Queue Setup
Queue Properties
Select the queue to change by highlighting it. Update the queue settings in the Properties Bar on the right side of the FTSpooler Window.
Filters Tab
Filters modify the input and output files, and the modified file MUST be returned to the Spooler. You may use either standard filters supplied with your Spooler or programs written in most computer languages, including Visual Basic. Most input files are passed through a local language to UTF-8 filter (commonly Western filter) and filters may be used on output to invoke special commands such as stapling on printers supporting those features. You may include your own programs as filters.
Note: FTLabelPrint should be invoked as an Application, NOT as a filter as it does not return a modified file to the Spooler.
External input filters deal with data that enters FTSpooler from external sources. The primary objective of these filters is character set normalization – conversion of input data to UTF-8 encoding. It is strongly recommended that every queue receiving original inputfrom your application has a relevant filter. For users of English speaking (and other Roman language) countries use the “Western” filter. Other filters such as "Simplified Chinese" are also available for the customers using different languages. Among the other standard filters are: PCL5 escape filter, AS400 filter and filter to convert single carriage returns to line feeds.
Additional "language to UTF-8" filters are added to FormTrap as required, you may ask for additional filters from support@formtrap.com .
Pre identification filters (rarely required for Version 7 formatting) are invoked on all data before the identification step. The primary objective of these filters is to normalize the data itself so it can be identified and formatted. There are no common types of these filters – they are usually developed on per-customer basis to solve specific problems and tailor the system for your requirements.
More information on the Replace filter
Post formatting filters provide access to FormTrap output (for example to add documents such as product data sheets to the FormTrap document, or insertion of stapling commands for printers). The output file (PCL or PCLXL (PCL6) or PostScript) is still to be delivered, so now incorporates any modified information.
Associated file (data elements) filters access the associated data file. The reasons to have associated file filters include lookup of e-mail addresses for SMTP, adding properties using external database, etc. There are a few associated filters provided by default:
- Assoc_add – adds name=value pair to the end of associated file
- Assoc_name_replace – replaces existing name with another name
- Assoc_order – suppresses values of multiple identical names leaving only the first of the identical names
Use Setup (top level menu) and Filters to see detailed descriptions of the filters.
There are a number of pre-defined filters available in FTSpooler, or you can use your own customized program. Left click Add/Remove Filter to pop up a list of pre-built input Filters.
More information on Define filters
Click the Apply button to save the changes.
