1. Caldera HelpDesk
  2. Caldera PrimeCenter
  3. Process your files
  4. Export files

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Exporting files for printing and cutting

Updated

PrimeCenter allows you to export both print and cut files, which can be submitted to a variety of devices.

 

Access Export settings

Prior to V4 Starting from V4

You can access the export settings of a recipe by clicking  Export settings at the bottom of the generated layouts panel.

Export settings_V4.0.png

PrimeCenter V4.0

 

General options

Prior to V4 Starting from V4

Optimization options_V4.0.png

In Export settings, you can configure optimization options that apply to both print and cut files:

3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png
  • Silent mode: Run the export in the background without displaying anything in the interface.
 
  • Crop to data: Export only areas with content, removing blank spaces to save media.

 

Print file options

Prior to V4.0 V4.0 - V4.7 Starting from V4.7
Export settings_Print files_V4.7.png
PrimeCenter V4.7

The export settings for print files are configurable in the Print files tab of Export settings.

 

2_PrimeCenter-Pro_30px.png  3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png  Automation

Export print files automatically: Automatically generate print files in the output folder when running a recipe in full automatic mode.

 

2_PrimeCenter-Pro_30px.png  3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png  Output folder

Choose a specific folder for print file export, or use the default.

 

Print file name template

Define a naming convention for your exported print files to ensure all files are named consistently. You can use metadata to organize files in folders, maintain proper sorting, or provide information that can be reused by third-party applications.

For more information on extracting metadata from file names, and for a complete list of available metadata with their definitions, see Automating workflow with metadata.

  Info

When print or cut files are generated, special characters \ / : * ? \ " < > | in file names are automatically replaced with _. For example, Nest 1 36" x 18".pdf will be renamed to Nest 1 36_ x 18_.pdf.

 

Printing details

Print cut contours: Enable this option to print cut contours.

 

2_PrimeCenter-Pro_30px.png  3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png  Double-sided printing

When double-sided printing is enabled with the Automatic print file export, choose whether to:

  • Export side A and side B as separate files.
  • Combine side A and side B into a single multipage file.

 

3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png  XML tickets

Export XML job tickets_V4.7.png
PrimeCenter V4.7

 

Generate XML tickets containing metadata for third-party applications. 

XML tickets can be generated for both successfully processed files and failed files. You can configure two separate output folders to differentiate:

  • Success XML tickets
  • Failed XML tickets that help you identify:
    • Files that could not be nested, including the reason.
    • Print and/or cut files that could not be exported to the target directory.

 

Failure behavior

  • If a file is not included in a layout, an XML ticket by image is still generated and includes the triggered error code.
  • If a print and/or cut file is not exported to a folder, an XML ticket by image and/or by layout is still generated and includes the triggered error code.

 

Tracking modes

You can choose one of the following tracking modes:

  • By image: create one XML file per image
  • By layout: create one XML file per layout
  • By both: create XML files for both images and layouts

 

⚠️ Limitations and impact

  • XML tickets by image are generated only when the process is fully automated:
    • Import via a recipe hotfolder or the global hotfolder.
    • Automatic export of print and cut files.
  • XML tickets by image do not include cut file path or driver-related errors. As a result, when tracking by image, images can appear as successful even if a cut error occurred.
  • Tickets by image are written before the cut file generation. They are created when all layouts containing the image have been generated. This means images may be considered finished before the cut file is actually exported.
  • XML tickets by layout are available for both manual and automated processes.

For complete details about XML format, refer to the dedicated XML tickets article.

 

2_PrimeCenter-Pro_30px.png  3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png  PDF report

Generate a report containing layout details and metadata.

  • PDF_Report_Example.pdf
  • Configure a default export folder in Settings.
  • For double-sided printing, side A and side B are reported.

The PDF report is available since PrimeCenter V2.5.

 

Cut file options

Cut file options are available only if a cutter has been configured in Settings and selected in Cutter options within the recipe. Refer to the following articles:

Prior to V4Starting from V4

Cut files tab_V4.0.png

2_PrimeCenter-Pro_30px.png  3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png  Automation

Automatic cut file export: Automatically generate cut files in the output folder when running a recipe in full automatic mode.

This feature is available in the PrimeCenter Pro package starting from V4.0. It was not available in earlier versions.

 

Selected cutter

The cutter assigned to your recipe is displayed here. A shortcut lets you quickly access the cutter configuration in Settings to adjust its parameters if needed.

 

Cut file name template

Define a naming convention for your exported cut files to ensure all files are named consistently. You can use metadata to organize files in folders, maintain proper sorting, or provide information that can be reused by third-party applications.

For more information on extracting metadata from file names, and for a complete list of available metadata with their definitions, see Automating workflow with metadata.

  Info

When print or cut files are generated, special characters \ / : * ? \ " < > | in file names are automatically replaced with _. For example, Nest 1 36" x 18".pdf will be renamed to Nest 1 36_ x 18_.pdf.

 

2_PrimeCenter-Pro_30px.png  3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png  Double-sided printing

When double-sided printing is enabled with the Automatic cut file export, choose whether to generate cut files for:

  • Side A only
  • Side B only
  • Both sides

 

Manual export

Use the following actions to export layouts manually. Actions vary depending on your PrimeCenter package:

Previous versionsV2.6 to V3.3Since V3.4
1_PrimeCenter-Essentials_43px.png 2_PrimeCenter-Pro_30px.png3_PrimeCenter-Max_30px.png
   
Export actions for Essentials package.png Action buttons.PNG

 

Cut

Exports the cut file for the selected layout to the destination associated with the selected cutter. 

Print to...

Prompts you to choose an output folder for exporting the print file of the selected layout.

Print

Export the print file for the selected layout to the output folder configured in the Print file options module.

Print to... & Cut
Prompts you to choose an output folder for exporting the print file for the selected layout.
Exports the cut file of the selected layout to the destination associated with the selected cutter.
Print & Cut
Export the print file for the selected layout to the output folder configured in the Print file options module.
Exports the cut file for the selected layout to the destination associated with the selected cutter.

  Tips & tricks - Output folder management

  • For all packages: you cannot change the output folder for the cut files on the fly. The default folder you configured will be used systematically.
  • For Pro and Max packages: you can change the output folder for the print files on the fly by clicking on the actions that contain the 3 dots "...".
  • Shortcuts: Use predefined shortcuts to speed up these actions.
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