Laddawn.com : Print Designer Technical Notes

5/18/15 - Input/output for Amazing Print:

Inputs passed to Amazing Print:

1. Registered or Random Repeat? (This will be asked of the user on the printing screen before executing Amazing Print - the new Marketplace Registered Printing options will NOT be new catalog codes - they will use the existing Layflat Bags of Zip Tops).  Pass whether random and/or registered is allowed in designer.
2. Type of Item (Bag, Continuous, Furn Bag)
3. Size of Bag/Sheet/Tube for outer dimensions – (Width & Length for Bags & perforated sheeting, Length & Width for Furniture Bags and Width & Count for Continuous Sheeting and Tubing (don’t ever have to include Depth)
4. Maximum size of the image for inner dimensions (dotted line) (Random Repeat).  Not sure about max image sizes for registered printing.
5. List of ink colors: For Random Repeat, ink colors available for this job (ie, if black bag, they can’t use black ink).  No color pass will be required for Registered.
6. Existing PDF:
   1. For existing image, pass only the image pdf - the bag layer will have to be rebuilt based on Size of Bag/Sheet/Tube above (this existing image could be used on other bag sizes)
   2. View Only Flag: When passing an existing image that we already have a plate for, we will send a flag telling Amazing Print that the image cannot be changed (view only).  If the user wants to change an image that hasn’t been ordered yet, we won’t set the flag.
   3. #inches between images - the number of inches between images that the user originally selected (or a default if none specified)
7. Bag Color - for background in designer

Expected Output from Amazing Print:

1. Image Height and Width (exact size of the image only).  If the user doesn't provide an image at the start, we could get back an empty box sized correctly in the color that they chose - we would need a flag that this is an empty box.
2. Number of Inches between images - If the user selects a custom #inches between images (we will provide calculations to determine the allowable #inches for the bag size and image size)
3. Ink Color(s) - For random repeat, return the single ink color chosen; for registered, return the #colors chosen & the Color Codes (PMS Codes)
4. Ink Coverage– Can Amazing Print give us an idea of how much of the image area has ink?  If not, we will continue to use 33% of print area
5. Two pdf’s: One black and white image that we will store and send to the plate manufacturer and One with color(s) and box indicating bag size and spacing between images – key determined by Amazing Print
6. Registered Print Coordinates: ??? For registered, will we receive coordinates for positioning of image, or is the second pdf layer enough to send to the print manufacturer?
7. Existing Plate# that user chose
8. If existing plate chosen, did they change the image?
9. Indicator that no image/text was chosen - this is an empty box

=  =  =  =  =  =  =  =

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Judy's notes from 10/21/14 and 10/28/14 meeting:

1. PDF upload will occur at quote time – today we don’t upload/assign plate# until they are ready to order:  We will need to store the black and white PDF somewhere for viewing and re-selection.  Not sure if it would have a real plate# at this time or whether we would assign upon ordering as we do today. What do we do with the existing images/plates – do we need a new pdf (including stock)?
2. We will have to pass to Amazing Print:
   1. Registered or Random Repeat
   2. Type of item (continuous?, Furn Bag, Centerfold Sheeting)
   3. Size of Bag/Sheet/Tube for outer dimensions – ***CHECK W/DAVID – DO WE NEED DEPTH ANY LONGER? if gusseted, do we need to pass 2 sets of dimensions (printing in center of bag vs printing in center of gusset).  They can only put image in one place or the other – would we need to pass which section is available for printing on gusseted bags?
   4. Max print image size for inner dimensions for Random Repeat.  Not sure about max plate sizes for registered printing  *** SHOULD WE ASK IF THEY WANT TO OFFSET THE IMAGE TO RIGHT OR LEFT, OR LEAVE AT CENTER?
   5. Random Repeat – List of ink colors available for this job (ie, if black bag, they can’t use black ink).  May also need total list of ink colors we offer. *** FOR REGISTERED, DO THEY CONTROL COLORS?
   6. How/where will existing plates and quoted images be selectable for re-use by the customer? Do we need to pass a list to interface for viewing there?  How do we indicate that an image cannot be changed (because it’s either a stock image or it is already ordered or it has been selected on multiple quotes)? Does Amazing Print have copy/modify capabilities for existing pdf’s?  *** SEND A FLAG AS TO WHETHER IMAGE CAN BE CHANGED.
   7. How do we allow viewing of existing plate but not select it if it won’t work for this job (too big/too small for the bag)?  Can they change it up until the time that it’s ordered?  Keep in temporary area until the p/o comes in?

1. Returned from Amazing Print:
   1. Image Height and Width
   2. How will it work if user quotes without an image?  Same as today or would the interface show and they would just save a blank box so that we have image dimensions? We would need to know if we are getting an empty box so that we don’t allow checkout.  5/19: If the user doesn't provide an image at the start, we could get back an empty box sized correctly in the color that they chose - we would need a flag that this is an empty box
   3. Print Direction (horizontal/vertical) – Will Amazing Print know whether the image was placed on the bag horizontally or vertically? Can they force a particular direction depending on image size?  Do we need to validate direction any longer since the plate is now 24” square – can they just rotate it in production?
   4. Orientation: If horizontal direction, they can choose to print upside down or rightside up – can this be determined and passed back?  If Vertical, will they get to choose which direction the letters/image is facing?
   5. Ink Color(s) - For random repeat, pass back single ink color; for registered, pass back #colors chosen & We need the Color Codes (PMS Codes) returned for Registered Printing 
   6. Ink Coverage – Can they pass us the actual ink coverage, or will we continue to estimate using 33%?
   7. Would they be calculating/returning to us the #up for random repeat (number of images per plate)?  How would #up be shown in Amazing Print for Random Repeat?
   8. Two pdf’s: One black and white image that we will store and send to plate manufacturer and One with color(s) and box indicating bag size.
   9. For registered, will we receive coordinates for positioning of image?  *** OR DOES THE PDF COME BACK AS ONE BIG IMAGE
   10. How will a large bag scale (ie, mattress bag)?  Will the image area be actual size or scaled down?  Would that be workable to draw in?
   11. Registered – how will we create these quotes to be sent to outside vendor?
       1. Will they all become marketplace? Will need new pricing/item rules for layflat, etc
       2. If not marketplace, how will we create an NS Outside Buy quote?

Avante Questions:

• Where are the pdf’s being attached? Order Acknowledgement, Quote Acknowledge, W/O Traveler?
• What are the gusseted printing rules?
• Do we store these plates that may never be ordered in the plates folder or in a temporary area? Maybe temporary name until they are ordered?
• Where will the color pdf with bag outline be stored and how will we access it for emailing to the customer and for printing on internal forms?  Does production have a color printer or should we continue to include the ink color in w/o comments?
• Do w/o comments for printing need to be revisited to see if we can eliminate any?

5/19/15 - meeting w/Jim, Owen and Karen:

1. Allow user to specify #inches between images - discuss w/David to see how we would give Amazing Print the calculation(s) to determine what spacing options the user has for this image based on the image size (which we wouldn't be able to provide as input)
2. The pdf's that we would receive:Confirmed that we will continue to print in the center of the bag - we will not ask for left/ride side
   1. Actual black and white image (associated w/the plates file)
   2. second layer contains the bag (current bag size) and colors - this would be associated with the order, not the plate (because could be used on different size bags)
3. We need the Color Codes (PMS Codes) returned for Registered Printing 
4. If the user doesn't provide an image at the start, we could get back an empty box sized correctly in the color that they chose - we would need a flag that this is an empty box.  When the user is ready to order, we would need the pdf before allowing checkout.  Allow access to Imazing Print from the Active Cart - reprice the quote once the image has been added
5. The pdf (both layers) would be included on the share email as well as on the order acknowledgement

5/19/15  - meeting w/Jim and David Low:

1. We won't require upside down/rightside up or Horizontal/Vertical.  The image on the bag will tell the story
2. Existing Plate - send bag size, image size, image pdf, #inches between
3. The Image Box will be painted using Max Width/Height that we pass.  They can then place their image into the box either horizontally or vertically, but cannot go outside the dotted lines of the image space.  For example, if the image space is 10" wide and 7" high and the image size is 9" wide and 2" high, they will be able to put it into the box horizontally but not vertically (because the 9" wide is > 7" high box).  12/4/15 - probably don't need a 'printable space' area, because they aren't entering the image size.  The are uploading a pdf or starting with an empty box, and that defines the image size.  The printable space would be 1" around the bag size?

6/9/15 - meeting w/Jim M, Tom, David L, and David W re: Registered Printing:

1. Confirmed that we need #colors and PMS colors returned from Amazing Print.  If we start before the Amazing Print interface, we would need to prompt for up to 4 colors on the widget.  Max 4 colors is allowed.
2. Confirmed that we need to provide an image size to marketplace vendor.  Max image size is leaving a 1" border within bag size.
3. Pricing and Costing will come from David Low's spreadsheet model.  Probably won't have price detail.  The cost and price will include the printing upcharge.  Some factors from the spreadsheet may have to be stored in a configurator table (or we could leave it in the spreadsheet)
4. The pdf is needed before checkout will be allowed.  No approval process is required.  CE will most likely receive the pdf.
5. The share email has to include the disclaimers from comments 146 and 147.
6. The vendor orders and keeps the plate, but we should assign a CPxxxx number to it and store the pdf in our plate images file.  These can be used on ashads.  When an existing plate is used on an ashad, no plate fee will be added to the order.
7. Vendor Lead Time for Registered Printing is 5 weeks after approval, regardless of if a new plate is being ordered or not
8. Registered Printing orders will end up on the Marketplace Workbench - show 3 lines of MOD description
9. Line Item Description on quote/order will contain:  REGPRNT, #C/1S (where # = number of colors and the 1 is hardcoded meaning 1 side)
10. TBD (Tom will provide):
    1. Minimum Order Qty calculation (in thousands)
    2. Freight Calculation (possibility that we will calculate using our Iowa freight tables and our YRC carrier discount) - Freight will be added to the price and cost.
    3. Plate Fee calculation (will be a separate line item)

Questions for Slava:

 How many decimal places should we have for image size?  We currently go to 1-decimal, and this isn't enough - Per Tom go out 3-decimals for 1/8".  *** 9/1/15 - Per Tom, we should go out to 4-decimals for 1/16" - is this for Registered Printing only, or for Random Repeat too?????

Meeting notes from 8/27/15:

Meeting with Tom, David W, Jim, John and I

 In order to get started on the design of the new feature of Registered Printing on the website, we need further clarification on the following.  We hope to discuss this in our meeting tomorrow:

1. Which catalog codes on the website will allow Registered Printing?  Ie, all of the Poly Bags, Tubing, Sheeting menu catalog codes?  Some subset? Layflats and Reclosables Catalog Codes: Tamper Evident, Zip Top and Zip Top w/Hang Hole.
2. Within a catalog code, what are the restrictions?  Are certain sizes too big/small for Registered Printing?  Gauge requirements?  Color/Material Requirements?  Can they be case-packed or on a roll?  Vented?  Clear (no color) and Standard Material only.  The following specifications will be used to determine whether Registered Printing will be allowed.  These will not override the current widget ranges because widget ranges have to be the outside ranges to accommodate Laddawn-made and stock items also.
   1. Layflat: Width range 4-30”; Length 4-36”; Gauge 1-6mil; Full Gauge Optional; Venting allowed; Tom/David are checking to see if these can be on a Roll or whether to force Cases
   2. 3 Reclosables: Width range 4-30”; Length 4-36”; Gauge 2-6mil; Full Gauge only; Venting allowed; Cases Only
3. Will we need to expand requirements on the widget to accommodate sizes/counts/minimums/materials that we don’t allow today?  In other words, are there registered printing NS quotes that have to be NS for reasons other than the fact that they are registered printing?  Do our vendors allow sizes that we don’t for a layflat bag?  We would need to know that we have to expand our Width/Length/Gauge ranges to allow for marketplace vendors who have different capabilities than we do.  Currently the layflat/gusseted categories are for our own in-house made MOD items, so we have programmed to our requirements.  Refer to #2
4. We will assume that all registered printed quotes will become MP (marketplace) quotes instead of a BAGS or ROLLSHEET or ROLLTUBE or NS quotes, correct?  YES  They will hit the purchasing workbench as a marketplace order instead of an NS Outside Buy.  YES
5. What additional information will we need to provide to the vendor?  Are there standard comments that you always add to the purchase order?  What other workbench changes will be required to place the purchase order?  David will provide
6. What will the ‘printing’ area in Results, Share Email and Order Acknowledgement look like for Registered?  We would at minimum have to specify Random vs Registered.  Tom will provide anything additional.
7. Are there printing upcharges included in the item’s price as well as a plate fee on the order to purchase the plate?  YES How do we calculate the plate fee? Additional Plate Fee for new plates is calculated at $150 per color.  We can calculate this on the database side or it could come from the spreadsheet.
8. Referring to the marketplace template, we will need to know the following:
   1. Will there be cases where we will enable ‘printing’ in level 3 for Random Repeat but not for Registered or vice versa?  Ie, certain bag sizes?  Yes (see restrictions in 2a/2b). We will have to send a flag to Amazing Print telling them whether to enable the Registered Printing button.
   2. How do we price Registered Printing?  How do Cost Registered Printing (vendor cost)?  David will provide a spreadsheet that we can call to retrieve this info
   3. Does the minimum quantity change if an item has Registered Printing?  If so, how? Yes, it does change.  David will provide.
   4. How is the Count per Case or Roll calculated?  Can the user override the default Count? Reclosable ranges stay the same – layflat ranges will be similar to Zip Top (do not use Laddawn MOD ranges).  I will send David the current ZT Count calculation.
   5. How will freight be calculated?  Using the existing Zip Top model (by pounds)
   6. Do we show an Import result, or do we only Register Print domestically?  NO IMPORT
   7. What are the lead times for Domestic?  Import?  Does this vary by vendor? Domestic lead times are currently 35 days.  Create two new table fields for Registered Lead Times: one for Layflat and the other for Reclosables.
   8. Any additional text in the order item description (ie, RP or Registered) – how are registered printing items described now on the quote? Some examples of recent Registered Printing quotes would help.  Whatever we can fit:  REGISTERED,PRNTD or REG,PRNTD
   9. Do we send the pdf to the vendor and they have the plate made, or do we have our plate vendor make the plate and we send to the vendor?  We send pdf to Vendor and Vendor makes the plate
   10. Would we send ashad jobs back to the original vendor?  If not, does the customer incur another plate fee to make a new plate?  Would we know this up front?  We try to send to original vendor, but if that isn’t possible, we would pay for a new plate to be made.  We wouldn’t charge the customer.
9. When the customer doesn’t provide an image at quoting time, do we need to know the ink color they are choosing for Random Repeat (because of different ink costs)?  Can we use the same ink cost regardless of color?
10. Is Amazing Print returning a flag to us so that we know this was quoted with no image (empty box)?

10/1/15 - question from Bill to Tom:

Are we going to allow people to select different color bags? Does the plan for Amazing Print include changing the background color of the bag area?  If they select a black bag, they are going to want a white image, which will disappear on the white background. If this feature is built in already, can we get a feature on the screen somewhere where we can test it?

Tom's Answer: Yes and No…  If they click on Random Repeat Printing they can select a different color bag, but if they select Registered they cannot have a background color

10/1/15: see link below for removing the item from the cart then adding it back in when the user uploads the plate pdf:

Procedure for Modifying Item Already in Cart

12/4/15:

• We s/b defaulting to 1" between instead of 0
• Ink color should show on selected image
• probably don't need image printable space because they are calculating image size, we aren't entering it. 
• What was final decision on random repeat print positioning - continuing to be in the middle or will we allow to left or right?

 3/29/16 - meeting w/Bill, David W., Janice, Jim, John, Tom, Wayne:

My notes on today’s meeting:

1. David will provide two pricing spreadsheets:  (1) Reclosables (which includes Zip Top, Zip Top w/Hang Hole, Amber ZT, Antistat ZT and Tamper Evident) and (2) Layflat-Registered
2. We will send all Reclosables detailed above to the reclosables spreadsheet – only ZT and ZT w/Hang Hole would allow registered printing at this time .  Doesn’t include Pre-opened or Lip & Tape-they will continue to call their own spreadsheets.  We will pass Hang Hole and Tamper Evident Flags so they can be priced properly (or David’s spreadsheet would have to know the Catalog Codes of these).  Amber will pass via SHOP.COLOR and Anti Static will pass via SHOP.MATERIAL.
3. We will send Layflat w/Registered Print to the new Layflat spreadsheet.  Our in-house made layflats will continue to be priced by our database program.
4. The two new spreadsheets will calculate freight$ using our existing rate per pound method
5. Registered – they can quote with no pdf.  They would like the Print Designer to return coverage% when there is a pdf.
6. We will not allow random repeat layflat marketplace at this time.
7. David will provide the calculations for us to determine the Minimum Order Quantity for ZT-Registered, ZT w/Hang Hole-Registered and Layflat-Registered
8. David will provide the calculation for us to determine the Count for ZT-Registered, ZT w/Hang Hole-Registered and Layflat-Registered
9. Wayne will provide our current upcharge calculations for Hang Hole, Tamper Evident, Amber and Antistatic reclosables so that David can include in his spreadsheet
10. We discussed how we would separate Layflat-Registered from Laddawn-made Layflats for Widget validation/default/enabling programs.  Also discussed what Catalog Code the MOD Item would have, and how we determine the correct part# (BAGS or MP).  We will continue the discussion tomorrow.  Below are some of the ideas we came up with so far.

Handling Marketplace Layflat-Registered Print:

• We agreed that setting a unique RULESET for Layflat-Reg would take us through the widget validation/default/enabling programs cleanly.
• The setting of the unique RULESET could be handled by adding rules to the Catalog Code Maintenance screen that could be used in LAD.SHOP.TOP or we could just hardcode the logic in LAD.SHOP.TOP
• It would be cleaner if we could change PROD.TYPE in LAD.SHOP.TOP, and have the standard logic set RULESET appropriately, but we believe that PROD.TYPE is checked against the nested menus throughout the widget, so changing it would cause problems.
• We discussed creating one or two new fields in CATALOG.CD.USR that could store the Marketplace Ruleset and/or an alternate Parent Code so that we could pull back through the widget using the alternate product code of 100 even though the catalog code wasn’t in the menu system

What we did not discuss was Domestic vs Import pricing – are both included in the spreadsheets?

 4/4/16 - email string about color bags & registered printing:

Thanks.  This means we can disable the Print Designer for marketplace items that have a bag color (other than Amber).  Please make sure to specify this in the Marketplace template that you fill out for Layflat-Registered.

Thanks,

Judy

 From: Tom Bleier
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 3:44 PM
To: Judy Ascensao; William Oncay; David Wholey
Cc: John Piette
Subject: RE: ZT/Layflat Bag Color

Hi,

This statement still holds true (even though I know it is not a programming issue):

Yes and No…  If they click on Random Repeat Printing they can select a different color bag, but if they select Registered (Zip Top or Layflat) they cannot have a background color

Thanks,
Tom

 From: Judy Ascensao
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 1:50 PM
To: William Oncay; Tom Bleier; David Wholey
Cc: John Piette
Subject: RE: ZT/Layflat Bag Color

Correct.  We need to know if a ZT color bag is selected, do we disable the Print Designer altogether (since we can’t random repeat print on a zip top)?

Judy

From: William Oncay
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 1:35 PM
To: Judy Ascensao; Tom Bleier; David Wholey
Cc: John Piette
Subject: RE: ZT/Layflat Bag Color

The answer from the Designer perspective is that we support bag colors, as defined in the spreadsheet of color and tint values we originally provided to AP.  I translated all the RGB values provided in that spreadsheet to the hex equivalents, and they are all built in to the prototype.   That said, I don’t know if we have a plan to get the actual color values as a function of the level 3 color selection in the widget.

As for having no background color on registered print jobs, we can certainly build that in.

The question remains, though, for ZT color, they will eventually be printed, right?  Will we support that out of the gate?

Bill

From: Judy Ascensao
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 1:31 PM
To: Tom Bleier; David Wholey
Cc: William Oncay; John Piette
Subject: ZT/Layflat Bag Color

I am looking for clarification on bag color for Zip Top and Zip Top/Registered Print.  As we discussed today, Wayne is in the process of allowing bag color for zip tops.  Will we allow a bag color if the zip top is being registered printed?  Back in October, this was the answer to that question.  Has this changed?

 Bill Asked:  Are we going to allow people to select different color bags? Does the plan for Amazing Print include changing the background color of the bag area?  If they select a black bag, they are going to want a white image, which will disappear on the white background. If this feature is built in already, can we get a feature on the screen somewhere where we can test it?

Tom's Answer: Yes and No…  If they click on Random Repeat Printing they can select a different color bag, but if they select Registered they cannot have a background color

 4/21/16 - meeting w/JP and Bill:

1. I will speak w/Susan about the new Print Group Description text
2. Providing print designer with a list of plates - right now it looks like they want a list of all custom and stock plates, regardless of size.  They do need to know the plate type so that they can put them on separate buttons.
3. Attaching PDF to forms:
   1. UI will handle Share Email and Order Ackn pdf attachment.  Share Item Email will only contain 1 pdf; order ackn could contain multiple.  John will create tickets for Sal
   2. JP and Bill will investigate how to print a pdf with the w/o traveler - we discussed sending the pdf via a program that would be added to the end of the w/o traveler/picklist job (Possibly use a bang command & acrobat)
   3. Purchasing will continue to attach the pdf to the vendor's email.  We don't have to do anything 

TICKETS CREATED:

• 16258 - 4-decimal image sizes (Janice)
• 16259 - Split WEB.MODITEM.GETPRICE into two programs - separate marketplace (Janice)
• 16409 - Level 3 enabling for Marketplace/new shop variables  (Janice)
• 16475 - Finish My Work (from cart to widget and back to cart) (Janice)
• 16772 - PDF Upload/Plate Number Assignment (Janice)
• 17035 - Handle MP Layflat Registered Catalog Code (Janice)
• 17039 - ZT and Layflat-Registered Pricing Spreadsheets (Wayne)
• 17105 - Layflat-Registered Print Widget handling (defaults/enabling/validations) (Janice)
• 17662 - Conversions for PLATES info (Janice)
• 17666 - Return plate lists to the UI (Janice)
• 17667 - Print Schematic PDF along with Work Order Traveler/Picklist (Janice)
• 18083 - Printing Upcharge and Plate Fee Calculations (Janice)
• 18115 - Return new description fields for Godzilla (Janice)
• 18117 - Add new fields to Print Plate Maintenance/Display Screens (Janice)