Implementing Business Logic

Loftware Enterprise™ SP allows advanced administrators to design business rules and processes that provide enhanced flexibility and allow you to incorporate business logic. For example, you can define business rules to dynamically select devices and label templates, populate label data, apply conditional formatting to labels, and release or cancel specific print jobs in a device queue.

You can add logic directly to forms, streamlining the on demand print process. You can improve accuracy and reduce the need for data entry because the software can determine which label templates to use, which devices to print to, and which validation rules to apply.

What Processes and Business Rules Are

A process is an object in Loftware Enterprise SP that binds together all of the components to be used when responding to a print request. Among other items, those components may include a label template, layout, device, and a business rule to be used when processing a print request.

A business rule is a collection of component sets or business rule components that can be used to incorporate logic or to add, change, or remove data or print parameters after a print request is submitted but before printing occurs. Business rules are similar to rules, but provide more robust functionality. Business rules can be designed using the Configurator or programmed using XML.

What Processes and Business Rules Can Do

Processes provide you with opportunities to override job properties and change the handling of a job by incorporating business rules. You can use processes and business rules to handle incoming jobs differently depending on their properties or other factors, or to enforce required settings.

If you are migrating from a Loftware Print Server (LPS) environment, you can use processes and business rules to perform the same functions as LPS Connector filters.

Tip: For assistance with a business rule that you have created or to have Loftware create business rules for you, contact Loftware's Professional Services Group.

How Processes Work

When you submit a print request by using an integration or on demand print, a process is run. By default, the process binds together the design and data sources from a label template and the components from a business rule if one is specified. Additionally, the label template, business rule, or the process itself may specify a layout. The process routes the output to a device to produce printed labels.

Loftware Enterprise SP comes with a default process that you can use called the Generic Document Process. This process does not apply any business rules or otherwise alter the print request. A Generic Layout Process is also provided that uses the LayoutProcessBusinessRule. If you want to override properties of print requests or apply business rules, you can create new processes and configure them to meet your needs.

A process can be selected either when configuring an integration or when printing on demand:

• When configuring an integration in Integrations , an administrator must select a process to be run automatically whenever that integration is used to submit a print job created in another application.
• When printing on demand in Print , a Data Provider may select a process to run instead of selecting a label template. When this approach is used, either the process or its business rule must specify a label template.

Important! It is recommended that you do not alter the Generic Document Process. This process is used when a Data Provider selects a label template in Print  and uses it to print labels. You can also associate it with integrations if you do not want to apply a business rule.