Hot folder input devices

Hot folder input devices can receive print jobs that include a single file, jobs that include multiple files, and jobs that include JDF job tickets.

When you configure a hot folder, you determine what types of jobs it should handle. Then, you have to make sure that jobs are submitted to the correct hot folder so they are processed correctly. Otherwise, print jobs can encounter errors before they even start to process through a workflow.

Input files can be processed individually or as groups. To process them as groups, you can create a batch. Some batching methods require additional supporting files that must be submitted with the input files.

The figure Hot folder input device processing shows how a hot folder input device processes jobs. The input device acts on jobs based on the value of the batching method and passes the job to the Submit step.

Hot folder input device processing

This figure shows how a hot folder input device processes jobs. The input device acts on jobs based on the value of the batching method, as described in the text.

Permissions

All users who submit jobs to a hot folder (including the user IDs that job submission applications run under) must have the appropriate permissions for that folder. The easiest way to make sure that users have the correct permissions is to add all submitters to the RICOH ProcessDirector group (aiwgrp1 is the default), which is created when RICOH ProcessDirector is installed.

In this section:

  1. Batching methods
    The way that hot folder and SFTP input devices submit jobs is determined by the Batching method property of the input device.
  2. Files for batch jobs
    Hot folder input devices can submit every file they receive as a separate print job, or they can group print files together to create larger jobs, called batch jobs. The simplest batch jobs contain only print files. More complex batch jobs include files that locate the print files and files that set job properties.
  3. Assigning workflows
    When an input file enters the RICOH ProcessDirector system, one of the first actions that the input device does is to assign a workflow to it. After the input device assigns the workflow, the job can begin to move through the processing steps. There are several methods through which the input device can assign the workflow. You configure the method to meet the requirements of the installation.
  4. Setting up hot folder input devices to process batch jobs
    To set up a hot folder input device to process batch jobs, you must configure it to use the appropriate batching method and to recognize the input files.
  5. Configuring to use JDF job tickets
    Before you can submit jobs with JDF tickets, you must configure the input devices that receive the jobs. You also must configure the workflows that the jobs are assigned to. Printers defined as Ricoh PDF printers can manage PDF jobs with JDF tickets better than printers defined as Passthrough or Custom PDF printers can.
Parent topic: Submitting jobs from other applications