Merging Address Data Onto a PDF Newsletter - Canon iR105

[Guest]

I'm doing some research trying to find a way to efficiently print 1600+ copies of a newsletter in Adobe PDF format (from InDesign) while merging address data onto the last page.

Will the imagePass M1 or imagePass M2 controller help us do this?

Our address information is stored in MS Access but, as a developer, I can output it to any common format.

I think I've found a way I can do this using pdftk on a client workstation. It would require that we spool up 1600+ print jobs to the printer which is what I'm trying to avoid. I haven't done any testing but I'm assuming this would be very inefficient. The way we currently do this is we print 1600+ copies of the same document and then put address labels on each copy.

[Hemlock]

Edit: Ignore this, go with Mark's suggestion.

[mark921]

If you have an M1 or M2, try this: create a pdf of the newsletter without the variable info. this file can be set up as a master in "freeform" through command workstation. Then, take the variable data and run it through a program such as fusion, which can extract the data, placed exactly where it needs to be in relationship to the body of the newsletter. This will be a multi page file, but very small as it contains no graphics...or any part of the newsletter. Now, when you print this file, go back to freeform, and assign the master you just created using the newsletter. The result is merging the the data and newsletter at the rip with no sacrifice of speed, as it only rips the newsletter once. Works great!

[AycheKay]

Mark921, I like the looks of your solution but I need a few more details if possible. We don't actually have an M1 or M2 yet but we do plan to get one.

What do you mean "master in 'freeform' through command workstation."? Do we do something special to designate the file a master? What is freeform? And what do you mean by "command workstation"? Is this something we have to do in the Adobe software?

Will the entire thing become one continuous print job? We are doing finishing too, stapling and folding and we can't lose that functionality by creating a huge, single print job of 1600 copies multiplied by 16 pages. That would be a 25,600 page print job.

[charm5496]

free form = variable data which will be your last page that will chage.
master = your newsletter portion of the print job that will be the same for all 1600 books you are printing.
This is all done through the command workstation and you can google a user guide to read up on it.

When going from internal print to and M2 (do not waste your money on an M1) on the IR-8500 you are going to need a 'C' boot rom and have the firmware rewritten on the 8500 as well. If you are not tech savy pay a tech to come out and install this for you.

[AycheKay]

charm5496,

Thanks for your response. Is "command workstation" a general term referring to the workstation we're using to print the document from? Is it something on the M2 controller? Is it software or hardware or drivers?

BTW, we don't have an IR-8500. We've got an iR105.

[charm5496]

8500 and 105 are the same procedure.
command workstation is a software program that you load on a PC to manage your print jobs on the device. You can download this from fiery website and load it up whenever you lilke.
Also you are going to have to change your print driver after switching over to the M2

[AycheKay]

Thanks for all the great information. What type or kind of drivers will we be using when we switch to the M2? Are the drivers something we need to buy or are they free or do they come with the controller or Fiery Command Workstation software?

[mark921]

Command Workstation is software (a graphical interface, if you will) resident on the PC or network which connects to the rip. Think of it as the controller for the rip, which allows you provide specific printing instructions for each file...ie, numbers of copies, finishing options (if you have a finisher), image quality settings, and in your case, freeform options. You will need a fiery rip for this software however.

[AycheKay]

Also, here's something else I hadn't thought about yet.

The address data needs to go on the last page of the newsletter, which is the same piece of paper as the first page. I think this newsletter has 16 or 20 pages equating to about 4 actual pieces of paper.

The address is printed upside down in relation to the rest of the PDF/layout. Do you know if this is possible?

[mark921]

It is. the data file has to mirror the number of pages as the master file. This is easily done with fusionpro, or any type of mail merge software.