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How to set up HotFolders in dedicated tabs and workflows?

Updated September 30, 2024 15:26

When a Workflow is configured, the printer output settings are configured and can be connected to a HotFolder.

This means that when a file is placed in the HotFolder, it is automatically imported into CalderaRIP and then sent to the specified printer with the preconfigured parameters assigned in the Workflow.

A basic example of how to set this up is shown below.

(Optional) Step 1: Create the desired tab

Info

It is not necessary to create a new tab for each Hotfolder, but if you choose to do so, this would be the process. If you do not wish to use multiple tabs, simply skip this step.

You can create and associate a tab for each Hotfolder by right-clicking on the top of the preview pane and choosing New Tab:
Give the new tab a descriptive name that makes sense to you. Here, a new "Example_Tab" was created:

Step 2: Create the Workflow

Good to know

You can choose to use QuickPrints instead of using Workflows. Both QuickPrints and Workflows can be used to set up various printer-specific settings and both methods work fine.
However, in general, QuickPrints have become the preferred method over using Workflows.

Open the Workflow editor in CalderaRIP.
Click on the New button and give the new Workflow a descriptive name that makes sense to you. Here an "Example_Workflow" was created:
Click and hold on the icon of the printer you want to use. Then, drag and drop the printer icon on an open slot in the Workflow Editor. Here, the CalderaJet printer was dropped:
Configure the printer-specific settings you want to use for the printer in this workflow by double-clicking the printer icon in the Workflow.
The print module will open up. You can set the Media and also the Page settings as you would for any other print job. Once done, save the settings by clicking the Print button:
To indicate that the printer settings were saved, the gear next to the printer icon will start to turn. Click on the Quit button to exit the Workflow editor:
If needed, Workflows can also be configured to delete files after they are processed.

Step 3: Create the Hotfolder and connect it to the Workflow / Tab

In CalderaRIP, go to Special (or Configuration in recent versions) > Hot Folders:
You can either edit an existing Hotfolder or create a new one. To create a new hot folder click on the New button and give the new HotFolder a descriptive name that makes sense to you:
Connect the Workflow to the new Hotfolder by clicking on the ellipsis button [ ]. Then, expand the plus + next to Caldera, expand the plus + next to Workflows, and select the Workflow name you want to connect to the Hotfolder.
Here, we connected the "Example_Workflow" that we created earlier to the new "Example_Hotfolder". Click on the OK button:
(Optional) If you decided before to create new tabs for each Hotfolder, you can connect to them by clicking the dropdown next to the Tab option and selecting the tab you want to connect to the Hotfolder and Workflow.
If you don't want to make use of a specific tab, just leave this setting as it currently is. Here we selected the "Example_tab" that was created earlier:
(Optional) Hotfolders can also be configured to delete files after processing by selecting the option next to “Post-processing”. Learn more.
Choose the directory/folder from where the files should be imported.
Click on the OK button when done and you will see the new Hotfolder in the window:

In this example, files dropped into the "Example_hotfolder" will now automatically import into the "Example_tab" and then be sent to the printer as specified in the "Example_Workflow".
Click on Quit: