Workflow processes in a Connect Send solution

OL Connect Send (see OL Connect Send) needs one Workflow process to handle the job transfer, and in licensed mode it needs at least one other process to interact with the user. Reports about the use of OL Connect Send might be produced in yet another Workflow process.
Each OL Connect Send solution will require the Workflow processes to be configured differently, but certain plugins will always be part of the solution.

Job transfer process

The Workflow process that handles the job transfer starts with an HTTP Input task. The action name of this HTTP Input task must match the last part of the URL for print job submission set in the printer driver installer (by default: olcs_transfer).
The Job Processor plugin is the only other task in this Workflow process (see Job Processor).

Interactive process

When a job is received in licensed mode, an interactive process is started. This process, which may consist of several Workflow processes, serves web pages to the customer and handles the customer's response, changing (settings for) the print job.
A few of the key components in this process are:

  • The HTTP Server Input plugin. The interactive process start with this plugin. The action name of this HTTP Input task must match the HTTP action for interaction given in the Connect Send Printer Driver installer (by default: olcs_interaction). (See HTTP Server Input.)
  • The Get Job Data plugin. Creating interactive processes for incoming print jobs requires that the relevant information about the respective job is available and can be used in Workflow. This is what the OL Connect Send Get Job Data plugin is made for. (See Get Job Data.)
  • The Create Web Content plugin. Each web page served by an interaction process is generated by this plugin. (See Create Web Content.)
  • The Create Preview PDF plugin generates a PDF preview for a single record as fast as possible. It is typically used for previews embedded in web pages. (See Create Preview PDF.)

Production report process

The key plugin in a process that produces reports about jobs received with OL Connect Send is the Get Data plugin. It allows to query the OL Connect Send database. (See Get Data.)

Sample project

The Ad Hoc Mail Consolidation sample project may help you understand the Workflow processes for OL Connect Send and configure your own.

  • Watch the sample in action on demo.objectiflune.com. Under Ad Hoc Mail Consolidation, click Demo and follow the instructions. (If you have already installed the printer driver, you don't have to do that again.) Add a Connect Send printer with the given settings and print the provided Word file to that printer. The printer will trigger an interactive process on demo.objectiflune.com.
  • Download the sample files from OL's Resource Center: https://help.objectiflune.com/en/#csend.