In this article, you will learn
- which functions are available in the Operation,
- for which steps you can use this Operation, and
- how a use case can look like.
1. Introduction
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 as well as the capabilities offered by the Check Print Item Status Operation.
The Check Print Item Status operation is used in Production Configurations that cover an entire workflow – from uploading print data into the workflow through to output – as well as applying Production Configurations to selected Articles or Print Items.
The Check Print Item Status operation can be inserted flexibly and multiple times within a Production Configuration, except for the restrictions listed below. The following operations must not be used before the Check Print Item Status operation:
- Create Impose – as this only generates a Production Job from the Impose.
- Create Impose with Auto Nesting – as this only generates a Production Job from the Imposition.
- Create Production Job – as this can only be used to transfer the Production Job to the printer.
- Create Production Job for Tracks – as this can only be used to transfer the Production Job to the printer.
- Create Production Job from Imposition – as this can only be used to transfer the Production Job to the printer.
- Send to Printer – as no further operations can be applied to rendered data.
- Export Imposition Report – as this is only used to create and export an Imposition Report after a Production Job has been created.
- Export Mounting Instruction – as this can only be used to create and export Mounting Instruction for Tiling after a Production Job has been created.
2. Function and Purpose of the Operation
The function of the Check Print Item Status operation is to check the status of Print Items in the workflow. If the selected status is reached, automated processing continues. If the status is not reached, workflow users can be automatically notified.
The purpose is to verify the status of a Print Item in order to provide a basis for deciding whether processing should continue or, if the status is not reached, to inform the user about the result.
2.1. Adding the Operation
To add the Check Print Item Status operation, proceed as follows:
- Open the corresponding Production Configuration via Automation > Production Configurations and switch to the Operations tab.
- Add the Check Print Item Status operation to the list of operations. By default, the operation is inserted at the end of the existing operation list.
- Then move the operation to the desired position within the configuration. Please observe the previously mentioned restrictions regarding placement – especially which operations must not precede this step.
2.2. Setting up the Operation
After adding the Check Print Item Status operation, you still need to define the desired parameters within the Production Configuration.
Figure 1: The Add Production Configuration dialog with the selected Check Print Items Status operation
To configure the operation, the following options are available:
Proceed if Status reached [1] – in this section, you can define the settings that determine when the Production Configuration should continue after a status has been reached.
- Print Item Status [2] – use the selection field to add the statuses that allow the Operation to proceed. You can choose from the following statuses:
- Created
- Data Check
- Normalized
- Final Artwork
- Waiting for Approval
- Approved
- Imposed
- Sent to Printer
- Printed
- Quantity Reached
If Status not reached [3] – if the selected status or statuses are not reached, choose from the following options:
- Send Notification [4] – select the Workflow-Users [5] option if you want to send a notification to selected users [7] who are created under Administration > Users and Roles. Alternatively, select the E-mail [6] option to send a message via E-mail – if required, a Preflight Report can also be attached.
Depending on the selected option, the settings below will change accordingly.
2.2.1. Use Case
In the example described below, print data is uploaded to the workflow via Automation > Batch Processing, normalized, checked for the status "Normalized", and subsequently transferred to a Production Job. If the check fails, an e-mail notification including the Preflight Report should be sent.
To implement this process, a Production Configuration with three Operations – Check-in Artwork and Normalize, followed by Check Print Item Status and Create Production Job – must be created in the specified order.
Proceed as follows:
- Select the menu item Automation > Batch Processing.
- Create a new Production Configuration using the Add icon [8].
Figure 2: Batch Processing section at the beginning
- The operations Check-in Artwork and Normalize, followed by Create Production Job, are already selected. Assign a descriptive Name [9] to the Production Configuration and, optionally, add a Comment [10].
- Select the Check-in Artwork and Normalize operation and choose a Check-in Preflight and Fixup Template [11].
Figure 3: The Batch Processing Production Configuration dialog with the two default operations
- Next, configure the Create Production Job operation. In this example, Shape Nesting is performed, which is then output as a multipage Nesting on the defined size sheet.
- Use the Add icon [12] to add the Check Print Item Status operation and insert it at the position shown [13].
- In the Print Item Status field, select the statuses Normalized, Final Artwork, and Approved [14].
- Under Send Notification, select the E-mail [15] option.
- Then select the desired E-Mail Account (Sender) [16], the E-Mail Template [17], and the required E-Mail Recipients [18].
- Enable the Attach Preflight Report to e-mail [19] option to include the PDF Preflight Report with the notification.
- After configuring the final step, save the Production Configuration settings by clicking Save.
Figure 4: The Batch Processing Production Configuration dialog with the Operation Check Print Item Status
- In the Execute Batch Processing [20] tab, add the desired files from your local computer using Choose Files [21]. Enter the required number of copies either for the individual Print Items or globally under Quantity [23].
- Make sure that the previously created Production Configuration is selected in the Production Configuration [22] dropdown list.
- Click Start [24] to begin the Batch Processing operation.
Figure 5: The settings area of the Batch Processing menu item
- In the opened Batch Processing dialog, review the settings and enter the name [25] to be used for the Batch Processing job.
- Click Start Batch Production [26] to start the process.
Figure 6: The dialog for creating the Batch Processing job
- You can track the progress of individual Automation Jobs either in the Batch Processing History tab under Automation > Batch Processing or via Automation > Automation Jobs.
- After the job has been completed, navigate to Production Jobs > Production Jobs.
- Open the relevant Production Job – the status of the uploaded Print Item should be set to Imposed [27].
Figure 7: The detail view of the Production Job with the multipage Print Item
Practise Files
To reproduce the described example, you can download the corresponding Print Items here.
Article Update: $PRODUCT_NAME_WORKFLOW 2.1.0 – 06/2026