Create!form Folder Monitor. Technical Note April 1, 2008

Transcription

1 Create!form Folder Monitor Technical Note April 1, 2008

2 2 FOLDERMONITOR Introduction Introduction FolderMonitor is a utility designed to automatically send spool files to printer queues at set schedules, with the option of adding headers for subsequent processing by other applications. FolderMonitor runs as a service and is operated through a familiar Graphical User Interface common to service programs.

3 FOLDERMONITOR Define Windows Identity 3 Define Windows Identity Because FolderMonitor runs as a service, it is possible to log off the machine and have the service continue to perform its functions. FolderMonitor does this by impersonating a Windows user with an account that has the appropriate user permissions. It is essential that the user account specified has the required permissions to read and write to specified dictionaries and queues. In the Windows services applet the service should be logged on with a local account allowing interaction with the desktop.

4 4 FOLDERMONITOR FolderMonitor gives the user the ability to nominate a number of watched directories, each individually configured to process certain files at certain times. By either double clicking on the instruction row, or by selecting it and pressing Edit, the configuration process is initiated. To add further instruction rows press Add and repeat the above step. To remove any instruction row select it and press Remove.

5 FOLDERMONITOR 5 Define Folder The first step is to configure which directory is to be watched. From the Folder tab, either type the path to the directory or Browse to the directory. Enter a description that identifies the instruction and its function, as indicated in the image above. If the Save processed file check box is left unchecked the spool file that is put into the Watch directory will be removed after it is processed. If it is checked a save directory will be created under the specified Watch directory and the spool file will be moved there after processing.

6 6 FOLDERMONITOR Define File Types The File types tab specifies the types of files that are to be processed. Either type a file extension, or use the Browse button to identify a file of the same type. Press the Add button to add the extension to the list. More than one file type can be specified to be included. To remove any of the extensions from the list select it and press Delete. Define Destinations The Destinations tab specifies which printer queues to send the spool file to and whether to add a header to files going to that queue. If required a form

7 FOLDERMONITOR 7 project can also be specified (if not done so in the header file already), to be used for subsequent merging of the spool file with that form project. Select the printer queue from the drop down list and press Add to add it to the list. Header files are stored in the Header directory and must have the extension.hdr. The Header Directory is located in the FolderMonitor install directory. All files with the.hdr extension will be listed. Select one to associate with the printer queue selected. If necessary use the Browse button to locate the appropriate form project, or type in a form project to use. Define Schedule The Schedule tab is used to configure how often the processing takes place. This can be set up to happen immediately, once every specified period or to occur at a set time. This tab also allows for the setting of disk space full warnings and management. Once satisfied with all the settings press Apply and OK to exit the configuration GUI.

8 8 FOLDERMONITOR The instruction configured will appear as an instruction row. Press OK to exit configuration mode.

9 FOLDERMONITOR Configure Log Files 9 Configure Log Files Log files are configured from the Administration menu option Log file settings. While the service is running, this option will be inactive (greyed out). It will be necessary to stop the service from within the Windows services applet to activate this selection.

10 10 FOLDERMONITOR View Log Files View Log Files To view the log files select the View menu option. Select either the Folder Monitor error log file or the Service log file. The Folder Monitor error log file reports specifically on FolderMonitor errors. Failed jobs are stored and can either be sent for reprocessing (once the cause of the error has been rectified) or deleted.

11 FOLDERMONITOR Manage Log Files 11 Manage Log Files Select the Server menu option. This menu option gives the ability to pause and resume FolderMonitor. This functionality is also available through the buttons located on the tool bar. When processing occurs it will be visible in the window of the FolderMonitor GUI. Once processing is complete the message will be removed.