Newbie VDP help

[BillJ]

We have a situation that we have a library of 1000+ labels on a PC that we print on demand to a Xante through a batch file generated by our IBM iSeries. We would like to merge in a single line of data which would be a lot number/date code. The average label job is usually 1-2 sheets of 2-8 up labels and we run about 100-150 jobs per day. Is there a software package that handle the merge automatically without having to convert our PDF's our spending huge money on new software or hardware?

[tobias]

We have a situation that we have a library of 1000+ labels on a PC that we print on demand to a Xante through a batch file generated by our IBM iSeries. We would like to merge in a single line of data which would be a lot number/date code. The average label job is usually 1-2 sheets of 2-8 up labels and we run about 100-150 jobs per day. Is there a software package that handle the merge automatically without having to convert our PDF's our spending huge money on new software or hardware?

Automatically adding a layer of data to a PDF is quite easy using opensource tools, or even scripted using your favorite Adobe® tool. But I would consider checking to see if your RIP/printengine supports postscript or similar language. You could even put in a postscript processor in between which simply accepts postscript from a pc (acting as a printer), and outputs postscript to the printer (including the required lines of data). This would require some programming and in-depth knowledge of Postscript® though. Going for simple postscript is usually the cheapest way to not end in very Corporate (and thus expensive) 'VDP' tooling (which itself usually is less flexible than pure postscript).

[BillJ]

We aren't currently using any print engine or rip. The batch file includes a print command and prints the label that is already set in the PDF as the correct format (4 up label is a 4 up in the PDF).

[tobias]

Using this:

Creating a Virtual Postscript Printer in Windows using Ghostscript

you can setup a virtual printer. This will output to raw postscript. With the Adobe Postscript Red Book (Language Reference) it's doable to make some sense out of it, and even add in extra postscript. Since postscript is non-linear and textbased, you can even add some magic from the console:

echo "my postscript command" >> postscriptfile.ps

This will append your postscript command to the postscript file. Using Acrobat you can easily generate a new PDF from a PS file, or you can simply send the raw postscript to your printer (see your printer manual for how to accomplish this).

[michaelejahn]

We aren't currently using any print engine or rip. The batch file includes a print command and prints the label that is already set in the PDF as the correct format (4 up label is a 4 up in the PDF).

There are several tools available. If you could attach an example 'before' PDF and the your required 'after' PDF so we can see exactly what you want, I am sure several folks will share what they use to perform this.

Many folks might ask "what do YOU start with" - that is, are the PDF files sitting in a folder and are named using some naming convention ? What are the different height / width of these labels ? Are they B&W, Greyscale, RGB - CMYK - Spot Color labels ? is the variable part black only text ? Is the variable part within the design of the label ( or inside the Trim area ) or is this in the bleed area ? Do the PDF files have TrimBox and BleedBox objects ?

The least expensive applications might be using PDFSnake - but I am a little concerned about your speed requirements ( you did not mention how fast you need this process to happen )

PDF Snake's stamp tool might do what you need...

PDF Snake : The Complete Imposing Solution

Good luck !

[tobias]

indeed pdfsnake might just do the trick.

[BillJ]

We don't need a lot of speed as the labels print over an 8 hour shift. How our system works is that when customer service enters an order for a particular item, our system generates a work order. The work order will then generate a printout for the warehouse to pull and and label the product. It will also generate the batch file that prints the label. The line of data will be 1 or 2 lines of data with just a lot number and possibly order number. 10-12 characters per line. We would need the system to automatically merge the data which would be generated by our system.

I will take a look at PDF snake.

[tobias]

and where does the data to add to the labels come from?

[BillJ]

It would be generated by the order/workorder sytem on our iSeries Server.