How to archive and restore jobs and printers with CalderaJobs?

This article covers the types of data that can be included in your archive, as well as what cannot be saved. It also covers job and printer archiving, along with the restoration process.

What data is archived with my jobs?

CalderaJobs' key feature allows users to reprint jobs after extended periods while maintaining a clean and efficient Spooler and your hard drive. It also archives important data that is not frequently accessed but must be retained for future use or compliance.

Archived jobs, known as caljobs, remain readily accessible and can be stored on lower-cost storage tiers, reducing primary storage usage and costs. 

To identify what is stored in the archive, check the name of the archived file: NamePrintServerDriver_JobDate_JobID_jobExportType_jobName.caljob

The "jobExportType" part indicates the content stored in the archive:

Jobs archive settings

The Job Settings allow you to select what will be saved in your archive files. The settings are valid for all your printers:

• Include ripped files in the archive. The ripped file is the processed file sent to your printer. Check the box if you want to include them in your archives.

    Info

  When the source file and the RIP file are included in the archive, the size of your archive is then around 50 kB. Also, for this setting to work, you must check the "Keep Ripped file" option in the Print Module:
  

• Include source files in the archive. The source file is the image uploaded into Fileman. Check the box if you want to include them in your archives. If the image is not available in the ImageBar, it will not be included in the archive (even if the box is checked).

Considerations and limitations

• Profiles: The ICC profiles used are not saved. Indeed, your current profile is likely to be more accurate.
• Cut files: Cut files cannot be archived.
• Multilayer files: Multilayer files cannot be archived.
• Nest files: The only way to save source files is to save the children's jobs. If your nest jobs with a grand printer, for example, the archive will only save the configuration file.
• Compose files: A Compose archive will not save the source images.

Archive one or several jobs

1. Get the latest version of Caldera's toolbox, CalderaDock, from the main dashboard of WorkSpace.
   • Install it (Need help with this? Click here).
   • Open it.
2. In the Home or Applications tab, navigate to the modules area. Click on "Install" or "Launch" CalderaJobs.

     Info

   After installing CalderaJobs, you can launch the application either from CalderaDock or directly from your computer's applications, as it operates as a standalone application.

   
3. Click Start on the appropriate printer to launch this print server:
   
4. Select the job to archive in the Jobs panel and right-click it. Then, you will be able to click the Archive button:
   
   
   • Use the Control or Command key if you want to archive several jobs at the same time.
   • For a single job, you can also right-click the Archive button located in the Job details area (right part of the window).
5. In the window that appears, select where to store your job archives and click OK.

     Info

   One archive will be done independently for each job.

   
6. During the archiving, a progress bar is used to show how far along you are in the process:
   
7. At the end, a green banner confirms that the selected jobs have been archived successfully. The archive is now saved in the location you have chosen.

     Warning

   Do not change the file name and its extension; the archive would become unusable!

   

Archive one printer

1. Open CalderaJobs.
2. Click Start on the appropriate printer to launch this print server:
   
3. As soon as your printer has jobs to archive, you can click the Archive button. If your printer is not available or if there are no jobs to archive, the button is dimmed and can not be clicked.
   • In our example, we archived the 6 jobs of the CalderaJet printer, but none of the CalderaJet2 and CalderaJet3:
     
     
     
   • Blocked jobs (red indicator) as well as pending jobs (blue indicator) can not be archived:
     
     
     
4. In the window that appears, select where to store your job archives and click OK. Please note that one archive will be done independently for each job:
   
   
   
5. During the archiving, a progress bar is used to show how far along you are in the process:
   
   
   
6. At the end, a green banner confirms that the selected jobs have been archived successfully. The archive is now saved in the location you have chosen.

     Warning

   Do not change the file name and its extension; the archive would become unusable!

   

Archive all printers

1. Open CalderaJobs.
2. Then, click Archive all:
   
   
3. In the window that appears, select where to store your job archives and click OK.

     Info

   One archive will be done independently for each job.

   
4. A green banner confirms that the jobs have been archived successfully. In the Spooler, jobs have disappeared. The archive has been saved in the location you have chosen.

     Warning

   Do not change the file name and its extension; the archive would become unusable!

   

Import one or several archives

1. First, make sure the .caljob files (archive files) are available: 
   
2. Then, open CalderaJobs.
3. Click the Import Jobs button:
   
4. Use the file browser to select where your job archives are stored. You can either choose to import only one job or multiple jobs. Click the Open button:
   
5. A bar indicates the progress of the import. Import jobs are proceeding one after the other:
   
6. Now, open the Spooler. The imported job appears in the Green queue with the exact state as before being archived.
7. By clicking the "Open log..." button (accessible by right-clicking the printer icon), you can view the printer log, which shows the exported jobs.
8. You can now perform a reprint (only if the RIP file was included in the archive) or reopen your imported job like any other job in the Spooler.
9. When reopening the job, if you have chosen to import the source file and if your job image is no longer in the ImageBar, you can see the following pop-up, offering you to reload the image:
   
10. The image is then automatically added to the Print Module like any other reopened job.