In this article, you will learn
- was is meant by a Fixup and Fixup Chain within the application,
- which Fixups are available,
- where Fixups are created and how they are uploaded into the Workflow,
- how you can apply Fixups to Articles or Print Items,
- how you can create Fixup Chains, and
- how to apply Fixups Chains.
1. Introduction
In some cases, Print Data is created by the data producer without knowledge of the intended output purpose. After checking the Print Data, certain issues may be identified:
- The Print Data is not prepared for digital printing – for example, a White Separation is missing.
- The Print Data has not been delivered in the correct size or scale – for example, many creator programs cannot create files larger than five meters.
- The cutting information for the Print Data is provided in a separate file – in digital printing, it is preferable for the Print Data to include cutting information in the same file.
- The Print Data was created for offset printing – for digital printing, black areas should be set as Rich Black to compensate for the relatively lighter black output in digital printing.
- Spot colors in the Print Data are converted to CMYK – for digital printing, color values can be adjusted more accurately if they are retained as Spot Colors.
- The print data is missing a required Bleed – this often has to be created manually by prepress specialists.
A Fixup is defined as a procedural instruction that searches for specific constellations of objects and corrects them according to predefined values.
A Fixup Chain is a series of Fixups in a specific sequence. Fixup Chains are compiled, parameterized, saved, and applied to selected Print Items or Articles in the application based on the available Fixups.
2. Standard Fixups
The application provides more than 130 Standard Fixups for preparing and optimizing Print Data. User-defined Fixups can be created with external tools (callas pdfToolbox) and made available to all users within the system.
Instead of exporting Print Data from the application and editing it in other programs, the application offers a dedicated area Data Preparation where the most common prepress Fixups can be selected and applied. The tab Data Preparation [1] is available in the menu items Articles, Orders and Production Jobs.
Figure 1: The tab Data Preparation in the Print Item View
The tab Data Preparation [1] is divided into three areas:
-
Filter (yellow area) – provides filtering options to quickly find the desired Fixup. You can filter by various criteria to find Fixups:
- Text search – the fastest way if you already know the Fixup you are looking for.
- Show Favorites only [2] – quickly displays all Fixups that you have previously marked as Favorites.
- Show "Custom Fixups" only [3] – lists only the Fixups you have created and uploaded yourself.
- Category – allows you to search by Fixup categories that can, for example, correct specific object types – Fonts, Colors, Pages etc. – in a PDF file.
- Action – allows you to search for Fixups that perform specific Actions such as Scale, Transform, Delete, Create etc.
- Property – allows you to search for Fixups that address specific aspects such as – Knockout, Grommets, Pantone, Transparency etc.
- Standard Fixups (green area) – this lists all available Fixups that are delivered with the standard installation. If a filter has been applied, only the matching Fixups are displayed in this list. Frequently used Fixups can be marked as Favorites – by clicking the icon Star [4]. "Custom Fixups" are also displayed in this list if any have been created or uploaded.
- Parameterize Fixups (blue area) – once you have selected a Fixup, it can be parameterized if options are available. This area, all options available for the selected Fixup are displayed, some of them grouped in tabs.
3. Create and Upload Fixups
If the large number of available Fixups is not sufficient for your daily work, users can create their own Fixups at any time. To create a Fixup, you must use the program callas pdfToolbox. The program can be downloaded and installed free of charge. In the freely available version, Fixups can be created, tested, and exported. However, executing Fixups is only possible in the licensed version of the program. Exported KFPX files can then be uploaded to the Workflow together with an XML file. From that point on, the Fixup is available to all Workflow users.
3.1. Create Fixups
Fixups that can be used in the Workflow are KFPX files. Fixups can be created either in Preflight of Acrobat Pro or in the callas pdfToolbox application.
3.2. Adopt Fixups from Preflight
If you want to use a Preflight or Fixup profile from Adobe Acrobat Pro, proceed as follows:
- Open the dialog Preflight in Acrobat Pro using the shortcut
Strg+Shift+X(Windows) orCmd+Shift+X(macOS). - In the list, select the desired profile or the specifically created Fixup [6], then choose Options > Export Profile... [5].
- Save the KFP file.
Figure 2: The prepress tool Preflight in Adobe Acrobat Pro with the selected profile
If you want to import a Preflight or Fixup profile from Adobe Acrobat Pro into callas pdfToolbox and then export it again, proceed as follows:
- Open the program callas pdfToolbox in the version suitable for your Workflow and select the menu item Tools > Profiles.
- The dialog Profiles will open, where you select the menu item Import Profile... [8].
- Next, choose the previously exported KFP file from Acrobat Pro and start the import process. During the import, the structure of the KFP file will be converted into the current KFPX file used for processing within the Workflow.
- By exporting the profile or Fixup again from callas pdfToolbox using the command Export Profile [7], the KFPX file will now be available in a valid format for import into the application.
Figure 3: The dialog Profile in callas pdfToolbox
3.3. Create Fixup in pdfToolbox
To create a Custom Fixup in callas pdfToolbox, proceed as previously described for Adobe Acrobat Pro. The key difference lies in the fully accessible range of functions, since the Preflight of Acrobat Pro does not provide all the capabilities available in callas pdfToolbox.
Creating Fixup profiles or entire process plans requires very good knowledge of PDF, callas pdfToolbox and in some cases also JavaScript.
A detailed description of how to create a Fixup in pdfToolbox can be found in the Online Documentation by callas software.
3.4. Create XML File for Fixup
In order for the dialogs of the application to display both relevant information and variables, a description file in the form of a XML file must be created alongside the KFPX file. Depending on the complexity of the Fixup, the XML file may be more extensive.
A detailed description of the structure of the XML file as well as all available types can be found in the chapter Creating and Uploading Custom Fixups.
3.5. Upload Fixups to the Workflow
After exporting the KFPX file and creating the corresponding XML description, you can now upload this set into the application. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Select the menu item Administration > Settings > Preflight / Fixup.
- Then switch to the tab Custom Fixups [9] and click the button Upload [10] in the header bar.
Figure 4: The tab Custom Fixups under Administration > Settings > Preflight / Fixup
- The dialog Upload KFPX- and XML-File opens, showing two dropzones: one for the KFPX file [11] and one for the XML file [12]. Upload the corresponding files into the dropzones.
- Click Next. This will start an internal validation that checks whether all required parameters are present.
- If no errors occur, complete the upload by clicking Save.
Figure 5: The dialog Upload KFPX- and XML-File
4. Fixup Chains
In many cases, multiple Fixups need to be applied to individual Print Items or Articles. This is especially necessary when – depending on the desired final product – different amounts of Bleed need to be added with our without Dielines, or Grommets need to be placed. In such cases, several Fixups must be applied in a specific order to selected Print Items.
With Fixup Chains, you can combine recurring Processing Steps and apply them to selected Print Items. These chains can even be applied automatically when uploading Print Items into the application via Hotfolder, Quick Print, or Batch Processing.
4.1. Create New Fixup Chains
To create a Fixup Chain, proceed as follows:
- Navigate to Administration > Fixup Chains.
- Click the button + Add [13] to create a new Fixup Chain.
- The dialog Add Fixup Chain opens. Enter the Name [14] of the Fixup Chain and optionally a Comment [15].
- Click Save [16] to create the empty container for the Fixup Chain.
Figure 6: Left: The area Administration > Fixup Chains; Right: The dialog Add Fixup Chain
After saving the Fixup Chain, the new Fixup Chain will appear in the settings area Fixup Chains. You now just need to select, add, and parameterize the desired Fixups. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Select the newly created Fixup Chain in the area Fixup Chains [17].
- Click the button Edit [18] in the section Added Fixups. This will open the dialog Edit.
Figure 7: The tab Fixup Chains in the menu Administration with the selected Fixup Chain container
- In the area Fixups, search for the desired Fixup. The fastest way to find it is by entering the corresponding term in the field Search [19].
- Then select the desired Fixup.
Figure 8: The dialog Edit Fixup Chains for the selected Fixup Chain at the start
- Click Add [20] (Figure 8) to add the Fixup to the area Added Fixups.
- Repeat this step for all Fixups you want to add.
- Once the Fixups have been added, you can parameterize them in the right-hand area as desired. Then save the newly created Fixup Chain.
5. Access to Fixups
Fixup options for Print Data are available both in various areas of the application and via external tools. The following provides an overview of the individual options.
5.1. Tab "Print Data"
The tab Print Data [21] is available in the menu items Articles, Orders and Production Jobs. By simply clicking on the title of a Print Item or Article in the list of Print Items/Articles, you are automatically taken to the corresponding Detail View. In the footer of these areas, the most important Fixups are grouped together in Fixup Groups [22].
Figure 9: The tab Print Data of an Article
5.2. Tab "Data Preparation"
The tab Data Preparation [23] is available in the menu items Articles, Orders and Production Jobs. By double-clicking on a Print Item in the list of Print Items/Articles, you can access the tab Data Preparation. In this area, all predefined as well as your uploaded Fixups are available, allowing you to apply them specifically to your Print Items and Articles.
Figure 10: The tab Data Preparation in the menu area Article
5.3. Uploading Print Data using the command "Add"
If you upload a print file as an Article or Print Item in an Order or Production Job using the command Add in the toolbar, the tab Print Item [24] provides the option to apply a previously defined Fixup Chain to the file already during the upload process. To do this, select the desired Fixup Chain [25] from the provided selection list.
Figure 11: The tab Print Item in the dialog Add Production Job
Apply a single Fixup?
Selecting a single Fixup is not available when uploading Print Data. If you still want to apply a single Fixup, create a separate Fixup Chain that contains only that one Fixup.
5.4. In the Operation "Apply Fixups"
When creating a Production Configuration under Automation > Production Configurations, the Operation Apply Fixups [26] is available to the user. This Operation allows one or more Fixups to be applied to a Print Item. Production Configurations are used in the Workflow in the context of Quick Print, Batch Processing, Hotfolder, and when generating Automation Jobs.
To apply Fixups as part of Automation, add the Operation Apply Fixups to the desired Production Configuration. First, select the desired Fixup by using Add Fixup and select Template [27], and then choose the previously saved Fixup Template [28].
Figure 12: The dialog Add Production Configuration with the selected Operation Apply Fixups
5.5. In the Operation "Apply Fixup Chains"
When creating a Production Configuration under Automation > Production Configurations, the user can use the Operation Apply Fixup Chain [29] to apply a Fixup Chain – consisting of one or more Fixups – to Print Items. Saved Production Configurations can be used in the application within the context of Quick Print, Batch Processing, Hotfolder, as well as when creating Automation Jobs.
To apply Fixups within Automation, add the Operation Apply Fixup Chain to the desired Production Configuration and select the corresponding Fixup Chain [30].
Figure 13: The dialog Add Production Configuration with the selection Operation Apply Fixup Chain
5.6. Menu "Fixups"
If one or multiple Articles or Print Items are selected in a list, the action bar allows you to choose the commands Apply Fixup [31] or Apply Fixup Chain [32].
Figure 14: The functions of the menu Fixups in the action bar for a selected Article
After selecting Apply Fixup [31], the dialog Apply Fixup opens, where you can search for, select, and apply Fixups. This dialog provides the same filter functions that you are already familiar with from the tab Data Preparation.
Figure 15: The dialog Apply Fixup with a selected Fixup
5.7. Hotfolder "Job Ticket"
If Production Jobs are to be created based on a Job Ticket via the Hotfolder, Fixups and Fixup Chains can be applied to individual Print Items of the Production Job by passing the corresponding automationKey. More detailed information can be found in the article Hotfolder – Job Ticket.
5.8. REST API
If Fixups or Fixup Chains are to be applied to Articles or Print Items by a leading system (ERP/MIS), the action can be performed via the corresponding REST calls by passing the corresponding automationKey. Individual parameters of the Fixup can, of course, also be overwritten. For more information,, refer to the REST API Documentation under the section Fixups.
Article Update: Workflow 1.21.1 – 08/2025