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Connect PLOSSYS Output Engine (Print)

This use case describes how to configure physical print output: PLOSSYS Distribution Engine sends distributed files marked with IS_DIST_FILE = Y as an IPP print job to PLOSSYS Output Engine, as part of a document stream.

The connector seal-dpf-workingunit-print-ipp is part of PLOSSYS Distribution Engine. PLOSSYS Output Engine is not included as of PLOSSYS Distribution Engine 2.1.0 and must be installed separately, refer to Architecture Overview.

Prerequisites

  • SAP DDD is connected to PLOSSYS Distribution Engine, refer to Architecture Overview. For the SAP-side setup, refer to the chapter "Output via PLOSSYS Distribution Engine" in the SAP Document Distribution Director documentation.
  • PLOSSYS Output Engine is installed and reachable via IPP.
  • A printer is configured in PLOSSYS Output Engine, for example via easyPRIMA.
  • seal-dpf-workingunit-print-ipp is installed as part of PLOSSYS Distribution Engine and running, refer to Services.

Activate the Print Channel

Unlike EMAIL, FILEOUT, and WEBPORTAL, SAP has no dedicated BC Set that registers a PRINT output device.

Assign PRINT as the DIST_CONFIG value for the desired SAP order type, for example PUR, through the general DIST_CONFIG parameter configuration, refer to DIST_CONFIG. Print channel activation itself happens server-side, in the following section.

Configure the Distribution Engine Server

Execute the following steps on the Distribution Engine server:

  1. Open the <DIST_CONFIG>.ini file selected by the DIST_CONFIG parameter:

    • Windows: D:\SEAL\customer\server\dpf\conf\dpf4distribute\print.ini (default installation drive)
    • Linux: /opt/seal/server/dpf/conf/dpf4distribute/print.ini

    Hint - only the file name is configurable

    The directory is fixed. Only the file name changes, following the DIST_CONFIG value passed from SAP.

  2. Add the channel activation entry:

    DistChannel_1 = dpf4distribute.DistributePrint

    Caution - DistChannel_1 is required

    Without this DistChannel_n entry, no print job is sent even if PLS_PRINTSERVER/PLS_PLOTTER are set.

  3. Set the print target, for example:

    PLS_PRINTSERVER_URL = ipp://<output-engine-host>:631
PLS_PLOTTER = <printer-name>

    Hint - full URL override

    PLS_PRINTSERVER assumes protocol ipp and port 631. To use a different protocol or port, set PLS_PRINTSERVER_URL instead. It takes precedence over PLS_PRINTSERVER.

  4. Open the configuration file for the connector service:

    • Windows: C:\ProgramData\SEAL Systems\config\seal-dpf-workingunit-print-ipp.yml
    • Linux: /opt/seal/etc/seal-dpf-workingunit-print-ipp.yml

  5. If the installation uses HTTPS only (default), set RESTWU_URL_ORIGIN to https://localhost:9126.

    Hint - REST_WU_MANAGER_URL is deprecated

    REST_WU_MANAGER_URL is the older name for this setting. It still works but logs a deprecation warning. Use RESTWU_URL_ORIGIN instead. If both keys are set, the service uses REST_WU_MANAGER_URL. Remove it when you switch.

    Caution - port 9126 is hardcoded

    Refer to Ports. The DPF REST WU Manager port itself cannot be changed. Only which of the two (9125/9126) this service connects to is configurable.

Printing Without Interruption

PLOSSYS Distribution Engine prints the documents of one job without interruption by other output jobs. No configuration is required. Printing without interruption requires PLOSSYS Output Engine 5.7.0 or later.

  • seal-dpf-workingunit-print-ipp sends each document with IS_DIST_FILE = Y as a separate output job.
  • All output jobs of one Distribution Engine job form a document stream. The stream identifier is the DPF job ID.
  • The last document with IS_DIST_FILE = Y ends the document stream.
  • The documents are printed in the order of the RLI.
  • While the document stream is active, the output device prints no other output jobs.

Hint - timeout of the document stream

If no further document of the stream arrives within a timeout, the document stream ends and the output device is released. The timeout is set with DOCUMENT_STREAM_TIMEOUT for the seal-controller service. Default: 1m.

Optional Parameters

Set these on the Distribution Engine server, in the same <DIST_CONFIG>.ini file:

  • P5JOBTIMEOUT: optional, timeout in milliseconds to wait until the print job is completed, default 3,600,000 (1 hour).
  • OUT_NGN_JOB_POLLING_INTERVAL: optional, interval in milliseconds to poll PLOSSYS Output Engine for the print job status, default 2,000 (2 seconds).

Validate

  1. In SAP, trigger a message for a purchase order that uses the print channel.

  2. On the Distribution Engine server, check that the output order was processed in the DPF Tracker.

  3. In PLOSSYS Output Engine, check that the print job appears and completes successfully.

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