HP ESKO_User_CA294 05740.fh9 Indigo Labels And Packaging Powered By Esko Artwork Flex Rip Plug In User Guide C01484310

User Manual: HP HP Indigo Labels and Packaging powered by EskoArtwork - FlexRip Plug-in User Guide

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HP Indigo Labels and Packaging powered by EskoArtwork
FlexRip Plug-in

User Guide

HP Indigo Labels and Packaging
powered by EskoArtwork

FlexRip Plug-in
User Guide

Copyright
© 2008 Copyright Hewlett-Packard Development
Company, L.P.
Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without
prior written permission is prohibited, except as
allowed under the copyright laws.
The information contained herein is subject to
change without notice.
The only warranties for HP products and services
are set forth in the express warranty statements
accompanying such products and services.
Nothing herein should be construed as
constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not
be liable for technical or editorial errors or
omissions contained herein.
HP, HP Indigo Press, HP Indigo Press RIP, and
HP ElectroInk are trademarks or registered
trademarks of HP.
All other products or name brands are
trademarks of their respective holders.
The HP Indigo press is a Class 1 Laser Product
containing high voltage power supplies and laser
light sources.
There is no danger to persons or equipment when
the system is operated in accordance with the
directions provided by HP in this and other
publications. All high voltage power supplies and
laser sources are located behind protective covers.
Warning labels are attached to each protective
cover. Do not remove covers Copyright 2007 Esko
nv, Gent, Belgium
All rights reserved. Esko nv. does not warrant,
guarantee or make any representations regarding
the use, or the results of the use of the software or
the information contained herein. Esko nv shall not
be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential or
incidental damages arising out of the use or
inability to use the software or the information
contained herein.
PANTONE Colors displayed here may not match
PANTONE-identified standards. Consult current
PANTONE Color Publications for accurate color.
PANTONE and other Pantone, Inc. trademarks are
the property of Pantone, Inc. Pantone, Inc., 2000.
Pantone, Inc. is the copyright owner of color data
and/or software which are licensed to Esko nv to
distribute for use only in combination with LW-Brix
and CT-Brix based applications. PANTONE Color
Data and/or Software shall not be copied onto
another disk or into memory unless as part of the
execution of the LWBrix and CTBrix based applications.This software is based in part on the work
of the Independent JPEG Group.
Printed in Israel

This product includes software developed by the
Apache Software Foundation
(http://www.apache.org/)
Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, the Acrobat logo,
Adobe Creative Suite, Illustrator, InDesign, PDF,
Photoshop, PostScript, XMP and the Powered by
XMP logo are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the
United States and/or other countries.
Microsoft and the Microsoft logo are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and other countries.
"SolidWorks is a registered trademark of
SolidWorks Corporation."
Portions of this software are owned by Spatial
Corp. 1986 2003. All Rights Reserved.
JDF and the JDF logo are trademarks of the CIP4
Organisation. Copyright 2001 The International
Cooperation for the Integration of
Processes in Prepress, Press and Postpress
(CIP4). All rights reserved.
The Esko software contains the "RSA Data
Security, Inc. MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm".
Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are
trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun
Microsystems in the U.S. and other countries.
Confidentiality notice
This guide and any information contained herein
is confidential and should not be disclosed to any
third party outside of HP Indigo. Do not copy
and/or disseminate any information contained in
this guide. This guide should be maintained in a
manner which shall ensure compliance with the
confidentiality requirements set forth herein.
This document contains valuable trade secrets
and confidential information of Hewlett-Packard
Company. Nothing herein may be copied,
reproduced or distributed in any form or medium,
or disclosed to any third party in any manner,
without prior written authorization of HewlettPackard Company. The copyright notice, which
appears in this document, is purely precautionary
and shall not be deemed to constitute publication
or intent to publish, in whole or in part.
Part Number:
CA294-05740
First Edition:
February 2008

Contents
Preface ................................................................................................................................6
Who is this Guide aimed at?.............................................................................................................6
What does this Manual contain? ......................................................................................................6

Introduction ..........................................................................................................................7
General workflow .................................................................................................................8
Basic steps .......................................................................................................................................8

Installation............................................................................................................................9
The FlexRip .......................................................................................................................10
Startup and shutdown of the FlexRip/HP Indigo -Why and when? ................................................10
How to start up a FlexRip? .............................................................................................................11
How to shut down a FlexRip?.........................................................................................................12
How to reboot the FlexRip computer?............................................................................................13

An overview of the programs on the FlexRip .....................................................................14
General ...........................................................................................................................................14
Which logon to use? .......................................................................................................................15

FlexRip Configurator setup ................................................................................................16
Mapping HotFolders of the HP Indigo Press ..................................................................................16
Setting up an FlexRip configuration ...............................................................................................17

FlexRip Dispatcher Configuration ......................................................................................25
The Menus......................................................................................................................................26

Dispatcher Queue settings ................................................................................................41
Basic tab .........................................................................................................................................43
Tiff Gray output tab.........................................................................................................................44
RIP settings tab ..............................................................................................................................46
Native Input tab ..............................................................................................................................47
Intellicurve tab ................................................................................................................................48
Debugging tab ................................................................................................................................49

WorkFlow Manager............................................................................................................51
Starting WorkFlow Manager ...........................................................................................................51
Concepts.........................................................................................................................................51
What is WorkFlow Manager? .........................................................................................................52
What is the Pilot?............................................................................................................................52
What is a Job? ................................................................................................................................53
What is a Task?..............................................................................................................................54

WorkFlow Manager Pilot....................................................................................................55
Introduction and overview...............................................................................................................55
Launching a Task ...........................................................................................................................56
Menus .............................................................................................................................................56
Views ..............................................................................................................................................84
Checking the logfiles ....................................................................................................................108
E-Mail Configuration .....................................................................................................................109
Configure: Creating an HP Indigo device .....................................................................................111

The Rip to WS4000 series ticket .....................................................................................114
Normalize PostScript / PDF / Illustrator 8.0 File / PPML..................................................125
More available tickets: .....................................................................................................147
Create Preview .............................................................................................................................147
Expand Variable data to PPML File .............................................................................................149
Expand Variable data to PPML File(DeskPack Only) ..................................................................149
Export to GRS File........................................................................................................................150
Export to Normalized PDF File .....................................................................................................152

EN

Fork...............................................................................................................................................154
Normalize EPF File.......................................................................................................................156
Wait...............................................................................................................................................160
Wait for Action (Checkpoint).........................................................................................................161
Step & Repeat Tabular .................................................................................................................162

Variable Data Printing......................................................................................................171
Illustrator PlugIns .............................................................................................................172
BackUp & Restore ...........................................................................................................173
WORKFLOW MANAGER administration............................................................................................173
Starting and stopping the WORKFLOW MANAGER server ...............................................................177
Backup/Restore of the WORKFLOW MANAGER server configuration..............................................179
Setting up scheduling for WORKFLOW MANAGER server configuration backup.............................188
Redirect the WORKFLOW MANAGER server resources...................................................................190
Manage RestorePoints .................................................................................................................192
To create a Backup of the WORKFLOW MANAGER configuration: ..................................................195

Set system password.......................................................................................................196
Appendix..........................................................................................................................200
Appendix 1: HP Indigo Labels and Packaging Color Kit powered by EskoArtwork .....................200

EN

EN

Preface
Who is this Guide aimed at?
This manual introduces you to the HP Indigo Labels and Packaging solution powered by
EskoArtwork
You will find all the necessary information you need to make you feel at ease working with the
software. It is meant to be equally helpful to first time users and skilled operators who might
need a little extra assistance from time to time.

What does this Manual contain?
This Manual basically consists of the following parts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Installation
FlexRip
WorkFlow Manager & WorkFlow Manager Pilot
Variable Data Printing
Illustrator PlugIns
• BarX
• StepX
6. BackUp & Restore
7. Appendix: HP Indigo Labels and Packaging Color Kit powered by EskoArtwork

Page 6 of 210

Introduction
FlexRip to HP Indigo is the software required to interface from an Esko system to an HP
Indigo Digital Press.
•
•
•
•

The output of the FlexRip is written into a JLYT file.
The Job Layout (JLYT) language is the HP Indigo Digital Press internal language used to
define job structure, document layout and essential job ticket information.
The FlexRip writes the JLYT file on a hotfolder of the HP Indigo system.
The job will appear in the HP Indigo system•s interface and can be further processed
over there.

The following diagram illustrates this workflow.

1.tif

Page 7 of 210

General workflow
The following lists enumerate the basic steps that are needed to submit a job to the HP Indigo
digital Press. Each of these steps will be described further on in more detail.

Basic steps
The basic steps to submit a job to the HP Indigo Digital Press are the following:

1. In the FlexRip Configurator application , create a configuration for the HP Digital color
press.
2. In HP Indigo Labels and Packaging Color Kit powered by EskoArtwork, create a Color
Strategy using the output colorspace of the press i.e. Indichrome, Indichrome + extra
inks, CMYK, CMYK + extra inks).
3. In the Dispatcher, define the Queue Settings of the Server queue: enter none” as
Configuration and Output location.
4. In the WorkFlow Manager Pilot, create a ticket that uses the above defined Color
Strategy and configuration.
5. Submit the job from WorkFlow Manager Pilot, using the above ticket.

Page 8 of 210

Installation
Note: Please check the specific Installation Manual (Installation
documentation procedure): this document describes in detail how to
proceed with the installation of Esko Software Suite 7 on a new
server.
The installation of Esko SoftWare Suite 7 consists of following steps:

Setting up Windows
Follow HP procedure to install the Windows Server operating system. Make sure, that
services for Macintosh are enabled and computer name of the server is set according to
customer request. The server must be restarted after change of the computer name.
Installation of Esko Software Suite 7
Before proceeding with the initial installation of Esko Software Suite 7, make sure that you
have a hardware dongle with corresponding license file available.
See the Installation Manual for a step by step guide.
Adapting configurations to the new server name
Configurations provided by Esko must be adapted to the name of a new server. This change
should be performed on a different PC with Java runtime installed and network access to the
new server.
•
•

FlexRip HP Indigo configuration
It is mandatory to know the computer name of the HP Indigo press before proceeding
with this procedure.
WorkFlow Manager configuration
The new server must be running duringthe configuration actions.

Configuration of Esko Software Suite 7
All steps have to be performed on the new server. Make sure, that you have available
adapted configs for your server before proceeding further.
See the Installation Manual for a step by step guide.
•
•
•
•
•
•

Prepare folder structure for hotfolders
Applying default setup to the Dispatcher
Starting up the Dispatcher
Connecting Dispatcher with WorkFlow Manager Server
Containers
Applying default setup to the WorkFlow Manager server

Page 9 of 210

The FlexRip
Startup and shutdown of the FlexRip/HP Indigo Why and when?
In any normal FlexRip workflow, the FlexRip computer should never be shut down. Even
reconfiguring RIP queues does not require shutting down or rebooting the computer.

So why shut down the FlexRip?
•
•
•

You expect a power failure.
You physically want to move the computer.
You have to open the computer (hardware service reasons).

Or why reboot the FlexRip?
•
•

The Windows software asks you to. This will often be the case when re‐installing
Windows software or peripherals on the computer.
Some (Esko) service intervention requires to do so (changes to configuration of the
network, modem or display might require a reboot afterwards).

A Windows shutdown will automatically stop all running processes. This means that also all
running Esko programs will be stopped automatically. We do advise you to separately stop all
programs before rebooting or shutting down the FlexRip computer.
As the FlexRip is made to rip, and the RIP itself is a client process of the Dispatcher program,
the most important program running on your FlexRip is the Dispatcher!

Page 10 of 210

How to start up a FlexRip?
Start up the computer
The FlexRip computer is switched off.
• Check the network cable.
• Switch the monitor on.
• Remove all floppy disks or CDs from their drives.
• Press the power button (top‐left on front panel).
Windows will make your computer boot automatically. If you are not familiar with PC
operating systems, never intervene during the boot process. The boot sequence should end
with a screen that has the window:
”Begin logon”
•Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to log on•
If you wish to use the normal FlexRip software, log on as user ‘FlexRip’ with password
•flexrip•.
Only log on as user ‘Administrator’ for Windows system‐management reasons or to install
software.

Starting up the Rip
Starting the Dispatcher program starts the RIP.
•
•
•

Start up the •Dispatcher” by double‐clicking its desktop icon or by choosing the right
Dispatcher via Start\Programs\Esko\FlexRipT4 7.0
Start up the •Status Monitor• in the Tools menu in (each) Dispatcher.
Start up the •History View• in the Tools menu in (each) Dispatcher.

Note
Renaming the desktop icon can only be done in the FlexRip Configurator.

Page 11 of 210

How to shut down a FlexRip?
Stopping the Rip
Closing the Dispatcher program stops the RIP.
Note
When stopping the Dispatcher program, it is always advisable to close its client programs
Status Monitor and History View first.
How to stop the Dispatcher:
•
•

Choose Exit from the Server menu and confirm by clicking Yes on •Are you sure?
Or simply click the close button (top‐right in the Dispatcher window) and confirm
with Yes on •Are you sure? •.

Warning
When the Dispatcher program is stopped, all ripping processes stop executing and the RIP
itself is stopped.
When an ongoing RIP process has to be stopped for some reason, then choose •Abort job•
from the Server menu. This stops all ongoing RIP processes, but leaves the Dispatcher
program alive. As soon as you send a new job to the RIP, the RIP will start up automatically.

Shutting down the computer
To shutdown the FlexRip computer:
1. Close all programs.
2. Start\Shut Down. Choose •Shut down the computer• and click YES.

Page 12 of 210

How to reboot the FlexRip computer?
•
•

Close all programs.
Go to Start\Shut Down\Restart the computer and click YES.
The computer will automatically shut down and restart again.

Page 13 of 210

An overview of the programs on the
FlexRip
General
Logged on as user ‘FlexRip’, you will find some shortcuts on your desktop that start up the
specific Esko applications, the number depends on the installed licenses.
If you do not find any desktop icons go via Start\Programs\Esko...

On the Server:

1. The FlexRipHPIndigo 7.0 Dispatcher is the •heart• of the FlexRip. It is both
the ‘daemon’ (continuous automatic process) that makes the RIP run and the
place where all queues and RIP options are set up.
Each output device requires a new Dispatcher. This means that if you make
files for 3 different output devices, you will have 3 Dispatchers.
Note
Note that each Dispatcher needs a separate licence.
2. The FlexRipConfigurator allows you to add, modify or delete configurations.
Note
You should be logged on as •Administrator• to be able to use the FlexRip
Configurator.
3. WorkFlow Manager Pilot
4. Intellicurve
5. FontManager 7.0
6. HP Indigo Labels and Packaging Color Kit powered by EskoArtwork
Import ICC Profiles
On the client:

1. WorkFlow Manager Pilot

Page 14 of 210

Which logon to use?
•
•

When do you log on as user Administrator?
When you are installing or removing software or configuring your FlexRip computer
on Windows level (networking, connectivity etc).
When do you log on as user FlexRip?
In all other cases. All daily use of your FlexRip: the Dispatcher or its queue
management, IntelliCurve, Bitmap Viewer.

Page 15 of 210

FlexRip Configurator setup
Via FlexRip Configurator we create a configuration that describes the output device,
in this case the HP Indigo Digital Press.

Mapping HotFolders of the HP Indigo Press
(in this example the name of the Press PC is \\indigo)
The output folder of the RIP is the hotfolder on the HP PC. Please note, that all of the paths
must use the UNC format, with the 'Images on Press' field being the only exception, since this
path is used by the press to access – in a Variable Data Workflow - the variable JLT files
stored at its local drive.

Typical paths look similar to this:
Output: \\indigo\jobs\press\input\lan
Images on Rip: \\indigo\jobs\press\images
Images on Press: S:\jobs\press\images

On the HP PC:
• The HP PC has a partition mapped on drive letter “S:”
• Drive S: \jobs is exported on the network as a Windows share.
On the FlexRip PC:
• The Hotfolder is accessed as \\indigo\jobs\press\input\lan
The WorkFlow Manager user BGSYSTEM must have write access to the hotfolder of the
press PC. If not, the 'RIP to WS4000 Series' task will cause an error when writing the Master
JLT to the hotfolder.

By convention the Hotfolder is located on the S: drive. However there is no technical
restriction towards the drive letter used.
In case there is more than one HP Indigo press in the network you should use
several drive letters, one for each HP Indigo press.
Warning
When submitting a job to the RIP, the HP front end at the press side has to be up and
running. Otherwise the job will not show up in the HP interface.

Page 16 of 210

First check whether this is the case, e.g. using the Windows Explorer.
If it is not, you first have to create this setup correctly before you continue setting up
the FlexRip configuration.

Drive S:

HotFolder
FlexRip/Indigo PC

Indigo

Output:
\\indigo\jobs\press\input\lan
Images:
\\indigo\jobs\press\images

Input:
S:\jobs\press\input\lan
Images:
S:\jobs\press\images

Setting up an FlexRip configuration
The FlexRipConfigurator application is a common configuration application for all FlexRip
flavours. With this application the configuration settings of all the installed FlexRip flavours on
a particular system can be set up or checked.

2.tif

Create a new Configuration
1. Close the FlexRip/HP Indigo Dispatcher if it is running and start the
FlexRipConfigurator application.
Perform the following steps to start up the FlexRipConfigurator application:
• Log in as user Administrator or any other user with administrative privileges.

Page 17 of 210

•
•
•

Double-click the FlexRipConfigurator 7.0 icon on the desktop or click [Start]
in the bottom task bar, select Programs\ or All Programs\ (depending on the
operating system version) Esko\FlexRipConfig7.0
A splash screen will be displayed followed by the main 'FlexRip Configurator'
window. At startup time only the buttons New, Backup and Exit will beactive.
To exit the application click Exit or click the top-right X button.

2. In the FlexRip Configurator, select the ‘HP Indigo’ flavour.
In the main window an Installed Flavours dropdown list selector is displayed with the
FlexRip/HP Indigo instances installed on the system.
•

When FlexRip/HP Indigo is selected the installed instances will be displayed
in the Dispatchers panel.
A FlexRip flavour instance is a completely independent RIP of the same
FlexRip flavour, having its own configuration and accessibility.
An instance is also called a Dispatcher because each instance has its own
dispatching executable.
This executable must be started up for the RIP to be ready to accept ripping
requests.
• Each instance/dispatcher has a separate icon on the desktop and a
separate entry in the Programs folder (under Esko and the particular
FlexRip flavour folder).
• You need an instance per device you intend to drive with the FlexRip. For
each instance a license is required.

Note
The terms ‘dispatcher’ and ‘instance’ will be used interchangeably in the further
discussions.
3.

Select the FlexRipHP Indigo dispatcher.
In the Dispatchers panel a particular FlexRip flavour instance can be selected for
configuration or checking. When an instance is selected, all buttons become active.
4. Click ‘Modify’, click ‘New’ and enter an appropriate Configuration name.
5. Click OK.

Page 18 of 210

4.tif

When the FlexRip/HP Indigo instance is selected the following actions can be performed:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Backup: creates a backup of all the installed FlexRip flavour configuration settings.
New: creates a new instance for a particular FlexRip flavour.
View: allows you to view the settings of the selected FlexRip flavour instance.
Modify: allows you to change the settings of the selected FlexRip flavour instance.
Delete: deletes the selected FlexRip flavour instance.
Change Type: changes the output device type for the selected FlexRip flavour
instance.
Exit: stops the FlexRipConfigurator application.

The following menu entries are available in the task bar of the main window:
•

•

File
• New Dispatcher: creates a new instance for a particular FlexRip flavour (same as
button ‘New…’).
• Dispatcher Properties: displays the properties of the selected FlexRip flavour
instance (only active when an instance is selected).
• Restore: restores the backup of a complete FlexRip flavour configuration setting
or of a single FlexRip flavour instance configuration setting.
• Create PPD: not applicable for FlexRip/Indigo
• Create All PPDs: not applicable for FlexRip/Indigo
• PPD Properties: not applicable for FlexRip/Indigo
• Exit: stops the FlexRipConfigurator application.
Help
• About FlexRip Configurator: displays the FlexRipConfigurator version information.

Page 19 of 210

The Dispatchers panel displays the installed instances of the particular FlexRip flavour with
the following information:
•
•
•

Name: the name of the instance.
Type: the device type for the instance. This is the device the FlexRip flavour instance
will drive or generate output for.
EskoLink Port: Each FlexRip flavour is allocated a default port number at software
installation time.
The default EskoLink port number for the FlexRip/Indigo flavour is 3010.

Warning
The FlexRipConfigurator does not permit to make changes to a FlexRip flavour instance
for which the Dispatcher is running. The particular dispatcher executable must be
stopped first.

5.tif

Page 20 of 210

6.tif

Configure the Path settings
(in this example the name of the Press PC is \\indigo)
•

Output: click the [...] button and select the directory that corresponds with the hotfolder on
the HP Indigo system. This is the hotfolder where the JLT file will be written. See the
section Mapping Hotfolders of the HP Indigo Press for more information.

•

Images Path
The Paths group contains location of the Master JLT file and of all the variable JLT files
(images). The output folder of the RIP is the hotfolder on the press.
Please note, that all of the paths must use the UNC format, with the 'Images on Press'
field being the only exception, since this path is used by the press to access the variable
JLT files stored at its local drive.

Typical paths look similar to this:
Output:
Images on Rip:
Images on Press:

\\indigo\jobs\press\input\lan
\\indigo\jobs\press\images
S:\jobs\press\images

Access to the Press PC
o

The WorkFlow Manager user BGSYSTEM must have write access to the
hotfolder of the press PC. If not, the 'RIP to WS4000 Series' task will error out
when writing the Master JLT to the hotfolder.

Page 21 of 210

o

The configuration of access rights depends on the OS where the WorkFlow
Manager server runs:
• Windows 2000 Server – make sure that you have access to the Administrator
account of the press PC. Create the user BGSYSTEM on the press PC with
the same password as the one on the WorkFlow Manager server system and
grant this user access to the required folders.
• Windows 2003 Server
o Log in as user BGSYSTEM on the WorkFlow Manager server.
o Map the hotfolder of the Press:
Open a command (DOS) window

net use \\\indigo\jobs\press\input\lan
/SAVECRED
user: . . .
password: . . .
/SAVECRED stores the credentials permanently. During subsequent
logons the share on the press will be automatically accessible.

7.tif

The HotFolder directory is in this case \\indigo\jobs\press\input\lan

Configure the other settings
•

Paper on Output Media:
Always select “From Job” and “Roll Fed” as jobs cannot be merged on the HP Indigo.

Some "press specific options" used by the HP Indigo press during processing of the job:

Page 22 of 210

•
•
•

Resolution: 812
Screen: HDI-180
(you can keep value to "Default" to not overrule settings made on press)
LUT: 05
(you can keep value to "Default" to not overrule settings made on press)

Configure the Inks
•

Set
o
o
o
o

CMYK: separates to CMYK.
HP IndiChrome: separates to the 6 IndiChrome inks (CMYK, Orange, Violet).
HP IndiChrome Plus: separates to 7 IndiChrome inks (CMYK, Orange, Violet and
Green).
User defined: allows the user to define the inks in the Inks tab.

Note
If you want to use both CMYK and Indichrome output, you have to make 2
configurations, one with “CMYK” selected and the other with “HP IndiChrome”
selected.
•

Generate M1 separation
If the box is checked, Orange, Violet (and Green) are printed on the HP Indigo press with
the same screen angle as Magenta. In the zones where OVG overlap with Magenta this
results in moiré. When activating M1 the rip will generate an extra separation containing
the Magenta in the overlap zones. The press operator is now able to use a different angle
for this magenta 1 separation in order to avoid moiré.

Lpi, Angle and Dotshape are greyed out because the RIP does not screen.
Screening is performed at the press side, during printing. The screen can be selected
in the HP Indigo front end.
When printing in Indichrome Output the dialog not only contains entries for C, M, Y
and K but also for Orange and Violet. It looks as follows, after scrolling down in the
list of separations.
Color Management Proofer Profile allows you to select a destination profile for the
HP Indigo device. However it only defines a filter that will be used later on in the
workflow, i.e. in the Dispatcher, in WorkFlow Manager. The effect of the filter on
these applications is as follows:
•
•

When selecting a Color Strategy in a WorkFlow Manager ticket, the list of Color
Strategies will show only those that have the destination profile defined in the selected
proofer configuration.
When a proofer configuration has a destination profile defined, you will not be able to
change this in the WorkFlow Manager.

Page 23 of 210

44.tif

Page 24 of 210

FlexRip Dispatcher Configuration

8.tif
The Dispatcher is the •heart• of the FlexRip. It is both the ‘daemon’ (continuous automatic
process) that makes the RIP run and the place where all queues and RIP options are set up.
Each output device requires a new Dispatcher.
This means that if you make files for 3 different output devices, you will have 3 Dispatchers.

Note: Each Dispatcher needs a separate licence.

Page 25 of 210

The Menus
Rip menu
The Server menu contains the following items:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Clear History
Send Job(s)
Abort Job
Restart PS Rip
Exit

9.tif

Clear History
Choosing Clear history will delete all messages in the History View selection. You will be
asked to confirm first. As this deletes all entries in the history database, they cannot be
retrieved. This •cleaning• will also delete the corresponding RIP log files.

Note: It is normally not necessary to clear this history database manually.
In the Options menu\Program Options, you will be able to set a limit
for the amount of history entries that have to be remembered. If this
number is exceeded, the oldest entries are removed automatically.

Page 26 of 210

Tip:It is advised not to enter a high number for the amount of
history entries. The higher the amount of entries allowed, the
slower the History View and RIP logging will function.

Send Jobs
Grayed out: not available in FlexRip/Indigo

Abort Job
Abort Job stops the RIP (and as a consequence any current ripping process). Remember that
the RIP is automatically started again as soon as another job comes in.
You could choose to abort a job when you are sure you do not need the output (e.g. you
know the input file was wrong or a mistake was made in the queue options).
Output files that were already generated by the RIP are not automatically removed.

Restart PS RIP
Grayed out: not available in FlexRip/Indigo

Exit
This will stop the Dispatcher program (and the RIP). Clicking the close button of the
Dispatcher dialog will have the same effect.
You will be asked to confirm first.

Page 27 of 210

Options menu
The Options menu contains the following items:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Program Options
Queue Defaults
Performance
Rip Priority

10.tif

Program options
The program options are general Dispatcher settings. They can be set per Dispatcher.

Page 28 of 210

•

FlexRip Log Files

You can decide here whether or not you want the RIP to create log files. They can be
interesting to find out what happened if something went wrong. It is advised to always create
log files.
Log files can be viewed in History View and are physically located in the Logging folder.

C:\Esko\bg_data_flexripindigo_v070\indigo\Logging
•

WorkFlow Manager Server Disk Mounting

Enable Dispatcher mounts disks unless specifically mentioned otherwise.

•

Trace messages and History
•
•
•
•

Save Dispatcher Messages. It is advised to activate this toggle. •Trace
messages• keep track of the general status of the Dispatcher. Esko will only
consult these in case of problems.
Number of files used indicates the maximum number of trace files that will be
stored.
Maximum number of messages in each file indicates the number of entries that
will be stored in one and the same trace file.
Number of entries in History indicates the number of log files History View will
show you. The number of entries in the History can be set as wished. 500 will
probably be enough. This means that when entry number 501 appears, entry
number 1 will be deleted.

Page 29 of 210

•

Input Queue Settings
•

•

Include Debug Options: When checked, an extra tab sheet in the default
queue settings will appear: •Debugging•. Please activate this Debugging tab,
because it enables you to control the contents of the log files. This is
especially interesting for fast troubleshooting by customer services. They will
advise you which settings to change in order to speed up problem solving.
Include Tuning Options: Should not be active (again unless Customer
Service asks you to activate it).
Enabling the Tuning options makes a number of extra tabs appear in the
Queue Settings:
o CopyDot Tuning .
o LineWork Tuning
o Contone Tuning
o Memory Tuning
Note: Linework, Contone and Memory Tuning are specific
tabs for our Customer Service department and may
only be used to solve or find a workaround for a
specific customer workflow or FlexRip problem.

•

•

Units: Can be set to INCH, CM, MM or MIL (1000 MIL = 1 Inch).

Advanced

Not applicable in FlexRip/Indigo

Queue defaults

12.tif

Page 30 of 210

An FlexRip can have several queues of:
• different types
• the same type
Each queue will have its own settings (how to rip, where to write the output file…). The
settings in Queue Defaults however are valid for all queues. We refer to the Queue
Settings chapter for more details on queue settings. (The different tabs look exactly the
same).
The priority of the settings is described further on.

Performance

13.tif

Following settings will influence the performance of your FlexRip.
•
•

When your FlexRip has more than one processor (CPU: Central Processing Unit),
then define here which processor should handle the RIP activity of that specific
queue (and of that specific Dispatcher).
Distributing RIP kernel action over several processors is only interesting when you
have several RIP actions taking place at the same time. A good setting for your own
FlexRip (your personal Dispatcher(s) and your personal Queues) will be advised by
your FlexRip Instructor. Only change these settings together with your FlexRip
system manager and/or Customer Service.

Rip priority

Page 31 of 210

14.tif

This field allows you to set the priority of the ripping process over other processes.

PostScript: not available in FlexRip/Indigo
•
•

You might for instance have noticed that changing queue settings (working with the
interface of the Dispatcher) is very slow when the FlexRip is ripping at that same
moment. That is because the RIP process (the kernel) had all the priority.
Now, some customers will want to use applications on the FlexRip a lot (working with
Dispatcher, IntelliCurve, Bitmap Viewer) and some almost never. The recommended
setting is Normal.

Page 32 of 210

Tools menu

15.tif

The Tools menu contains the following items:
1. History View
2. Status Monitor

History View

17.tif

The Dispatcher program itself will not show you the list of actions that are finished. History
View will. All further info on the History View program can be found in a separate section.

Page 33 of 210

Status Monitor

18.tif

The Dispatcher program itself does not show any detailed information on the ripping action.
The Status Monitor program of that Dispatcher will show you more. All further info on the
Status Monitor can be found in a separate section.

Page 34 of 210

Info menu
The Info menu contains the following items:
1. Ports
2. About Dispatcher

16.tif

Ports

19.tif

Page 35 of 210

The Dispatcher is the server program of the Status Monitor and History View programs. The
Dispatcher ports are used by its client applications to be able to communicate with the
Dispatcher. Technically they are TCP/IP socket port numbers.

About Dispatcher

20.tif

Shows the date and version number of the Dispatcher program. This is useful information
when reporting some problem with Dispatcher. It is NOT the version of your FlexRip software
(see FAQs).

Page 36 of 210

Connected monitors
The Tools menu allows you to start up a History View or Status Monitor of that (specific)
Dispatcher. Both are actually client processes of that Dispatcher and count for a •connected
monitor•.
As there is no need to start up a History View or Status Monitor a second time, you will mostly
see that the number of connected monitors is 2. If you see a number over 2 then you
probably already started up these client programs and •minimized• them. This indicates that
this number is only there for your information.

21.tif

Page 37 of 210

Input queue
•

EskoLink: ‘EskoLink (or previously ‘BarcoLink’ or ‘DigiLink’) is a queue that
represents a link with the Server (WorkFlow Manager).
This kind of queue will ‘receive’ RIP requests for Esko native files.

22.tif

New - Queue Info - Delete
New – Delete:
Grayed out: not available in FlexRip/Indigo

Page 38 of 210

42.tif

Queue Info
•

To consult some info about the Eskolink queue.

24.tif

Page 39 of 210

23.tif

Page 40 of 210

Dispatcher Queue settings
This chapter contains the following topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Basic tab
Tiff Gray output tab
Rip Settings tab
Native Input tab
Intellicurve tab
Debugging tab

25.tif

27.tif
Many of the settings that are explained hereafter
•
•

can also be set as print options
or can be set in the WorkFlow Manager for Esko‐native workflows

But then, which settings will the RIP take into account?
What if opposite settings occur?
And what if options are not set?
The next section explains how different settings interact.

Page 41 of 210

Priority of settings
When an operator has set specific options, the file ends up in a Dispatcher queue that also
has its specific queue settings, and possibly also extra settings in the •default settings•
window. Which RIP settings will then be taken?

This is the order of how the RIP consults the settings:

1. FIRST: Dispatcher: specific Queue Settings.
• Queue settings will overrule all others.
Settings you always want to apply should be set here. See the section •Workflow:
flavors and hints• for an important remark on the settings •image• and ‘emulsion’!

Note: Options that are set in the Dispatcher Queue Settings
will be greyed out in the server tickets.
2. SECOND: settings in the ticket.
• On this level you can set the options that are job‐related. In the Esko workflow, the
settings in the ticket will be taken.
3. THIRD: Dispatcher: (menu •options•) Queue Defaults.
• Queue Defaults are settings that apply to all queues. The RIP will only consult them if
options are not set in the Dispatcher or the ticket. This means that they are only
executed in case there is still a •none• setting to be answered! If a “none” settings is
still not answered by the Queue Defaults, the default setting inside the FlexRip
software will be taken.

Tip: To set up a logical workflow, it is advised to set the
options that are always applicable as high in the order
as possible as these will overwrite occasional mistakes
in ticket or print settings.
Example: You always want to expose on a device at 2000
DPI. Then enter the resolution setting in the Queue
Settings. As soon as a setting is required only from
time to time, you might consider:
- to put it in the name of the (newly made) specific
queue.
- to leave the (default) queue settings on •none• and
specify it (each time when wanted) in the ticket or
PostScript file.

Page 42 of 210

Note: A number of options, like output path and (scr)dgc can
also be set in the FlexRip Configurator. These settings
will overrule all settings mentioned above! To make
you aware of Configurator settings, options that are set
in the Configurator are greyed out in the Dispatcher,
ticket and Queue Defaults.

Basic tab

26.tif
The Basic options allows you to decide on how the output should look.

Warning! Do not enter 0 (zero) in a value field. It will
be considered as a •hard• value and
possibly overwrite others! Leave the value
field ‘empty’ before clicking OK.
Transformations:
Scale
Scale options can be used for real job scaling (whole job at 50 %) or for the flexo distortion
factors (e.g. Horizontal: 0.982 ‐ Vertical: 1). It is advised not to set the distortion factor here
(leave the fields blank!) as it is rather job‐related and it is easily set in the setting options in
the ticket.

Page 43 of 210

Warning: If no scaling is required, then do not enter
•1• as any value here will be seen as an
actual queue setting that overrules all
others. It is advised to leave this field blank.
Imaging options
Reverse
Here you decide on either a positive image or a negative one. When set to •none•, this setting
will be read from the server ticket.
Mirror
Here you decide on either a mirrored image or a non-mirrored one. When set to •none•, this
setting will be read from the server ticket.

Tiff Gray output tab

28.tif
Location & Name
• Output Location indicates the folder where your temporaty .ct files will be written. If
you don•t specify a folder, the location specified in the default queue settings will be
used. However, if required, you can use the Browse button to select a folder.
• Output File name defines the name of the temporary .ct files and also the name of
the final .jlt.
It is possible to use template variables for the output file name:

Page 44 of 210

• Template variables
All variables must be specified between left and right angle brackets (< >).
The variables currently supported are:
•  (name of the file that is sent to the FlexRip)
For the Esko native input this equals the job name of the PDF native (PDF,PDFPLA,
PDFSTA, etc.) file name.
For PS input this equals the name found for %%Title in the PS file.

Note: If no name is found in the PS file, •Unknown• will be
taken.
• 
This indicates the color group + underscore + full ink name e.g. pms1000c_warmred
• 
The short ink name will be used. For process colors this means e.g. C instead of
cyan.
For Pantone colors this means the PMS number or a shortened name like WAR for
Warm Red.

Warning! Designer colors will still be shown with their
full name preceded by the letter •D•.
• 
The number of inks will be used, based on the ink table in the original job.
• 
For Esko‐native input, this variable will add the er to the output name in case of a
multiment.
• 
This variable will add the date of ripping in numbers to the output file name.
The format is •yearmonthday• (yyyymmdd). E.g. September 25 2003 will be
20030925•.
•
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Page Count                      : 212
XMP Toolkit                     : XMP toolkit 2.9.1-13, framework 1.6
About                           : uuid:3b6248cd-9b8f-4a61-bada-7509ebaf8f2a
Producer                        : Acrobat Distiller 8.0.0 (Macintosh)
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Modify Date                     : 2008:01:03 09:20:36+02:00
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Format                          : application/pdf
Creator                         : Michal
Title                           : ESKO_User_CA294-05740.fh9
Author                          : Michal
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