# Plot Management

## How to Define an Output File

Each plot job has at least one plot file and one plot job file with the file extension .ppa assigned to it. The job file contains information which the plot management system requires during processing.
Select System > Plot management > Output file configuration. This mask contains job file configuration information.

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The job file is an ASCII text file, containing individual lines with the following syntax: <key name>=<value>.
Example:

PlotDevice = 1220e
PlotFilename = 900095-1-0
PlotFiletype = .TIF

| Parameter values in the PPA value and Selection entry columns are retrieved from the plot server system. These parameter values must also be specified in all Create and define Plot Attributes masks!
| Please refer to the documentation of your plot management system for additional information.

Field | Description
PPA key | Name of the PPA key to assigne a value to. This name is dependent upon the plot management system!
PPA entry | Value to be assigned to the key. Values can be defined directly or indirectly through variables or procedures. The value is dependent upon the plot management system!
Selection entry | This parameter defines the conditions under which the contents of the PPA entry column is assigned to a key.
PPA Variable | Variable with plot job-specific data OR static character string that is displayed in combination with the parameter value of the keyword variable. The parameter value of the variable is passed from the database to the plot server system.
Plot system | Defines the relationship between a column in the list and a plot management system. Available options: CIMGRAPH UNIPLOT PLOSSYS
Sorting | Position number in record sequence.
Entry type | Defines whether the entry is valid for all plot jobs or only for Set jobs. Available options: A: all systems B: begin E: end S: set processing X: not available

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### List of PPA variables

Output variable | Database table and column | Description
CDDPK_DB_RES_REF | T_PAC_DAT.RES_REF | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_COLNAME | CDD_PLO_PAC.COLLATION_NAME | Set name
CDDPK_DB_ELM_TYP | T_PAC_DAT.ELM_TYPE | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_REL_STA | T_CHK_STA.REL_STA_GER | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_VERT_ID | CDD_PLO_PAC.VERT_ID | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_STEMPEL_2 | CDD_PLO_PAC.ALT_STAMP | Alternative stamps not processed
CDDPK_DB_SETUP | CDD_PLO_PAC.STIFTART | Setup
CDDPK_DB_COPIES | CDD_PLO_PAC.ANZAHL | Number of copies
CDDPK_DB_MEDIA | CDD_PLO_PAC.MEDIUM | Media
CDDPK_DB_NTM_REF | T_PAC_DAT.NTM_REF | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_PAC_MEMO | T_PAC_DAT.PAC_MEMO_GER | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_STEMPEL | CDD_PLO_PAC.STEMPEL | Stamp not processed
CDDPK_DB_SCALEFORMAT | CDD_PLO_PAC.SKALIERUNG_FORMAT | Scaling format
CDDPK_DB_COLOUR | CDD_PLO_PAC.FARBE | Color
CDDPK_DB_BANNER | CDD_PLO_PAC.BANNER | Banner
CDDPK_DB_LEV_IND | T_PAC_DAT.LEV_IND | Progress indicator
CDDPK_DB_FINISHFOLD | CDD_PLO_PAC.FINISH_FOLD | Folding
CDDPK_DB_REC_BOX | CDD_PLO_PAC.REC_BOX | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_COMMENT | CDD_PLO_PAC.BEMERKUNG | Comment
CDDPK_DB_PAC_STATUS | T_PAC_DAT.PAC_STATUS | Status
CDDPK_DB_FORMAT | CDD_PLO_PAC.FORMAT | Size
CDDPK_DB_CHK_NAM | T_PAC_DAT.CHK_NAME | Name of progress indicator
CDDPK_DB_DATE | CDD_PLO_PAC.DATUM | Date
CDDPK_DB_STATUS | CDD_PLO_PAC.STATUS | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_TIME | CDD_PLO_PAC.UHRZEIT | Time
CDDPK_DB_ACT_REF | T_PAC_DAT.ACT_REF | Not currently used
CDDPK_DB_EDBUSER | CDD_PLO_PAC.EDB_USER | User
CDDPK_DB_STARTTIME | CDD_PLO_PAC.STARTZEIT_ZEITP | Time
CDDPK_DB_SCALEFACTOR | CDD_PLO_PAC.SKALIERUNG_FAKTOR | Scaling factor
CDDPK_DB_PLOTTER | CDD_PLO_PAC.NAME | Name of output device
CDDPK_DB_SCALEMODE | CDD_PLO_PAC.SKALIERUNG_ART | Scale mode
CDDPK_DB_PRIORITY | CDD_PLO_PAC.PRIORITAET | Priority
CDDPK_DB_COLFLAG | CDD_PLO_PAC.COLLATION_FLAG | Set
CDDPK_DB_STARTMODE | CDD_PLO_PAC.STARTZEIT_ART | Start mode
CDDPK_DB_MODE | CDD_PLO_PAC.TYP_PLOTAUFTR | Type
CDDPK_STEMPEL |  | Stamp processed
CDD_PLO_PAC_C_ID |  | Plot ID
CDD_SKA_FAK | T_PAC_MUL.SKALIERUNG_FAKTOR | Scaling factor of document
CDD_COPIES | CDD_PLOTDEF.ANZAHL | Number of document copies
CDD_SKA_FOR | T_PAC_MUL.SKALIERUNG_FORMAT | Scaling format of document

### Operating Principle of the Output File

Output file parameters. The E column (type of entry) may contain the parameter values A, B, E, S, X. For information on the function of these parameter values, see Field description. Additional columns are directly related to each other. Columns are interpreted from right to left.

Two types of output file parameters can be differentiated:

The "PPA Variable" column

If the parameter value specified in the PPA Variable column is a constant it is plotted without further processing.
Alternatively, the PPA Variable column could contain a variable (identified by a leading '@‘ character, see List of PPA Variables for a list of available variables). The parameter value of this variable is compared to the parameter value in the Selection entry column. The following cases are differentiated:

- If no value has been defined then the parameter value of the the variable is plotted.
- If the selection entry parameter does not match the parameter value of the variable then the line is skipped .
- If PPA Variable and selection entry match then the PPA entry column is evaluated.

The "PPA entry" column

The following rules apply for the evaluation of the PPA entry:

Valid entries include constants, variables (identified by a leading ‘@‘), and functions (identified by a leading '#‘). Any constants found are plotted.

Variables may be combined using ‘&’ (logical AND) and ‘|‘ (logical OR) operators. In case of a logical AND relation the contents of the variables - separated by a white space - are combined. Logical OR operations are evaluated from left to right until variable contents is found.

If the PPA entry column contains a function, this function must be part of the CDD_CUSTOMIZE LogiView compound. Function names are user-defined. The function is initialized with a lgv_nosel_run command. It returns a character string as output for the plot job file in the CDD_FUNKTION the default parameter.

Example: default_set(“CDD_FUNKTION“,“S“,MY_VALUE)

The customizing functions enable a retrieval of custom variables through the CDD_CUSTOMIZE compound. This compound provides five procedures, whose names must not be changed:

Procedure | Description
InsertPlotOrder | Is executed upon creation of a plot job. This procedure can be used to retrieve field information of additional fields in the plot job.
GetPlotOrderData | Executed once during output of every plot job.
GetPlotDocData | Executed once for every associated document on output of the plot job.
BuildPrintPunchOrderData | Changes or ammends print and punch data for microfilm plot jobs. Once for every plot job.
BuildPrintPunchDocData | Changes or ammends print and punch data for microfilm plot jobs. Once for every document in a plot job.

Print and punch data variables must be defined in CDDPK_DB_PRINTDATA and CDDPK_DB_PUNCHDATA.

The following output syntax is required for all custom variables:

default_set(“MY_VARIABLE“,“S“,MY_VALUE).