The Custom rendering module options specify which source document file extensions to render and the parameters to pass to the rendering application.
The Custom rendering module does not provide any of the following that are the responsibility of the rendering application and of the organization that implements it:
The rendering module automatically generates a configuration file from the source document information and the configuration parameters. The rendering application can use this configuration file to perform the rendering.
The desired path of the configuration file can be specified on the rendering application command line with the -profile key, for example, <Application>.exe -profile CustomRender.ini. If no path is specified, the default location of the configuration file is <ServiceAccountTempFolder>/BCTemp/<JobName>. The file is generated in standard .ini format with sections that group related settings together, for example, [Page]. The format makes it easier for you to understand the configuration and for applications to interpret the parameters.
Each setting occupies one line, for example, PageSize=A3.
Following is an example of an automatically generated configuration file:
[Common]
Source=F:\DataStor\Cache\ANDREWD\M-And-w8-64,D-Ht1\Publish\Test_2017.dwg
Destination=C:\tmp\BCTemp\CustomRender\Test_2017.pdf
Log=C:\tmp\BCTemp\CustomRender\Test_2017.log
[Source]
Category=Meridian
Name=Ht1@AND-W8-64
ID={417B4146-EF2B-11E0-0000-9D6D3C3A882E}
[Page]
Layout=0
PageSize=A3
PageOrientation=0
ZoomToExtents=1
[Pen]
Color=2
UseLineWeights=0
[Custom]
Units=mm
Stamp=1
If the rendering application does not support a parameter file in this format, create logic in an executable script file (.bat,.cmd,.ps1) that parses the parameter file and calculates and runs a command line that is compatible with the application. Upload the script file as a custom resource file on the server as described in Managing custom resources. An example PowerShell script for rendering with the AutoVue Document Converter is provided in C:\Program Files\BC-Meridian\Enterprise Server\CustomRenderAutoVue.ps1. Thoroughly test your script file apart from the publishing job first to be sure it works as expected.
To configure the Custom rendering module options:
In Meridian Enterprise Server Administration Console, in the Data Exchange group, click Rendering Profiles. The All Rendering Profiles page appears and lists the existing profiles grouped by the name of the computer (cluster node) to which they are assigned.
On the GENERAL page, click options or type values using the descriptions in the following table.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
|
Name |
The name of the rendering profile as seen in the Administration Console. |
|
Computer |
The name of the Meridian Enterprise Server cluster node on which to run this job. |
|
Input extensions |
The quantity of source file extensions to be rendered by this module. To select extensions:
|
|
Custom input extensions |
If you want the module to render files with extensions that are not shown in the INPUT EXTENSIONS list by default, type them (without the period) here separated by semi-colons (;). For example, txt2;xyz. The extensions will be added to the INPUT EXTENSIONS list in the Custom files group where you can select them. Note If you try to enter file extensions that already exist in the INPUT EXTENSIONS list, they will be automatically removed. |
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
|
Resource file to run |
Select an existing resource filename to run on the command line. The list contains files that have been uploaded as described in Managing custom resources. |
|
Include input and output filename parameters |
If enabled, passes the input, output, and log file names on the command line to the script. The log file output is also saved in the publishing log. If disabled, the file names are not passed to the script and output is not saved in the publishing log. |
|
Command line preview |
Read-only preview of the command line that would be run with the selected options. |
|
OPTIONS group |
|
|
Output file format |
The file extension (without the period) of the output from the rendering application. Files with this extension in the output folder will be detected for publishing. |
|
Update title blocks before rendering |
If enabled and the native application of the source document is installed on the rendering node, the title blocks in the document will be updated from the document properties before the document is rendered. If disabled or the application is not installed on the rendering node, the update is skipped. |
|
Use job advanced rendering settings |
Select this option if the values for the options in the PAGE SETUP group and the PEN SETUP group are stored as property values of the source documents. If so, then the document properties must be selected as described in Configuring rendering options. |
|
PAGE SETUP group |
|
|
Default page size |
Select an option from the list to specify the default rendition page size if Use job advanced rendering settings is not enabled or if a valid size is not found in the document property. |
|
Default orientation |
Select an option from the list to specify the default rendition page orientation if Use job advanced rendering settings is not enabled or if a valid size is not found in the document property. The values that are saved in the configuration file are: 0 - Portrait |
|
Layouts to export |
Select an option from the list to specify the default layout to render if Use job advanced rendering settings is not enabled or if a valid layout is not found in the document property. The values that are saved in the configuration file are: 0 - Active layout |
|
Custom layout |
If Custom is selected for the Layouts to export option, the name of the custom layout to render. This option is only available if Layouts to export is set to Custom. |
|
Zoom to extents |
If enabled, renders the drawing extents if it is larger than what is shown in the layout that is specified for the Layouts to export option. |
|
PEN SETUP group |
|
|
Default color |
Select an option from the list to specify the default color depth of the rendition if Use job advanced rendering settings is not enabled or if a valid size is not found in the document property. The values that are saved in the configuration file are: 0 - Monochrome |
|
Use line weights |
If enabled, renders line weights in the output according to the setting of Default pen table. |
|
Default pen table |
Select an option from the list to specify the default pen table to use if Use job advanced rendering settings is not enabled or if a valid pent table is not found in the document property. If the name of the pen table does not appear in the list, the computer might need to be scanned to discover the pen table as described in Configuring rendering options. |
| CUSTOM PARAMETERS group | |
|
Custom parameters |
Type parameter name and value pairs that are required by the rendering application. Type one pair per line in the format <Parameter>=<Value>. Each line will be added to the profile file unaltered for the script to parse accordingly. For example, username=john |