Confused again about Output Settings files.

OL Connect Professional General
1

In our plant, we have problems with media settings. Our client has Connect, and produces their own templates, data maps, and preset files. They send us Connect Packages, we add them to our Workflow, and we have automated processes that monitor FTP for their data files. Jobs run 24 hours a day, and we print in multiple shifts.

The print operators frequently complain that they have to reload/configure paper trays between jobs, even though the jobs call for the “same” media. For example, their jobs really only use three media types: LETTER, BLUE, and GREEN, Plain, 8.5x11, 75 gsm. Yet, even two jobs that both call for Green run back to back, there is a media error on the printer.

As I’ve investigated, in each case this happens, the Output Preset file used by the job has “extra” media settings. The template itself will only ever call for two, let’s say “GREEN” and “LETTER”. Yet when I load the Output Preset file, it’ll contain GREEN, BLUE, LETTER, and sometimes what looks like a “artificially constructed” media name like “DWT_Media1” or something similar.

Here’s where it gets really strange. If I inform the client that they have erroneous entries in their Output file, they’ll send me a screenshot of their Media settings and they are correct!

If I open “my copy” of their package, I’ll have extra media entries.

What is happening?

Plus, I don’t really even know which “version” or “copy” of the file Workflow is really using. The one in the C:\ProgramData\Objectif Lune\PlanetPress Workflow 8\PlanetPress Watch\OLConnect\OutputCreation folder, right? Of course… but how did the file get there?

When I open a package in Connect, I’ll get a message about “importing” the presets into the “proper repository”. What is that? If, from Connect, I do a “Send to workflow”, and pick a preset from the dropdown, what is it sending? The copy that was in the Package I opened? Or the copy from “the repository”, (whatever that is).

If I copy a package directly into the Documents/In folder, does that update “the repository”? Does it merge the media entries from the imported file into some previous or “repository” copy?

In short: when I open or use an Output Preset file provided by a 3rd party, it looks and behaves differently on my system than on theirs, and it’s causing major disruption to our operations.

2

There is a lot going on here and I would strongly recommend opening a Support Ticket. In this way, an engineer will gather all the details as well as the output preset files, logs…etc and investigate the issue and clarify all the points above.

Plus, I don’t really even know which “version” or “copy” of the file Workflow is really using. The one in the C:\ProgramData\Objectif Lune\PlanetPress Workflow 8\PlanetPress Watch\OLConnect\OutputCreation folder, right? Of course… but how did the file get there?

The output preset file arrives into the C:\ProgramData\Objectif Lune\PlanetPress Workflow 8\PlanetPress Watch\OLConnect\OutputCreation folder when you Send To Workflow from the Designer. The file is actually sent to the C:\ProgramData\Objectif Lune\PlanetPress Workflow 8\PlanetPress Watch\Documents\In folder and the Messenger service then moves it to the C:\ProgramData\Objectif Lune\PlanetPress Workflow 8\PlanetPress Watch\OLConnect\OutputCreation folder. If an Output preset file with the exact same name already exist in that folder, the previous file is first moved into C:\ProgramData\Objectif Lune\PlanetPress Workflow 8\PlanetPress Watch\OLConnect\Archive\outputpreset.

When I open a package in Connect, I’ll get a message about “importing” the presets into the “proper repository”. What is that? If, from Connect, I do a “Send to workflow”, and pick a preset from the dropdown, what is it sending? The copy that was in the Package I opened? Or the copy from “the repository”, (whatever that is).

In this case the preset files are imported into the user’s Connect Designer workspace directory located here: C:\Users<username>\Connect\workspace\configurations

This makes the preset files available to the user in the Designer. The user may then edit these files as needed before sending to workflow. If a preset file with the exact same name already exist, a message will warn you of this during the import and will give you the option to override the existing file. Note also that a package file is simply a compressed file which you may extract with a tool like 7zip. You will then be able to see what preset files are already inside the package before importing them if you wish.

3

I already opened a support ticket and now, I’m trying to get basic information on how Settings files work.

What is the relationship between the Media settings in the TEMPLATE and the Media settings in the Output Settings file?

Then there is the whole issue around which Output Settings file is actually used. When I open a client’s package files, why is there a message about a “Repository”? When I send that package to workflow, which copy is it sending? The copy in the package, or the copy in the “repository”? Which file does Workflow use?

Is there an Administrator’s Guide on how Output Settings files actually work?

Why are there Media settings in both the Template and Output, and which takes precedence during output?