Batching methods

The way that hot folder and SFTP input devices submit jobs is determined by the Batching method property of the input device.

By default, using any batching method except None causes an input device to create jobs as groups that use the parent/child structure. A parent job contains no data; it is a container that maintains the relationship between other jobs. Those jobs are child jobs. Each input file that a batching method includes in a group becomes a child job.

For all batching methods except None, JDF, and List, RICOH ProcessDirector for Windows processes child jobs in the order that the files were last modified. The Windows Date Modified value is shown as the value of the Time submitted job property. Because the Date Modified value does not change when the file is received by the input device, a file created in 2010 and submitted in 2011 shows a Time submitted from 2010.

    Note:
  • If you set the Create .zip file property of an input device to Yes, the input device does not create groups of jobs that use the parent/child structure. Instead, the input device gathers all the input files in the group and creates a ZIP file to hold them. The ZIP file is submitted as a single job. You must have a step in the workflow that unzips the file unless the other steps can process a file in ZIP file format.
  • You can submit all the input files in an input device with the Batch all action on the input device as long as the Batching method is not JDF or Pattern. The Batch all action does not wait for the Polling interval to be reached before creating the jobs.

In this section:

  1. Batch
    When the batching method is Batch, the input device submits one or more files as a group, based on the files that an operator selects.
  2. JDF
    When the batching method is JDF, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits one or more files as a group, based on the contents of the job ticket.
  3. List
    When the batching method is List, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits one or more files as a group, based on the contents of a list file that is received by the input device.
  4. None
    When the batching method is None, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits every file as a separate print job.
  5. Number
    When the batching method is Number, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits a specific number of files as a group. Only files that match the Data patterns property of the hot folder or SFTP input device are counted and submitted.
  6. Number of sets
    When the batching method is Number of sets, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits one or more jobs after a specific number of sets of files are received. Only complete sets of files are counted and submitted.
  7. Pages
    When the batching method is Pages, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits one or more PDF files as a group, based on the number of pages in the files that are received by the input device. This method is only valid for PDF files.
  8. Pages in sets
    When the batching method is Pages in sets, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits one or more jobs after a set of PDF files with a specified page count is received by the in put device. This method is only valid for PDF files.
  9. Pattern
    When the batching method is Pattern, the hot folder or SFTP input device copies one print file and its related files to the spool file directory for the job as soon as it has all the required files. All these files must match the values set for the Data patterns property and the properties on the Batching tab of the input device properties notebook.
  10. Sets by time
    When the batching method is Sets by time, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits one or more jobs containing complete sets of files that arrive within a specified time period. The time period is determined by the values set for the Batching start date, Batching start time, Batching interval, and Batching date or Frequency properties.
  11. Time
    When the batching method is Time, the hot folder or SFTP input device submits one or more files as a group. Only files that match the Data patterns property and that arrive during the time period determined by the values set for the Batching start date, Batching start time, Batching interval, and Batching date or Frequency properties are submitted.
  12. Overrides files
    When you create a workflow, you can set default values for many job properties. However, those default values might not be appropriate for every job. If you want to send different values with a print job, you can use an overrides file.
  13. List files
    You can use list files to process multiple files with or without a JDF job ticket or to process overrides files with files.

Related information:

Setting up hot folder input devices to process batch jobs
Regular expression syntax
Setting up hot folder input devices to process batch jobs
BuildPDFFromZIP
SubmitInputFiles
Parent topic: Preparing to submit batch jobs