HP Latex and Stitch S1000: How to enable JDF/JMF to display printer info in CalderaRIP?

This article will help you configure your HP Latex or Stitch S1000 printer using the JDF/JMF formats for seamless productions with CalderaRIP.

Understanding JDF/JMF

The Job Definition Format (JDF) is an industry-standard designed to simplify information exchange between various applications and systems within the graphic arts industry. According to CIP4, "The JDF specification is the master document for system integration and product description. JDF is a comprehensive XML-based file format and proposed industry standard for end-to-end job ticket specifications combined with a message description standard and message interchange protocol."

JDF is an extensible format that defines both JDF files and JMF (Job Messaging Format), which is based on XML over HTTP. In practice, JDF-enabled products can communicate with each other by exchanging JDF files—typically via "hot folders" or over the network—or by exchanging JMF messages over the network (Wikipedia).

CalderaRIP and some HP printers communicate via JDF/JMF, allowing for the display of printer status, job status, media consumption, and ink usage. For example, the CostProof and CostView [Deprecated since V16.3] features are supported with the action "Print" and JDF enabled.

Prerequisites

• The printer must have the latest firmware installed. For the HP Latex 3X00, the firmware must be at least the HPLatex3000_7_04_05.1.
• The HP productivity software must be installed on the Intelligent Print Server (IPS).

Configuring JDF/JMF in CalderaRIP and the IPS

1. Configure the connection in CalderaRIP. 
   • Open the ServerAdmin module and configure your printer driver (1):
     • In the Connection tab (2), enter the IP Address of the printer itself and the IPS URL (3), which is the exact URL from the HP controller, called "JMF connection URL":
       
       

         Info

       To obtain the URL for the JMF Connection, navigate to the HP controller interface and go to Tools > Preferences > General. The URL is located in the lower section, as illustrated in the previous image. If there's no URL specified, please contact HP's support.

2. Restart CalderaRIP: After entering the information, restart CalderaRIP to apply the changes.
3. (Optional) Verify Synchronization: To check if you can synchronize your printer with CalderaRIP, click on the Printer Settings (the wrench icon in the Print Module) and go to the Status tab.
   • If everything is correctly configured, the status will show the printer status with no related errors.

Benefits of Enabling JDF

Once the JDF interface is activated, CalderaRIP will provide the following information:

• Printer Status: Accessible via Print module > Settings (Wrench icon) > Status tab.
• Job Status: Viewable in the live Spooler.
• Ink and Media Usage: Available under the CostProof tab in the Spooler.
• Notifications: Displayed in a pop-up window when the driver is active.

If you encounter any issues, please refer to these other articles:

• Adding an IPS Hostname in the Hosts File on Linux for JDF/JMF Setup
• Common troubleshooting for JDF/JMF Printers