In this article, you will learn
- what is meant by Fixup Chains,
- how Fixup Chains are created, and
- where Fixup Chains can be applied within the Workflow.
1. Introduction
Print data is often created by the author without knowledge of its final intended use. Therefore, after a data check, it is frequently necessary to apply individual Fixups or even a whole series of Fixups. In principle, a Fixup refers to a process in which specific objects in the print file are identified and corrected using the parameters provided.
Fixup Chains are available to avoid having to parameterize and apply each Fixup separately. A Fixup Chain is understood as the linking of Standard Fixups in a defined sequence. Fixup Chains can be created, parameterized, and saved within the Workflow, making them available for production use.
By using Fixup Chains, print data can be automatically corrected and optimized, as well as prepared for output and finishing – all without the need for additional tools. The resulting time savings are invaluable in prepress operations.
Overview of all Fixups
Which Fixups are available within the Workflow, as well as a detailed description of each individual Fixup, can be found in the chapter Standard Fixup - Technical Description.
2. Working with Fixup Chains
To work with Fixup Chains within the Workflow, they first need to be created as required. For this purpose, 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, they must first be created. Fixup Chains can be defined according to your specific requirements, assigned the desired parameters, and then saved. This allows the created Fixup Chains to be applied to multiple Articles or Print Items, thereby automating your production.
To create a Fixup Chain, proceed as follows:
- Select the menu item Administration > Fixup Chains.
- Click Add [1] in the header of the Fixup Chains settings section to create a new Fixup Chain. Assign a meaningful Name to the Fixup Chain and briefly describe the processing steps in the field Remark.
- Then select the newly created Fixup Chain and click Edit [2] in the settings section Added Fixups to populate the Fixup Chain with content or to edit an existing Fixup Chain.
Figure 1: The menu item Administration > Fixup Chains
- In the dialog that opens, locate the desired Fixup in the selection area of Fixups. Add the selected Fixup by clicking Add [3]. The added Fixup will now appear in the Fixup Steps area (highlighted in blue).
- Select the added Fixup [4] to configure its settings [5].
- Then add as many Fixups as necessary and arrange them in the desired order by simply dragging and dropping the Fixups.
- Complete the creation of the Fixup Chain by clicking Save [6].
Figure 2: The dialog Edit Fixup Chain
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 via external tools. The following provides an overview of the available options.
2.2.1. Tab "Print Data"
The tab Print Data is available in the menu options for Articles, Orders, and Production Jobs. By clicking on the Preview Image or the title of the respective Print Item/Order, you can access the Detail view. In the section Document Information, you will find the icon for Fixup Chains [7] in the footer. Here, you can select any created Fixup Chain and apply it to the currently displayed Print Item.
Figure 3: The Detail view in the tab Print Data with the option to select a Fixup Chain
2.2.2. Print Item in the dialog "Order or Production Job"
When uploading print data as an Article or Print Item to a Production Job or Order via the command Add in the toolbar, a previously created Fixup Chain can be selected in the tab Print Item [8] (also shown as [10] in Figure 5) and applied to the file during the upload process. To do this, select the desired Fixup Chain [9] (or [11] in Figure 5) from the corresponding dropdown menu.
Figure 4: The tab Print Item > General of the dialog Add Production Job
Figure 5: The tab Print Item > General of the dialog Add Order
2.2.3. Apply to Multiple Print Items in the List
When one or more Articles or Print Items are selected in a list, the option Fixups [12] in the dropdown menu provides access to the command Apply Fixup Chain [13]. This opens the dialog Apply Fixup Chain, where a previously defined Fixup Chain can be selected.
Figure 6: Left: The option to apply a Fixup Chain to one or more Articles/Print Items; Right: The dialog Apply Fixup Chain
2.2.4. Within Operations of a Production Configuration
The Operation Apply Fixup Chain as well as the Operation Check Print Item and Apply Fixup Chain can be selected in a Production Configuration. Saved Production Configurations are used in the Workflow in the context of Batch Processing, Hotfolder, and when creating Automation Jobs, in order to apply the defined steps to the selected print data.
To use a Fixup Chain in a Production Configuration, proceed as follows:
- Navigate to Automation > Production Configurations.
- Click Add to create a new Production Configuration.
- In the dialog Add Production Configuration, select the tab Operations [14].
- Add the Operation Apply Fixup Chain [15] or Check Print Item and Apply Fixup Chain by selecting the corresponding entry from the dropdown menu of Add Operation [16].
- Then, under the option Fixup Chain [17], select the desired Fixup Chain to be used for this Production Configuration.
- Complete the creation of the Production Configuration by clicking Save [18].
Once a Production Configuration has been created, it can be selected in Automation > Batch Processing, in Automation > Hotfolder, as well as by executing 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 Apply Fixup Chain selected
2.2.5. XML Hotfolder in combination with Job Ticket
If Production Jobs are to be created via Hotfolder based on an XML Job Ticket, Fixup Chains can also be applied to individual Print Items of the Production Job by passing the corresponding automationKey. For further information, refer to the Article Hotfolder - XML Jobticket Documentation.
2.2.6. REST API
Fixup Chains can also be applied to Articles or Print Items via an external system (ERP/MIS), with the action being executed through corresponding REST calls by passing the appropriate automationKey. For further information, refer to the Article REST API Documentation - Workflow in the section Fixups.
Applying Fixup Chains in Detail
A detailed description of how to apply Fixup Chains in the respective areas can be found in the Article Creating and Applying Fixup Chains!
Article update: Workflow 1.21.2 – 10/2025