Connect settings

Specify the location of a third-party application script or hot folder that applies an action to a PDF in a Fiery JobFlow workflow.

For example, you may want to use a third-party application to enhance an image, or to convert a document created in another application, such as CorelDraw to PDF.

The Connect module offers users the option of selecting a pre-defined script, specifying a custom script, or using the Hot Folder settings.

Note: Scripting assumes that the user has a certain skill and knowledge level. The Connect module is intended for those users who are familiar with the basics of scripting and understand concepts such as arguments. We do not assume any responsibility for any errors that might result from a poorly written script. Fiery JobFlow does provide logs in the case of any errors so the skilled user can troubleshoot the issue.

Fiery JobFlow provides a sample of a simple script, and provides arguments, but does not provide information on how to write scripts. To view the sample, see http://resources.efi.com/jobflow/library for location of samples. Also see http://www.efi.com/Fiery JobFlow/Connect Cookbook.

Note: You can choose either a pre-defined script, or a user-defined script, or hot folder locations in a workflow. You cannot specify all three in the same workflow. You can specify default settings for Connect in Admin > Module settings, but these can be edited for any workflow.

Connect Packages settings

Connect Packages are archived zipped folders that have the required components to run a script. Connect Packages simplify the use of third-party application scripts.

You can import a Connect Package as a resource to Fiery JobFlow. Each Connect Package that is imported is displayed as an option in the Connect Packages drop-down.

Note: A Connect Package (.zip) cannot be exported.

Select the Connect Packages radio button and choose a script from the drop-down. All components required to run this script are pre-defined. You can update additional parameters by clicking the Change variables link.

Connect Packages support Master Variables. You can use Master Variables to override and update the default settings of the module. For information, see Using Master Variables.

Script settings

Select the Script radio button, and enter the location of the script you want to use.

To support user-defined scripts, Fiery JobFlow provides all the necessary information required to process a job using a script. Fiery JobFlow provides the following arguments:

Input Location: A temporary location where Fiery JobFlow will make the file available for processing.
Output Location: A temporary location where Fiery JobFlow waits for the processed file to be copied.
Job Name: The job name as shown in Fiery JobFlow.
Workflow Name: The name of the workflow where the script was initiated.
Preflight Name: Location of the last preflight report generated in that workflow.
Vault: A temporary location that exists while a job is being processed in a workflow.
Next Module ID: The internal ID for the next module in the workflow. The Next Module ID is required for Master Variables.

Arguments do not have names and you must tell the script in what order to interpret the arguments.

If there is an error executing a script on a job, Fiery JobFlow provides a link to an error log in the Error Jobs pane of the Jobs tab. Fiery JobFlow does not provide information on how to correct the script. The skilled user should be able to use the information provided in the log to correct the script.

Hot Folder settings

The first use of the Connect module is through hot folders. Select the Hot Folder radio button, and specify the location of the input hot folder (where to move the job) and the output hot folder (where the result is placed). You can also specify a limit for the processing time, to prevent Fiery JobFlow from waiting endlessly for a job to show up. The input and output locations are relative to the Fiery JobFlow server. Fiery JobFlow copies the job to the specified input folder. After the action is applied, the job is placed in the specified output folder with the same job name.

In the following example, the input and output locations are hot folders on the Fiery JobFlow server:

c:\hotfolders\input

c:\hotfolders\output

Network locations are supported by using the standard Windows notation for network locations:

\\server\hotfolders\input

\\server\hotfolders\output

Note: The Hot Folder in the Connect module is not a Fiery Hot Folder.