In this article, you will learn
- what Fixup Chains are,
- how Fixup Chains are created, and
- where Fixup Chains can be applied within the Workflow.
1. Introduction
Print data is often created without knowledge of its final intended use. As a result, even after a data check, individual Fixups – or an entire series of Fixups – may still be required. In general, a Fixup refers to a procedure in which specific objects in the print file are identified and modified according to defined parameters.
To avoid configuring and applying each Fixup individually, Fixup Chains can be used. A Fixup Chain refers to a combination of Standard Fixups executed in a defined sequence. Fixup Chains can be created, configured, parameterized, and saved within the Workflow, and are then available for use in production.
By using Fixup Chains, print data can be automatically corrected, optimized, and prepared for output and finishing – without the need for additional tools. The resulting time savings quickly become indispensable in prepress workflows.
All Fixups at a Glance
An overview of all available Fixups in the Workflow, including detailed descriptions of each individual Fixup, can be found in the article Standard Fixups.
2. Working with Fixup Chains
Before you can use Fixup Chains in the Workflow, you must first create them as needed. The menu item Fixup Chains is available under the menu Administration. Here, Fixup Chains can be created, edited, and managed. Once a Fixup Chain has been created, it can be selected and applied in all areas where Fixup Chains are used.
2.1. Creating Fixup Chains
To apply Fixup Chains in your Production Workflows, they must first be created. Fixup Chains can be user-defined, configured with specific values, and saved for future use. Once created, these Fixup Chains can be reused across multiple products, enabling a high level of automation in your production process.
To create and configure a Fixup Chain, proceed as follows:
- Navigate to Administration > Fixup Chains.
- Click Add [1] in the header of the settings section Fixup Chains to create a new Fixup Chain.
- Select the newly created Fixup Chain and click Edit [2] in the header of the settings section Added Fixups to configure the Fixup Chain.
Figure 1: The menu item Fixup Chains
- In the dialog that opens, search for the desired Fixup in the Fixups [3] selection area.
- Click Add [6] to add the selected Fixup to the area Added Fixups [4].
- Select the added Fixup [5] in the area Added Fixups to configure the Settings [7] of the Fixup.
- Add as many Fixups as needed and arrange them in the desired order by simply dragging and dropping the entries.
- Finalize the creation of the Fixup Chain by clicking Save [8].
Figure 2: The dialog Edit Fixup Chains
Creating Fixup Chains in Detail
A detailed description of how to create a Fixup Chain can be found in the article Create a Fixup Chain.
2.2. Applying Fixup Chains
Fixup Chains for print data can be executed in various areas of the Workflow as well as through external tools. The following section provides an overview of the available options.
2.2.1. Tab "Print Data"
The tab Print Data is available in the menus Articles, Orders, and Production Jobs. By clicking the preview image or the title of the respective Print Item or Order, you are taken to the detailed view. In the section containing document-specific information, you will find the Fixup Chains icon [9] in the footer. This allows you to select from all available Fixup Chains and apply them to the currently displayed Print Item.
Figure 3: The detailed view in the tab Print Data with the option to select and apply a Fixup Chain
2.2.2. Add Print Item in the Order or Production Job dialog
When uploading print data as an Article or Print Item to a Production Job or Order using the command Add in the toolbar within the Workflow, a previously created Fixup Chain can be selected and applied to the file during the upload process. This is done in the tab Print Item [10] (also shown as [12] in Figure 5), where an existing Fixup Chain can be selected from the dropdown menu. To apply a Fixup Chain, select the desired Fixup Chain [11] (see also [13] in Figure 5) from the corresponding selection field.
Figure 4: The tab Print Item of the dialog Add Production Job
Figure 5: The tab Print Item of the dialog Add Order
2.2.3. Applying to Multiple Print Items in the List
When one or more Articles or Print Items are selected in a list, the option Fixups [14] in the selection menu provides access to the command Apply Fixup Chain [15]. This opens the dialog Apply Fixup Chain, where a previously defined Fixup Chain can be selected and applied.
Figure 6: Left: The option to apply a Fixup Chain to a single or multiple Articles/Print Items; Right: The dialog Apply Fixup Chain
2.2.4. In the Operation "Apply Fixup Chain"
The Operation Apply Fixup Chain can be selected as part of a Production Configuration. Saved Production Configurations are used within the Workflow in contexts such as Quick Print, Hotfolder, and when creating Automation Jobs, in order to apply the defined processing steps to the selected print data.
To configure a Fixup Chain within a Production Configuration, proceed as follows:
- Navigate to Automation > Production Configuration.
- Click Add to create a new Production Configuration.
- In the dialog Add Production Configuration, switch to the tab Operations [16].
- Add the Operation Apply Fixup Chain [17] by selecting the corresponding entry from the dropdown menu [18].
- Under the option Fixup Chain [19], select the desired Fixup Chain to be applied in this Production Configuration.
- Complete the Operation to create a Production Configuration by clicking Save [20].
Once a Production Configuration has been created, it can be selected in Automation > Quick Print, in Automation > Hotfolder, or via the command Create Automation Job in the action bar of an Article or Print Item list.
Figure 7: The dialog Add Production Configuration with the Operation Data Preparation selected
2.2.5. XML Hotfolder in Combination with Job Ticket
If Production Jobs are to be created via Hotfolders based on an XML Job Ticket, Fixup Chains can also be applied to individual Print Items within the Production Job by passing the corresponding automationKey. For more information, refer to the article Hotfolder - Jobticket Documentation.
2.2.6. REST API
Fixup Chains can also be applied to Articles or Print Items via a leading system (ERP/MIS). This action is triggered through corresponding REST API calls by passing the appropriate automationKey. For more details, refer to the Article Rest API Documentation – Workflow, in the section Fixups.
Applying Fixup Chains – In Detail
A detailed explanation of how Fixup Chains are applied in the respective areas can be found in the article Fixup Chains!
Article update: Workflow 1.20.0 – 05/2025