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Author Topic: Naming of Print Output File  (Read 15656 times)
Larry Kaufman
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« on: October 19, 2019, 12:22:57 AM »

I have printers with internal hard drives that can store and reprint print jobs from their control panel.
Currently, it is difficult to tell one job from another based on the default Qimage naming convention.

Several options could be workable:
1. Use the name of the first image placed
2. Prompt for a unique name

Thanks for the consideration.
Larry

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Fred A
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« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2019, 08:46:46 AM »

Quote
I have printers with internal hard drives that can store and reprint print jobs from their control panel.
Currently, it is difficult to tell one job from another based on the default Qimage naming convention.

Several options could be workable:
1. Use the name of the first image placed
2. Prompt for a unique name

Thanks for the consideration.
Larry

Larry,
Not positive as to what you are looking for, BUT, I think you can do what you want using AUTO RENAME from the right click menu of the thumbs.
This is extremely versatile.  See screen snap attached. 
You can type in the even (as I did) and the images will be named Larry's Trip 001, 002, 003, etc depending the dot position.
You can also use Preset headings.
Hope this helps
Fred
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Larry Kaufman
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« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2019, 11:08:48 AM »

Hi Fred,

Thanks for the reply, but that's not quite it. It's naming of the printer spool file I am after.
For example, I just printed an image and the spooled filename displayed on the control panel of my printer is:  "QIMAGE - 2019-10-19 03.58.21"

I would like this name to be more meaningful in terms of the actual image. In my case, this file can be held in the printer's hard drive and recalled to make reprints
Currently, I have to manage a little reference table that says what the print actually is.

Thanks,
Larry
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admin
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« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2019, 07:36:01 PM »

Larry,

Didn't know if you were aware: the name of the job in the spooler is the same as the name of the job that is saved in the automated job log.  If the spool name is "QIMAGE - 2019-10-19 03.58.21" for example, you can click "Open automated job log" in Qimage and open the "2019-10-19 03.58.21" job and reprint from Qimage.  Should be easier than dealing with reprints from a printer's control panel.  You can even do it visually from within Qimage since I'm sure you'll want to know what you are printing.  For example, use Qimage's thumbnail browser and locate the image you want to reprint.  Right click on that thumbnail and select "Show Printed Jobs".  All jobs where that image was printed will appear and you can select the job you want to reprint.

There are numerous problems with naming a job by an image, not the least of which is the fact that you could have printed 20 photos in that job and it likely won't be very useful to only list the first, particularly when the above methods should be far better than trying to reprint from a printer's hard drive.  Simply put, Qimage has far better functionality for reprints than your printer does.

Regards,
Mike
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Larry Kaufman
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« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2019, 10:55:05 PM »

O.K. Mike, we can disagree on the subject and I am aware of Qimage's job logging capabilities. I have probably been using your software for at least 15 years.
There are scenarios where resending from software indeed works better than initiating from the printer's hard drive and a similar number of cases for the opposite.

I'll give one for the opposite: In a production environment where specific reprints are consistently needed, it is far easier to have a floor operator requeue from the hard drive and not require access to a computer.
We do this now by a meaningful filename, just not with Qimage.

Again just "wish" on my part as I think Qimage's overall capabilities are excellent.

Best,
Larry


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« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2019, 03:08:00 AM »

How are you naming them now?  Do you typically use the file name of the first image or do you have your own names?  Also, curious how many times you get the wrong reprint... because you can't really see what you are doing?  I'm not necessarily talking about the wrong image, but I could see where you print several of the same image on different papers, or you print one and decide it needs a little more sharpening and print it again.  I could see adding a feature like this but it'd help me to know the details of how you are using it.  That way I can avoid adding unnecessary options.

Mike
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Larry Kaufman
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« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2019, 12:24:34 PM »

Hi Mike,

The majority of Limited Edition Prints are single image files sent from PhotoShop (which I truly would like to eliminate for use in printing), which uses the originating filename.

All applications and RIPS we use that batch multiple prints into a single print file act like QImage, so we use the given output name with a manual cross-reference table
We go this route for full-bleed borderless Posters since repeating them in the same print file eliminates media waste between the individual posters

The printer itself is "smart" enough to know if there is a mismatch between what media is loaded and what media is requested by the print job.
It will prompt for the user to change it, proceed or cancel.

If my printer weren't smart I would just add the media type to the end of the Job name, for example, LimitedEditon123_Baryta

Best,
Larry

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« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2019, 02:55:10 PM »

Here's what I'm thinking.  QU already gives the option to name your own jobs: Edit, Preferences, Job Logging, Job File Naming, and allows you to set it to manual.  Right now, it asks for the job file name after the printing is complete so the spooler name is still date/time based.  I could change that so it asks you for the job name before printing begins and it could name the spool file and the job file the same name.  Originally, it was done at the end of the print processing to ensure you didn't cancel the job, but I see no reason not to allow you to name it beforehand.  Would this help?

Regards,
Mike
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Larry Kaufman
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« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2019, 04:37:38 PM »

That would be perfect, perhaps as a preference, Job Naming Before Print: 0n/0ff

Thank you!
Larry
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Pedro
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« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2019, 09:12:31 PM »

Hello!
This is exactly what I'm also looking for.
I have been using your excellent software for many years, but just for printing.
I have a professional print studio and print on Canon ImagePROGRAF Pro-4000 and mostly on Canson Fine Art papers on rolls.
OK your Automated Job Log is quite good for some cases but the Canon Accounting Manager gives me much more information.
In Canon Accounting Manager only "Qimage - Date Time" is displayed, NOT so useful for me. I would rather have the last row in your .job-file displayed.
Like 1,D:\Photo\PrintJob\ArtistName\2019-10_exhibition\_DSC3109.psd,430.2,600.0.
Then I could easily connect/track the print job for billing.
Of course I could use your Job File Naming but I rather would have it done automatically.
Perhaps a function where you could choose what to use in the naming.
Best Regards,
Peter Olausson, Sweden
osterlenfoto.se

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« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2019, 05:49:39 PM »

This feature will be in 2020.102 when it is released.  Switch to manual job naming and you can name your job when you click print (before the job is processed) and that name will be used in the Windows job queue.  There are two quick buttons on the naming dialog that let you pick the name of the first image or the current date/time.  Note that you cannot use special characters so for image name: for example, IMG_4791.jpg will be used (name only).  You cannot enter an entire path such as C:\photos\2019\IMG_4791.jpg because the name has to conform to filename format and cannot contain a path or other special characters.

Regards,
Mike
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Pedro
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« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2019, 11:20:46 PM »

Great!
I'm looking forward to next version.
Best Regards,
Peter
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Larry Kaufman
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« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2019, 10:55:05 AM »

Thank you Mike, I am looking forward to the release!

Best,
Larry
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« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2019, 12:10:08 AM »

v2020.102 was just released and has the manual job naming (before clicking print).

Regards,
Mike
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Larry Kaufman
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« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2019, 01:08:34 PM »

Hi Mike,

This works well, Thank you for implementing it.

As I use the Hotfolders it would be nice to have one additional automatic preference.

Automatic (name using date and time)
Automatic (name using first placed image name)
Manual (prompt me each time I print)

Thanks for the consideration,
Larry
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