As described in the article Creating a Production Configuration, you can add various Operations to a Production Configuration. This article provides a detailed description of the prerequisites and the options available in the Operation Send to Printer.

The Operation Send to Printer is used in Production Configurations that cover an entire process – from uploading print data into the application to the output.

The Operation Send to Printer can only be inserted at the end of a Production Configuration. Prior to this Operation, only Operations from the category Operations for Production Jobs can be used:

• Create Production Job – this Operation is used to create a Production Job with or without Imposition.
• Create Production Job for Tracks – this Operation is used to create a Production Job to send individual Print Items to their respective tracks.
• Generate Production Job from Imposition – this Operation is used to create a Production Job based on the preceding Operations Create Impose or Create Impose with Auto Nesting.

The primary function of the Operation Send to Printer is to send the print data directly to the printer using the desired processing method.

The purpose of this step is to transfer the print data to the printer and thereby complete the Production Configuration.

Before you can automatically send print data to the printer, you have to create a share with the type Printer under Administration > File Management. For more information, refer to the section Setting Up the File Management in the article Setting Up External Systems.

In the example described below, print data should be transferred to a Production Job via Automation > Batch Processing in the application and subsequently stored on the printer.

To carry out this task, a Production Configuration with three Operations – Check-in Artwork and Normalize, followed by Create Production Job, and then Send to Printer – has to be created in the specified order.

To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Select the menu item Automation > Batch Processing.
2. Create a new Production Configuration using the icon Add [17].

Figure 2: The area Batch Processing at the beginning

3. The Operations Check-in Artwork and Normalize, followed by Create Production Job, are already selected. Assign a descriptive Name [18] for the Production Configuration and, optionally add a Comment [19].
4. Select the Operation Check-in Artwork and Normalize and choose at least one Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template [20]. If required, configure additional settings for this Operation according to your needs.

Figure 3: The dialog Production Configuration for Batch Processing with the two Operations that are inserted by default

5. Select the Operation Create Production Job and define the following settings:
   • Job Name [21] – insert the desired placeholder(s) to describe the Production Job in the automation as clearly as possible.
   • Ext. ID [22] – insert the desired placeholder(s), for example to include the required reference to the order number in the Production Job.
   • Comment [23] – insert the desired placeholder(s) to store additional information in the Production Job if needed.
   • Production Date [25] – if you want to set a production date, insert the desired placeholder.
   • Shipping Date [24] – if you want to set a shipping date, insert the desired placeholder with the required offset from the production date.
   • Output Template [26] – by selecting the output template, you finally determine for which printer, on which substrate, and with which color separation the Production Job should be stored.

Figure 4: The dialog Production Configuration for Batch Processing with the Operation Create Production Job selected

6. Optionally, specify the Impose Parameters [27] that should be used to create an Impose for the Production Job. In this case:
   • Impose Mode [28] – select the Impose Mode Nesting.
   • Impose Template [29] – the default template selected by the system, Default Template Nesting, is used.
   • Impose Sheet Template [30] – the default template selected by the system, Default, is used.
   • Print Item Template [31] – the default template selected by the system, Default, is used.
7. Use the icon Add [32] to insert the Operation Send to Printer at the position shown.
8. Select at least the processing method for this Operation – in this case Processing immediately [33].
9. Click Save [34] to apply the settings.

Figure 5: The dialog Production Configuration for Batch Processing with the three Operations required for this example

10. In the tab Execute Batch Processing [35], add the desired files from your local computer using Choose Files [36]. Enter the required number of copies for each Print Item in the field Quantity [38].
11. Ensure that the previously created Production Configuration is selected in the dropdown list for Production Configuration [37].
12. Click Send to Printer [Name of Printer] [39] to start the Batch Processing.

Figure 6: The settings area of the menu item Batch Processing

13. In the dialog Batch Processing that opens, check the settings again and enter the Name [40] that should be used for the Batch Processing job.
14. Click Start Batch Production [41] to start the Operation.

Figure 7: The dialog Batch Processing for confirming the Batch Processing

15. You can track the progress of individual Automation Jobs either in the tab Batch Processing History of the menu item Automation > Batch Processing, or via Automation > Automation Jobs.
16. Once the job is complete, check the printer's destination directory to verify that the job has been rendered.

Figure 8: The target directory with the rendered job