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Workflows => Kodak Systems => Topic started by: joaodaffonsojr on April 11, 2019, 04:07:05 PM

Title: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: joaodaffonsojr on April 11, 2019, 04:07:05 PM
Hi !
I´m new to Prinergy RBA, I´m trying to make a rule that the file is inputed than refine (this I could do it),then create a pageset based on the number of pages that has in the pdf.
Is there a way to create this pageset automatic based on the number of pages of the pdf file ?

thanks !

Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: Joe on April 11, 2019, 04:37:07 PM
Quote from: joaodaffonsojr on April 11, 2019, 04:07:05 PM
Hi !
I´m new to Prinergy RBA, I´m trying to make a rule that the file is inputed than refine (this I could do it),then create a pageset based on the number of pages that has in the pdf.
Is there a way to create this pageset automatic based on the number of pages of the pdf file ?

thanks !

Yes...you get the number of pages via Array Length. It works well until your customer throws you a curve ball and uploads a single page file. You get a one page pageset. Or better yet you have a 16 page job and they upload 16 single page PDF's. Then you get 16 one page pagesets.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: joaodaffonsojr on April 11, 2019, 06:39:53 PM
Thanks Joe!
I was using the "create pageset" after the refine and you use the split event that´s correct ...
as far as I receive just 1 file for the book (just inside part not the cover) it will work ?
sorry because I´m really new to this!
and I´m learning by myself.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: DCurry on April 12, 2019, 05:36:07 AM
Wouldn't it be easier to create a Refine ticket that creates the pageset as part of the refine? We use this all the time.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: joaodaffonsojr on April 12, 2019, 05:43:11 AM
thanks DCurry !
I´ll try both !
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: Joe on April 12, 2019, 06:08:23 AM
Quote from: DCurry on April 12, 2019, 05:36:07 AM
Wouldn't it be easier to create a Refine ticket that creates the pageset as part of the refine? We use this all the time.

As long as you are sure they are only going to upload the correct number of pages in one upload. The great majority of our customers are really fond of doing single page uploads. And of course not at the same time.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: DCurry on April 12, 2019, 06:32:30 AM
Quote from: Joe on April 12, 2019, 06:08:23 AM
As long as you are sure they are only going to upload the correct number of pages in one upload. The great majority of our customers are really fond of doing single page uploads. And of course not at the same time.
True, but according to your earlier post it still wouldn't work with multiple uploads the other way. Unless I'm missing something?
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: Joe on April 12, 2019, 07:08:52 AM
Yes correct. That is how customers always foil my best laid plans.

I built that rule for a job that we used to do that had 8 separate versions. As long as they uploaded one file only with the correct number of pages for that particular version it worked fine. But for example if they uploaded two different versions as 2 PDF's with the correct number of pages for each version it would create one pageset with the number of pages in it equaling the total of both PDF's. Or if for example they uploaded 16 different single page PDF's for one version I'd get actually one pageset with one page because when it would try to create the other 15 page sets with the same name based on the naming scheme of uploaded PDF's it would fail at creating the additional 15 pagesets.

So the rule I created worked well if customers followed my strict uploading procedure. And we all know how well customers follow instructions. Over the last couple of years they reduced their number of versions down to 1 so it isn't an issue anymore.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: DCurry on April 12, 2019, 07:42:50 AM
They do always find a way to thwart us.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: joaodaffonsojr on April 16, 2019, 11:10:41 AM
First I´d like to thank Joe and Dcurry!
the refine and create pageset worked like a charm!
But in life nothing is easy ... I´m stucked again.
I´m trying to create a Rule to automate book imposition.
It´s all the same size 140x210mm but they have different number of pages.
In the rule editor I tryed several configurations but none worked, most of them says that a "part"  must be a number or something related to the number of pages.
Since they will use the same Preps template, what will be the best way to do this rule ?


https://ibb.co/xqZFb1B
https://ibb.co/mNvb4L1
https://ibb.co/nfHwgWH
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: Joe on April 16, 2019, 12:36:06 PM
One question before I dive into this. How can they use the same template for different number of pages?

But a hint as you will need to get the number of pages by the same method I posted in post #2 in this thread via 'pages' 'array length'.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: DCurry on April 16, 2019, 12:41:46 PM
I haven't found a way to make it know how many forms to add in the sig based on a varying unknown page count, but I am not too knowledgeable about RBA in general.

Instead what I do is have a different impo to import for each page count possibility. So let's say I have a job every month that sometimes is 8pages, sometimes is 16, and sometimes 24. I would build 3 different Preps jobs (1 for each page count), then use the RBA to import the one that is needed. So it will say if page count equals 8, import this 8-page impo, else if page count is 12, import the 12 impo, etc.

This screenshot shows a little bit of that. Note this is not for bound books, but the concept is the same. It is looking at the page count for 15, 16 or 17 pages and importing the desired impo. I have other criteria in there, too (page size) but I don't think that applies to your situation.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: joaodaffonsojr on April 16, 2019, 02:03:51 PM
I don´t know if it is possible but i was thinking like Preps do.
after you populate the pagelist on preps, you choose the template
than you can use "Auto Select" to let him calculate the number of signatures based on the number of pages that was populated.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: Joe on April 16, 2019, 02:12:57 PM
So the imposition will, for example, use a 16 page template however many times it needs to so in this example the page count would always be in multiples of 16. That is how it will always use the same template with differing page counts, correct?
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: joaodaffonsojr on April 16, 2019, 06:34:53 PM
YES !
That´s it.
It must just add signatures as necessery to make the signatures full.
like a 64 page book will have 4 signatures.

Is that possible ?
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: Joe on April 16, 2019, 06:55:48 PM
Quote from: joaodaffonsojr on April 16, 2019, 06:34:53 PM
YES !
That´s it.
It must just add signatures as necessery to make the signatures full.
like a 64 page book will have 4 signatures.

Is that possible ?


I believe so either getting the number of pages by the method that either I or DCurry posted. Then in your 3rd screen shot you posted earlier for "Generate Imposition" in the area titled "Generate Imposition Method" change the value to "Auto Select" and then further down in the area under "Auto Select" "Preps template" select your 16 page imposition and I think it should add it into the imposition the correct number of times. I think it should act just like "Auto Select" in Preps. Now I have never done this before with RBA but I think it should work this way.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: DCurry on April 17, 2019, 05:47:27 AM
If you figure out the Auto Select thing in RBA let me know. I couldn't figure it out, but I'm just a simple caveman.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: joaodaffonsojr on April 17, 2019, 05:42:39 PM
Well the auto select that i refer is to make signatures from a determinated imposition template !

I received a help to make "import the imposition" and worked.

but keeps importing all time ... in a infinitive loop ... how do I make to import just once ?

or stop import after the imposition is done ?

https://imgur.com/aj9AYna
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: scottrsimons on April 18, 2019, 12:34:50 PM
I'm like DCurry, we have a customer that we do a bunch of jobs for on a regular basis. They will be in bunches, and will be either 8pgs, 16pgs, 24pgs or 32pgs. And I have template jobs setup with hot folders, so our prepress operators can drop the files onto and it will refine and then assign the pages to the IMPO. I even have it setup to print out B&W laser copies so we can double check it did it correctly. I have not had the time nor the need to figure out how to get RBA to assign an IMPO based on a varied number of pages. Although I have seen it done.
Title: Re: RBA rule to create a pageset
Post by: joaodaffonsojr on April 19, 2019, 03:15:17 PM
scottrsimons,

Nice that you know that can be done. I have some book sizes that togheter make like 80% of the jobs.
So I need to automate them with RBA, and it´s close to do it. As far as I manage to import just once the imposition.