While every care has been taken in the preparation of this material, no liability will be accepted by Xerox Corporation arising
out of any inaccuracies or omissions.
“The number of jobs on <printername> is below the threshold. Jobs can be scheduled to the printer” 12-13
“Job <job id> was not split between color and black/white printers because it contains only color or only
Bold: menu commands, buttons and options are shown in bold.
Code: text that you type verbatim, or that expresses syntax for
typed commands, is shown in a monospaced font.
NOTE: Information of special interest is heralded with a pencil
icon and preceded by the term “Note” in bold.
WARNING: Failure to heed warnings can lead to physical injury or
death. Warnings are heralded by a yellow triangle with
exclamation point. The term “Warning” precedes the paragraph,
which is set in red text.
CAUTION: Failure to heed cautions can result in damage to
equipment or loss of data. Cautions are heralded by a yellow
circle with a black exclamation point. The term “Caution”
precedes the paragraph, which is set in black, boldfaced text.
TIP: information that can enhance productivity is shown as a Tip,
with a lightbulb icon in the left column and preceded by the term
“Tip.”
Output Manager User Guide
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Output Manager User Guide
1.FreeFlow Output Manager
FreeFlow Output Manager allows you to control the flow of print
jobs to your networked printers. Output Manager accepts
documents from client applications at user workstations on your
network and automatically routes them to printers based on load,
availability and job requirements. This increases printer efficiency
and productivity.
Output Manager can be configured for automatic load balancing,
based on the queue and printer settings, and job processing rules
that you establish.
Output Manager provides a secure environment for managing
your network printers. Users are required to log in before making
changes or operating the system. Further, configuration is
restricted to those with only the highest level of access.
See Also
“Queue Manager” on page 2–1
“Job Manager” on page 4–1
“Printer Manager” on page 3–1
“Receiving Jobs from Multi-Function Devices” on page 1-2
“Job Scheduling and Load Balancing” on page 1–16
“Logging On to Output Manager” on page 1–4
“Logging Out of Output Manager” on page 1-5
“User Access Levels” on page 1-5
“Creating Custom View Groups” on page 1-9
“Password Security” on page 1–11
“Shutdown and Restart” on page 1–12
“Backup and Restore operations” on page 1-13
Output Manager User Guide
1–1
FreeFlow Output Manager
How Output Manager Receives Jobs
FreeFlow Output Manager can accept jobs from network clients
using the following methods:
•LPR network printing protocol
•IPP network printing protocol
•FreeFlow Applications
•a local Command Line Interface (CLI)
•local or network “hot folders”
•clients with direct port connections
•Web GUI interface for Job Submission
•Job Messaging Format (JMF)
Client applications for FreeFlow Output Manager include:
•FreeFlow® Makeready
•FreeFlow® Process Manager
•FreeFlow® Print Manager-Advanced Print Path
•FreeFlow® Web Submission Client
•Windows queues (using the IPP port monitor) or TCP/IP port
configured for LPR
•UNIX and LINUX systems via LPR and IPP
•Multifunction Devices
See Also
“How the Port Controller Receives Jobs” on page 7–2
“How the Hot Folders Application Receives Jobs” on page 6–1
“Receiving Jobs from Multi-Function Devices” on page 1-2
Receiving Jobs from Multi-Function Devices
The purpose of the Send to Production feature is to allow
documents to be scanned from Multi-Function Devices (MFDs)
and submitted to production print shops where high volumes and
special finishing options can be processed. This will reduce MFD
contention when either large documents or large quantities are
needed, and will allow MFDs to stay within their duty cycles.
1–2
The feature supports the following four MFD product series:
•WorkCentre 2xx - half panel mono
•WorkCentre 56xx - half panel mono
•WorkCenter 76xx - full panel color
FreeFlow Output Manager queues can be designated to appear
as “Job Templates” to the MFD. The settings for the templates are
Output Manager User Guide
derived from the queue settings. Because of the limited number of
attributes that can be set at the MFD, the Output Manager queue
can be setup with default attributes that will be applied to any job
sent from a MFD. This expands the available number of job
options far beyond the capabilities of the MFD by itself.
FreeFlow Output Manager must be configured to broadcast the
queues that are available as Job Templates to specified MFDs.
When the send to production feature is selected at the MFD, the
Job Templates will appear at the MFD, along with a set of specific
attributes that can be programmed at the MFD.
See Also
FreeFlow Output Manager Applications
The primary applications are Job Manager, Queue Manager and
Printer Manager. As the names imply, they allow you to manage
jobs, the queues to which they are submitted, and the printers
assigned to those queues.
FreeFlow Output Manager
Hot Folders
Port Controller
Output Manager also has some utility applications for creating
custom solutions.
The Hot Folders Client allows you to create monitored folders on
the local or remote file system. When a job is placed in a hot
folder, the processing application you associate with the folder is
launched to process and print the job.
This is especially useful for jobs that require pre-processing before
being sent to a printer. For instance, documents that require predefined separation pages to be inserted before printing.
The Port Controller allows you to create ports to which
applications may spool data. The spooled data is then processed
and printed. For example, print jobs from a mainframe can be
spooled to a Port and there converted to a Page Description
Language (PDL) such as PostScript using a third-party application
such as M.I.S. Print.
Output Manager User Guide
1–3
FreeFlow Output Manager
Command Line Interface
Output Manager has, as its primary interface, a graphical user
interface. However, it also allows you to submit textual commands
at the command prompt.
This Command Line Interface feature allows you to type
commands at the system prompt or create batch files. These
batch files use the scripting commands for Output Manager to
perform certain tasks. For example, you could write a batch file
that the Port Controller or Hot Folders applications execute when
they receive client data.
See the FreeFlow Output Manager Command Line Interface User Guide for more information.
See Also
“Queue Manager” on page 2–1
“Printer Manager” on page 3–1
“Job Manager” on page 4–1
“Port Controller” on page 7–1
“Hot Folders” on page 6–1
Logging On to Output Manager
To provide security for your printers and network, FreeFlow Output
Manager requires users to log in before they can modify system
settings or manage jobs, printers and queues.
Output Manager has five levels of access:
•Administrator: The highest level of access, the administrator
can view and change all system settings, except for servicerelated functions and data.
•Operator 1, 2 & 3: Operator 1 has the highest level of access,
operator 3 has the lowest. Operator access is intended for
printer operators.
•Guest: The Guest does not require a password, but has
minimal access. This is the default access level when the
system is started.
NOTE: If Custom View Groups is enabled, 'Enter as a Guest'
is no longer valid. Instead, authenticated users may be added
to the Custom View Groups for view access. Guest users are
not members of the Administrators, Operator 1, 2 & 3 user
groups. See
more information on this feature.
“Creating Custom View Groups” on page 1-9 for
1–4
Output Manager User Guide
To Log In to Output Manager
1. Enter the URL for the FreeFlow Output Manager page into the
address field of the browser, or, if available select log in from
the toolbar on the right of the screen.
2. Enter your User Name.
3. Enter your Password.
4. Enter your network domain.
5. Click Log In.
NOTE: Guest users may access the system by clicking Enter as a
Guest. If the Guest account has been disabled, use the System
Configuration page to enable that account. See
Configuration” on page 5-4 for more information.
See Also
“Queue Manager” on page 2–1
“Job Manager” on page 4–1
FreeFlow Output Manager
“System
“Printer Manager” on page 3–1
“Job Scheduling and Load Balancing” on page 1–16
“Password Security” on page 1–11
“Shutdown and Restart” on page 1–12
Logging Out of Output Manager
Log out from the system when you are finished. By default, the
system automatically logs you out after a certain period of
inactivity.
To Log Out
Clicking on the Log Out link on the right hand corner will log you
out from the system. The default Log In screen is displayed.
User Access Levels
Output Manager User Guide
NOTE: See the Installation and Configuration Guide for
instructions on configuring access for Administrator and Operators
1 through 3.
The application’s default behavior grants all users the same view
of Output Manager; that is, users see the same queues, printers,
and jobs regardless of their access level. Access level only
determines the operations accessible to that user. This Custom
View Groups feature allows the system administrator to create
customized views of Output Manager via the creation of custom
access user groups
Information Technology (IT) Administrators may add new groups
(called Custom View Groups), through the Windows
Authentication Service, to control which printer, queues, and jobs
members have access. The IT Administrator adds FreeFlow
Output Manager users to these groups. The Output Manager
Administrator then configures a queue to allow access to all the
users of a Custom View Group. Those users that are not a part of
the queue’s access group will be restricted from viewing the
queue, its printers, or jobs submitted to it.
CAUTION: The FreeFlow Output Manager administrator
should determine whether to enable or disable this feature
when Output Manager is started for the first time. Once this
feature is enabled, it can be disabled but it should not be reenabled. Doing so will compromise the integrity of the
system.
FreeFlow Output Manager
When enabling this feature, the following prerequisites and
limitations should be kept in mind:
•A user may belong to one or more Custom View Group.
•When the feature is enabled, the "Enter as a Guest" account
function is no longer valid. Instead, authenticated users or
user groups may be added to the Custom View Group. Guest
users are not members of the 4 predefined groups.
•Custom View Groups are created using the Windows
Operating System, via the system administrator.
•The access group name must have the prefix "Xerox FFOM".
For example, "Xerox FFOM LA Print Shop". Without this prefix
Output Manager does not recognize the group as a Custom
View Group.
•Output Manager operators must be added to these groups.
•Guest users are authorized users and are members of
these groups but are not members of the FFOM operators/
admin group.
•Once the Custom View Groups are created, users logged in
through the Xerox FreeFlow Output Manager Administrators
group shall be able to list the groups and assign printers and
queues to them.
Output Manager User Guide
•Queues and printers can only be added to a single group.
Once a queue or printer is added to a group, it becomes
unavailable for addition to another group.
1–9
FreeFlow Output Manager
•Administrators have an unrestricted or complete view of the
system. Operators and authorized users have customized
views of the system based upon the groups they belong to,
and the settings for those groups.
•If the system administrator decides to change the Custom
View Groups group name for whatever reason, it will be not be
reflected in Output Manager. The application will treat the
altered group name as a new group.
CAUTION: FreeFlow Output Manager cannot track group
name changes made at the operating system level and then
update Custom View Group assignments based on those
changes. The system administrator should exercise caution
when making changes through the operating system to
groups used by Output Manager.
1–10
Output Manager User Guide
Password Security
Changing Passwords
FreeFlow Output Manager
To maintain system security, the logon password for the
Administrator and Operator’s should be changed after the system
has been installed and at regular intervals thereafter.
See Also
“Queue Manager” on page 2–1
“Job Manager” on page 4–1
“Printer Manager” on page 3–1
“Job Scheduling and Load Balancing” on page 1–16
“Logging On to Output Manager” on page 1–4
“Shutdown and Restart” on page 1–12
Only the Administrator has the authority to set and change the
passwords for the Administrator and Operators. Individual users
can change their own passwords.
Password for FreeFlow Output Manager are changed at the
operating system level. Follow the procedures for the particular
operating system to change passwords.
NOTE: On Windows computers, only users with Windows
Administrator level access can change Output Manager
passwords.
Output Manager User Guide
1–11
FreeFlow Output Manager
Shutdown and Restart
Shutting Output Manager
To restart Output Manager you must first restart the computer and
then log in to Output Manager.
See Also
“Shutting Output Manager” on page 1–12
“Restarting Output Manager” on page 1–13
“Queue Manager” on page 2–1
“Job Manager” on page 4–1
“Printer Manager” on page 3–1
“Job Scheduling and Load Balancing” on page 1–16
“Logging On to Output Manager” on page 1–4
“Password Security” on page 1–11
Shutting down Output Manager causes the application to close
after it has completed processing of the most recently submitted
job and sent it to a printer. Jobs are not accepted or released until
the computer is restarted.
To Shutdown Output Manager
1. Click Shutdown Server.
2. Click OK when asked to confirm shutdown. The message
“Output Manager is unavailable...” is displayed.
See Also
“Restarting Output Manager” on page 1–13
1–12
Output Manager User Guide
Restarting Output Manager
Use the Restart procedure when a recovery procedure directs you
to restart the computer.
When shutdown has occurred, no new jobs are accepted until
after the computer has been restarted and the Output Manager
application re-opened. This feature is available to an Administrator
or Operator 1 and 2.
To Restart Output Manager (Windows)
1. Click Shutdown Server (only available to Administrator or
Operator 1) to exit Output Manager. Wait for Output Manager
to display “Output Manager is Unavailable.”
2. Click Start: Shut Down.
3. In the Shut Down Windows dialog, select Restart from the list.
The system restarts.
4. Open FreeFlow Output Manager and log in.
FreeFlow Output Manager
See Also
“Shutting Output Manager” on page 1–12
Backup and Restore operations
Output Manager provides backup and restore utilities in the
unlikely event of a catastrophic failure of your system.
The configuration settings and data that is backed up and restored
are the following:
•Accounting Module configuration settings, reports, database,
and exported data.
•Hot Folders and Port Controller configuration settings.
•If the Printer Registration and/or Standalone Repository
Management System are present on the machine, the
configuration settings for those applications are backed up and
restored.
Output Manager User Guide
There are two means of invoking the backup and restore
application:
•“Backup or Restore using the Windows application” on page 1-
14
•“Backup or Restore using the command line” on page 1-15
1–13
FreeFlow Output Manager
Backup or Restore using the Windows application
Perform the following to backup the Output Manager system
NOTE: The backup and restore operations will automatically
shutdown and restart the Output Manager and Accounting Module
services.
Follow the procedure for backing up or restoring the Output
Manager system using the Windows application.
NOTE: You must be logged in as the Windows Administrator to
perform the backup or restore operations.
NOTE: If Output Manager is installed on the Windows 2008
Server Operating System right-click on the Start menu GUI
command and select Run as Administrator to run the program as
an Administrator..
2. In the browse dialog, select a folder location to save the
backup information.
3. Enter a file name in the text box or accept the default file
name.
NOTE: If you specify a file name that is a duplicate of a
previous backup, a dialog will display. Select Yes to overwrite
the previous backup, or No to specify an alternate filename.
4. Select Save. A progress bar dialog will display the status of
the backup.
5. Select OK when the operation is complete.
Perform the following to restore the Output Manager system:
2. In the browse dialog, select a folder location of the backup
information.
1–14
3. Select the ZIP file containing the backup information you want
to restore.
4. Select Open. A progress bar dialog will display the status of
the backup.
5. Select OK when the operation is complete.
Output Manager User Guide
Backup or Restore using the command line
Follow the procedure for backing up or restoring the Output
Manager system using the command line.
NOTE: You must be logged in as the Windows Administrator to
perform the backup or restore operations.
NOTE: If Output Manager is installed on the Windows 2008
Server Operating System, right-click on the Command Prompt
icon and select Run as Administrator to run the program as an
Administrator.
Perform the following to backup the Output Manager system
1. From the /bin folder located in the Output Manager installation
directory, enter the ffom_backup command followed by a fully
qualified path to the backup file to be created.
•For example: ffom_backup c:\Backup\<todays_date>
NOTE: If you do not specify a backup path, the ffom_backup
will create a backup file in a default location. The default
location will be in the <installation directory>\backup.
FreeFlow Output Manager
Perform the following to restore the Output Manager system:
System Requirements
Hardware Requirements: PC-Compatible
1. From the /bin folder located in the Output Manager installation
directory, enter the ffom_restore command followed by a fully
qualified path to the backup file to be restored.
Output Manager requires the following minimum hardware and
software requirements.
NOTE: The installation program will validate that the system
meets the minimum requirements prior to running the
installation.
•Dual Processor Intel Xeon 2.8 GHz equivalent or better
Output Manager User Guide
•At least 4 gigabyte of RAM
•At least 250 GB of free disk space, plus any additional
expected spool space
•Ethernet Capability: 10/100/1000 Mb/sec
1–15
FreeFlow Output Manager
Software Requirements: PC-Compatible
•Windows® Server 2003 R2 (including Service Pack 2)
•Windows
•Windows
®
Server 2008 (including Service Pack 2) 32-bit
®
Server 2008 R2
•One of the following Web browsers:
–Internet Explorer 7.0, or 8.0
NOTE: Internet Explorer 8 must be set to run in Compatibility
Mode in order for Output Manager to function properly when
using that browser version. See your FreeFlow Output
Manager Install and Configuration Guide for instructions on
how to configure Compatibility Mode in Internet Explorer 8.
–FireFox 3.0, 3.5 or 3.6.
Job Scheduling and Load Balancing
Job Scheduling
Printer Selection
FreeFlow Output Manager receives jobs, schedules them,
chooses a printer or printers for each job, and, if necessary, splits
a job across multiple printers to balance printer work load.
Jobs are scheduled for printing using the First-in, First-out (FIFO)
method, so that the first job to arrive in the queue is the first to
print. You can override this by assigning a higher priority to a job,
thus pushing it to the front of the queue.
Jobs come into a queue, to be sent to a printer associated with
that queue. Output Manager selects the printer for a particular job
in the following manner:
1. Output Manager determines which printers are eligible to print
the
job. If capability matching is enabled, only printers that
match the job requirements are considered as eligible printers.
If capability matching is not enabled, all printers are
considered eligible.
1–16
2. From the list of eligible printers, Output Manager chooses the
printer using either the round robin or least-busy printer, or
least-buy-by-pages method.
Output Manager User Guide
Capability Matching
If capability matching is not enabled, only the document format is
compared against the printer's supported document formats. If
there is a match, the job is scheduled to the printer.
Output Manager also checks if the document has color content. If
the job contains color content, it can only go to a printer that
supports color. If the document does not have color content, then
it can be sent to a monochrome printer.
Example
If you submitted a job to be printed on glossy, drilled paper, one of
the following occurs:
•capability matching is enabled:
–The job is scheduled to a printer that contains the selected
stock properties.
–If none of the printers have the selected stock properties,
the job is placed in the Held state.
FreeFlow Output Manager
–After 5 minutes, the job is checked.
–If the resources are now supported at the printer, the job is
scheduled to that printer.
•capability matching is not enabled:
–The job is sent to a printer.
–The job is sent with the set properties and it is up to the
printer to print the job or hold it for resources.
NOTE: Under Job Manager > Edit Job Properties > Job
Processing Options > Job Properties Match option allows you to
select from Allow Substitutions and Honor All Job Properties.
If the selected value is Allow Substitutions, the job is sent to the
next available printer, if no printer matching the required resources
is found. Otherwise, the job is held.
Controlling How Jobs are sent to Printer
Output Manager provides a configuration option that controls how
jobs are forwarded to printers. The following two configurations
control how jobs are sent to the printer:
Output Manager User Guide
•Sending multiple jobs to the same printer simultaneously. This
method improves the throughput of jobs sent to printers but
does not guarantee the order of the jobs as determined by the
Output Manager queue policy. This is the default setting.
•Preserving job order
This method ensures that jobs arrive at the printer in the order
determined by the Output Manager queue policy. This method
is required when iGen4 220 Perfecting Press printers are
1–17
FreeFlow Output Manager
Setting the Job Order Policy
configured on Output Manager.
To set the Job Order Policy, perform the following:
1. Edit the file OBS.properties found in the following directory:
<FFOM installation directory>\config
2. Locate the file JOB_ORDER and change value to the
appropriate setting.
•UNORDER: Jobs are submitted in the order determined by
the Output Manager queue policy but due to the job size
and network factors, jobs may arrive at the printers out of
order. Currently UNORDER is the default job ordering
policy.
•ORDER: Ensure that jobs arrive at the printer in the order
determined by the Output Manager queue policy.
3. Restart Output Manager.
“Setting Job Properties Match” on page 4–17
1–18
Output Manager User Guide
Load Balancing
FreeFlow Output Manager
Printer load balancing, or job splitting, is used to keep printers
working equally. This avoids having one printer always busy while
another is only sometimes used. Output Manager automates load
balancing to increase operator and printer efficiency, using the
following methods:
•Simple: Assign more than one printer to a queue. The jobs will
be printed using either the round robin or least-busy printer
method.
•Number of copies: If multiple copies are being printed,
Output Manager can send some of the copies to each of the
printers in the queue.
•Color pages: Output Manager can send the color pages of a
black and white document to a color printer, if one is in the
queue. In this way your color printer is used only for color
printing and not kept busy with black and white pages. This
feature also allows you to set a threshold based on a
percentage of color pages, or a set number of color pages,
where the entire job is sent to the color printer. The threshold
setting is used to save time collating a job that has a minimum
of black and white pages.
•Page range: Output Manager splits the total job into groups of
sequenced pages, and sends each page sequence to a
different printer.
•Documents: A job can consist of multiple documents. Output
Manager can split the job and send each document to a
separate printer.
•Page Count: Output Manager can load balance to printers
that are least busy based on the pages pending to print. The
least busy printer is determined by estimating the number of
pages pending at the printer. The estimate is arrived at by
calculating the number of pages sent by Output Manager to
that printer. Pages sent to the printer from non-Output
Manager sources are precluded from the calculation.
•Document Set: refers to VI Container splitting. A VI
Container is a job format that it has 3 sub-types (also known
as modes), PPML, VIPP-database, and VIPP. VI Containers
can contain many document sets. FreeFlow Output Manager
only supports document-set split for a VI container that is in
the VIPP-database format.
See Also
Output Manager User Guide
“Job Manager” on page 4–1
“Printer Manager” on page 3–1
“Queue Manager” on page 2-1
1–19
FreeFlow Output Manager
1–20
Output Manager User Guide
2.Queue Manager
A queue maintains pools of jobs and is responsible for managing
the distribution of these jobs to the printers on your network. You
may create a queue of all color printers, for example, or a queue of
all printers in one geographic location. The queue is the central
object in Output Manager: incoming jobs arrive in a queue;
outgoing jobs are sent to printers from the queue.
Queue Manager allows you to create and manage queues.
•A queue can accept submissions from any inbound gateway.
•A queue can send jobs to any number of devices (including
zero).
•A device can accept jobs from any number of queues.
NOTE: All jobs are spooled into Output Manager before
processing can be initiated.
NOTE: The options that are available to you within Queue
Manager will depend on your Output Manager access rights.
See Also
“The Queue Manager Window” on page 2–1
“The Queue List” on page 2–3
“Creating New Queues” on page 2–7
“Editing Queue Properties” on page 2–11
“Managing Queues” on page 2–72
The Queue Manager Window
The Queue Manager window displays all of the queues available
to the logged in user on the FreeFlow Output Manager system.
Each queue can be thought of as a virtual printer which has
unique characteristics that are defined when the queue is created.
The queue list displays the name and state for any queues
available at the system.
Queue Manager is accessed by selecting the Queue Manager
menu in the Output Manager window. The main window displays
the following:
Output Manager User Guide
2–1
Queue Manager
Queue Status
Presents the following information:
•Number of Selected Queues: Displays the number of queues
in the Output Management system that match the option
selected in the Status drop-down menu.
•Queue Status: The queue name with additional columns that
report on the status of that queue.
Status Menu
The Status menu allows you to view a list of queues by current
status:
•View All: this is the default selection that lists all the queues in
the Output Management system.
•Accepting: displays the queues that are enabled to accept
new jobs for printing.
–Accepting/Releasing: displays the queues that are set to
accept new jobs for printing and automatically print
incoming jobs.
–Accepting/Not Releasing: displays the queues that are
set to accept new jobs for printing. Jobs will be printed
when the queue is set to release.
•Not Accepting: displays the queues that are prevented from
accepting new jobs for printing.
–Not Accepting/Releasing: displays the queues that are
prevented from accepting new jobs, but are set to
automatically print jobs that are already in the system.
–Not Accepting/Not Releasing: displays the queues that
are prevented from accepting new jobs and jobs already in
the system can only be printed if the queue is set to
release.
•Bypassing Processing: displays queues that do not process
any job and submit to the printer as they are received.
Automatic Update Menu
The Automatic Update menu allows you to set the interval at
which the queue list is updated. If Update Now is selected, the
queue list is immediately refreshed regardless of the Automatic
Update setting.
2–2
Output Manager User Guide
The Queue List
Queue Name
Jobs in Queue
Selecting Queues
Queue Manager
The Queue List displays all of the queues in the system. Each
row represents a queue and contains information about that
queue.
All columns can be sorted by clicking the column header. The sort
arrow shows which column is sorted and whether it is in ascending
or descending order.
You can manage Queue List selections from the Status menu.
Name of the queue.
The number of jobs residing in each queue.
To modify a queue, you must first select it.
To Select a Queue
Select the checkbox next to a queue name to select that queue.
Clear the checkbox next to the queue to cancel the selection.
To Select All Queues
Click the Select All button in the column header to select all
queues. Click the button a second time to clear the selection of all
queues.
Custom View Access Group
This column displays the group name that the queue belongs to.
This column will appear when the administrator is logged on to the
system.
Accepting
The column display will either be Yes or No. If Yes is displayed the
queue is enabled to accept new jobs for printing. If No is displayed
the queue is prevented from accepting new jobs for printing.
Output Manager User Guide
See Also
“Enabling a Queue to Accept Jobs” on page 2–73
“Preventing a Queue from Accepting Jobs” on page 2–74
2–3
Queue Manager
Releasing
The column display will either be Yes or No.
If Yes is displayed the queue will automatically print incoming
jobs.
If No is displayed the queue is paused and jobs cannot be
manually released unless the queue status is changed.
Release Jobs At
Indicates the time and date that the job is scheduled to be
released to the printers.
Hold New Jobs
Holds all incoming new jobs. Jobs which entered the queue prior
to this state being enabled, are not affected and are not placed in
a held state.
See Also
“Releasing Jobs from the Queue” on page 2–14
“Setting a Queue to Hold Jobs” on page 2–75
Bypass
A Bypass queue forwards a job to the printer in an “as is”
condition. As a result, you can think of a bypass queue as
submitting a job directly to the printer.
A checkmark indicates that Bypass is enabled.
NOTE: A Bypass queue cannot be used when splitting jobs.
See Also
“Using the Job Processing Options Detail” on page 2–15
Default Split/Maximum
Indicates the default split type and the maximum number of splits
allowed by the queue.
2–4
Output Manager User Guide
Retain Job
Indicates the amount of time a job is retained on the system
before the job information and associated print data is deleted. If a
duration is not displayed, the job is retained in the system until the
retain job default policy elapses.
When a job is retained, you can reprint or resubmit the job to print
again.
See Also
“Releasing Jobs from the Queue” on page 2–14
“Setting a Queue to Hold Jobs” on page 2–75
“Keeping Completed Jobs” on page 2–23
The Queue Properties Window
The Queue Properties window has the following controls:
Queue Manager
Queue Name List
If you selected more than one queue from the Queue Status
screen, you can switch between them by selecting them from the
Queue Name drop-down list.
View Menu
The View menu option allows you to expand or collapse all
property detail displays, and switch between View and Edit
modes.
Value Options Menu
The Value Options menu allows you to append or overwrite
values imported from the printers and .xcp files associated with
the queue and save the properties of the queue to a file.
Output Manager User Guide
2–5
Queue Manager
Queue Options Menu
Command Buttons
•Apply: Saves all property changes to the selected queue
without closing the window. You do not need to select Apply
before selecting OK to save changes.
•OK: Saves all property changes to a queue and closes the
window.
•Back to Queue Status: Returns the view to the main Queue
Manager window.
•Previous Queue/Next Queue: Displays the properties view of
the previous or next queue in the queue list.
CAUTION: Do not use the browser Back or Forward navigation
buttons to return to previously viewed pages, or the Refresh
button. This action may cause unpredictable behavior.
The Queue Options menu presents the following selections:
•Hold New Jobs: Incoming jobs to the selected queue are
held. This selection does not affect jobs that are currently
processing.
•Release Held New Jobs: Releases jobs that are held using
the Hold New Jobs operation. Jobs that are held by other
methods remain on hold.
•Release JobsAt: Allows you to schedule the day and time
that jobs in the queue are released.
•Purge Jobs: Deletes all the jobs in the queue, regardless of
the state of the job. New jobs entering the queue while this
operation is executed are not affected.
•Delete Queues: Deletes the selected queue(s) from the
system. To delete selected queues, each queue must be
disabled and it cannot contain any active jobs.
“Creating New Queues” on page 2–7
“Setting a Queue to Hold Jobs” on page 2–75
“Releasing Jobs from the Queue” on page 2–14
2–6
“Purging Jobs” on page 2–75
“Deleting a Queue” on page 2–72
Output Manager User Guide
Creating New Queues
To Create A New Queue
Queue Manager
Before jobs can be printed, they must be submitted to the printer
device(s) through a print queue. The function of a queue is to
manage the flow of print jobs through the controller to the printer
device(s). You may want to create a new queue to manage a
group of printers that handle specific job requirements, or to have
a queue available for a particular group of people.
When a queue is associated with printers, the features which the
printers support are added to the queue property menus.
The Supported selection acts as an accelerator to select all the
values within a particular option. Once options are selected, the
value is supported and can be selected when editing job
properties.
NOTE: There is no limit to the number of queues that can be
created on the FreeFlow Output Manager system.
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Click New Queue. The New Queue wizard opens.
3. Type a name in the Queue Name box. Names may have up to
127 characters, using only letters, numbers, underscores and
dashes. Spaces are not allowed in the name.
NOTE: The queue name cannot be changed, however,
properties of the queue can be edited at any time.
4. Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
NOTE: Click Cancel to end the queue creation process and
return to the Status screen. Click Back to return to the
previous screen to edit previous entries.
5. To enable Job Splitting for the Queue select Yes, otherwise
select No. If you select Yes, select a Job Split method from the
pull-down. Options include:
•By Quantity: A portion of the total quantity may be printed
on each available printer associated with the queue.
At the next screen, pick at least two primary printers.
•By Pages: A different range of pages may be printed on
each available printer associated with the queue.
Output Manager User Guide
At the next screen, pick at least two primary printers that
support page range.
2–7
Queue Manager
•By Documents: Different documents in a job may be
printed on each available printer associated with the
queue.
At the next screen, pick at least two primary printers.
•By Document Sets: Different document sets may be
printed on each available printer associated with the
queue. If the documents submitted are part of a VI
container, it is possible to load balance the document sets
within the container. Load balancing of VI Container
document sets is limited to database mode VIPP print files.
The VI Container must include a database master file
(.dbm file).
At the next screen, pick at least two primary printers.
•By Color: Color pages may be printed on a printer that
supports color, and non-color pages may be printed on a
printer that does not support color.
At the next screen, pick at least one primary printer that
supports color, and one primary printer that does not
support color. Note that picking a non-color printer that
supports the interposer allows color pages to be
automatically collated into the non-color pages.
•By Best Method: FreeFlow Output Manager will
determine the most suitable splitting method depending on
job properties and printer availability.
At the next screen, pick at least two primary printers.
6. Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
7. If Custom View Groups has been enabled, perform this step,
otherwise go to the next step:
•If you want to make the queue accessible to a specific
Custom View Group, select Yes, otherwise select No. If
you select Yes, select an access group from the Select
Custom View Group pull-down menu.
NOTE: If No is selected and the Custom View Groups feature
is enabled on the System Configuration page, then the queue
will only be available to the Administration user. For more
information on enabling this feature, see
“Custom View
Groups” .
8. Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
9. If you want all of the printers in your Output Manager system to
be considered
primary printers for this queue, select All
Printers in the System. Otherwise, select Selected Printers.
2–8
NOTE: If you selected to make the queue available to a
specific Custom View Group, only those printers that have not
been assigned will appear in the Associated Printers list. For
more information on this feature, see
“Creating Custom View
Groups”
Output Manager User Guide
Queue Manager
a. If you chose Selected Printers, select each printer you
want to associate with the queue.
b. The printers you select will all be assigned a Primary
designation. You may want to designate
standby printers if
all primary printers are not operational or not suitable for
particular jobs. To change printers from primary to standby
printers, select the Standby option for each.
NOTE: If you selected a job splitting option for the queue,
ensure that you select the required number of supported
printers for that job split selection. Use the legend and letter
designations in the printer list to select printers that have the
necessary support.
10. Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
11. If a Job Split Method was selected, you can specify values for
the following fields:
•Maximum Job Splits: Maximum Job Splits is not
applicable on a document split or a color split. The value of
this attribute specifies the maximum number of job splits
that will be created when splitting a job. The default entry is
the number of available printers that can print the job split.
For example, if you want to have a maximum of five splits
on a job, type 5 in the Maximum Job Splits box. You
would need a minimum of five printers in order to produce
five job splits.
•Minimum Quantity: If By Quantity is the Job Split Method
selected, this attribute specifies the minimum number of
copies that a document must have before it can be split.
For example, if you want to start job splitting once a job
contains more than four copies, then type 4 in the
Minimum Quantity box.
•Minimum Pages: If By Pages is the Job Split Method
selected, this attribute specifies the minimum number of
pages that a document must have before it can be split.
For example, if you want to split all jobs containing more
than 100 pages, type 100 in the Minimum Pages box.
•Minimum Document: If By Document Sets is the Job
Split method selected, this attribute specifies the minimum
number of document sets a document must have before it
can be split. For example, if you want to start job splitting
once a job contains more than four document sets, then
type 4 in the Minimum Document box.
•Specify an option for If Job Cannot be Split by Specified
Method.
–Print Job on One Printer: the job will be automatically
sent to a single available capable device.
Output Manager User Guide
–Hold Job: the job will be set to a Held state.
12. Click Next to proceed to the next screen.
2–9
Queue Manager
13. Select from the following:
•Yes to update queue properties using printer information
automatically. When a queue is created and the queue is
associated with printers, the queue inherits the features
from all the associated printers. After features are
inherited, the administrator can change the feature set to
limit the features that are available when editing the job, or
to advertise available features to clients such as FreeFlow
Print Manager.
•Select No to set the information manually.
14. Click Create Queue to add the new queue to the system.
15. If necessary, click Edit Queue Properties to further define
settings for the queue.
16. Click Done to end the queue creation process and return to
the Queue Status screen.
See Also
“Hints and Tips for Creating Queues”
“Editing Queue Properties” on page 2–11
Hints and Tips for Creating Queues
TIP: Assign printers of similar capabilities to a queue. This
enables jobs to be distributed to most or all printers associated
with the
distribution and job splitting by quantity, pages or documents.
TIP: Assign only one printer per queue when using the iGen4 220
Perfecting Press.
TIP: Assign printers of similar print quality. Some printers have
write white engines, others have write black engines and should
not be part of the same queue.
TIP: Use Bypass queues for jobs that will not be edited using the
Output Manager application. Some printers have print controllers
that do not support
Fiery, DocumentCentre, Generic LPR and older versions of Creo).
Output Manager cannot forward updated job attributes to those
print controllers.
TIP: When creating a printer in the Printer Registration
application, assign a Custom name with as few characters as
possible. This will allow the printer name to display without
wrapping in the interface.
queue. This is especially productive for round robin
IPP or ASCII/XPIF job ticketing (for example,
2–10
Output Manager User Guide
Editing Queue Properties
Queue Manager
Once a new queue is created, most queue properties can be
modified. The Queue Name and Printer Name cannot be modified.
The Queue Properties window enables you to view and specify
default settings to process all jobs submitted to the queue. Only
Administrators and Operator 1 can edit queue properties.
NOTE: When setting queue properties, the values can be those
received from the associated printers. The values are used as
potential values when editing a job. As a result, only values that
are supported by the printer will be displayed. This allows the job
to be scheduled to the correct printer that meets the job
requirements.
NOTE: The attributes set on the queue are used to advertise the
print capabilities of the printer to IPP clients. This information is
used by FreeFlow Print Manager to display the print options
available when submitting the job to the Output Manager queue.
Output Manager User Guide
2–11
Queue Manager
To Edit Queue Properties
All queue property settings are accessed by performing the
following:
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Select each queue that you want to access. Click the column
header to select all listed queues.
3. Select Edit Queue Properties or View Queue Properties.
4. Edit the queue properties by adjusting the settings on each
detail display.
NOTE: The administrator or operator 1 determines which features
are supported. In order to change a Printer Default setting, the
Printer Default checkbox must be cleared. A Printer Default
selection indicates that the feature is handled by the printer that
receives the job, using the printer default behavior.
See Also
“Using the Basic Properties Detail”
“Using the Job Processing Options Detail”
“Using the Queue Manager Settings Detail”
“Using the Paper Stocks Detail”
“Using the Output Format Detail”
“Using the Image Adjustments Detail”
“Using the Color Detail”
“Using the Job Notes and Accounting Detail”
“Using the Multifunction Device Setup Detail”
“Using the Special Pages Detail”
2–12
Output Manager User Guide
Using the Basic Properties Detail
The available options within the Basic Properties detail are
determined by the administrator or operator 1.
To Use the Basic Properties Detail
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Select the queue(s) you want to access.
3. Select Edit Queue Properties.
NOTE: The Queue Name, Jobs in Queue, and Date Created fields
are read only.
See Also
“Accepting Jobs at the Queue” on page 2–13
“Releasing Jobs from the Queue” on page 2–14
“Selecting Associated Printers” on page 2–15
Queue Manager
Accepting Jobs at the Queue
Jobs cannot flow through a queue unless the queue is set to
accept jobs.
To Accept Jobs at the Queue
1. Open the Basic Properties detail.
2. Select from the following Accepting Jobs options:
•Yes: New jobs are accepted at the queue.
•No: New jobs are not accepted at the queue.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
NOTE: You can also set queues to accept jobs using the options
available on the Queue Status list.
See Also
“Enabling a Queue to Accept Jobs” on page 2–73
“Preventing a Queue from Accepting Jobs” on page 2–74
Output Manager User Guide
2–13
Queue Manager
Releasing Jobs from the Queue
Although a queue may accept jobs for processing, the jobs will not
print unless the queue is set to release print jobs.
To Release Jobs from the Queue
1. Open the Basic Properties detail.
2. Select from the following Releasing Jobs options:
•Yes: New jobs are released once they enter the queue.
•No: New jobs are held at the queue.
3. To release jobs at a special time:
a. Select Release At.
b. Select a date and time from the calendar. By default, the
current date is selected during the initial opening of the
menu. For subsequent uses, the last date and time
entered is the default value.
The left and right arrows on each side of the month and year
header allow you to select calendar months. The Show Today
selection automatically selected the current date on the
calendar, but does not affect the time selection. Your jobs
release from the queue at the selected date and time.
c. Click OK to accept the date and time entries and close the
calendar window.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
NOTE: You can also release jobs using the options available on
the Queue Status list.
See Also
“Setting a Queue to Release Jobs” on page 2–74
“Setting a Queue to Hold Jobs” on page 2–75
2–14
Output Manager User Guide
Selecting Associated Printers
You can choose the printers that you want to associate with the
queue. You may have an installation where you want to allow jobs
to use all available and capable printers. If enabled by the
administrator or operator 1, jobs sent to this queue can be
scheduled to selected devices or all devices in the system.
NOTE: When selecting printers, use the table legend and letter
column to select printers that have support for specific options.
For example, printers that support color will have the letter “C” in
the letter column to the right of the printer name.
NOTE: If the Custom View Group feature has been enabled, the
printers in the pull-down list will be limited to those that the logged
on user has been granted access.
To Select Associated Printers
1. Open the Basic Properties detail.
Queue Manager
2. To associate the queue with all printers, select All Printers in
the System. Otherwise, select Selected Printers to open the
Associated Printers list.
a. Select the printers you want to associate with the queue.
b. Select either the Primary or Standby option for each
printer. Standby printers are used only when all the
printers are unavailable.
3. Select Update Values from Printers.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using the Job Processing Options Detail
The administrator or operator 1 can set up a queue, so that all jobs
entering the queue can execute an optional job processing
program.
primary
Output Manager User Guide
2–15
Queue Manager
To Use the Job Processing Options Detail
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Select each queue that you want to access. If you want to view
or edit the properties of all the queues in the system, select the
checkbox column header. If you select multiple queues, the
properties for each selected queue can be accessed using the
Queue Name menu within the Queue Properties window.
3. Select Edit Queue Properties.
NOTE: The administrator determines which features are
supported.
See Also
“Setting Job Processing Options” on page 2–17
“Selecting a Job Split Method” on page 2–19
“Setting up Job Routing” on page 2–21
“Holding Jobs for a Set Amount of Time” on page 2–22
“Keeping Completed Jobs” on page 2–23
2–16
Output Manager User Guide
Setting Job Processing Options
You can set up a queue so that processing of incoming jobs does
not occur. This is called a Bypass queue. The job is sent directly to
the queue with no pre-processing: The queue does not validate
the job's attributes against the queue’s supported attributes. If any
subordinate device cannot print the job, you are informed when
job scheduling fails.
To Set Job Processing Options
1. Select the Job Processing Options detail.
2. Select from the following Job Processing by System options:
•Allow: Job processing is performed. This is the default
selection.
•Bypass: If this is selected, you can only set the following
four queue properties:
–Schedule Jobs at Printer > By Priority (Job Priority)
Queue Manager
–Keep Completed Jobs (Job Retention Period)
–Post-processing Program
–Printer Requested (Output Device)
NOTE: A Bypass queue cannot be used for job splitting.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Requesting a Printer
You can select a specific printer to print your job.
To Request a Printer
1. Select the Job Processing Options menu.
2. Select a printer from the Printer Requested menu.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Output Manager User Guide
2–17
Queue Manager
Selecting Pre- and Post-processing Programs
Output Manager provides a predefined preprocessing program
called “xompdlana.bat”. The preprocessor performs the following:
•determines the job PDL (that is, PostScript, PCL, TIFF,
PDF, ASCII, VI Container)
•determines if the file has color content (PDF and
PostScript files only)
•estimates the number of pages in the job (PostScript, PDF,
PCL files)
•pre-processing will estimate the number of document sets
for a VI Container job, and the type of container.
After a job completes printing, a specific program or script
specified as a post-processor is used that can perform job tasks
such as sending an email notification that the job is complete, or
writing job or document attributes to a file to perform simple job
accounting.
To Select Pre- and Post-processing Programs
1. Select the Job Processing Options menu.
2. Select a supported Preprocessing Program. To enable this
pre-processing program to be used on all jobs submitted to the
queue:
a. Select xompdlana as a supported pre-processing
program.
b. Select the corresponding default radio button.
3. Select a supported Postprocessing Program.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Setting the Job Size Supported
The system administrator sets the job size (pages) supported for
the queue. The minimum and maximum values are established by
the total number of printers in the queue.
To Set the Job Size Supported
2–18
1. Select the Job Processing Options detail.
2. The minimum and maximum values are displayed above the
Job Size Supported (Pages) fields of the submitted job. You
can type or use the spin boxes to enter values in each field.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Output Manager User Guide
Setting the Job Proof Option
This feature allows you to set the queue to print a proof copy of a
multi-copy job while eliminating the need to resubmit the job to
print once the content and layout have been verified.
To Set the Job Proof Option
1. Select the Job Processing Options detail.
2. If Job Proof is enabled, the Supported checkbox is selected.
Enter a Job Proof quantity.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Selecting a Job Split Method
Job splitting can be used to balance printer loads, spreading a
large job across two or more printers. Splitting can also be used
for diverting specialty portions of a job to printers suited for
particular tasks.
Queue Manager
NOTE: A Bypass queue cannot be used for job splitting.
NOTE: The Proof Quantity must be set to 0 (zero) for split jobs.
To Select a Job Split Method
1. Select the Job Processing Options menu.
2. Select a supported Job Split Method.
3. Specify an option for If Job Cannot be Split by Specified Method.
•Print Job on One Printer: the job will be automatically
sent to a single available capable device.
•Hold Job: the job will be set to a Held state.
4. If a Job Split Method is selected, you can specify values for the
following fields:
•Maximum Job Splits: Maximum Job Splits is not
applicable on a document split or a color split. The value of
this attribute specifies the maximum number of job splits
that will be created when splitting a job. The default entry is
the number of available printers that can print the job split.
For example, if you want to have a maximum of five splits
on a job, type 5 in the Maximum Job Splits box. You
would need a minimum of five printers in order to produce
five job splits.
Output Manager User Guide
2–19
Queue Manager
•Minimum Quantity: If By Quantity is the Job Split Method
selected, this attribute specifies the minimum number of
copies that a document must have before it can be split.
For example, if you want to start job splitting once a job
contains more than four copies, then type 4 in the
Minimum Quantity box.
•Minimum Pages: If By Pages is the Job Split Method
selected, this attribute specifies the minimum number of
pages that a document must have before it can be split.
For example, if you want to split all jobs containing more
than 100 pages, type 100 in the Minimum Pages box.
•Minimum Document: If By Document Sets is the Job
Split method selected, this attribute specifies the minimum
number of document sets a document must have before it
can be split. For example, if you want to start job splitting
once a job contains more than four document sets, then
type 4 in the Minimum Document box.
•Enable Color Splits: If By Color is the Job Split method,
these settings are enabled. Select Always When Color Pages Are Present to split the job when color pages are
present. See
“Color Splitting Job Options” for more
information on additional color split options.
5. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
2–20
Output Manager User Guide
Queue Manager
Color Splitting Job Options
There are two sets of additional options available when color
splitting a job.
•Color Page Threshold: This setting enables color splitting of
the job if the number color pages falls below a threshold based
on the number or percentage of color pages in the job. The
options for setting a color split threshold are:
•Based on percentage: This option will split the job if the
number of color pages in the job falls below the percentage
setting you enter. For example, the option can be set to
only split the job if the number of color pages is less that
80% of the total pages in the document; otherwise, the
entire job will be sent to the color printer.
•Based on number of pages: This option will split the job if
the number of color pages in the job falls below the
number of pages setting you enter. For example, the
option can be set to only split the job if the number of
pages is less than 20 pages in the document; otherwise,
the entire job will be sent to the color printer
•Exception Page Handling: If a job has been programmed
with exception pages that have color content, this feature
allows you to specify whether those pages are routed to a
color or black and white printer. In the Exception Page Splitting section, select from the following:
•Select Route to Either Color or B/W Printer Based on
Exception Page Color to send exception pages with color
content to the configured color printer for the queue.
•Select Route All Exception Pages to a B/W Printer to
send color content exception pages to the configured black
and white printer for the queue.
See Also
“Splitting Jobs” on page 4–66
Setting up Job Routing
Job routing determines how the queue assigns jobs to printers.
To Set up Job Routing
Output Manager User Guide
1. Click Queue Manager to open it.
2. Select the queue you wish to set routing for.
3. Click Edit Queue Properties
4. Click Job Processing Options.
5. Select a Check Printers for Capability Match option:
•Yes: The job can be assigned to a printer only if the printer
2–21
Queue Manager
supports the required job attributes.
•No: The queue schedules the job to a device that best
supports the job properties. It uses the Assign Jobs
selection, which follows.
6. Select an Assign Jobs option:
•To Next Printer: The next printer in the list receives the
job. This is the
•To Least Busy Printer by Page Count: The printer with
the least number of pages, as defined by the system
administrator, receives the job.
•To Least Busy Printer by Job Count: The printer with the
least number of jobs, as defined by the system
administrator, receives the job.
7. Select a Schedule Jobs at Printer option:
•First In, First Out (FIFO): generally, the first job to enter a
queue is the first job that is sent to a printer.
•By Priority: the higher the priority, the faster the job is sent
to a printer. Enter a priority setting between 1 (lowest
priority) and 100 (highest priority). The default priority
setting is 50.
round robin method.
NOTE: Jobs can be assigned a priority only if By Priority is
the attribute set at the queue.
8. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting Job Priority”
Holding Jobs for a Set Amount of Time
This feature allows you to set the time range that a job can be
held. This feature is used when you edit job properties. When a
job is held it needs to process again before it can be printed.
To Hold Jobs for a Set Amount of Time
1. Select the Job Processing Options detail.
2. Jobs can be held from one minute to 30 days:
a. Select a Minimum time that jobs can be held.
2–22
b. Select a Maximum time that jobs can be held.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Output Manager User Guide
Keeping Completed Jobs
You can set the amount of time a job is retained on the system
before the job information and associated print data is deleted. If a
duration is not displayed, the job is retained in the system until the
retain job default policy elapses.
To Keep Completed Jobs
1. Select the Job Processing Options detail.
2. You can keep Completed jobs for a minimum of one minute to
a maximum of 30 days:
a. Enter a Minimum value.
b. Enter a Maximum value.
NOTE: The Default value is set by the system administrator.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Queue Manager
Using the Queue Manager Settings Detail
The available options within the Settings detail are determined by
the system administrator.
To Use the Queue Manager Settings Detail
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Select the queue(s) you want to access.
3. Select Edit Queue Properties.
See Also
“Setting the Job Quantity and Page Range” on page 2–24
“Selecting the Document Format” on page 2–24
“Setting Font Options” on page 2–25
“Setting OPI Options” on page 2–26
“Enabling Queue Resources” on page 2–27
Output Manager User Guide
2–23
Queue Manager
Setting the Job Quantity and Page Range
Allows you to enter number of job sets to be printed.
To Set the Job Quantity and Page Range
1. Select the Settings detail.
2. Enter minimum and maximum values in the Quantity fields.
The minimum and maximum values of the queue are
displayed above the Quantity field. The Default field displays
the default number of document copies to print. A job entering
the queue with no value for Job Quantity will print the default
number of copies.
3. Page Range allows you to set the page range of the job you
want to print. If Page Range is supported, the Supported field
is selected.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Selecting the Document Format” on page 2–24
“Setting Font Options” on page 2–25
“Setting OPI Options” on page 2–26
“Setting Job Quantity” on page 4–19
“Setting Page Range” on page 4–19
Selecting the Document Format
You can change the format of a document after it has been
submitted to the controller. For example, a change from PostScript
to ASCII may be desired in order to print the PostScript
commands.
To Select the Document Format
1. Select the Settings detail.
2. Select a supported Document Format. The following
Document Formats may be available:
2–24
•Unknown:
•ASCII: The American (National) Standard Code for
Information Interchange, is a standard character-tonumber encoding widely used in the computer industry.
•JPEG: The Joint Photographic Experts Group standard
algorithm for compressed digital images.
Output Manager User Guide
Queue Manager
•PostScript: A page description language developed by
Adobe Systems, Inc. It supports graphics, text, and images
with a wide variety of fonts. It is designed to be printer
independent.
•PCL: A page description language that provides a set of
instructions to the printer describing the appearance of a
page or pages.
•PDF: Portable Document Format. A file format developed
by Adobe Systems, Inc.
•TIFF: A common image format developed by Aldus and
Microsoft for scanned color and black and white images. It
is a versatile, reliable, and widely supported bitmap format
designed for exchanging digital information.
•VI Container: (Variable Information) Containers are
specialized files containing a collection of components that
are bundled into a single file called a “container.” Output
Manager will forward VI container jobs to printers that
support this format. Supported VI Container formats
include PPML, VIPP, and VIPP Database Mode. The VI
Container format needs to be enabled manually because
printer will not export it automatically.
NOTE: PPML, VIPP and VI Database Mode can be set if the
version of FreeFlow Print Server is version 5.0 or later. Only
PPML is set if the FreeFlow Print Server version is 4.2.
NOTE: The Default value is set by the administrator.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting the Job Quantity and Page Range” on page 2–24
“Setting Font Options” on page 2–25
“Setting OPI Options” on page 2–26
“Enabling Queue Resources” on page 2–27
“Selecting the Document Format” on page 4–20
Setting Font Options
A font name can be specified if the document data is in a format
that does not have inherent font information (for example, 'text/
plain'). If font information is supplied with the job, this selection is
ignored.
Output Manager User Guide
The font name and size can be selected.
2–25
Queue Manager
To Set Font Options
1. Select the Settings detail. If Font Size (Points) and Font
Name are enabled, the Supported checkbox is selected.
Each supported Font Name is also selected.
2. Enter a Font Size in the field provided. The supported queue
range is displayed in job properties page
3. Select a supported Font Name by selecting a radio button.
NOTE: The Default value is set by the system administrator.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting the Job Quantity and Page Range” on page 2–24
“Selecting the Document Format” on page 2–24
“Setting OPI Options” on page 2–26
“Enabling Queue Resources” on page 2–27
Setting OPI Options
This attribute indicates the type of OPI image insertion to be
performed by the printer.
Open PrePress Interface is used to replace low-resolution proxy
images with high-resolution images when the job is decomposed.
This is useful because low-resolution images transmit much
quicker than high-resolution jobs from the client to the controller.
Once received, the controller can then access the high-resolution
image during decomposition to be used for print.
To Set OPI Options
1. Select the Settings detail.
2. Select a supported OPI option.
3. Image Substitution determines the type of OPI image insertion
that is performed by the printer. Select an Image Substitution:
•On: OPI images referenced in the document file are
retrieved, manipulated as specified, and inserted or
substituted for those referenced in the document.
2–26
•Off: OPI images referenced in the document are not
retrieved, inserted or substituted for those in the
document. The printer ignores all OPI image insertion
references.
Output Manager User Guide
Queue Manager
4. The Setting options determine whether the printer pre-scans
the document data in order to validate that OPI images
referenced within the document are accessible and, optionally,
to send them to the Printer, before processing the job. From
the Setting menu, select from:
•None: A PreScan is not performed on the job.
•Pre-Scan: Before processing the job, pre-scan the
document data and validate that each OPI image exists
and is accessible.
•Pre-Scan & Gather: Pre-scan the document data and
retrieve the referenced OPI images prior to processing the
job. This maximizes processing performance on the job.
NOTE: The Default value is set by the system administrator.
5. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting the Job Quantity and Page Range” on page 2–24
“Selecting the Document Format” on page 2–24
“Setting Font Options” on page 2–25
“Enabling Queue Resources” on page 2–27
Enabling Queue Resources
Resource selections are made available for only PostScript or
PDF jobs.
To Enable Queue Resources
1. Select the Settings detail.
2. Select a supported Pre-Scan Action option.
3. From the Pre-Scan Action menu, select from:
•None: A PreScan is not performed on the job.
•Pre-Scan: Before processing the job, pre-scan the
document data and validate that each OPI image exists
and is accessible.
•Pre-Scan & Gather: Pre-scan the document data and
retrieve the referenced OPI images prior to processing the
job. This maximizes processing performance on the job.
Output Manager User Guide
NOTE: Default values are set by the system administrator.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
2–27
Queue Manager
See Also
“Setting the Job Quantity and Page Range” on page 2–24
“Selecting the Document Format” on page 2–24
“Setting Font Options” on page 2–25
“Setting OPI Options” on page 2–26
Setting Retention After Job Completion
This feature allows you to keep or delete a job following the
completion of job processing and printing.
When you keep a job, all the document data and instructions
required to reprint the job are retained so the job can be
reprocessed. When the job retention period expires, all traces of
the job are removed from the system.
To Set Retention After Job Completion
1. Select the Settings detail.
2. Select a supported Retention After Job Completion option.
•Keep: All the document data and instructions required to
reprint the job are retained so the job can be reprocessed.
•Delete: When the job retention period expires, all traces of
the job are removed from the system.
NOTE: The Default value is set by the system administrator.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
2–28
Output Manager User Guide
Using the Paper Stocks Detail
The available options within the Paper Stocks detail are
determined by the system administrator.
To Use the Paper Stocks Detail
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Select the queue(s) you want to edit.
3. Select Edit Queue Properties.
Features within the Paper Stocks menu enable you to set up a
default stock to be used for jobs sent through the queue. Be sure
the attributes you select are supported on the printing system.
NOTE: Some menu selections contain an Add New Value “+”
designation.
See Also
“Selecting a Stock”
Queue Manager
Selecting a Stock
You can select a default stock used by the queue by either
selecting individual stock properties or by selecting a predefined
named stock.
To Select a Stock
1. Select the Paper Stocks detail.
2. Select a supported stock name or select stock characteristics.
3. Select supported paper stock properties.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
NOTE: Be sure that the paper stock you select is supported on the
printer.
Output Manager User Guide
2–29
Queue Manager
Using the Output Format Detail
The available options within the Output Format menu are
determined by the system administrator.
The Output Format menu contains features used for determining
output options that are processed through the selected queue.
Select a supported Output Format option by selecting a radio
button.
NOTE: Jobs entering the queue that do not contain a property
value, are assigned the Default value.
To Use the Output Format Detail
All Output Format options are accessed by performing the
following:
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Select the queue(s) you want to access.
3. Select Edit Queue Properties.
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Forcing Pages” on page 2–33
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Sample Delivery” on page 2–39
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
2–30
Output Manager User Guide
Setting Page Orientation
Orientation describes the position of the page image relative to the
actual printed page and whether the printed image is parallel to
the long side of the paper (landscape orientation) or to the short
side of the paper (portrait orientation).
To Set Page Orientation
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select a supported orientation:
•Portrait: The printed page image is taller than it is wide.
When you view a page printed with a portrait orientation,
you hold it with the long edges to the side.
•Landscape: The printed page image is wider than it is tall.
When you view a page printed with a landscape
orientation, you hold it with the short edges to the side
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain an
orientation value, is assigned the Default orientation value.
Queue Manager
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
Output Manager User Guide
2–31
Queue Manager
Selecting Layout Styles
The Layout feature enables you to control the placement, rotation,
cropping, and scaling of source document pages onto the printed
output. This process is commonly known as Imposition.
To Select Layout Styles
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Enter a supported layout: For a description of each layout
option, see:
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain a layout
value, is assigned the Default layout value.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
“About Layout Options”
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
2–32
Output Manager User Guide
Setting the Sides Imaged
Use the Sides Imaged option to select whether the job prints on
one or both sides of a page.
To Set the Sides Imaged
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select a supported sides imaged option:
•1 Sided
•2 Sided, Flip on Long Edge
•2 Sided, Flip on Short Edge
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain a sides
imaged value is assigned the Default sides imaged value.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Queue Manager
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
Forcing Pages
This attribute forces selected pages to be imaged on the front side
of a sheet in the printed document. This attribute is typically used
to start a new chapter or section of a document.
The pages you want to force to side one must be specified by
page number.
Output Manager User Guide
2–33
Queue Manager
Setting Collation Options
Collation controls the sequence in which pages in a job print.
To Set Collation
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select a supported collation option:
•Collated: Documents are printed in sequential page order
and delivered as separate document sets. For example, if
you print three sets of a 3-page document, the output is
grouped in the following page order: 1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3.
•Uncollated: Documents are printed in separate sets of
each page. If you print 3 copies of a 2-page document, the
output is grouped with three copies of page 1 followed by
three copies of page 2.
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain a collation
value is assigned the Default collation value.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
2–34
Output Manager User Guide
Output Location
The Output Location selection determines where the print job is
delivered.
Selecting an Output Location
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select a supported Output Location option:
•Automatic: This is the default selection. The system
determines the most appropriate destination of the given
job.
•Catch Tray (top): Used for simpler jobs that do not require
finishing or collated stacking.
•Stacker: Used for most jobs that require stacking or
stapling.
•Stacker-N: Choose from the list of available stackers.
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain an output
location value is assigned the Default output location value.
Queue Manager
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
Output Manager User Guide
2–35
Queue Manager
Setting Page Delivery Selections
Page Delivery determines whether the prints are delivered face up
or face down and the order in which the printed pages are
delivered to an output device, either first to last or last to first.
Specifying the page delivery is important for certain types of
finishing.
To Set Page Delivery
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select a supported Page Delivery option:
•System Specified: This is the default selection. The
system determines the page delivery of the given job.
•Face Up; 1-N: Printed pages are delivered face up, first to
last with the last page on top (ascending).
•Face Up; N-1: Printed pages are delivered face up, last to
first with the first page on top (descending).
•Face Down; 1-N: Printed pages are delivered face down,
first to last with the last page on top (ascending).
•Face Down; N-1: Printed pages are delivered face down,
last to first with the first page on top (descending).
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain a page
delivery value is assigned the Default page delivery value.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
2–36
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
Output Manager User Guide
Enabling Slip Sheets
Slip Sheets are pieces of paper or other media that are inserted
between document sets in a print job. Slip Sheets differ from job
inserts in that they separate one job set from another, while job
inserts separate pages of a job.
To Enable Slip Sheets
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select a supported slip sheets option:
•Off: Slip sheets are not included with the job.
•On: Slip sheets are included with the job.
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain a slip sheet
value is assigned the Default slip sheet value.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Queue Manager
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
Output Manager User Guide
2–37
Queue Manager
Setting Offset Options
This feature allows you to offset stacks of output.
To Set Offset Options
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select from the supported offset options:
•Off: The feature is disabled.
•Between Jobs: The offset occurs between each job
printed.
•Between Sets: The offset occurs between each job set
printed.
•Between Subsets: inserts an offset within a stack
(uncollated set) after each specified page number.
3. Select the Pages per Subset check box to enable that option.
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain an offset
value is assigned the Default offset value.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
2–38
Output Manager User Guide
Using Transparency Interleaving
Specifies that the printer is to insert interleaved sheets into the
document. The numbering of pages in the document must not be
affected by the interleaved sheets.
To set Transparency Interleaving
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select a supported interleaved sheets option:
•Off: Interleaved sheets are not included with the job.
•On: Interleaved sheets are included with the job.
3. Select a paper stock for the interleaved sheet from the list.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
Queue Manager
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Forcing Pages” on page 2–33
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Sample Delivery” on page 2–39
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
Using Sample Delivery
Sample delivery allows you to select from collated sets or
uncollated sheets.
To Use Sample Delivery
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. If Sample Delivery is supported, the following Sample Delivery
options are available.
Output Manager User Guide
•Printer Default: This is the default selection. The printer
determines the Sample Delivery of the given job.
•Every: Enter a numeric value for the amount of Uncollated
Sheets or Collated Sets that you want to print.
2–39
Queue Manager
3. The available Sample Delivery option depends on your
collation selection. The Collated Sets option is available for
collated jobs and the Uncollated Sheets option is available for
uncollated jobs. You can change the active selection by
changing the job collation option.
•Uncollated Sheets: Documents are printed in separate
sets of each page. If you print 3 copies of a 2-page
document, the output is grouped with three copies of page
1 followed by three copies of page 2.
•Collated Sets: Documents are printed in sequential page
order and delivered as separate document sets. For
example, if you print three sets of a 3-page document, the
output is grouped in the following page order: 1,2,3 1,2,3
1,2,3.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Forcing Pages” on page 2–33
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Setting Finishing Options” on page 2–41
2–40
Output Manager User Guide
Setting Finishing Options
Finishing is a general term referring to the processes, such as
stapling, binding, stitching, folding, and hole-punching, that are
typically performed on a job after it has finished printing.
To Set Finishing Options
1. Select the Output Format detail.
2. Select the supported finishing options from the list in the
Finishing area.
•Custom Template: Activates the Custom Template menu
where you can enter custom template information.
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain a finishing
value is assigned the Default finishing value.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Queue Manager
See Also
“Setting Page Orientation” on page 2–31
“Selecting Layout Styles” on page 2–32
“Setting the Sides Imaged” on page 2–33
“Setting Collation Options” on page 2–34
“Output Location” on page 2–35
“Enabling Slip Sheets” on page 2–37
“Setting Offset Options” on page 2–38
“Using Transparency Interleaving”
Output Manager User Guide
2–41
Queue Manager
Using the Image Adjustments Detail
The available options within the Image Adjustments detail are
determined by the system administrator.
The Image Adjustments detail contains controls that allow you to
make image quality adjustments including: darkness, toner saver,
halftone and image shift. To see a description of each field select
from the following links:
Select a supported Image Adjustments option by selecting a
radio button.
NOTE: Jobs entering the queue that do not contain a property
value, are assigned the Default value.
To Access the Image Adjustments Detail
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Select the queue(s) you want to access.
3. Select Edit Queue Properties.
The key to making adjustments to any of the image adjustments
controls is to do so in small increments. Making large adjustments
can actually create image quality problems.
See Also
“Using Rotation” on page 2–42
“Using Anti-aliasing” on page 2–43
“Using Resolution” on page 2–44
“Using Halftone” on page 2–44
“Adjusting Darkness” on page 2–45
“Using Toner Saver” on page 2–47
“Selecting an Image Resample Method” on page 2–47
“Using Image Shift” on page 2–48
“Using a VIPP Initialization File”
“Using Background Forms”
Using Rotation
Use rotation to turn a page image 180 degrees from its current
position (0 degrees represents no rotation). You may need to
rotate a page image so that it prints properly when processed by a
finishing device (for example, to allow for right-side stitching or
binding).
2–42
To Use Rotation
1. Select the Image Adjustments detail.
Output Manager User Guide
2. Select a supported Rotation option:
•Printer Default: This is the default selection. The printer
determines the Rotation of the given job. A job entering the
queue that does not contain a rotation value, is assigned
the Default rotation value.
•None: Rotation is not performed.
•90 Degrees
•180 Degrees
•270 Degrees
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
Using Anti-aliasing
Anti-aliasing is a method for reducing the jagged appearance
(caused by rasterization) of curves and diagonal lines. Antialiasing enhances the smoothness of such curves and lines.
Queue Manager
To Use Anti-aliasing
1. Select the Image Adjustments detail.
2. Select from the following Anti-aliasing options:
•Printer Default: This is the default selection. The printer
determines anti-aliasing for the given job. A job entering
the queue that does not contain an anti-aliasing value, is
assigned the Default anti-aliasing value.
•Off: does not apply the anti-aliasing algorithm
•On: applies the anti-aliasing algorithm
•K100% High Resolution: applies high resolution
algorithm
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Output Manager User Guide
2–43
Queue Manager
Using Resolution
Use the resolution option to achieve better performance for jobs
that were saved, or scanned (if your system features a scanner).
Resolutions vary from printer to printer, and not all resolutions
print exactly as expected.
To Use Resolution
1. Select the Image Adjustments detail.
2. Select a supported option from the Resolution menu.
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain a resolution
value is assigned the Default resolution value.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using Halftone
Halftone allows you to adjust the pattern of dots or lines of varying
sizes applied to an image of varying tones, or same sized dots
applied to a tint of color.
To Use Halftone
1. Select the Image Adjustments detail.
2. Halftone can be applied to the following:
•Image: Specifies how the halftone screens are used by the
printer to render image objects within color or black and
white documents.
•Graphics: Specifies how the halftone screens are used by
the Printer to render graphic objects within color or black
and white documents.
•Text: Specifies how the halftone screens are used by the
printer to render text objects within color or black and white
documents.
3. Select from the supported Halftone options:
•Printer Default: This is the default selection. The printer
determines the halftone of the given job. A job entering the
queue that does not contain a halftone value, is assigned
the Default halftone value.
2–44
•None: No halftone is applied to graphic, image or text
objects. This is provided to enable you to override a Printer
Default value in situations where no halftoning is desired.
•LPI selections: Applies lines per inch halftoning.
•DPI selections: Applies dots per inch halftoning.
Output Manager User Guide
•Stochastic: Applies a halftone screen that uses random
spot densities to render objects.
NOTE: A job entering the queue that does not contain halftone
values, is assigned the Default halftone values.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Adjusting Darkness
The Darkness options allow to adjust print darkness, mode, and
toner settings when using monochrome printers.
NOTE: The key to making adjustments to any of the image quality
controls is to do so in small increments. Making large adjustments
can actually create image quality problems.
Options include:
•“Controlling Print Darkness”
•“Selecting a Darkness Mode”
Queue Manager
Controlling Print Darkness
The Print Darkness control makes all pixels lighter or darker.
1. Select the Image Adjustments detail.
2. If Print Darkness is supported, the following options are
available:
•Printer Default: This is the default selection. The printer
determines the darkness of the given job. A job entering
the queue that does not contain a darkness value, is
assigned the Default darkness value.
•Enabling the Print Darkness control:
–Clear the Printer Default option.
–Use the slide bar or enter a value in the spin box.
Increasing Darkness (-) moves all pixels in the image
toward black. Decreasing Darkness (+) moves all
pixels toward white.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Output Manager User Guide
2–45
Queue Manager
Selecting a Darkness Mode
The Darkness Mode allows you to select a print quality:
1. Select the Image Adjustments detail.
2. Select a supported Darkness Mode option:
•Printer Default: The printer determines the Darkness
Mode of the given job. A job entering the queue that does
not contain a darkness mode value, is assigned the
Printer Default darkness mode value. To select a
Darkness Mode, Printer Default must be cleared.
•Normal
•DocuTech 135: This setting prints output that is similar in
appearance to that of a DocuTech 135 printer.
•DocuTech 135 with Darkness Adjustments:
•DocuTech 6180: This setting prints output that is similar in
appearance to that of a DocuTech 180 printer.
•DocuTech 6180 with Darkness Adjustments
•Native: Specifies the neutral or nominal darkness setting
native to the printer.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
2–46
Output Manager User Guide
Using Toner Saver
Enabling Toner Saver uses less toner and is therefore more
economical than the full-quality setting (Off). You may want to use
the On setting when printing proof documents.
To Use Toner Saver
1. Select the Image Adjustments detail.
2. Use the radio button to select a Toner Saver setting:
•Printer Default: The printer determines the Toner Saver
setting of the given job. A job entering the queue that does
not contain a darkness mode value, is assigned the
Printer Default darkness mode value. To select a Toner
Saver, Printer Default must be cleared.
•Off: Toner Saver is not enabled.
•On: Toner Saver is enabled.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Queue Manager
Selecting an Image Resample Method
Use Image Resample to select an interpolation method.
Output Manager provides you with the ability to select an
interpolation, or image resample, method in order to achieve
maximum image quality at the desired RIP performance.
Interpolation is the process of estimating a value of a function
between two known values. In the Image Interpolation context, the
function of known values is the input image, and the estimated
values are the values calculated for the output image. Image
interpolation attempts to produce a smooth transition between
adjacent samples rather than simply replicating pixels (which
would result in “blocky” images).
The interpolation methods that may be selected (in addition to the
system specified setting) include:
Output Manager User Guide
2–47
Queue Manager
To Select an Image Resample Method
1. Open the Image Adjustments detail.
2. Use the radio button to select a supported Image Resample
option:
•Printer Default
•System Specified
•Bi-Linear: A method used to scale image data (pixels)
from one resolution to another. The replacement pixel in
the scaled image is calculated using a weighted sum of the
four nearest pixel values in the source image. This method
offers higher quality than Nearest Neighbor Interpolation.
•Nearest Neighbor: A method used to scale image data
(pixels) from one resolution to another. The output pixel
value is simply the value of the input pixel closest to the
output location.
•Smart: A method used to scale image data (pixels) from
one resolution to another. This interpolation method
automatically chooses between interpolations based on
the input image characteristics.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using Image Shift
Use Image Shift to adjust the location on a page where printing
occurs. The procedure to shift an image varies based on whether
you are printing on a one-sided or two-sided page.
To Use Image Shift
1. Open the Image Adjustments detail.
2. From the Image Shifts field, select a unit of measure.
3. Select an image shift from the Set Shifts On menu. Your
selection activates the appropriate adjustment fields.
4. Adjust the X: and Y: axis fields:
•When selecting the horizontal (X) image shift, enter a
positive number to move the image away from the left side
of the paper. Enter a negative number to move the image
away from the right side of the paper.
2–48
•When selecting the vertical (Y) image shift, enter a positive
number to move the image upward or a negative number
to move the image down.
5. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Output Manager User Guide
Using a VIPP Initialization File
A user defined initialization file can be specified. The file is located
on the FreeFlow Print Server.
To use a VIPP Initialization File
1. Open the Image Adjustments detail.
2. Select User Defined from the VIPP Initialization File pull-down
menu.
3. Type the file name for the file into the text box.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using Background Forms
This feature allows operators to enable whether to hold jobs that
request background forms or to schedule them for printing.
Queue Manager
NOTE: If the printer associated with the queue does not support
background forms, the controls used to enable this feature will be
grayed out.
To enable Background Forms
1. Open the Image Adjustments detail.
2. Locate the Background Forms heading and verify that this
feature displays Supported.
NOTE: If the heading does not indicate Supported, then the
printer assigned to the queue does not support background
forms. You must assign a printer that supports this feature, or
select a different queue.
3. Perform one of the following:
•Select the Yes radio button option to enable job scheduling
for jobs with background forms.
•Select the No radio button to disable job scheduling for
jobs with background forms.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Output Manager User Guide
2–49
Queue Manager
Using the Color Detail
Color features are used to assist with matching color for printing.
Color Quality features can include hardware devices such as
spectrophotometers and colorimeters, and software such as color
profiles, tonal reproduction curves (TRCs), and color space
transformations.
Devices such as the spectrophotometer measure the printed
output of a printer; this data is then used to calibrate the printer
and/or create appropriate TRCs which can adjust for any color
matching problems caused by the printer itself.
Color matching software is used to convert between device
dependent RGB and CMYK color spaces to a device independent
color space in order to match colors by adjusting for differences
between device color gamuts.
The available options within the Color detail are determined by
the system administrator.
To Use the Color Detail
1. Open Queue Manager.
2. Select the queue(s) you want to access.
3. Select Edit Queue Properties.
See Also
“Selecting a Print Color Option”
“Using Black Overprint” on page 2–51
“Selecting a User TRC” on page 2–51
“Using Pantone Color Processing” on page 2–52
“Using Highlight Color”
“Using Trapping”
“Using Lightness”
“Using Contrast”
“Controlling Saturation”
“Adjusting Color Cast”
“RGB Color Space”
“CMYK Color Space”
2–50
“Gray Color Space”
“Rendering”
Selecting a Print Color Option
If enabled by the system administrator, this feature enables the
printer to render a color document in full color or use an algorithm
Output Manager User Guide
Queue Manager
that maps the full range of colors to alternate values, such as gray
scale or monochrome. If enabled, you can override the color
attributes of a job to create a monochrome output.
To Select a Print Color Option
1. Select the Color detail.
2. From the Print Color As menu, select from:
•Printer Default: The printer determines the Print Color
setting of the given job. A job entering the queue that does
not contain a Print Color value, is assigned the Printer
Default value. To select a Print Color, Printer Default
must be cleared.
•Full Color
•Highlight Color
•Black and White
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using Black Overprint
Black Overprint is an image quality enhancement process
performed during RIP that prevents the background of a black
object from being removed. With the black being printed over the
other color layers, any misregistration in the print engine or press
will not result in white gaps. Black overprinting may be affected by
the under-colors.
To Use Black Overprint
1. Select the Color detail.
2. From the Black Overprint pull-down menu, select from:
•Printer Default: The printer determines the setting of the
given job. A job entering the queue that does not contain a
value, is assigned the Printer Default value. To select a
Black Overprint value, Printer Default must be cleared.
•Off: does not print black on top of color.
•On: prints black on top of color.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Selecting a User TRC
Output Manager User Guide
You can select Tonal Reproduction Curves (TRC) to achieve
desired, repeatable results from specified paper stocks. The TRC
2–51
Queue Manager
is a graphical representation of 4 curves, one each for Cyan,
Magenta, Yellow, and Black.
Within Job Manager, the desired User TRC can be applied to all
pages within a job or to specified pages within the job
To Select a User TRC
1. Select the Color detail.
2. Select a User TRC.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using Pantone Color Processing
This feature adds flexibility when matching page level elements at
the press.
Some job pages contain three types of object elements: images,
graphics and text. In some cases, a shift in hue may be noticed
between an image object (bitmap/TIFF/image-in-eps) and a
graphic/ text object on a page. This shift in hue can occur when
using Pantone colors where the graphic/text have formal Pantone
calls, while the bitmap/image on the same page is not composed
of a defined Pantone name/number. The bitmap/image contains a
CMYK representation of a color and not a Pantone call. This
difference in construction results in proper Pantone number
rendering for the graphic/text element, but a second CMYK based
rendering for the bitmap. As a result, slight hue changes between
the bitmap and Pantone graphic/text are visible. By disabling
Pantone processing, you can eliminate this problem.
2–52
Output Manager User Guide
To Use Pantone Color Processing
1. Select the Color detail.
2. From the Pantone Color Processing menu, select from:
•Printer Default: The printer determines the setting of the
given job. A job entering the queue that does not contain a
value, is assigned the Printer Default value. To select a
Pantone Color Processing value, Printer Default must
be cleared.
•Off: Pantone Color Processing is not used.
•On: Pantone Color Processing is enabled.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using Clear Coat
Clear Coat is the use of a clear toner to apply to the print
document. Applying clear toner can be applied to the entire page
or selected portions of the page.
Queue Manager
To Use Clear Coat
1. Select Color detail.
2. From the Clear Coat menu, select from:
•Off: Clear Coat is not used
•Full Page Flood: Clear Coat applied to the entire page.
•Selected Objects: If Select Objects is selected additional
options will be enabled. Select one or more of the options
from below.
•Text: Clear Coat applied to text.
•Images: Clear Coat applied to images.
•Graphics: Clear Coat applied to graphics
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using Highlight Color
Highlight color is the use of black and one specified color to print
documents. Black and white, highlight color, and full color
documents can be printed black and white, or highlight color.
Output Manager User Guide
Consider the following when using highlight color options.
and Mismatch Action work together to produce the final
printed result.
2–53
Queue Manager
•If you want to change the highlight color used to print your
document, set the highlight color option to the color you
want, and set the color mismatch option to Operator
Intervention.
•If you set the Highlight Printing Color to a color other than
the color loaded at the printer and leave the default setting
for Mismatch Action at Use Loaded Color, the document
prints using the available toner.
NOTE: The following data streams are supported: PS, PDF, PCL,
TIFF, and ASCII.
To Use Highlight Color
1. Select the Color detail.
NOTE: To select Highlight Color values, Printer Default must be
cleared.
2. Select a Highlight Color Mapping Algorithm: These
selections determine how full-color documents are mapped
into highlight-color or monochrome.
3. Select a Highlight Color Mapping Color. This option allows
you to specify which colored parts of the document are printed
in the available Highlight Color.
4. Select a Highlight Color Printing Color. Loaded Color is the
color loaded at the printer and is the default selection. If the
toner color loaded at the printer is red and without setting the
mapping color option (previous step) to a color other than red,
only the red parts of the document print in red; the blue parts
print in tints and shades of highlight color and gray. If the map
color is changed to blue, the blue parts of the document print
in the highlight color of red; other colors print in tints and
shades of the highlight color and gray. However, for a
monochrome mapping scheme, the entire document prints in
shades of gray.
5. Select a Highlight Color Mismatch Action. This determines
what action is taken when the loaded highlight color is not the
same as the selected highlight color.
6. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
NOTE: Information is sent to the printer that supports the selected
Highlight Color attributes (e.g., DocuPrint NPS). The printer
performs the appropriate action.
2–54
See Also
“About Highlight Color Options” on page 2–55
Output Manager User Guide
About Highlight Color Options
Highlight Color Mapping Algorithm Options
•Printer Default: This is a default selection and reflects the
Default Printing Mode setting within System Preferences
(Highlight Color or Monochrome). Jobs that are submitted
without specifying a different Mapping Algorithm, are
printed and/or saved with the System Specified setting
(Highlight Color or Monochrome). System Specified is set
when the job is scheduled.
As an example, if the System Specified Default Printing
Mode setting is Monochrome, and you do not change the
Mapping Algorithm, the job prints in Monochrome. You can
submit a job to print using highlight color by specifying any
non-monochrome Mapping Algorithm setting, such as
Color To Highlight, together with other highlight color
attributes, if desired.
Queue Manager
Output Manager User Guide
2–55
Queue Manager
When a job with a Mapping Algorithm of System Specified
is scheduled, the Controller uses a Mapping Algorithm of
Monochrome if the Default Printing Mode setting is
Monochrome. If the Default Printing Mode setting is
Highlight Color, all printer queues are set to print in
highlight color by default, using the Mapping Algorithm
setting of Automatic.
Jobs that do not specify a Mapping Algorithm and are
submitted to a print queue with a default Mapping
Algorithm, are printed and/or saved in highlight color and
monochrome, depending on the contents of the input
document. If the Default Printing Mode setting is Highlight
Color, you can submit a job with color content to print in
black and white by specifying a job properties Mapping
Algorithm of Monochrome.
•Color To Highlight: A full-color document is mapped to
the highlight color properties you selected. Hue information
is discarded, but saturation and brightness values are
preserved.
•Monochrome: Produces black and white prints from
highlight color or black and white documents.
•Pictorial: This setting is used to map the input color of an
image object. An input color with a hue that matches the
Highlight Mapping Color value is not changed. An input
color with a hue that does not match the Highlight Mapping
Color value is mapped such that the saturation of the
highlight color decreases, and the saturation of black
increases, continuously as the hue of the input color
moves farther away from the value specified in Highlight
Mapping Color.
•Presentation: This setting is used to map the input color of
graphics or text. An input color with a hue that matches the
Highlight Mapping Color value is not changed. Every fully
saturated input color is mapped to a unique value in the
highlight color space. Every non-gray input color is
mapped to a non-gray value in the highlight color space.
•Automatic: This setting maps text and graphics using
Presentation mapping, and images using Pictorial
mapping.
Highlight Color Mapping Color Options
The Mapping Color determines which parts of the document
print in color and which in shades of gray.
2–56
You can choose from Loaded Color (default), Black, Blue,
Brown, Cardinal, Cyan, Green, Magenta, Red, Royal Blue,
Ruby, Violet, Yellow, and Custom color.
Output Manager User Guide
Queue Manager
NOTE: Mapping Color is required only if you want the
Mapping Color and Highlight Printing Color values to differ. By
default, both Highlight Printing Color and Mapping Color are
set to the loaded color. If Highlight Printing Color is specified
but Mapping Color is not, Mapping Color is set to the loaded
color; it is not changed to the specified Highlight Printing Color.
Custom allows you to precisely specify the color to be used for
highlight color mapping. If Custom is selected, you can enter
sRGB or HSV values using the spin boxes. The sample color
swatch displays the custom color.
•sRGB: Standard Red Green Blue color space model. An
international standard color representation.
•HSV: Hue Saturation Value color space model.
–Hue is the color type, such as red, blue or green.
–Saturation is the amount of gray present in a color. The
greater the saturation the more vibrant a color appears.
Gray has zero saturation.
–Value is the brightness of a color.
Black may be used as a highlight mapping color where the
entire document is in black and the contents are to be mapped
into the highlight color. However, if Black is used for a
document containing color, the results may not meet
expectations.
Highlight Color Mismatch Action Options
This determines what action is taken when the loaded highlight
color is not the same as the selected highlight color.
•Printer Default
•Use Loaded Color: The job prints using the highlight color
currently loaded at the printer.
•Hold Job: Holds the job if the highlight color specified is
not loaded at the printer.
•Cancel Job: Cancels the job if the highlight color specified
is not loaded at the printer.
•Stop Printer: Stops the printer if the highlight color
specified is not loaded at the printer.
See Also
Output Manager User Guide
“Using Highlight Color” on page 2–53
2–57
Queue Manager
Using Trapping
Trapping is an image processing technique used to compensate
for misregistration of color planes in a print engine or press.
Misregistration results in white gaps and shifted hues.
Generally, a trapping zone above 4 pixels is visually obvious and
not pleasing to the eye. A higher value should be considered
carefully. The ability to set a higher trap zone has been included to
give you control over individual images that have been poorly
trapped individually.
TIP: Two direction parameters (height and width) are included
because the feed direction has a marginal effect on image quality.
However, in nearly all cases, you would set these two values the
same.
To Use Trapping
1. Select the Color detail.
2. Trapping is applied to the edges of all text, graphics, images,
and sweeps. If Printer Default for Trapping is cleared, the
Height and Width fields become available.
3. Within the Trapping field, you may enter pixel values for the
width and height parameters, from 1 to 20 pixels. The Feed
Direction icon presents a visual representation of
adjustments.
•Clear Printer Default to enter a Cross Feed Direction (y)
value.
•Clear Printer Default to enter a Feed Direction (x) value.
4. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
See Also
Using Lightness
Lightness controls the relative brightness of the color in the
printer’s gamut.
Increasing the lightness value causes the output to appear lighter
and decreasing the lightness value causes the output to appear
darker.
trapping
2–58
Output Manager User Guide
To Use Lightness
1. Select the Color detail.
2. Lightness can be set to the desired level +/-100 units. A
lightness value of -100 will cause the output to appear black,
and a lightness value of 100 will cause the output to appear
white. Depending on the content of the original image, the
output for a lightness value of 100 may be the same as the
output for a lower lightness value, and the output for a
lightness value of -100 may be the same as the output for a
higher lightness value.
NOTE: To select a Lightness value, Printer Default must be
cleared.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Using Contrast
Queue Manager
Contrast controls the difference of tonal gradation between the
light and dark values within an image in the printer’s gamut.
Increasing the contrast value increases the variation between light
and dark areas of the printed document and decreasing the
contrast value decreases the variation between light and dark
areas of the printed document.
To Use Contrast
1. Select the Color detail.
2. Contrast can be set to the desired level +/-100 units. A
contrast value of -100 causes the output to appear a solid
midtone gray color, and a contrast value of 100 causes the
output colors to either use full color (the maximum is restricted
by the system ink limit) or no color for each of Cyan, Magenta,
Yellow, and Black.
NOTE: To select a Contrast value, Printer Default must be
cleared.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Controlling Saturation
Output Manager User Guide
Saturation controls the strength or purity of the color in the
printer’s gamut. Increasing the saturation value causes the output
to contain more vibrant colors, and decreasing the saturation
value causes the output to contain more pastel and gray colors.
2–59
Queue Manager
To Control Saturation
1. Select the Color detail.
2. Saturation can be set to the desired level +/-100 units. A
saturation value of -100 causes the output to appear gray, and
a saturation value of 100 causes the output to have all bright
colors. Depending on the content of the original image and the
gamut of the print engine, the output for a saturation value of
100 may be the same as the output for a lower saturation
value, and the output for a saturation value of -100 may be the
same as the output for a higher saturation value.
NOTE: To select a Saturation value, Printer Default must be
cleared.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Adjusting Color Cast
Color Cast adjustments provide you the ability to increase or
decrease the amount of any single color. Increasing (+) the
amount of one color decreases the amount of its complementary
color.
To Adjust Color Cast
1. Select the Color detail.
NOTE: To select Color Cast values, Printer Default must be
cleared.
2. The color cast adjustments are:
•Cyan - Red: The Cyan-Red color cast adjustment shifts
the color towards cyan or red. Decreasing the value to 100 indicates the maximum cyan color cast supported by
the system is applied to the document. Increasing the
value to 100 indicates the maximum red color cast
supported by the system is applied to the document.
•Magenta - Green: The Magenta-Green color cast
adjustment shifts the color towards magenta or green.
Decreasing the value to -100 indicates the maximum
magenta color cast supported by the system is applied to
the document. Increasing the value to 100 indicates the
maximum green color cast supported by the system is
applied to the document.
2–60
Output Manager User Guide
•Yellow - Blue: The Yellow-Blue color cast adjustment
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Source Color
Select Source Color settings for RGB Color Space, CMYK Color
Space, and/or Gray Color Space. You may make separate Source
Color assignments within each color space for the Images, Text
and Graphics profile.
NOTE: Available options depend on printer configuration.
See Also
Queue Manager
shifts the color towards yellow or blue. Decreasing the
value to -100 indicates the maximum yellow color cast
supported by the system is applied to the document.
Increasing the value to 100 indicates the maximum blue
color cast supported by the system is applied to the
document.
“RGB Color Space” on page 2–61
“CMYK Color Space” on page 2–62
“Gray Color Space” on page 2–62
RGB Color Space
Specifies the source color space profile to be used in the RGB
color space for rendering graphics to only those parts of a
document that have no defined color space translation profile.
1. Select the Color detail.
2. To select RGB Color Space options, Printer Default must be
cleared. Select the following RGB Color Space options for
Images, Graphics and Text:
•Printer Default: In order to change a Printer Default
setting, the Printer Default checkbox must be cleared. A
Printer Default selection indicates that Output Manager
does not support the feature. The feature is thus handled
by the printer that receives the job, using the printer default
behavior.
•sRGB: sRGB mode according to the Default RGB color
space as defined in [IEC 61966-2.1] - see “References” in
Appendix A of CPSS Volume 1-Information Model.
Output Manager User Guide
•Xerox Consistent Color Mode: Xerox Consistent Color
mode for RGB color space.
•Xerox Consistent Color ModeRGB, Gamma=1: Xerox
Consistent Color mode for RGB with a gamma value of 1.
2–61
Queue Manager
NOTE: You may select a specific Profile for all data types, or you
may select different Profiles for images, text and graphics.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
CMYK Color Space
Specifies the source color space profile to be used in the CMYK
color space for rendering graphics to only those parts of a
document that have no defined color space translation profile.
1. Select the Color detail.
2. To select CMYK Color Space options, Printer Default must
be cleared. Select the following CMYK Color Space options
for:
•Native CMYK: The CMYK color space of the target color
printer.
•SWOP: Emulates The CMYK SWOP (i.e., Standard for
Web Offset Press) ink color gamut when printed on coated
media.
•Euroscale: Emulates the European ink color gamut
standard for offset presses when printed on coated media.
•Japan Color: Emulates the color gamut of the combined/
common Dinippon and Toyo Inks standard when printed on
coated media.
•Enhanced SWOP: Emulates a more saturated version of
the CMYK SWOP color gamut when printed on coated
media.
•Euroscale Matte: Emulates the color gamut of European
inks placed on matte finish media.
•Euroscale Uncoated: Emulates the color gamut of
European inks placed on uncoated media.
NOTE: You may select a specific Profile for all data types, or you
may select different Profiles for images, text and graphics.
3. Click OK to save your entries and return to the Queue Status
window.
Gray Color Space
Specifies the symbolic name of the source color space profile that
will be used to translate grayscale data to L* intensity values for
rendering graphics to only those parts of a document that have no
defined color space translation profile.
2–62
1. Select the Color menu.
Output Manager User Guide
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