Branch

A Branch duplicates your job file along with accompanying information. Branches do not execute in parallel - the branch is executed, and then the trunk (or the following branch) continues.

For more information about branching see About branches and conditions.

Task properties

Backup Tab

• Backup job file: Select if you want PReS Workflow to use identical copies of the job file for the main and secondary branches. When this option is not selected, the file generated by the output task located at the end of the secondary branch is used as the job file for the main branch. Note that if the secondary branch ends with a Delete output task, the main branch will receive the job file in the state it was just before the delete. If the secondary branch includes a splitter task, the main branch will receive the last part of the job file (as split by the splitter task). If the secondary branch ends with a PReS Fax or PReS Image output task, the main branch will receive a PostScript file.
• Backup job information: Select if you want PReS Workflow to use identical copies of the job file information for the main and secondary branches. When this option is not selected, the job file information that reaches the output task located at the end of the secondary branch is used for the main branch. Any modification performed on the secondary branch thus has an impact on the main branch.
• Backup emulation: Select if you want PReS Workflow to use the emulation selected when the job file reaches the secondary branch for the main branch as well. When this option is not selected, the emulation selected when the job file reaches the output task located at the end of the secondary branch is used for the main branch. If the secondary branch includes a secondary input task or a Change Emulation action task, then the last emulation selected in the secondary branch will be the one used for the main branch.
• Backup local variables: Select if you want PReS Workflow to use identical copies of the local variables for the main and secondary branches. When this option is not selected, the local variables that reach the output task located at the end of the secondary branch are used for the main branch. Any modification performed on the secondary branch thus has an impact on the main branch.

In case of the failure of a Branch task (the branch itself, not the other tasks contained within), by default the process will ignore the branch and simply go down the main trunk. You can overwrite this in the On Error tab.

On Error Tab

For a description of the options on the On Error tab see Using the On Error tab.

Miscellaneous Tab

The Miscellaneous tab is common to all tasks.

It contains a text area (Task comments) that lets you write comments about the task. These comments are saved when the dialog is closed with the OK button and are displayed in The Task Comments Pane.

Check the option Use as step description to display the text next to the icon of the plugin in the Process area.

The tab also provides an option to highlight the task in The Process area with the default color, set in the Preferences (see Colors), or the color selected or defined under Highlight color on this tab.
To revert the selected highlight color to the default color, open this tab, turn the Highlight option off and close the dialog with the OK button; then turn highlighting back on.
Highlighting can also be turned on and off via the task's contextual menu and with the Highlight button on the View ribbon.