QuickStartTour – How does AutoPilot XT drive MadeToPrint XT

AutoPilot XT-compliant products

MadeToPrint XT (+FontIncluder2), Airbag XT, Assign XT, Import/Export XT for QPS, TagIt XT (all callas software), LinkUP! (MCResearch), PDF Design XT (TechnoDesign), theBundler (CompuSense), PlanSystem (Van GennepM.A.C.) and AppleScripts.

Installing AutoPilot XT AutoPilot XT works with System 8.x or 9.x, QuarkXPress
3.3x or 4.x, LaserWriter 7.x or 8.x, and a PostScript printer. Copy the XTension AutoPilot XT into the XTension folder inside your QuarkXPress folder. This guide assumes that you have already set up at least three MadeToPrint XT print jobs.

Setting up an AutoPilot XT Job (simple hot folders)

The pipelines into which you feed your documents are in fact hot folders which are scanned by AutoPilot XT (nonQPS mode). Create the IN, OUT and ERROR folders on your desktop. Launch QuarkXPress.
• Under Utilities menu select AutoPilot...
• Click on the New button to create a new AutoPilot job.
• Call your job Simple Job.
• Select the Watched Folder radio button. Click on Choose... to select your IN folder for the new job. Don’t forget to copy some QuarkXPress documents or aliases into this folder so that AutoPilot XT has files to process.
• Ensure the Open file radio button is selected.
• Check the Keep doc settings option.

You now need to create an action for AutoPilot.
• Click on New in the Action List dialog.
• Define the action type as an XTension.
• A new dialog appears. Select MadeToPrint XT from the XTension pop-up menu.
• Select process set of print jobs from the Command popup menu
• Select My First Attempt in the third but last Parameter pop-up menu.

Epilogue section of AutoPilot dialog:
• Select your OUT folder by hitting Choose button and
• Select your ERROR folder by hitting Choose button
• Hit the OK button to exit this dialog box.

Before running this job let’s check out the AutoPilot XT preferences. Enter a value for the options below:
• Scan IN folder every 10 seconds
• Switch between publications/folders every 5 minutes
• Warn if free space is less than 20 %
• Check free space every 3 minutes
• Check the Do not nest error folders option
• Minimize document windows
• Ignore Write logfile to QPS error field radio button
• Finally select a location for the logfile .

Congratulations, you’ve set up your first AutoPilot XT job! Now click Start to see AutoPilot XT at work.

Setting up AutoPilot job (sophisticated hot folders)

This time the hot folders are more sophisticated. Create the IN, OUT and ERROR folders as before. But now you must create sub-folders within the IN folder which have the exact name as your MadeToPrint XT job definitions.
• Under Utilities menu select AutoPilot...
• Click the New button to create a new AutoPilot job.
• Name your job More sophisticated job.
• Select the Watched Folder radio button. Then click on choose to select your IN folder for the new job.

Don’t forget: place some documents in every sub-folder so that your AutoPilot test can work.

• Check the Watch nested folders option. This ensures that it scans the sub folders of your IN folder.

This is the great unique feature of AutoPilot XT. You only need one AutoPilot XT job to automate the processing of multiple MadeToPrint XT jobs because the sub folder name acts as a parameter.
• Ensure the Open file radio button is selected.
• Check the Keep doc settings option.

You now need to create an action for AutoPilot XT.
• Click on New in the Action List dialog.
• Define the action type as an XTension.
• A new dialog appears. Select MadeToPrint XT from the XTension pop-up menu.
• Select process set of print jobs from the Command pop-up menu and
• Select Name of sub-folder in the third but last parameter pop-up menu.

Epilogue section of AutoPilot dialog:
• Select your OUT folder by hitting choose button and AutoPilot XT will automatically create corresponding sub folders within the OUT folder
• Select your ERROR folder by hitting Choose button
• Hit the OK button to exit this dialog box.

Keep the preferences as before. Finally hit Start AutoPilot XT… to start your pre-press factory!