Programming hundreds of exceptions in Freeflow

Adam Garnsey

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Joined
2019
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10
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Arden, NC
We have an upcoming job that we need to program hundreds of exceptions in for standard and perforated paper. I was seeing if anyone knows a way to program exceptions without having to copy and paste multiple lines into the exception box which can only fit 30 characters at a time, doing the math for one of these, it would take 30-40 minutes to program everything in before I even start processing.
 
Adam Garnsey said:
We have an upcoming job that we need to program hundreds of exceptions in for standard and perforated paper. I was seeing if anyone knows a way to program exceptions without having to copy and paste multiple lines into the exception box which can only fit 30 characters at a time, doing the math for one of these, it would take 30-40 minutes to program everything in before I even start processing.
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MAy not be able to help here but, Curious. what exceptions? Where is this box?

Ive never done this.... freeflow everything should be there for you...do you mean job attributes? Like what you would save in a queue?

I use perforated paper more than weekly.

are you trying to use variable pages within files?
 
    • So in the freeflow in a job on the special pages tab there is a button for exception pages. When you click it there is a place to put exception pages but it only allows for 30 characters, meaning if I have hundreds of exceptions I will only be able to put in 30 characters worth at a time. I don't have the files yet, but I know they will be 10,000+ page files that will need perforated stock programmed in where needed.
     
    Adam Garnsey said:
    So in the freeflow in a job on the special pages tab there is a button for exception pages. When you click it there is a place to put exception pages but it only allows for 30 characters, meaning if I have hundreds of exceptions I will only be able to put in 30 characters worth at a time. I don't have the files yet, but I know they will be 10,000+ page files that will need perforated stock programmed in where needed.
    Click to expand...


    ok wow i see the prob. Youre trying to tell it to put in exceptions every certain number of pages? Im obviously using a much different system than you. I do my own programming. I would do that outside freeflow(GMC inspire), send as postscript with those pages preprogrammed to pull different drawers. if I was given a giant pdf, I might break it down into smaller # of page pdf's to get running. then do the rest once i'm going.... but that gets scary the further out you get.

    Or, Are you just putting the pages in using an exact pattern? like every 500 or something to keep the stacks manageable or trackable? if so not terrible....

    Or is the page entry random or dependent on data in the file? (if this is the case unfortunately I see no way to save you time) :( Just poking around, it doesnt look good to just do it in freeflow.

    sorry I'm sort of learning here.
     
    Doing the postscript file would probably be the way to go it seems. How exactly does that work? I am just the printer, we have a prepress that sets the files up for me and I take care of them from there. I know the page exceptions are going to be pretty random.
     
    Adam Garnsey said:
    Doing the postscript file would probably be the way to go it seems. How exactly does that work? I am just the printer, we have a prepress that sets the files up for me and I take care of them from there. I know the page exceptions are going to be pretty random.
    Click to expand...

    If they are truly random, the only ways are your manual way and my way lol that I know of. is there a way to do it inside a pdf? regardless it will take awhile.

    Prepress will have to do it... or Whoever is making the files has to program the variable stock to pull pages when needed based on whatever data requires the page. Postscript, this info can be included in the file. Hard to explain if I dont know the print production system they use.... It has to happen when the print file is generated. also depends on what you need printed on that page.... WE use GMC to add personalized data to background, page color callouts for output.

    I don't think that will help you though I'm afraid, at least in the short term. Thats years of us just figuring it out.....

    Best i can think of is, if its a giant pdf and you have to do it:

    open pdf in adobe, separate files into smaller round number chunks of pages. get a small file going using the freeflow exception pages entry. Then at least your machine is running while you prepare files. Pick a good round number so the math isnt too bad.

    even better, is if your prepress cant do the multiple page pull, have them send out smaller numbers in each file. so you can maybe setup 5 exceptions at a time.

    FOr instance, we generally break"regroup" files into 500 pages anyways. for handling/cutting....etc
     
    • Thanks for this info, this was helpful, I will get with prepress and see what we can figure out.
     
    good luck! hope you figure it out.
     
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