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Table Of Contents
5.1 Key Concepts
To capture data files, you should understand the following key concepts:
Sample Data File (Page 47)
Spool File (Page 47)
Data Capture Tool (Page 47)
5.1.1 Sample Data File
What is a sample data file?
The sample data file is a text file that contains a representative sample of the input data destined for the
document, as that input data arrives at a printer or a PlanetPress Watch/Server process.
The following are the two criteria for a reliable sample data file:
1. It includes all possible variations on the data that the document may encounter when it executes.
Things to check for variation include field lengths, the location of decimal points in numeric data, and
whether or not a field always contains data.
2. It exactly represents the input data at the moment that data arrives at the printer or a PlanetPress
Watch/Server process. A difference of a single character can result in a document that does not produce
accurate results. If your sample data file does not meet this criteria, you end up creating a document
that executes with a different input data structure than the one for which you designed it.
Related topics:
Spool File (Page 47)
Data Capture Tool (Page 47)
5.1.2 Spool File
What is a spool file?
A spool file is a file containing a job destined for a specific printer. It is common to use a spool file as the
sample data file for a document you intend to install on a printer.
Related topics:
Sample Data File (Page 47)
Data Capture Tool (Page 47)
5.1.3 Data Capture Tool
What is the data capture tool?
The data capture tool lets you capture real data to be used as sample data. It can capture data sent to a
WinQueue, Serial, LPD or Telnet input. The captured data can then be saved to a file and used immediately by
PlanetPress Design to design or troubleshoot a document.You must correctly configure the output queue on
the server if you use the data capture tool. Also, if you want to use the data capture tool, you must correctly
set a proper queue on the server to sent an LPR to the IP address of the PC which is running PlanetPress
Design as well as for the data capture tool. This rule is true for all possible channels.
Related topics:
Spool File (Page 47)
Sample Data File (Page 47)
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