Loop

Loop action tasks are used to repeat those tasks that are located after it on a given process branch. The number of repeats can be fixed or variable, as required.

Note: The Metadata is not reset at the start of each iteration. See also: Output issues caused by Metadata, and how to avoid them.

Task properties

General Tab

• Number of iterations: The number of times the loop should be repeated. Every task after the Loop action task will be repeated this number of times. The number may be static, or use a variable (see Variable task properties).
• Store current iteration in Job Info #: The Job Info in which the loop's iteration should be stored. Useful for sequential file names or conditions based on the iteration. The value of this Variable Properties box should be a digit between 1 and 9 (see Job Info variables).
• Use value of Variable/Job Info # expression: If the contents of the previous option is a variable, its content (which is assumed to be a number between 1 and 9) will be used to determine which Job Info number to use for the iteration number. For example if %{myvariable} is used and contains the value 9, then Job Info 9 will store the value of the loop's iteration.
• Use original Data Stream every time: Select to reuse the original job file received by the Loop action task at every iteration. If this option is not selected and if the process ends with a Printer Queue Output task, for example, the second time the Loop action task will be performed, it will use the PostScript file generated by the output task.

On Error Tab

For a description of the options on the On Error tab see Using the On Error tab.

Miscellaneous Tab

The Miscellaneous tab is common to all tasks.

It contains a text area (Task comments) that lets you write comments about the task. These comments are saved when the dialog is closed with the OK button and are displayed in The Task Comments Pane.

Check the option Use as step description to display the text next to the icon of the plugin in the Process area.

The tab also provides an option to highlight the task in The Process area with the default color, set in the Preferences (see Colors), or the color selected or defined under Highlight color on this tab.
To revert the selected highlight color to the default color, open this tab, turn the Highlight option off and close the dialog with the OK button; then turn highlighting back on.
Highlighting can also be turned on and off via the task's contextual menu and with the Highlight button on the View ribbon.