Creating a new batch

This section describes how to create a new batch of jobs and set different properties for the batch.

There are various methods to create a new batch:

  1. Click , the New Batch button, from the Batches panel.

    The New Batch panel is displayed:

    Volume Estimates
    The system displays the estimated values for jobs, sheets, and run time.
    Batch Name
    You can specify the name of the new batch.
    Output Destination
    You can select a hot folder destination from the list.
    Estimated Output Speed
    The system displays the estimated output speed set for the selected output destination. You can edit the output speed and select the measurement unit from the list.
    Aggregate
    Click the checkbox if you want to enable the job aggregation for this batch. You can enable or disable job aggregation from Admin ⇒ Production Settings ⇒ Aggregate.

    Note: After a batch is sent, the Banner Sheets and Aggregate checkboxes appear disabled.
    Jobs tab

    A list of all the jobs from the batch are displayed. You can sort the jobs using one or more columns.

    If Aggregate is enabled, you can view all the aggregate jobs.

    To reorder the list of jobs, click Update Sequence.

    Note: When a job is in the Awaiting Approval state, you can right-click the job, and select Impose ⇒ Approve Imposition or Reject Imposition.

    Volume Estimates tab

    You can select volume estimates to display in the batch information. The possible values for each menu are:

    • None
    • Jobs
    • Sheets
    • Feet
    • Meters
    • Run (h:m)
    • Impressions
    • File Size

    Preview

    The system displays a preview of the volume estimates of the batch. This information is shown in the list of batches in the Batches panel.

    Note: If the Preview does not display the estimation, refer to Troubleshooting.
    Imposition tab

    Gang-up

    To send all the jobs together to be imposed, click Gang jobs together. When you enable this option, the Include copies option is automatically enabled. As a result, one imposition file is created for the entire batch. The imposition file contains the specified number of copies of each job and it is sent to the output with the Copies attribute value 1.

    Include copies

    To apply imposition on all the copies, select Include copies in output.

    When this option is enabled, the imposed file created for each job contains the specified number of job copies and is sent to the output with the Copies attribute value 1.

    When Include copies in output option is disabled, the imposed file contains one copy for each job and the actual value of the Copies attribute is sent to the output.

    Ultimate Impostrip® Folder

    You can specify the folder name where TotalFlow BatchBuilder sends the jobs to be imposed. The imposition is applied to all the jobs from this batch. Any predefined imposition for an individual job is overwritten.

    Select a hot folder from the list or type in the name of the hot folder. The list of hot folders can only be edited from the Ultimate Impostrip application. You can add or remove hot folders using Ultimate Impostrip.

    Click , the Refresh, button to refresh the list of hot folders.

    Imposition Review

    You can enable or disable the imposition review. To switch between the enabled and disabled states, click the Enabled/ Disabled button. When imposition review is enabled, the job is held and you can view and approve the imposed file before sending it to an output. The default setting is Disabled.

    Banner Sheets tab
    Click the checkbox if you want to include banner sheets for job files in the output folder.
    Paper
    If you select the Banner Sheets checkbox, the Paper presets are available. Properties set here become banner sheets defaults;
    • Match Job — disables the controls that configure media and uses default settings.
    • Custom — enables the controls that configure media, any setting specified are included in banner sheets XML/JDF/CSV.
    If you select Custom value, you can type in or select a media from the output Paper Catalog list. To add a paper type, click the Add Paper button.
    Paper Name
    You can edit the name of the paper used. You can enter a string of maximum 256 characters. This field is mandatory.
    Product ID
    You can edit the product ID. You can enter a string of maximum 256 characters.
    Paper Type
    You can edit or select the type of paper used from a list:
    • Bond
    • Offset Text
    • Cover
    • Tag
    • Index
    Paper Weight
    The paper weight varies based on the paper type and the paper size. You can edit the paper weight.
    Paper Color
    You can type in or select the paper color form a list.
    Paper Finish
    You can type in or select the paper finish from a list:
    • Uncoated
    • Coated
    • Glossing Finish
    • Ink Jet Finish
    • High Gloss Finish
    • Matte Finish
    • Polymer Finish
    • Satin Finish
    • Semigloss Finish
    • Silver Finish
    Paper Height
    The height of the paper.
    Paper Width
    The width of the paper.
    Batch Tickets tab

    Specify if you want to print the batch details and the location where to send the batch ticket. The system generates a batch ticket file containing the batch details.

    Batch Ticket Printer

    Send Batch Tickets to a Printer
    Select this option to send the batch ticket to a printer. Choose a printer from an existing list of printers mapped to the TotalFlow BatchBuilder server. You can also specify the number of copies of batch tickets you want to print.
    Send Batch Tickets to Output Device
    Select this option to send the batch ticket to the specified output device. The batch ticket file is placed as the first job in the batch and the job sequence number for the batch ticket is 0. The batch ticket file is not displayed in the batch detail dialog and does not appear as a job in the user interface.
    Paper

    Specify which job properties you want to use for the batch ticket media:

    • A4 — Uses the default media settings for job properties.
    • Custom — Allows you to specify media settings for job properties.
        Note:
      • The first value for the Paper properties is displayed based on installation settings. A4 is displayed for metric system and Letter is displayed for imperial system.
      Paper Name
      You can edit the name of the paper used. You can enter a string of maximum 256 characters.
      Paper Type
      You can select the type of paper used from a list:
      • Bond
      • Offset Text
      • Cover
      • Tag
      • Index
      Paper Weight
      The paper weight varies based on the paper type and the paper size. You can edit the paper weight.
      Paper Color
      You can type in or select the paper color form a list.
      Paper Finish
      You can type in or select the paper finish from a list:
      • Uncoated
      • Coated
      • Glossing Finish
      • Ink Jet Finish
      • High Gloss Finish
      • Matte Finish
      • Polymer Finish
      • Satin Finish
      • Semigloss Finish
      • Silver Finish
      Paper Height
      You can specify the height of the paper.
      Paper Width
      You can specify the width of the paper.

  2. You can create a new batch using an existing filter.

    Select a filter from the Filters panel. Drag and drop the filter into the Batches panel. You can also right-click the filter and select Create Batch….

    You can select a component from a combined filter in the Filters panel, right-click the component, and select Create Batch…. This action creates a batch from the selected component of the combined filter. The system also creates a batch from each component that contains jobs from the same order as the selected component.

    If the selected filter has an Output Destination set, a new batch is automatically created and the jobs from the filter are added to the new batch. If the filter does not have an Output Destination set, the New Batch panel is displayed and the Output Destination field is highlighted as required. Select a destination from the list and click OK.

    Note: The new batch inherits the filter properties:
    1. The new batch name uses the filter name.
    2. The filter Output Destination, Speed, Estimated Output Speed, and Run Time are used for the new batch properties.
    3. If a sorting criteria is set on the filter, the order of the jobs in the filter is inherited through the sequence in the new batch. The sorting criteria is not inherited.
  3. You can select a number of jobs from a job list and move them to a new batch.

    From a filtered list of jobs, select the jobs you want to move to a new batch. Drag and drop the jobs to the Batches panel. The new batch loads the properties from the filter containing the selected jobs.

      Note:
    1. When you select one or more jobs, an information bar is displayed at the bottom of the window. This information consists of the number of jobs selected, the number of sheets, the number of feet, and the number of impressions for the selected jobs. When you start the drag and drop action, the system displays the information bar in the dragging animation.

      Depending on the selection you made at the installation time, the measurement system can be different.

    2. If the selected jobs are included in a filter, the information displayed matches the one set in the Volume Estimates tab.

    To create the new batch, click OK.

    To close the New Batch panel and discard the entered information, click Cancel.

  4. You can select one or more jobs from the job list.

    Select one or more jobs from the job list, right-click, and select an existing batch or select the Batch ⇒ New Batch to create a new batch. A confirmation message appears on the right panel to confirm that the new batch has been created successfully.

    Note: If the selected jobs are unbatchable, the right-click is disabled.

Parent topic: Managing Objects