The EFI Fiery JDF Connector is a complimentary add-on solution to the Fiery that runs on a separate PC and allows Fierys to be integrated into a JDF workflow. This connector enables bi-directional JDF device connectivity between JDF applications (e.g., EFI Print MIS solutions) submitting JDF intent or JDF process job tickets via JDF’s Job Messaging Format (JMF) and Fierys.

JDF stands for Job Definition Format and is a comprehensive public standard supported by EFI™ and over 200 other graphic arts companies in CIP4. CIP4 is a collaboration of 14 partner members, which EFI is a part of, that develops standards for JDF. JDF employs Extensible Markup Language (XML), a descriptive computer language that is used by leading software developers worldwide to exchange data between systems.

Below are a few key terms. You may find many more at: www.cip4.org/overview/glossary.html.

• Job Definition Format (JDF)
• Job Messaging Format (JMF)
• Multi-Purpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME)
• Management Information System (MIS)
• Extensible Markup Language (XML)

Through the EFI Fiery JDF Connector, Fierys can now be part of a JDF workflow by providing automatic conversion and a user interface to specify anything missing the Fiery needs to process a job. Enabling JDF on a Fiery yields several benefits including:

• Reducing manually entering and re-entering of meta-data.
• Automating data collection (e.g., time and materials) and allowing much more detailed data collection than is feasible in a manual system.
• Allowing customer intent job description specification to truly be independent of the actual production process.
• Programmatically specifying the customer-supplied files to reduce the risk of operator errors printing the wrong file or file version.
• Allowing automatic, unattended processing of jobs generated by state-of-the-art front end systems, such as EFI Digital StoreFront™ or Adobe Acrobat 7 or 8 Professional ’s JDF job submission.

Information that is exchanged between solutions is dependent on the creator of the data. When a job is initially created in an MIS, the MIS sends it to the EFI Fiery JDF Connector as much job detail as can be defined. This information includes job numbers, job IDs, job descriptions, media and quantities. When a job is manufactured through the Fiery, the EFI Fiery JDF Connector returns status and costing information to the MIS.

The current release of the EFI Fiery JDF Connector is validated with EFI Print MIS solutions, Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 and 8.0 Professional and Canon® imageWARE® Prepress Manager.

The EFI Fiery JDF Connector is designed as a client-server solution. The server module which is a stand-alone application handles the bi-directional exchange of information between Fierys and supported applications such as EFI Print MIS systems via JMF. One server module can handle a minimum of four EFI print servers and four simultaneous connected remote client user interfaces. The client part of the EFI Fiery JDF Connector is a stand-alone application which provides the user interface to the server module in order to manage jobs and administrate the server module.

The PC should have at minimum a 1 GHz processor with a minimum of 512 RAM and a 40 GB hard drive and running Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2. Click here for more information

The solution currently has not been developed for the Macintosh® environment at this time. EFI is evaluating the requirement for this as we move forward.

EFI is currently focusing on the production-level Fiery products. Click here for a complete list of supported Fierys.

The EFI Fiery JDF Connector is available for registered users at www.efi.com/support/download-software.asp. Users need to install the software on a Windows®-based PC located on the network.

EFI provides primary support for its EFI Fiery® JDF Connectors through its Print MIS support staff. New users are required to purchase an EFI Print MIS maintenance plan.

Customers with a current support and maintenance contracts for their EFI Print MIS solutions can submit their requests via the Web by visiting: http://www.efi.com/support/production/fiery/other/jdf-connector/
registration-forms.asp.

Customers with older Print MIS solutions need to upgrade to the most recent product version of EFI Hagen™ OA, EFI Logic™ and EFI PrintSmith®. These users also need to purchase an additional EFI Print MIS maintenance plan.

Customers using Fiery JDF Connector in conjunction with third party applications should contact the third party application manufacturer for Fiery JDF Connector supportability.

www.cip4.org

Fiery JDF Connector