PrintStation ManagerÉ
Reference Manual
Version4.52i
2 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
About This Manual
Copyright © 1995-1998 T/R Systems Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws.
Warranty
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. T/R Systems makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. T/R Systems shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damage in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
Trademark Credits
BuildGammaä, Cluster Printerä, Cluster Printingä, ClusterServerä, ColorCurveä, ColorToolsä, ConTuneä, DocumentMergeä, Gammaticä, HalfTuneä, Image Management Serverä, LinearMaticä, MicroScanä, MicroScannerä, MicroSpoolä, MicroTicketä, MicroTicketä Configuration , MicroTicket Serverä, MicroTiffä, MPRipä, MPTrapä, MultiRIPä, OpenPrinterä, PressDirectorä, PrintLinkä, PrintStationä, PrintStation Managerä, PostRipä, PSM to PDFä, PSM to Tiffä, RipSoftä, RipStationä, SatellitePressä, StochasticFMä, and VariableFormsä are trademarks of T/R Systems Inc. Other brand or product names used in this document are the registered trademark or trademarks of their respective holders. MicroPressÒ is a registered trademark of T/R Systems Inc., Gammaticä, ConTuneä and HalfTuneä are patent pending.
Conventions
The following marks are used in this manual:
Indicates precautions that must be observed to prevent possible personal injury or damage to equipment or malfunctioning of software.
Indicates notes and memos containing additional or detailed information.
Indicates useful tips.
T/R Systems, Incorporated |
Sales and Marketing: |
Internet Access: |
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1300 Oakbrook Drive |
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Phone: (770) 448-9008 |
World Wide Web |
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Norcross, GA 30093 |
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Fax: |
(770) |
448-3202 |
http://www.trsystems.com |
U.S.A |
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E-Mail: salesmktg@trsystems.com |
FTP |
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Phone: (770) 448-9008 |
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ftp://www.trsystems.com |
Fax: (770) 448-3202 |
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Technical Support: |
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Phone: (770) |
448-7074 |
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Fax: |
(770) |
453-9705 |
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E-Mail: support@trsystems.com |
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Document Number |
800-000024-05 |
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PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 3
4 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
Table of Contents |
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About This Manual............................................................................................. |
3 |
Table of Contents .............................................................................................. |
5 |
What is PrintStation Manager?......................................................................... |
9 |
Why do I need Multiple Virtual Engines............................................................................................. |
9 |
Features.......................................................................................................................................... |
10 |
Supported Paper Types .................................................................................................................. |
11 |
PrintStation and Virtual Engine Naming Convention ....................................................................... |
12 |
The PrintStation Manager Main Screen Display............................................ |
13 |
Job List Window.............................................................................................................................. |
14 |
Job List Fields ............................................................................................................................ |
15 |
Job Icons ............................................................................................................................... |
16 |
Display Jobs.................................................................................................................................... |
17 |
PrintStation Button .......................................................................................................................... |
19 |
Virtual Engine Status Bar ................................................................................................................ |
21 |
Menus ............................................................................................................... |
23 |
File .................................................................................................................................................. |
23 |
UnArchive Job File(s)….......................................................................................................... .... 23 |
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Exit ............................................................................................................................................. |
24 |
Virtual Engine.................................................................................................................................. |
24 |
Pause or Resume a Virtual Engine............................................................................................. |
24 |
Resuming a Paused Virtual Engine ............................................................................................ |
25 |
Resynch Jobs............................................................................................................................. |
25 |
Forms… ......................................................................................................................... ............ |
25 |
Multi Page Forms................................................................................................................... |
26 |
Letterhead ............................................................................................................................. |
26 |
Engine Defaults… ............................................................................................................... ....... |
28 |
Virtual Engine Defaults .......................................................................................................... |
29 |
Media Saving Features...................................................................................................... |
32 |
Job Defaults........................................................................................................................... |
33 |
View Job Details ......................................................................................................................... |
36 |
View Job Name Only .................................................................................................................. |
36 |
ColorTools... ............................................................................................................................... |
36 |
B&W Engine Balance ................................................................................................................. |
36 |
Job .................................................................................................................................................. |
37 |
Info... .......................................................................................................................................... |
37 |
PrintStation/PrintLink Options ................................................................................................ |
39 |
Job Settings ........................................................................................................................... |
40 |
Finishing Options ................................................................................................................... |
42 |
Finishing Rules.................................................................................................................. |
43 |
Output Options....................................................................................................................... |
44 |
Margin Offsets ....................................................................................................................... |
47 |
Brightness/Contrast ............................................................................................................... |
48 |
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 5
Color Adjust............................................................................................................................ |
49 |
ColorCurves....................................................................................................................... |
50 |
Default ColorCurves and Definitions....................................................................................... |
51 |
Job Parsing ............................................................................................................................ |
52 |
Ticket ..................................................................................................................................... |
53 |
Chapters................................................................................................................................. |
55 |
Page Settings......................................................................................................................... |
57 |
Preview .................................................................................................................................. |
59 |
Annotations ............................................................................................................................ |
61 |
Preview…....................................................................................................................... .............62 |
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Hold/Suspend ............................................................................................................................. |
63 |
Print ............................................................................................................................................ |
64 |
Move... ........................................................................................................................................ |
64 |
Delete ......................................................................................................................................... |
65 |
Abort ........................................................................................................................................... |
65 |
Merge… ......................................................................................................................... ............. |
66 |
Archive........................................................................................................................................ |
68 |
Apply Form… .................................................................................................................... .......... |
69 |
Mail Merge….................................................................................................................... ...........71 |
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Center Pages… .................................................................................................................. ........ |
72 |
Imposition ................................................................................................................................... |
74 |
Insert/Delete Pages…........................................................................................................... ......75 |
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Numbering…..................................................................................................................... ..........78 |
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Re-order Pages… ................................................................................................................ ....... |
80 |
Scale & Rotate… ................................................................................................................ ........ |
81 |
Settings....................................................................................................................................... |
83 |
Tumble........................................................................................................................................ |
84 |
Assign Job Ticket… ............................................................................................................. ....... |
85 |
View................................................................................................................................................. |
87 |
Toolbar........................................................................................................................................ |
87 |
Status Bar ................................................................................................................................... |
87 |
Sort by ........................................................................................................................................ |
87 |
System Events ............................................................................................................................ |
88 |
System Errors......................................................................................................................... |
89 |
Accounting .................................................................................................................................. |
89 |
Scripting .......................................................................................................................................... |
91 |
Script Toolbar.............................................................................................................................. |
92 |
Script Properties and Methods ............................................................................................... |
94 |
Resolving PrintStation/PrintLink Problems................................................. |
103 |
Resolving Problems for PrintStation 024 ....................................................................................... |
103 |
Viewing Printer Status Summary............................................................................................... |
103 |
Viewing Printer System Status .................................................................................................. |
105 |
Jam Resolution.............................................................................................................................. |
108 |
Jam Resolution PrintStation 024 System.............................................................................. |
108 |
Resolving Problems for PrintStation 312 ....................................................................................... |
109 |
Viewing Printer Status Summary............................................................................................... |
109 |
Jam Resolution PrintStation 312 .......................................................................................... |
111 |
Viewing Printer Maintenance Information.................................................................................. |
113 |
Viewing Printer Service Errors .................................................................................................. |
115 |
Viewing Printer Unit Errors ........................................................................................................ |
117 |
6 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
Viewing Miscellaneous Printer Information ............................................................................... |
119 |
Resolving Problems for PrintLink Cii ............................................................................................. |
122 |
Viewing Printer Status Summary .............................................................................................. |
122 |
Resolving Problems for PrintStation LaserJet 5Si ......................................................................... |
124 |
Viewing Printer Status Summary .............................................................................................. |
124 |
Resolving Problems for PrintStation DesignJet CP ....................................................................... |
126 |
Viewing Printer Status Summary .............................................................................................. |
126 |
Resolving Problems for PrintStation 040....................................................................................... |
128 |
Viewing Printer Status Summary .............................................................................................. |
128 |
Viewing Printer System Status ................................................................................................. |
130 |
Resolving Problems for PrintLink 062 ........................................................................................... |
132 |
Viewing Printer Status Summary .............................................................................................. |
132 |
Viewing Printer System Status ................................................................................................. |
133 |
Resolving Problems for PrintStation LaserJet 8000 ...................................................................... |
134 |
Viewing Printer Status Summary .............................................................................................. |
134 |
Gamma Calibration ....................................................................................................................... |
136 |
Window ......................................................................................................................................... |
137 |
Reset Size ................................................................................................................................ |
138 |
Refresh..................................................................................................................................... |
138 |
Tools ............................................................................................................................................. |
139 |
Notifications… ................................................................................................................. ......... |
139 |
Find….......................................................................................................................... ............. 140 |
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AutoScript................................................................................................................................. |
141 |
Options..................................................................................................................................... |
143 |
Help .............................................................................................................................................. |
143 |
Glossary ......................................................................................................... |
145 |
Index ............................................................................................................... |
147 |
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 7
8 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
What is PrintStation Manager?
The PrintStation Manager (PSM) is a software application which “virtualizes” PrintStations/PrintLinks. Multiple PrintStations/PrintLinks are grouped together to appear as a single high speed printer. This Virtual Engine (VE) system provides a means to customize printer configurations based on printing requirements.
The PrintStation Manager incorporates an Electronic Collator and job parser (or job manager) that evenly distributes jobs between the PrintStations defined within the Virtual Engine.
Electronic collation provides a means by which all pages only need to be Rasterized (RIP’ed) once. These compressed bitmaps are saved so that multiple copies of the pages may be printed subsequently utilizing the printer’s full rated speed. All of this is done electronically by the PrintStation Manager so that the output of one PrintStation is placed on top of another yielding a complete collated job set, just as though it was printed on a single printer.
Why do I need Multiple Virtual Engines
Using multiple Virtual Engines allows printing multiple jobs at the same time. For instance, if there are four PrintStations, the operator can set up two PrintStations as one VE and another two PrintStations as a second VE. This way one job can be directed to one VE and another job can be directed to the other VE concurrently. Additionally, one Virtual Engine may be set up to print duplex jobs and keep jobs after they are printed while another Virtual Engine does neither.
Since a system with four, six, eight, up to twelve PrintStations can have several VE configurations, T/R Systems ships the MicroPress with default VE configurations. Default VE configurations are provided to give you a basic collection of printers. T/R Systems has chosen configurations that would be somewhat typical in a printing environment and minimize the installation time.
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 9
Features
The PrintStation Manager has many built-in features like dragging and dropping files from one Virtual Engine to another and duplexing a simplex job with a single mouse click.
These optional features must be purchased and a number obtained from T/R Systems in order to be used. If the option has not been registered, a small key (see the graphic below) will be visible and the controls will be “grayed out” or unavailable.
Optional features include:
∙Imposition: The means to position multiple pages of a job onto a larger single sheet in the correct orientation for binding. This feature is not available for the PrintStation 312.
∙Document Merge: This feature allows the creation of new documents by combining portions of existing documents.
∙Forms: This feature is used to print data from one job as an overlay onto another job.
∙Image Manipulation - This feature consists of the following:
-Scaling: Adjust the size of pages within a PSM job.
-Center Pages: center the image on all pages of a job.
-Margin Offset: Change the margin settings for a PSM job, either the whole job or on a page by page basis. This feature is not available for the PrintStation 312.
∙ColorTools (Print Test Calibrate in prior versions): ColorTools is a suite of Color Calibration applications, including Gammatic that automates gamma calibration of the color capable PrintStations.
∙Scripting: Run VB Scripts to perform different tasks on existing jobs or on new jobs as they come into the PSM.
∙Job Ticketing: A print provider (MicroPress owner) provides a custom ticket form, generated with MicroTicket Configuration, to a client. The ticket is accessible to both Macintosh and PC format computers. The client, using MicroTicket within a web browser, fills out the characteristics of a print job. The files required to process the job are also included. MicroTicket packages all of the required jobs into one file that is easily transported to the print provider.
∙Numbering: Apply page numbers or other sequential numbers to PSM jobs.
∙Annotations: Add comments to PSM jobs. The Find tool can be used to locate text in the annotations.
These MicroPress features are available for use with all PrintStations except where noted.
10 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
Supported Paper Types
PrintStation |
Tray |
Paper Sizes |
312 |
Internal Cassette |
B5, A4, Legal, Letter |
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Optional Cassette |
B5, A4, Legal, Letter |
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Manual Tray |
up to 8.5"x14" |
024 |
Upper Tray |
B4, A4, Legal, Letter |
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Lower Tray |
A3, B4, A4, Ledger, Legal, Letter |
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Manual Tray |
up to 11.70"x17.70" |
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Envelope Feeder |
Monarch, COM-10, DL, B5, C5 |
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Deck |
A3, B4, A4, Ledger, Legal, Letter |
Cii |
Upper Tray |
A4, Letter |
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Middle Tray |
A3, A4, A5 B4, B5, B6, Ledger, Legal, Letter, Statement |
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Lower Tray |
A3, Ledger |
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Manual Tray |
up to 12"x18" |
LaserJet 5Si |
Upper Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, Statement, B4, Tabloid |
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Lower Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, Statement, B4, Tabloid |
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Manual Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, Statement, B4, B5, Tabloid, Executive, |
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COM-10, Monarch, DL, C5, ISO B5 |
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Deck |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, B4 |
DesignJet CP |
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US Letter, Full Bleed US Letter, Tabloid, Full Bleed Tabloid, ANSI C, |
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ANSI D, ANSI E, ARCH A, ARCH B, ARCH C, ARCH D, ARCH E, |
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ISO A4, Full Bleed ISO A4, ISO A3, Full Bleed ISO A3, ISO A2, ISO |
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A1, ISO A0, Oversize A2, Oversize A1, Oversize A0, B4, B3, B2, |
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B1, 24" x 48", 24" x 60", 24" x 72", 24" x 84", 24" x 96", 24" x 108", |
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36" x 60", 36" x 72", 36" x 84", 36" x 96", 36" x 108" |
040 |
Upper Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, A5, B4, B5, Tabloid, Executive |
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Middle Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, A5, B4, B5, Tabloid, Executive |
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Lower Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, A5, B4, B5, Tabloid, Executive |
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Large Capacity Hopper |
A4, Letter |
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(LCH) |
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062 |
1st Drawer |
Tabloid |
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2nd Drawer |
Letter, Letter R, Legal, Tabloid, A5, A4, A4R, A3, B5, B5 R, B4, |
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Invoice/Statement |
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3rd Drawer |
Letter |
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Large Capacity |
Letter |
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Cassette (LCC) |
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Manual Tray |
Letter, Letter R, Legal, Statement |
LaserJet 8000 |
Upper Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, B4 |
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Lower Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, B4, B5, Tabloid |
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Manual Tray |
US Letter, US Legal, *A5, B4, B5, Tabloid, Executive, Statement |
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Deck |
US Letter, US Legal, A3, A4, A5, B4, B5, Tabloid |
*=for imposition only
On the PrintLink Cii, Executive size paper can only be fed from the Manual Tray.
Paper sizes B1 through B6 referred to in this manual are JIS unless otherwise noted.
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 11
PrintStation and Virtual Engine Naming Convention
Beginning with MicroPress Version 4.51, the naming convention for the PrintStations and Virtual Engines changed from previous versions. This change was necessary due to the number and possible combinations of different PrintStations supported by the MicroPress.
The name of the PrintStation/Virtual Engine will be a letter and a number. The letter indicates the PrintStation type and the number will be an increment of 1-8 depending on the quantity of the type of PrintStation.
APrintStation 312
BPrintStation 024
CPrintLink Cii
DPrintStation LaserJet 5Si
EPrintStation DesignJet CP
FPrintStation 040
GPrintLink 062
HPrintStation LaserJet 8000
A MicroPress with four 024’s would have PrintStations named B1, B2,
B3, and B4. A virtual engine using B1 and B2 would be named B12.
12 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
The PrintStation Manager Main Screen Display
When the PrintStation Manager is launched, it will display the main screen.
The icon at the top left of each Virtual Engine window represents the type of output device connected to the VE.
This main screen allows access to:
∙The Virtual Engines within the PrintStation Manager.
∙Print jobs and job attributes
∙The Toolbar for PrintStation and job control
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 13
Job List Window
The field widths in the Job List window are adjustable. Move the cursor to the border between two fields, and the cursor will change to the resize arrows.
Then, drag the field border to the desired width. Double clicking the field border will automatically size the column to fit the longest text in the column.
A “*” in front of the number of pages in the job means that the job is set to print some sequence of pages other than the first page to the last all inclusive. For example: odd pages only.
The Job List window shows the job name, status of the job, number of pages, number of copies, the name of the user who sent the job, and the date/time the job was RIP’ed. Additionally, the job icon located to the left of the job name will indicate whether the job is Color, B&W, merged with a form, or if the job is set up to print duplex.
View Job Details
The Job List Window can display job details (as shown above) or job names only.
Right click within the Job List window for quick access to the Job Menu. Not all menu items will be available unless a job is selected.
14 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
Job List Fields
Refer to the following table to interpret the columns in the Job List window.
An ‘*’ in any column header means the list is sorted by that field.
Field/Control
Job Name
Status
Pages
Copies
User
Date/Time
Description
The name of the job to print and job icon.
The current state of the job. Refer to the Display Jobs section to interpret the different states in which the jobs may display.
The number of pages contained in the job. A “?” will display as a job is loading into the PrintStation Manager. The “*” in front of the number of pages in the job means that the job is set to print some sequence of pages other than the first page to the last all inclusive. For example: print odd pages only.
The number of times the job will be printed.
The user or the name of the user’s workstation that sent the job to the printer.
This field indicates when the PrintStation Manager received the job.
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 15
Job Icons
Refer to the following table to interpret the icons.
This Job Icon
B&W standard
Description
This icon displays for standard B&W jobs that are in the Waiting, Holding, Suspended or Printed state.
Color standard |
This icon displays for standard color jobs that |
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are in the Waiting, Holding Suspended or |
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Printed state. |
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Printing |
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When a job is printing the icon is highlighted |
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in green. |
or |
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B&W Color |
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Duplex |
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A duplexed job. |
or |
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B&W |
Color |
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Form |
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A job that has been Merged with a Form. |
or |
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B&W |
Color |
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Combination |
This icon displays for jobs that are both |
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Duplex and a Form. |
or |
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B&W |
Color |
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Error |
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This icon indicates a job has errored. |
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16 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
Display Jobs
The number of each current job type will display regardless of whether or not the job type is selected.
∙When a job type is selected, all jobs of that type will display in the Job List Window.
∙Click the box beside each job type to include it in the Job List.
∙A ““ in the box indicates selection.
∙The number that displays beside each job type indicates the number of jobs of that type.
Refer to the following table to interpret the different states in which the jobs may display.
The next available waiting job becomes active when the current print job is complete if the Virtual Engine is not paused.
Field/Control
Waiting
Holding
Printed
Archived
Error
Description
Jobs that are waiting to be printed. The letter W displays in the status column.
Jobs that are retained to print at another time. The letter H displays in the status column. Jobs that are on hold remain in a held state until you change them.
Jobs that have been printed successfully. The letter P displays in the status column.
Jobs that have been archived with Auto Archive display the letter A in the status column. The file name is also appended with the “.msm” or ".pdf" extension. See Archive… in the Job menu section for more information.
Jobs in which a printing error has occurred. The letter E displays in the status column.
There are additional job status indicators that are not listed in the Display Jobs check box area.
Refer to the following table to interpret the indicators.
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 17
Status
>>
P!
-L-
S
Indicates
The status column displays “>>” while a job is in the process of printing.
The job stack has been moved to another PrintStation. When a job is printing to a Virtual Engine that controls two or more PrintStations and one errors out, the job stack is moved to an operational PrintStation if the error is not corrected within a specified amount of time.
Job is locked. This will display during job archival and other processes. When the job status displays L, the job is locked and can not be accessed.
If a job is currently printing, pressing the Hold/Suspend button will stop the job from printing. An S displays in the status column.
18 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
PrintStation Button
Cii
Right click and hold for an error status display on an engine displaying an error. See the example below.
The PrintStation buttons are located inside the Virtual Engine window. The PrintStation buttons will alert you to common PrintStation conditions that may result in image defects or print job errors.
To view the message that corresponds with the graphic representation of the PrintStation, just click the button. Clicking on a PrintStation button will open the PrintStation window and allow access to PrintStation Summary or PrintStation Systems information for a specific PrintStation. This includes information on Paper Status, PrintStation Summary Status, Enable/Disable commands, System (PrintStation) Errors, Total Pages Printed and other miscellaneous PrintStation status. Refer to Resolving PrintStation/PrintLink Problems for more details about PrintStation status.
The PrintStation status is identified with lights displaying various colors. Refer to the following table to interpret the status of the PrintStation button.
The PrintStation Icon
Light Displays
Black
Bright Green
Flashing Bright Green
Dark Green
Yellow
Flashing Yellow
Red
Flashing Red
Disabled
When
The PSM is starting up. This is before communication is even attempted from the ClusterServer to the PrintStations.
The printer is idle and ready.
A job is in the process of printing without error, or toner may be low.
There is no communication between the PSM and the PrintStation. The PrintStation may display this color when the connection between the PrintStation and the HostAdapter has been broken or the PrintStation is turned off.
A caution is indicated. Conditions may be developing that could lead to image quality issues.
A job is printing, but a caution is indicated. Conditions may be developing that could lead to image quality issues.
An event has occurred that requires user intervention before the job can continue to print.
The printer is paused for the user to “work and turn” the pages for duplexing. This is only on the PrintStation 312.
PrintStation has been disabled. Jobs cannot be sent to a PrintStation while it is disabled. The PrintStation will not contribute to the output of any job.
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 19
The PrintStation Icon
Light Displays
Paper Out
Cii
Toner Low/Out
Cii
Paper Jam
Cii
When
The PrintStation has used the last sheet of paper in the selected paper source. Be aware of the following:
∙For some PrintStations, the button will display which paper tray is empty.
∙D - Paper Deck (024 only)
∙e - Envelope Feeder (024 only)
∙i - Internal Tray (312 only)
∙L - Lower Tray (024, Cii only)
∙m - Manual Tray
∙mi – Middle Tray (Cii only)
∙o - Optional Tray (312 only)
∙u - Upper Tray (024, Cii only)
∙Paper Out with Yellow Light means: Auto Tray Switch is enabled and a paper tray is empty; however, printing may continue with use of another paper tray.
∙Paper Out with Red Light means that one or all of the paper trays are empty and printing will not continue.
A toner cartridge is low. The PrintStation button will indicate which color toner cartridge is low.
For PrintStation 024 engines:
∙The EP (toner/drum) cartridge is low. For PrintStation 312 and Cii engines:
∙If a second toner cartridge becomes low before the first toner is replaced, the Engine button will continue to indicate the first color. The PrintStation Status display (click PrintStation button) will alert the user that additional color toners may also be low.
This display status should be used as an indicator that the image quality needs to be monitored because of low toner, not that the toner cartridge needs to be replaced.
A printer paper jam has occurred. This information will always display along with a light. Click on the engine button for information on the paper jam location and jam resolution (except for PrintLink Cii).
20 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
The PrintStation button Status may also display multiple conditions that are occurring simultaneously in the PrintStation.
For example:
indicates that the Internal Paper Tray is empty and the Magenta Toner is low.
Virtual Engine Status Bar
The Virtual Engine Status Bar displays the name and printing status of the job in the process of printing. The Virtual Engine also has a Pause/Resume button. There are also icons to indicate that Forms are on and/or that Archiving is in progress.
Printing
Forms
Paused
Archiving/Unarchiving
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 21
22 PrintStation Manager Reference Manual
Menus
Beginning with MicroPress version 4.52, menus will contain only the features available to the currently selected PrintStation/PrintLink type. In previous versions the menu items that were unavailable would have been grayed out.
File
Use the File menu selections to UnArchive jobs and Exit the
PrintStation Manager.
UnArchive Job File(s)…
Depending on the file size decompression may take several seconds to several minutes to complete. Multiple files can be selected to unarchive simultaneously.
UnArchiving an older version PSM job will update it to the current PSM version.
Use UnArchive Job File(s) to decompress archived files and return the file to the PrintStation Manager format.
1.Select the Virtual Engine to receive the archived file.
2.Select File from the PrintStation Manager main menu and then select UnArchive Job File(s) from the File Menu.
3.Select the file to be unarchived. Click OK. The file is decompressed and placed in the active Virtual Engine Job List.
Select multiple jobs by holding down the Shift or CTRL key while selecting jobs.
PrintStation Manager Reference Manual 23
Exit
The present session of PrintStation Manager can be ended by pressing [Alt]+F4.
To exit PrintStation Manager:
Select Exit from the File Menu and the present session of PrintStation Manager will be ended.
—OR—
Click the Control Menu box (located in the top left corner of the PSM main screen) and select Close. The present session of PrintStation Manager will be ended.
The PrintStation Manager saves the status of the current jobs before closing.
Virtual Engine
The Virtual Engine Menu contains functions that affect the selected Virtual Engine. Depending on the MicroPress configuration, some of these features may not be activated. Additionally, the ColorTools feature will only be functional if the Virtual Engine contains a color capable PrintStation.
The following section covers all menu selections under Virtual Engine.
Pause or Resume a Virtual Engine
Pause or Resume a Virtual Engine by:
∙clicking the Pause button on the Toolbar on the PrintStation Manager Main Screen
∙clicking on the small Stop Light display at the bottom right of the Virtual Engine display
∙right-click on the task bar buttons and select Pause/Resume
Use the Pause/Resume Virtual Engine option to prevent or start print activity to the active Virtual Engine. Use of this option will have no effect on the currently printing job. When the Pause/Resume light is green, the Virtual Printer is ready to print. When the Pause/Resume light is red, the Virtual Printer is paused and will not print. All jobs that are selected to print, will display as a Wait (W) status in the Status column of the Job List window until the Virtual Engine is resumed.
To Pause a Virtual Engine
1.Select a Virtual Engine. The title bar of the Virtual Engine window will be highlighted when selected.
2.Select Virtual Engine from the PrintStation Manager main menu and then select Pause.
3.The Virtual Engine activity is halted. Even though the printer is paused, the user may continue to send jobs that will print when the printer is resumed.
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Resuming a Paused Virtual Engine
To Resume a Paused Virtual Engine
1.Select a Paused Virtual Engine.
2.Select Virtual Engine from the PrintStation Manager main menu and then select Resume.
3.The Virtual Engine activity is resumed and normal print activity will continue.
Resynch Jobs
Refresh, located in the Window menu, will do the same thing as Resynch Jobs. Pressing the <F5> key will also Refresh the Job List window.
The Resynch Jobs feature provides the user with a means of refreshing and updating the Job List window. This is especially useful if a job file is copied into a PrintStation Manager spool directory. The updated job will display after Resynch Jobs has refreshed the PrintStation Job List window.
There is no dialog box or window for this menu item, it takes effect immediately.
To Resynch the Job List.
1.Select a Virtual Engine.
2.Select Virtual Engine from the PrintStation main menu and then select Resynch.
3.The Job List window will be refreshed, and any jobs copied to the Virtual Engine’s Spool Directory will be added to the display.
Forms…
To learn how to apply a form to job already RIP’ed, see the section entitled Apply Form.
The Forms option is used to print data from one job as an overlay onto another job. The Forms option provides a more efficient way of printing multiple copies of a job that contains both common and unique text or graphics.
For example, a business form is often used by many individuals for different purposes. Frequently, the common text or graphics in the blank business form make up 90% or more of the data sent to the printer, while the unique text may make up only 10%.
Print forms more efficiently by sending the form with the fixed image information (common text and graphics) to be processed through MicroSpool, the T/R Systems RIP, and then to the PrintStation Manager only once. Next, configure the job as a form for that Virtual Engine. Then, jobs sent to that Virtual Engine will be merged with the form information.
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The forms print option can also be set from Macintosh or PC workstations using the MicroPress drivers.
Multi Page Forms
A form can have one or more pages and can be merged with unique text documents that contain any number of pages (e.g.; ten pages of unique text or variable data to be merged with a five page form.) Forms can be repeated so that each page of the unique text document will be merged with the appropriate page of the form. Click the Repeat Form button to merge a 5 page form with a 10 page document. The PrintStation Manager merges 1-5 of the form with pages1-5 of the unique text document, and then the 5 page form is repeated with the next 5 pages (pages 6-10) of the unique text document.
Letterhead
The Forms option also makes printing jobs with letterhead more efficient as it eliminates the need to change or reload the paper tray with pre-printed letterhead.
If the forms option is turned off at the PrintStation Manager, the print options can still be set from the Macintosh workstation to override default options in PrintStation Manager. However, if the current form in the PrintStation Manager is “No Form”, a job set this way will fail because no form has been added for use.
When using the Form feature in the PrintStation Manager, the following Job Settings must match to achieve the desired output:
∙ Bit Depth: (Contone/BiLevel/Monochrome) Both the Form and the file to be overlaid must come through the same Virtual Printer.
∙Horizontal and Vertical Resolution Settings
If these Job Settings do not match, the job will print without the form, and an error message will be generated in the system log.
Access the Form Configuration dialog box by selecting Engine Defaults from the Virtual Engine Menu and then pressing the
button in the Engine Defaults Dialog box
—OR—
by pressing [Ctrl]+[F].
To use the Forms Setup option:
1.Select a Virtual Engine.
2.Select Virtual Engine from the PrintStation Manager main menu and select Forms.
3.The Form Configuration dialog box displays.
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Before the “Use Forms” option is available, a job must first be selected to be used as a form from the Current Jobs field. “Add” it to the list of Available Forms.
The Form Repeat option is available only after the Use Forms option is selected.
4.Refer to the following table to interpret the Form Configuration dialog box and available options.
Field/Control
Current Jobs
Use Forms
Add
Form Repeat
Current Form
Description
All current jobs, whether or not they are selected to be viewed in the Job List Window, for the active Virtual Engine are displayed here.
Print the form as an overlay for every job sent to the Virtual Engine. The form highlighted under Available Forms and listed next to Current Form is the current from. If this box is not checked, the selected form will not print unless the job itself has specified “Use Form.”
Copy the job selected from the Current Jobs field to the Available Forms field. This option makes the selected job available for use as a form.
Repeat a form so that each page of a specific document will be merged with the appropriate page of the form. A form can have one or more pages and can be merged with specific documents that contain any number of pages. For example, you may have a ten page job to be merged with a five page form. Click the Repeat Form button and the PrintStation Manager merges pages 1-5 of the form with pages 1-5 of the document. The form pages 1- 5 are then repeated with the next 5 document pages to be printed (pages 6- 10).
Displays the name of the currently selected form. This field displays information without clicking on it. <No Form> will display if a form has not been selected.
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The Use Forms option must be selected in order to print the chosen form as an overlay for every job sent to the Virtual Engine.
Field/Control
Available Forms
Delete
Description
Select a form for use as a printed overlay for every job sent to the Virtual Engine. Highlight indicates the selected form.
Remove a selected form from the Available Forms list.
5.Click Close. The Form Setup options are accepted.
Engine Defaults…
The Virtual Engine Default Settings dialog consists of two categories of options; Virtual Engine Defaults and Job Defaults. Each default type is described in the following sections.
The Virtual Engine Defaults dialog box may also be accessed by pressing
[ALT]+[Enter].
The various PrintStation types may have different default settings options. The 024 is shown as an example only.
To access the Engine Defaults dialog box:
1.Right-click on the Virtual Engine’s task bar button on the PSM main dialog.
2.Select Engine Defaults.
3.The Virtual Engine Defaults dialog box appears.
PrintStation 024 Defaults dialog box
4.Refer to the following sections, Virtual Engine Defaults and Job Defaults to interpret the options in the Engine Defaults dialog box for both job and engine.
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Virtual Engine Defaults
Virtual Engine Defaults control the behavior of all jobs printed from a Virtual Engine and can be overridden by the workstation sending the job. See the table following for the defaults available to each PrintStation/PrintLink type.
|
OPTION |
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|
Spool Directory |
|
Form Setup |
|
Hold Incoming Jobs |
|
|
|
Keep Printed Jobs |
|
Print Job Separators |
|
Use Manual Tray for Separators |
|
Write Through |
DesignJet Only |
Step and Repeat |
DesignJet Only |
SafePrint |
DesignJet Only |
Print Quality |
DesignJet Only |
Margin Offsets |
ENGINE TYPE / OPTION AVAILABILITY
A-312 |
B-024 |
C-Cii |
D-5Si |
E-DJCP |
F-040 |
G-062 |
H- LJ 8000 |
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Π |
Π |
Π |
Π |
Π |
Π |
Π |
Π |
Π |
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Π |
Π |
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Field/Control
Spool Directory
Description
The directory containing the PSM job files for the currently selected Virtual Engine. If multiple Spool Directories are specified for the Virtual Engine, they may be selected from the drop down list. The currently selected path is displayed on the Virtual Engine title bar. See the following steps for adding and deleting paths.
This feature is good for organizing large numbers of job files. Users may want to keep jobs in different directories so that the Job List Window is more manageable.
To modify the Spool Directory:
Add Path
1.Click on the Add Path button.
2.Navigate to the desired directory using the dialog box shown below.
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For instructions on the use of the Forms feature, refer to the section entitled Forms.
3.Click on the directory to select it.
4.Click OK to add the path and return to the Virtual Engine Defaults dialog.
—OR—
Click Cancel to return to the Virtual Engine Defaults dialog.
Delete Path
1.From the drop down list, select the path to delete.
2.Click on the Delete Path button.
Field/Control
Form Setup
Hold Incoming Jobs
Keep Printed Jobs
Print Job Separators
Description
The Forms option is used to print data from one job as an overlay onto another job. The Forms option provides a more efficient way of printing multiple copies of a job that contains both common and specific text or graphics.
All incoming jobs are held until they are manually selected to be printed.
Save jobs after they have printed. The PrintStation Manager will save jobs after printing for quick re-printing without resending from the workstation or reprocessing the job through the RIP.
Produce a marked separator page at the end of each job. Select this option when printing multiple copies of jobs to keep them separated.
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