Production and deployment

In the Production and Deployment section, you set formats, define compression settings, specify output destinations and set job priority. Available options are displayed according to the selected parameter.

Set output format

To set the output format:

  • From the Output Format dropdown list, select one of the following formats in which to produce the Print Output file:

    • Legacy PDF (up to uProduce version 7.1.1)

    • PDF (from uProduce version 7.2)

    • VPS

    • VIPP

    • PPML

    • VDX

    • PostScript

    • PDF/VT-1

    • PersonalEffect 9.3 and above provides you the ability to generate interactive PDFs for use with your digital marketing. You can produce interactive PDF files which include interactive links, buttons, bookmarks and form elements such as checkboxes and radio buttons.

      Links can be personalized using the link content object. Other interactive elements cannot be personalized.

      For example, in an interactive PDF document, you can add a button that jumps to another location in the document or to a specific URL. You can also create a link content object that will refer to a personalized website.

    • JPG

    • PNG

    • You can produce print output files in EPUB (electronic publication) format. EPUB is the most widely-used file format for digital books. EPUB files can be downloaded and read on devices such as smartphones, tablets, e-readers or computers.

      You can choose between two EPUB file formats:

      • Reflowable: This is the standard format, which is used for publications that have a simple, one-column layout and mostly include text.

      • Fixed: This format is needed for graphic-heavy publications, if the text is in multi-column layout or there are other design-related needs.

      Note: EPUB export setting are defined in InDesign, when exporting the document to the EPUB format.

The selected print format determines available production options.

The following options become available according to the format you selected:

  • Separate file for each record: Available for PDF and Legacy PDF. Allows you to create a separate file for each recipient.

    By default, the uProduce production engine automatically splits the job between all the available uProduce instances to optimize the production speed. However, if you select this checkbox, production optimization is disabled for this job.

  • Version #: Available for the PPML. From the dropdown list, select  version 1.5 or 2.1.

Set the output file name

You can set the name of the output file as follows:

  • Automatic

    • If your production is via uProduce, the output file name is based on the processed document name.

    • If the production is via Circle, the output file name is based on the selected touchpoint name.

  • Custom: Type the name you want to use for the print output file.

  • You can optionally select the Append Job ID to File Name checkbox to add a job ID to the file name.

  • Content Object: Selecting a text content object from the Content Object dropdown list automatically generates file names according to a text content object.

    The content object value must use valid filename characters only. Invalid characters such as  \, ?, * are replaced with valid ones when an output file is created. In addition, the content object value must not contain the file extension, for example, PDF, Legacy PDF or PS, because the extension is automatically appended when the Print Output file is created.

    The ability to set the file name according to a content object can be used in several scenarios, for example:

    • When selecting the Separate file for each record checkbox, each generated file is given a name that matches the value of the text content object in the corresponding record.

    When setting up production to automatically split the job into multiple batches, the name that is applied to the output files of each batch matches the value of the textual content object in the first record in each corresponding batch.

    When selecting a different data source (or a table in a data source) for each production run, the name applied to output files matches the value of the text content object in the first table or the first record in the selected data source.

Set up compression

Compression allows you to significantly reduce the size and network transmission time of the print output file. Select compression options as follows:

  • No Compression

  • Compress Output (ZIP): Compresses the print output file to a ZIP file.

  • Create VI Container (VPC): Compresses the print output file to a Variable Information (VI) Container (VI Project Container, or VPC).

    A VPC is a package the can be submitted to a compatible printer for printing. It contains the print output file and any referenced images.

    If you want to include Assets and/or Resources in the VI Container file, the printing process is faster if deselect Embed Assets and/or Embed Resources in the Advanced Parameters section.

Set up an output destination

In the Copy Output To section, you define whether to copy the output file and to specify the output files' destination.

The available destinations are set up by the administrator in the Destinations section of the uProduce Settings page.

For information on primary and secondary destinations, contact your administrator.

Select Copy Output file options as follows:

  • No Copying

  • All to Primary Destination: All output streams are sent to a single location, defined by the Primary Destination option. All assets are embedded in the output file.

  • Separate to Primary and Secondary Destinations: The main output stream is copied to the Primary Destination. The main output includes the code and references to job files. All other job files (for example, assets and resources) are copied to the Secondary Destination. These files are shared among all output for the specified document.

  • Primary Destination: Choose one of the uProduce destinations as your main destination. You can then copy all output streams, or just the main stream, to this destination. The primary destination can be any of the following:

    • An FTP site

    • A network path

    • A network printer, which can also be used be used as a printer queue for the FreeFlow Output Manager mechanism.

    • Xerox FreeFlow Print Manager, which provides an Automatic Submission functionality.

      Note: If you choose FreeFlow Print Manager as a destination, you are prompted to select a printer queue. Click Refresh Queues to retrieve any new queues that were defined for the Digital Front End (DFE) you are using.

If you want to use an automatic submission mechanism for the main print output file, make sure to set the primary destination to a hot folder or a virtual printer.

  • Secondary Destination: If you prefer to divide the output between different destinations, you need to define a Secondary Destination.

    The secondary destination can be only a network destination, and is available exclusively for uncompressed output.

    The main output stream is copied to the primary destination, while all other job files (for example, assets and resources) are copied to the secondary destination.

    If you want to use an automatic submission mechanism for the main Print Output file, make sure to set the Secondary Destination option to a location that is defined on the print server to accommodate referenced job files.

    If you are using a VIPP format, set Secondary Destination on the printer server to  X:\xgfc\projects, where X is a local drive, for example, C:\xgfc\projects

    When referenced job files are copied into the secondary destination, uProduce creates a subfolder, named after the project, and copies the files into this

  • Copy Assets: Copies the assets (dynamic images referenced by content objects) to a remote destination. Copy assets are relevant only for VPS, VIPP and PPML output formats.

  • Copy Resources:  Copies resources (static images referenced by the document) to a remote destination. Relevant only for VPS, VIPP and PPML output formats.

  • Delete Output After Copying: Deletes the print output file from the uProduce server after it has been copied to the specified destinations. This option is useful for saving disk space.

    • Job Priority: When submitting either a process job or a proof job, you can determine its priority. Priority controls the order of the job in the waiting queue. It can also be used to interrupt currently running jobs in favor of a rush job. Select one of the four priority options:

    • Immediately: Submit a rush job (the default option for proof jobs). The job is processed immediately. If all production instances are busy, one of the currently running jobs is paused in favor of processing the rush job immediately. If all instances are currently handling jobs set to Immediately, the job is placed at the top of the waiting queue until one of the instances becomes available.

    • Normal: Submit the job with a normal priority, the default option for process jobs. The job is placed among other normal jobs in the waiting queue.

    • High: Submit the job with a high priority. The job is placed at the top area of the waiting queue.

    • Low: Submit the job with a low priority. The job is submitted to the lowest level of the waiting queue.