on Windows Server 2016.

• Include the Preset name in AFP print jobs

  If you send AFP print jobs to a printer that uses TotalFlow Print Server, you can now include the name of the printer preset to use for the job as a job property.

• Security vulnerabilities addressed

  Ricoh is committed to responding to results of vulnerability scans and will continue to include those fixes in each release that we deliver. In this release, various components were updated to address these vulnerabilities, including:

  • AFP Support
  • Avanti Slingshot Connect
  • Reports
  • Printer Connector
  • Ricoh PDF Printer
  • DB2
  • Product Update

Release notes for prior versions of RICOH ProcessDirector are available on the RICOH Software Information Center here: Release notes: RICOH ProcessDirector

The RICOH ProcessDirector base product is made up of these components:

You can use these products from Ricoh and its subsidiaries with RICOH ProcessDirector:

Avanti Slingshot

Avanti Slingshot is a JDF-certified print management information platform. With the Avanti Slingshot Connect feature, you can use RICOH ProcessDirector and Slingshot together, passing jobs and data between the programs.

RICOH InfoPrint Manager

InfoPrint Manager for AIX (Program Number 5765-F68), InfoPrint Manager for Linux (Program Number 5648-F40-0003L, and InfoPrint Manager for Windows (Program Number 5639-N49) are print servers that handle scheduling, archiving, retrieving, and assembly of a print job and its related resource files. InfoPrint Manager cannot be installed on the same server as RICOH ProcessDirector.

MarcomCentral

MarcomCentral is a distributed marketing software platform that you can use to customize and distribute marketing materials. With the MarcomCentral Connect feature, you can integrate MarcomCentral with your RICOH ProcessDirector workflows.

FusionPro

FusionPro is an application suite for Variable Data Printing (VDP) that offers a wide range of document personalization functions. With the FusionPro Connect feature, you can integrate FusionPro with your RICOH ProcessDirector workflows.

RICOH InfoPrint XT for Windows

RICOH InfoPrint XT for Windows (Program Number 5765-XTA) transforms Xerox metacode and line conditioned data stream (LCDS) jobs to AFP. If you plan to install RICOH InfoPrint XT for Windows on the same server as RICOH ProcessDirector, make sure that it is installed after RICOH ProcessDirector.

Requires the AFP Support feature.

RICOH Supervisor

RICOH Supervisor is a cloud-based application that helps you monitor, understand, and improve your print production environment through visual representations. With the Reports and RICOH Supervisor Connect features, you can collect data about your print operations, send them to RICOH Supervisor, and create custom dashboards to display the data.

You can use these products from other companies with RICOH ProcessDirector:

AFP Download Plus

AFP Download Plus is a separately ordered feature of IBM Print Services Facility for z/OS (IBM Program Number 5655-M32) that transforms line data to MO:DCA-P data and then transmits the print job with all required resources to RICOH ProcessDirector.

Requires the AFP Support feature.

Download for z/OS

Download for z/OS is a separately ordered feature of IBM Print Services Facility for z/OS (IBM Program Number 5655-M32) and is used to submit jobs to RICOH ProcessDirector. Download for z/OS automatically transmits output across the TCP/IP network from the host system to RICOH ProcessDirector for printing or archiving.

Requires the AFP Support feature.

Enfocus PitStop Server

PitStop Server provides PDF preflight functionality. With the PitStop Connect feature, you can include steps to send PDFs jobs to PitStop in your RICOH ProcessDirector workflows.

Ultimate Impostrip®

Ultimate Impostrip® optimizes prepress imposition processes. With the Ultimate Impostrip® Connect feature, you can integrate the imposition functions of Ultimate Impostrip® Automation or Scalable into your RICOH ProcessDirector workflows.

Quadient Inspire

Quadient Inspire enables organizations to create and deliver personalized, compliant customer communications across all digital and traditional channels, from one centralized hub. With the Quadient Inspire Connect and AFP Support features, you can send AFP jobs to Quadient Inspire for processing during your RICOH ProcessDirector workflows.

Different components and features of RICOH ProcessDirector are installed on separate computers. Those computers have different minimum requirements than the one that the base product and all other features are installed on. These components are:

• RICOH ProcessDirector Plug-in for Adobe Acrobat (part of the PDF Document Support feature)

  See RICOH ProcessDirector: Installing Document Processing Features, G550-20312, for a description of the requirements.

The performance of RICOH ProcessDirector and its attached printers depends on the availability and efficiency of memory, processors, disk space, and network resources in the system configuration. Performance also depends on the content of the print data streams being processed and the overall load on the system. For example, complex print jobs, such as those containing images or bar codes, require more resources than those containing plain text. For help determining which hardware configuration meets your print requirements, contact your Ricoh representative to request a workload analysis and system sizing.

SSL and TLS are widely used to protect data on the Internet. The SSL and TLS protocols use digital certificates to establish a secure connection between a web server and any client systems that interact with it. After the connection is established, data transferred between the systems is encrypted using security keys. Only the intended recipient of the information can decrypt the data.

You can also use SSL or TLS to protect data on a smaller scale, such as within a print system like RICOH ProcessDirector. You can activate SSL or TLS to provide a greater level of security for the print data that is exchanged between the primary server and user interfaces, as well as the data that is exchanged with other applications using the web services that RICOH ProcessDirector supports.

To use SSL or TLS on a computer, you must obtain a digital certificate and install it on that computer. It is recommended that you get your certificate from a certificate authority (CA), because CAs are considered trusted third parties. You can use a self-signed certificate for testing, but using that certificate on production systems is not recommended.

When the certificate is issued, the CA sends it to you in an e-mail. You store the certificate in a keystore on the computer that the certificate is registered to.

After the web server is configured to use it, SSL or TLS is automatically used for communications. The URL for the RICOH ProcessDirector user interface changes to use the https:// prefix. You can still access the user interface using the http:// address, but you can configure the web server to forward all requests to the secure address.

To use SSL or TLS with RICOH ProcessDirector, you can get a digital certificate and install it on the primary computer before you install the base product. After the base product is installed, you must activate SSL or TLS in the RICOH ProcessDirector web server component.

When configuring this type of system, the operating system prerequisites, memory and file system requirements still apply. Three other network configuration items are important:

• The host name assigned to the RICOH ProcessDirector instance cannot change when the server is restarted. If this value changes over a restart, you will have a short grace period to update your license keys before the system stops running.
• If you are printing across an externally hosted or distributed network, you may need substantial network bandwidth to keep high-speed printers running at rated speed over long distances. Contact Ricoh Software Support for help with configuring your network capacity.
• Securing data across your network and from cloud platforms to printers on the ground is your responsibility. Use of virtual private networks (VPNs) sometimes introduces performance degradation in file transfer. Involve your network and security administrators when planning to host RICOH ProcessDirector in these environments.

RICOH ProcessDirector requires this software on the primary computer:

• A supported Windows operating system
• A supported database

  RICOH ProcessDirector uses a database to manage the flow of data. Two databases are supported:

  PostgreSQL

  The default database for RICOH ProcessDirector in version 3.12 and higher. You can choose to install the PostgreSQL version that comes with RICOH ProcessDirector or use you own version of PostgreSQL installed separately. The RICOH ProcessDirector installation program installs PostgreSQL on your system if you choose this option.

  Note:
  • If PostgreSQL version 15 is already installed on the system where you are installing RICOH ProcessDirector, RICOH ProcessDirector uses the version installed.

  For download and installation instructions, refer to these links:

  • https://www.postgresql.org/download/
  • https://www.postgresql.org/docs/

  IBM DB2

  The default database for RICOH ProcessDirector in version 3.11.2 and lower and an alternate configuration for version 3.12 and higher.

These features require additional software:

• PitStop Connect

  Enfocus PitStop Server 10 or higher on the primary computer.

• FusionPro Connect

  FusionPro Server on the primary computer where RICOH ProcessDirector is installed.

• Ultimate Impostrip® Connect

  Ultimate Impostrip® Automation or Scalable on the primary computer or on a separate Windows system.

  Note:
  • If your Windows computer runs in a language other than English, do not install Ultimate Impostrip® in the default install directory. The program does not work properly with non-English default install paths. We recommend installing Ultimate Impostrip® in C:\ImpostripOnDemand on non-English Windows computers.
• Quadient Inspire Connect

  Quadient Inspire Designer V8 or higher.

• The AFP Support feature includes RICOH Visual Workbench, a separate user interface that you can install on any Linux or Windows system in your network.

  Java 1.8 or later must be installed on the system that is used for RICOH Visual Workbench.

• The PDF Document Support feature includes RICOH ProcessDirector Plug-in for Adobe Acrobat, a separate user interface that you can install on a Windows system in your network. Java 1.8 or later and Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 or DC must be installed on the system that is used for RICOH ProcessDirector Plug-in for Adobe Acrobat.
• RICOH Transform features

  Java Runtime Environment 1.4 or higher.

  WorldType Fonts version 8.13 for RICOH SAP to AFP files to transform correctly when IS/3 support is enabled.

• Avanti Slingshot Connect

  Avanti Slingshot with the JDF Integration add-on installed on a primary computer.

Other required software:

• A supported web browser

  A browser is required to open the RICOH ProcessDirector user interface, so it is required on any system that is used to access the user interface.

• A PDF viewer

  A PDF viewer is used inside the RICOH ProcessDirector user interface to display the contents of print jobs. It should be installed on any system that is used to access the user interface, but it is not required. If you open the user interface from a computer that does not have a PDF viewer installed, you see an error message if you try to view a job. Using Adobe Reader is recommended as it provides the most functionality.

You can install optional software to be used with RICOH ProcessDirector. The categories of optional software are:

• Job submission
• Data transforms
• Fonts
• Formatting changes to PDF banner pages

You might need to uninstall RICOH ProcessDirector (for example, if you need to restore to a previous level).