How do I add a folder automation to my Project?

Automations in Studio Prime let you set up custom workflows that perform preset actions on documents in a specified Project folder. For more information, see the Automations page.

Note:  When a Member is removed from the Prime account, any automations that had been set up on their Projects will become non-functional.

To add a folder automation to a Studio Project, do the following:

1. Log into the Studio Prime portal.

2. Click Automations. The Automations page is opened to the Active tab by default.

3. Click Create New. The Automation Configuration panel appears.

4. Select the Studio Project to which this automation will apply from the Project list.
5. Select the input folder from the available Project folders by clicking in the Folder field, then selecting the desired Project folder in the dialog box that appears and clicking Go. This is the Project folder Studio Prime will monitor going forward.
   • To also monitor the subfolders within this folder, select Include Subfolders.

   Note:  Input folders can only be attached to one automation at a time.

   Warning: Making changes to either the Project folder or the Input folder will render the automation non-functional.

6. Select one of the following options from the Start Processing Files When menu:
   • A new file is added to the folder: The automation will be performed only on files that are added to the input folder. Making changes to files once they are in the folder will not trigger an additional automation.
   • A new file is modified: The automation will be perform whenever an existing file in the input folder is modified.
7. Enter a name for this automation in the Automation Name field.
8. Enter a brief description of the Automation in the Description field (optional).

9. Click Save. A list of available automations appears.

10. Click Edit for the desired automation type to determine what actions are applied to files of the specified type in the input folder. You can configure as many of the available automation types as desired.
11. Configure the file options, when applicable. The configuration details for each is described below.

    Word

    • Transfer Data: Enable the options to Transfer Hyperlinks and/or Transfer Bookmarks found in the Word document to the PDF.
    • Image DPI: Select the maximum number of Dots Per Inch (or “resolution”) to convert images to.
    • Customize Page Setup: Enable this option to configure custom margins, page size, page layout.

    Image

    • No file options to configure.

    PDF

    • No file options to configure.

    PostScript

    • Image DPI: Select the maximum number of Dots Per Inch (or “resolution”) to convert images to.
    • Line Merge: Enable to preserve transparency where lines meet.
      • Blend Mode: Select a mode to use when blending intersecting lines (blend modes described below).
      • Opacity: Sets the opacity as a percent, where 100% is completely opaque and 0% is completely transparent.

    Excel

    • Transfer Data: Enable the options to Transfer Hyperlinks and/or Transfer Bookmarks found in the Excel document to the PDF.
    • Image DPI: Select the maximum number of Dots Per Inch (or “resolution”) to convert images to.
    • Customize Page Setup: Enable this option to configure custom margins, page size, page layout.

    DWG

    • What to Plot: Choose what elements to plot. Options are Model Only, All Layouts, or Layouts and Model Space (default).
    • Image DPI: Select the maximum number of Dots Per Inch (or “resolution”) to convert images to.
    • Plot Area: Choose either Default or Extents as the plot area.
    • Transfer Hyperlinks: Enable to include hyperlinks found in the DWG in the PDF.
    • Apply Wipeouts: Enable to include wipeouts found in the DWG in the PDF.
    • SHX Fonts: Enable to include SHX fonts found in the DWG in the PDF.
    • Layers: Enable to include layers found in the DWG in the PDF. To include off layers as well, enable Include Off Layers.
    • Use Plot Style Table: Enable to use a plot style table from an existing Project document.
      • When this option is enabled, click in the Enter path to Plot Style Table field and select the file or folder with the table to be used in the dialog box that appears, then click Go. If a folder is selected, all tables within the folder will be included.
    • Use Custom Font: Enable to use a custom font in the PDF.
      • When this option is enabled, click in the Enter path to Font field and select the file with the desired font in the dialog box that appears, then click Go.
    • Line Merge: Enable to preserve transparency where lines meet.
      • When this option is enabled, select a Blend Mode to be used when blending intersecting lines (blend modes described below) and set an Opacity percentile, where 100% is completely opaque and 0% is completely transparent.
12. Add Actions by doing the following:
    1. Click Add.
    2. Select the desired action from the menu that appears.
    3. Click the check to add the selected action.
    4. Configure the action, when applicable. The configuration options for each action is described below.
    5. Repeat this process to add more actions, as desired.

13. Arrange the actions according to the desired workflow, as applicable. Each action will be executed in the order shown, so arrange prerequisite actions accordingly.

    Warning: If these workflows are not constructed carefully, some actions may have unintended effects on those that follow. Be sure to consider the order of actions when building a workflow.

14. Select the output folder from the available Project folders by clicking in the File Output Path field, then selecting the desired Project folder in the dialog box that appears and clicking Go. This is the Project folder Studio Prime will use to deposit the files it generates.

15. To add a prefix and/or a suffix to the name of output files, enter it in the Add Prefix and/or Add Suffix field, as appropriate.

    Note:  The characters \ / : * ? " < > | cannot be used in these fields.

16. To save the pages of multi-page files as individual files, select Split pages to individual files.
17. Click Save. The Automation is now saved and ready for use.

Automation Action Configuration Options

Below are brief descriptions of each of the Automation Actions (or scripts) that can be run on PDFs through Studio Prime Automations.

Note:  While every script can be run on any PDF, not all of them will have an effect on every PDF. For example, the Flatten script would have no discernible effect on a PDF which contains nothing to flatten; it would still be run on that PDF, there just would be no obvious effect.

Create PDF/A Report: This action will create a PDF/A report verifying that the file is a valid PDF/A archive.

• No configuration necessary.

Delete Pages: This action will delete specified pages from the resulting PDF.

• Enter the page range to be deleted. Separate pages by commas or indicate page ranges with hyphens. For example, "1, 3, 5-7" will delete pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.

Export Form Data: This action export the form data of the resulting PDF and save it as a separate document.

• Select the desired Export Format.

Export Markup: This action will export the markups of the resulting PDF and save them to a separate document. Exported markup files will automatically have the prefix "markups_" added to their name.

• Select the desired Export Markup format. BAX is the default Revu export format.

  Note:  Large documents may have issues exporting to JSON.

Extract Pages: This action will extract specified pages of the resulting PDF and save them as a separate document.

• Select the pages that should be extracted. If Custom Range is selected, enter the page range to be extracted. Separate pages by commas or indicate page ranges with hyphens. For example, "1, 3, 5-7" will extract pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.

Flatten: This action will flatten the markups on specified pages of the resulting PDF.

• Page Range: Select the pages that should be flattened. If Custom Range is selected, enter the page range to be flattened. Separate pages by commas or indicate page ranges with hyphens. For example, "1, 3, 5-7" will flatten pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.
• Flatten to a Layer: When enabled, markups on the affected pages will be automatically flattened to a specified layer. Enter the desired name of the layer in the Layer Name field. When not enabled, markups are automatically flattened to the content layer.
• Allow Markup Recovery (Unflatten): When enabled, flattened markups can be unflattened later.
• Flatten the following: Select the specific markup types to flatten. By default, all markup types are flattened.

Header and Footer: This action will add a header and/or footer to the resulting PDF.

• Page Range: Select the pages to which headers and/or footers should be applied. If Custom Range is selected, enter the page range. Separate pages by commas or indicate page ranges with hyphens. For example, "1, 3, 5-7" will add headers and/or footers pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.
• Font: Select the desired font, size, and any desired formatting options.
• Set the Margin Top, Margin Bottom, Margin Left, and Margin Right for the headers and/or footers. To constrain the content to these margins, select Fit Content Inside Margins.
• Enter the desired header and/or footer content in the Header Left, Header Center, Header Right, Footer Left, Footer Center, and/or Footer Right fields. Each name indicates the final position of the content, header or footer followed by justification.
  • To insert automatically generated content, click inside the desired location field and click the desired content button: Page Number, Date, File Data, or Bates Number. This will reveal a configuration option directly below that relates to the data type. Configure accordingly and click Insert (<location>).

Import Custom Columns: This action will import the custom Markups List columns from an existing Project file into the resulting PDF.

• Select File to Import from: Click inside this field and select a Project file from which to import custom columns.

Insert Blank Pages: This action insert blank pages into the resulting PDF.

• Page Style: Select the style, if any, that should be applied to the blank pages that are inserted.
• Insert: Choose where to insert the blank pages. If Before or After are selected, indicate the page relative to which the blank pages should be inserted in the Page field.
• Set the Width and Height of the blank pages to be inserted in inches.
• Indicate the Number of Blank Pages to Insert.

Insert Pages: This action will insert pages from another Project file into the resulting PDF.

• Select File to Import from: Select the Project file from which pages should be inserted.
• Insert: Choose where to insert the pages. If Before or After are selected, indicate the page relative to which the pages should be inserted in the Page field.
• Options: Select the desired options that should be included with the Insert Pages operation. They are:
  • Include Bookmarks: When enabled, any bookmarks on the pages to be inserted will be brought over into the new document.
  • Include File Attachments: When enabled, any file attachments on the pages to be inserted will be brought over into the new document.
  • Merge Layers: When enabled, any layers on the pages to be inserted will be brought over into the new document and merged with any existing layers, if applicable.
  • Use File Name as Page Label: When enabled, the file name of the source document for the pages to be inserted will be used as the label for inserted pages.
  • Merge Document Properties: When enabled, the document properties of the source document will be brought over into the new document and merged with existing document properties.

Process Colors: This action manipulates the colors of the resulting PDF by changing a selected color to another color, or making color PDFs either greyscale or black and white.

• Process to: Choose a color processing option from the menu. Options are Grayscale, Black & White, and Custom.
  • If Custom is selected, select a Start Color and an End Color. During processing, the Start Color will be changed to the End Color. To scale the color, enable that
  • option. Then indicate the Page Range over which color processing should take place. If Custom Range is selected, enter the page range to be processed. Separate pages by commas or indicate page ranges with hyphens. For example, "1, 3, 5-7" will process pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.
• Process Images: Enable to process colors for images in addition to document colors.

Reduce File Size: This action will attempt to reduce the size of the resulting PDF by compressing images and/or removing non-visible document data, as specified.

Note:  Performing this action on a page containing flattened markups will prevent all markups on the page from being unflattened.

• Image Quality: Choose a quality to which images should be reduced.
• Image DPI: Select the maximum number of Dots Per Inch (or “resolution”) to convert images to.
• Drop Embedded Fonts: Enable to remove any embedded fonts from the PDF. Note that this might affect the display of the PDF on some computers; if a font used in the PDF is not present on another computer, a substitute font will be used to render the PDF.
• Compress All Data Streams: Enable to compress any uncompressed content streams (the primary means for describing the appearance of pages and other graphical elements in a PDF) in the PDF.
• Drop Miscellaneous Data: Enable to drop metadata, thumbnails, private data, and unused resources from the PDF.

Repair: This action will attempt to repair selected display issues of the resulting PDF.

Note:  Performing this action on a page containing flattened markups will prevent all markups on the page from being unflattened.

• Fix Striped Images: Enable to correct lines or stripes that appear in images.
• Combine Adjacent Images: Enable to join images that are next to each other into a single image. Large images are sometimes sliced into smaller sections or strips at the time the PDF is created. This option will rejoin these sections into a single image.
• Optimize Solid Color Images: Enable to convert solid color raster images to vector, which requires less space to store in the PDF and reduces the PDF file size.
• Process Masks: Enable to correct PDFs created from AutoCAD drawings that have text masks or wipeouts.
• Remove Text Clipping: Enable to correct PDFs with text near the upper margins of a drawing that is clipped.

Reverse Pages: This action will reverse the page order of the resulting PDF.

• No configuration necessary.

Rotate Pages: This action will rotate specified pages of the resulting PDF.

• Angle: Choose an angle to which affected pages should be rotated.
• Apply to: Select which pages in the PDF should be rotated, either just Landscape-oriented pages, just Portrait-oriented pages, or both Landscape- and Portrait-oriented pages.
• Page Range: Select the pages which should be rotated. If Custom Range is selected, enter the page range. Separate pages by commas or indicate page ranges with hyphens. For example, "1, 3, 5-7" will rotate pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.

Save As PDF/A: This action will also save the resulting PDF as a PDF/A archive.

• No configuration necessary.

Stamp: This action will place a selected stamp on specified pages of the resulting PDF. A preview window is offered to represent the general area on the PDF where the stamp will be placed, though the exact placement of each stamp will depend on a variety of factors, including page size and any offsets you define.

Note:  Stamps requiring user input, for example dynamic stamps, cannot be automated. Using any such stamp in an Automation will cause it to fail, resulting in no output.

• Select Stamp: Select the stamp to be used from the available Project files.
• Anchor Point: Select the part of the PDF to stamp.
• Page Range: Select the pages to which the stamp should be applied. If Custom Range is selected, enter the page range. Separate pages by commas or indicate page ranges with hyphens. For example, "1, 3, 5-7" will stamp pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.
• Lock Stamp Once Placed: When enabled, the stamp is automatically locked once it's placed.
• XOffset (in): Sets the distance, in inches, to offset the stamp on the X axis.
• YOffset (in): Sets the distance, in inches, to offset the stamp on the Y axis
• Rotation (°): Sets the rotation angle of the stamp.
• Opacity (%): Sets the opacity of the stamp as a percent, where 100% is completely opaque and 0% is completely transparent.
• Scale (%): Sets the size of the stamp as a percentage of its default size.
• Blend Mode: Defines the method by which the color in the stamp blends with the underlying PDF content. The available blend modes are:
  • Normal: Selects the source color, ignoring the backdrop.
  • Multiply: Multiplies the backdrop and source color values. The result color is always at least as dark as either of the two constituent colors.
  • Screen: Multiplies the complements of the backdrop and the source color values, then complements the result. The result color is always at least as light as either of the two constituent colors.
  • Overlay: Multiplies or screens the colors, depending on the backdrop color. The colors overlay the backdrop while preserving its highlights and shadows. The backdrop color is not replaced but is mixed with the source color to reflect the lightness or darkness of the backdrop.
  • Darken (default): Selects the darker of the backdrop and source colors. The backdrop is replaced with the source where the source is darker; otherwise, it is left unchanged.
  • Lighten: Selects the lighter of the backdrop and source colors. The backdrop is replaced with the source where the source is lighter; otherwise, it is left unchanged.
  • Color Dodge: Brightens the backdrop color to reflect the source color. Painting with black produces no changes.
  • Color Burn: Darkens the backdrop color to reflect the source color. Painting with white produces no change.
  • Hard Light: Multiplies or screens the colors, depending on the source color. The effect is similar to shining a harsh spotlight on the backdrop.
  • Soft Light: Darkens or lightens the colors, depending on the source color value. The effect is similar to shining a diffused spotlight on the backdrop.
  • Difference: Subtracts the darker of the two constituent color. Painting with white inverts the backdrop color; painting with black produces no change.
  • Exclusion: Produces an effect similar to that of the Difference mode but lower in contrast. Painting with white inverts the backdrop color; painting with black produces no change.
  • Luminosity: Creates a color with the luminosity of the source color and the hue and saturation of the backdrop color. This produces an inverse effect to that of the Color mode.
  • Hue: Creates a color with the hue of the source color and the saturation and luminosity of the backdrop color.
  • Saturation: Creates a color with the saturation of the source color and the hue and luminosity of the backdrop color. Painting with this mode in an area of the backdrop that is a pure gray (no saturation) produces no change.
  • Color: Creates a color with the hue and saturation of the source color and the luminosity of the backdrop color. This preserves the gray levels of the backdrop and is useful for coloring monochrome images or tinting color images.

Unflatten: This action will unflatten applicable markups on specified pages of the resulting PDF. Not all markups are subject to unflattening.

• Page Range: Select the pages on which flattened markups should be unflattened. If Custom Range is selected, enter the page range. Separate pages by commas or indicate page ranges with hyphens. For example, "1, 3, 5-7" will unflatten markups on pages 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7.