A hotfolder is a shared folder on the PRISMAsync Print Server. You can create a maximum of 250 hotfolders on PRISMAsync. A maximum of 10 hotfolders can be active simultaneously. Users with the correct login credentials have access to the hotfolders. Users can simply drag & drop PDF files into a hotfolder to print the files automatically.
When you enable printing via hotfolders, you have to enable WebDAV or SMB for the hotfolders. Then, you have to select an Automated Workflow. The Automated Workflow defines how each job must be printed. Optionally, you can create a JDF ticket for each hotfolder. The ticket can also define how each job must be printed.
NOTE
Print options can be defined in both the ticket and in the Automated Workflow. However, it is recommended that each print option is available only in the ticket or only in the Automated Workflow.
First, the system administrator has to configure the hotfolders. The system administrator has to:
Enable hotfolder printing in the Settings Editor.
Enable WebDAV, SMB or both for the hotfolder.
An administrator must configure at least one user that is authorised to access hotfolders.
When the hotfolders are configured, the system administrator has to create a hotfolder in the Settings Editor. Each hotfolder requires an Automated Workflow. The default Automated Workflow can be used, or a new Automated Workflow can be created. In the Automated Workflow, you can define print options for the jobs.
The system administrator has to define a name for the hotfolder. The entire UNC path to the hotfolder (for SMB) as well as the entire HTTP URL (for WebDAV) are displayed in the Settings Editor.
NOTE
The name of the hotfolder is case-insensitive. The name of the Automated Workflow is case-sensitive.
You can create a ticket for a hotfolder when you require complex operations like page programming that cannot be achieved through Automated Workflows. The ticket can define how each job must be printed in addition to the Automated Workflows. You can create a ticket in three ways:
Generate a ticket with a printer driver of a PRISMAsync based printer.
Use the ticket editor in the Settings Editor of the PRISMAsync Print Server to generate a ticket.
Create the ticket manually.
The name of the ticket must be "default_ticket.jdf". You have to save the ticket "default_ticket.jdf" in the hotfolder on the print server. The ticket itself is never printed.
The ticket contains the defined print options except the MIME type which indicates the PDL type of the job data. The ticket must not contain the PDL type. The Automated Workflow settings or an automatic PDL type sensing will detect the PDL type.
NOTE
Print options can be defined in both the ticket and in the Automated Workflow. It is recommended that each print option is available only in the ticket or in the Automated Workflow.
The user can connect to a hotfolder by mapping the UNC-path or the HTTP URL.
The user can drop print files in the hotfolder. The print server prints the files according to the ticket settings. The print files are deleted from the hotfolder after printing. The ticket remains in the hotfolder. When there are multiple jobs in the hotfolder, the jobs are printed either in alphabetical order or based on arrival time. The system administrator configures this in the Settings Editor.
When a print file is dropped in a hotfolder and the ticket "default_ticket.jdf" is available in the hotfolder, the print file and ticket are processed by the Automated Workflow of the hotfolder. Any ticket, which is present in the print job is ignored.
When a print file is dropped in a hotfolder and no ticket is available in the hotfolder, only the print file is processed by the Automated Workflow of the hotfolder.
The user can create a new ticket. Save the ticket as "default_ticket.jdf" in the hotfolder on the print server to overwrite the existing ticket.
The system administrator can change the Automated Workflow of the hotfolder in the Settings Editor. The system administrator can also assign another Automated Workflow to the hotfolder.
Hotfolder cannot be reached
Check if the correct path to the hotfolder is used. The path to the hotfolder is visible in 'Workflow - Hotfolders' in the Settings Editor.
Check if the correct username and password for the hotfolder are used. The username and password can be defined in the Settings Editor.
Corrupt print file
A corrupt print file is deleted from the hotfolder. The file is not printed.
A ticket is ignored and deleted from the hotfolder when it cannot be processed.
Streaming
Hotfolder printing does not support streaming jobs.
Connection lost during file transfer
The incomplete print file is not printed and is deleted from the hotfolder.
File remains in the hotfolder and is not printed
The print server needs exclusive access to the file. If an application keeps the file open, the file will not be printed before the application closes the file.
Solution: Do not save files directly to the hotfolder from an application.
HTTPS and WebDAV
HTTPS is not yet supported for WebDAV.
Slow response working with WebDAV resources on Windows Vista or Windows 7
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2445570
Connection problem when adding a network connection to a WebDAV folder in Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2