Question

Business Process to trigger Print

Workflow

Updated November 3, 2015

asked on November 3, 2015

I want to build a workflow that triggers a pdf file in Laserfiche to be printed to a specified network printer. The users will be on WebAccess using iPad to retrieve customers signature prior to the file to be printed. Is there a command or script that needs to be build into the process? Also, I don't quite understand the difference between Business Process and a Workflow.

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replied on November 3, 2015

Re BP's versus Workflows:

A Business Process is a setting that can be added to a workflow that allows interaction between the client and workflow. A workflow isn't always a business process though. Right now BP's only trigger workflows but those workflows can trigger other actions outside of workflow.

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replied on November 3, 2015 • Show version history

For your PDF question, if I was designing this I would create a workflow that contains a script that exports a PDF to a file location. There are no activities built into laserfiche that does this but you can create a .net script that will do this for you. Alternatively Cliff Primmer has some add ons to workflow that will do this for pretty reasonable prices by adding them as custom activities. (http://www.qfiche.com)

I would then use a folder monitoring print utility to print the documents. If you do a google search there are a plethora of products that do this. However many modern copiers & printers will have utilities and solutions to do this on board the copier. I work for a VAR that is also a copier company so we tend to use manufacturer specific add-ons for this piece of the puzzle so your "mileage may vary". If your copier doesn't support this functionality I've heard of great results from foldermill.

If you feel up to scripting you can also script it in powershell (https://gregcaporale.wordpress.com/2012/01/18/powershell-to-print-files-automatically/)

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replied on November 3, 2015

See the help file for the distinction between workflows and business processes in Workflow.

See the following discussions on why direct printing from Workflow is not likely to work and possible workarounds. Though Chris' suggestion above sounds like the better solution since it decouples printing itself from Workflow.

https://answers.laserfiche.com/questions/83738/Print-from-Workflow--Has-anyone-tried-this

https://answers.laserfiche.com/questions/51779/Want-to-confirm-its-not-possible-to-automatically-print-using-the-SDK-because-Microsoft-doesnt-support-unattended-printing

https://answers.laserfiche.com/questions/83445/will-we-be-able-to-print-documents-using-Laserfiche-Business-Process-from-within-Laserfiche-WFBusiness-Process

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replied on November 3, 2015 • Show version history

Heh. Miruna reminded me of the other software I've seen in production that does this: http://www.print-conductor.com/ When I was making the earlier post I couldn't remember the name of the one I've actually seen in use, and I posted it less than a month ago! :) This software does not print automatically, it is something the user triggers once a day. But it keeps the person from having to open up and print the 50 or so PDf's that are waiting whenever they run this. the same company also produces Foldermill, which is the automated version of this.

We have a customer that uses this in a production environment now, except that this customer's PDF's are being generated from a different product than laserfiche.

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Business Process to trigger Print

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