Prinergy supports two types of connections to digital presses—managed and unmanaged. The connection type determines how you submit jobs and the amount of information that is received from the digital press.
Managed connections
Managed connections create a dedicated connection path to the digital press. Because Prinergy knows what type of press you are using, it guides you through the job ticketing and submission process. Prinergy may also be able to monitor the document while it is on the press. With a managed connection, you can perform the following tasks:
- Submit jobs directly using the Prinergy Digital Submit software and submit jobs using Prinergy Workshop.
- Manage presses and digital print jobs using the Prinergy Digital Direct software.
Prinergy supports a number of different methods of exchanging printing instructions and content to meet a variety of digital press front-end integration capabilities:
- JMF (Job Messaging Format)—two-way communication using HTTP. JMF connectivity allows a digital front end to send information, such as events (start, stop, error), status (available, offline, and so on), results (count, waste, and so on), and other details to Prinergy as well as allowing Prinergy to submit digital jobs to the front end. The information provided to Prinergy varies depending on the capabilities of the digital front end.
- JDF hot folder—one-way communication. Allows submission of the JDF template from Prinergy to the digital front end. Associated content files can then be accessed by the digital front end.
- Content hot folder—one-way communication. Allows submission of content files, such as PDF files, from Prinergy to the digital front end. This option is for digital front ends that do not support JDF. JDF templates can be associated with the content hot folder on the digital front end.
- LPR (Line Printer Remote)—a protocol that is comprised of five commands: print, cancel, show status, show long (verbose) status, and reset. The Digimaster front end supports the LPR protocol.
Note: A digital press front end (DFE) is also known as a controller or print server depending on the type of digital press. A digital press may be referred to as a device. You may notice differences in terminology between different Kodak products.
For details about the level of integration with specific digital presses, see the Prinergy Digital Print Compatibility Matrix.
Unmanaged connections
Unmanaged hot folders perform the same functions as managed hot folders. However, unmanaged connections do not enable you to use the Digital Submit and Digital Direct software to manage your workflow.
With an unmanaged connection, you submit jobs using the Prinergy loose page proof or imposition output process templates to output to JDF-enabled hot folders.