Process

Note: Configuration of the PPF connection of a prepress system described below refers to prepress systems that are supplied by third parties and do not permit a JDF connection (only PPF connection). In a Prinect Integration Manager configuration (or Prinect Production Manager configuration), the Prinect Prepress Manager is normally installed and used as the prepress system. The Prinect Prepress Manager communicates with the Prinect Pressroom Manager via a JDF connection. No manual configuration is needed for the internal communication and data exchange between the Prinect Prepress Manager and the Prinect Pressroom Manager. All required settings are set up automatically during the installation.

In the Prinect Manager, a new job can be generated using the JDF/JMF file (from MIS) or the PPF/CIP3 file (from the prepress system), How a new job will be generated depends on which of the two data types (JDF or PPF) is processed first, and how the Prinect Workflow was configured. It is vital, however, that the job is always generated by the MIS using the JDF/JMF file and the PPF/CIP3 file is then assigned to the corresponding job. A job generated via the PPF/CIP3 file cannot be assigned to a JDF/JMF file. For this reason, it must always be ensured that the JDF/JMF file is processed prior to the PPF/CIP3 file in the Prinect Manager.

The procedure in the JDF-PPF workflow is as follows:

•The MIS (e.g. Prinect Business Manager) provides a JDF/JMF file.

•A new job is created from the JDF/JMF file in the Prinect Manager.

•The prepress system delivers one or more PPF/CIP3 files.

•Based on the job number, the PPF/CIP3 files of the prepress system are assigned to the job that has already been created (from the JDF file/JMF message).

In practice, however, it can occur that the prepress system supplies PPF/CIP3 files and the job (JDF file/JMF message) is generated only later by the MIS. Or the prepress system delivers PPF/CIP3 files in which the job number does not correspond with the job number in the JDF/JMF file from the MIS.

Furthermore, the system behavior always depends on the job number and the sheet designation, which are both contained in the JDF/JMF file and in the PPF/CIP3 file. Automatically merging JDF/JMF file and the PPF/CIP3 file is only possible if the job number in the JDF/JMF file and the job number in the PPF/CIP3 file are identical. If this is not the case, manual intervention is necessary. You will find a detailed description of how to intervene manually in the section Working in the "Job Combiner".

For a better understanding, practical examples in section System behavior will explain the effects.

System behavior

Note: A new job is usually only generated if the job number (which is specified in the JDF/JMF file) has not yet been created in the Prinect Manager.

Note: An input folder (hotfolder) is used for PPF import (see PPF Input Directory). Prinect Manager will process sheets written to the hotfolder during PPF import with a (group) sequence.

Practical applications

What is imported first: JDF- > PPF file or PPF- > JDF file	Job ID and sheet name of the JDF and PPF file	Effects
JDF file -> PPF file	•Job ID is identical •Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.	•The job is created by the JDF file. •Automatic assignment of the PPF file to the job.
JDF file -> PPF file	•Job number is not identical. •Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.	•The job is created by the JDF file. •The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner". Manual assignment to the job is required. Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".
JDF file -> PPF file	•Job number is identical. •Sheet with the sheet designation is not existent in the job.	•The job is created by the JDF file. •Case 1: Automatic assignment of the PPF file to the job if the "Define new sheets" option was enabled in the PPF import configuration. •Case 2: Manual assignment of the PPF file to the job if the "Define new sheets" option was disabled in the PPF import configuration. Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".
JDF file -> PPF file The same PPF file is imported again.	•Job number is identical. •Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.	•The job is created by the JDF file. •Automatic assignment of the PPF file to the job. •Case 1: The imported second PPF file is discarded if the "Replace existing sheets" option was disabled in the PPF import configuration. •Case 2: The imported first PPF file assigned to the job is replaced by the second PPF file if the "Replace existing sheets" option was enabled in the PPF import configuration.
JDF file -> PPF file The PPF file contains fewer or more separations.	•Job number is identical. •Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.	•The job is created by the JDF file. •Automatic assignment of the PPF file to the job with the new separations.
JDF file -> PPF file Further PPF files with other sheets and sheet names are imported.	•Job number is identical. •Sheet with the sheet designation is not existent in the job.	•The job is created by the JDF file. •Automatic assignment of the 1st PPF file to the job. •Case 1: Automatic assignment of more PPF files to the job if the "Define new sheets" option was enabled in the PPF import configuration. •Case 2: Manual assignment of the PPF files to the job if the "Define new sheets" option was disabled in the PPF import configuration. Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".
PPF file -> JDF file The PPF file contains fewer or more separations than the JDF file.	•Job number is identical. •Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.	•The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner". •The job is created by the JDF file. •The buffered PPF file must be assigned to the job manually. Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".
PPF file -> JDF file	•Job number is identical. •Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.	•The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner" because the "Job attachment from PPF" option is disabled in the PPF import configuration in a JDF-PPF workflow. •The job is created by the JDF file. •The buffered PPF file must be assigned to the job manually. Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".
PPF file > JDF file	•Job number is identical. •Sheet with the sheet designation is not existent in the job.	•The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner". •The job is created by the JDF file.
PPF file -> no JDF file	•Is irrelevant	•No job is created. •The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner" because the "Job attachment from PPF" option is disabled in the PPF import configuration in a JDF-PPF workflow. •A new job must be generated manually from the buffered PPF file. This is done in the "Job Combiner".

What is imported first:

JDF- > PPF file or PPF- > JDF file

Job ID and sheet name of the JDF and PPF file

Effects

JDF file -> PPF file

•Job ID is identical

•Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.

•The job is created by the JDF file.

•Automatic assignment of the PPF file to the job.

JDF file -> PPF file

•Job number is not identical.

•Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.

•The job is created by the JDF file.

•The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner". Manual assignment to the job is required. Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".

JDF file -> PPF file

•Job number is identical.

•Sheet with the sheet designation is not existent in the job.

•The job is created by the JDF file.

•Case 1: Automatic assignment of the PPF file to the job if the "Define new sheets" option was enabled in the PPF import configuration.

•Case 2: Manual assignment of the PPF file to the job if the "Define new sheets" option was disabled in the PPF import configuration.

Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".

JDF file -> PPF file

The same PPF file is imported again.

•Job number is identical.

•Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.

•The job is created by the JDF file.

•Automatic assignment of the PPF file to the job.

•Case 1: The imported second PPF file is discarded if the "Replace existing sheets" option was disabled in the PPF import configuration.

•Case 2: The imported first PPF file assigned to the job is replaced by the second PPF file if the "Replace existing sheets" option was enabled in the PPF import configuration.

JDF file -> PPF file

The PPF file contains fewer or more separations.

•Job number is identical.

•Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.

•The job is created by the JDF file.

•Automatic assignment of the PPF file to the job with the new separations.

JDF file -> PPF file

Further PPF files with other sheets and sheet names are imported.

•Job number is identical.

•Sheet with the sheet designation is not existent in the job.

•The job is created by the JDF file.

•Automatic assignment of the 1st PPF file to the job.

•Case 1: Automatic assignment of more PPF files to the job if the "Define new sheets" option was enabled in the PPF import configuration.

•Case 2: Manual assignment of the PPF files to the job if the "Define new sheets" option was disabled in the PPF import configuration.

Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".

PPF file -> JDF file

The PPF file contains fewer or more separations than the JDF file.

•Job number is identical.

•Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.

•The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner".

•The job is created by the JDF file.

•The buffered PPF file must be assigned to the job manually.

Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".

PPF file -> JDF file

•Job number is identical.

•Sheet with the sheet designation exists in the job.

•The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner" because the "Job attachment from PPF" option is disabled in the PPF import configuration in a JDF-PPF workflow.

•The job is created by the JDF file.

•The buffered PPF file must be assigned to the job manually.

Manual assignment is done in the "Job Combiner".

PPF file > JDF file

•Job number is identical.

•Sheet with the sheet designation is not existent in the job.

•The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner".

•The job is created by the JDF file.

PPF file -> no JDF file

•Is irrelevant

•No job is created.

•The PPF file is buffered in the "Job Combiner" because the "Job attachment from PPF" option is disabled in the PPF import configuration in a JDF-PPF workflow.

•A new job must be generated manually from the buffered PPF file.

This is done in the "Job Combiner".

Maximum Length of the Job Number

So that the job can be processed by Prinect Manager, the job number ("JDF-JobID") may be a maximum of 10 digits long.

Exception: Exception: The job number may be longer if the first 10 digits of the job number are not identical to any other job. As a rule, the first 10 digits of the job number must be unique, i.e. they must be used only once.

This must be observed when working with Prinect Business Manager in particular, as the job number can be defined individually here. The maximum permitted length could be slightly exceeded in this case.