Output splitting in pipeline mode

OL Connect Desktop General
1

Hello,

we have a job with 100.000 records and we want to split the output every 1.000 records. The printer should start printing after creating the first chunk (first output file) while PSM Connect generates the next chunk. In PSM Classic we can do it and we call it pipeline mode. At the moment we have to wait until PSM Connect has generated all records before the single output files are ready to print.

Two questions:

  1. Is it possible to split on specific number of records (not pages)?
  2. Is it possible to output in pipeline mode?

We have to do it in PrintShop Mail Connect, so we don’t have PlanetPress Workflow to get around with it.

Regards,
Thomas

2

You can split on a number of records, yes. But perhaps not in the way you’re thinking. There isn’t an option to split on the records at X records. Instead you need to set up grouping. You’d need a way to break up your data into multiple document sets.

So let’s say you want to split every 1000 records and your incoming data is an Excel file.

You’d first need to add a column to the data in Excel. In that column you’d add a number that only increments every 1000 lines. You could do this very simply with a formula. See here: How to increment number every x rows in Excel?

Next, in Connect you’re going to need to set up your Grouping. Specifically you’re going to set Document Set Grouping based on your new column. This will make a new Document Set every time the value in that field changes. So, every 1000 rows you get a new value and therefore a new Document Set.

Finally, for the separation, you’d separate on Document Set instead of a sheet count.

As for your second question concerning Pipeline mode, I’m afraid due to the added functionality of being able to group and sort your data within Connect, this isn’t really possible. I think the closest you could do to simulate it would be to manually print in smaller batches. So print records 1-1000, then 1001 to 2000, etc.

3

Thank you for your answer. I hoped there is another way I didn`t discover before, because splitting 100.000 records manually and do an output per single file is very time consuming until the printer starts to print.