NOTE: Recently we've released several new versions of Navigator DFE for DuraFlex.
You may be confused about which version is right for you. Don't worry.
Today, Feb 14, 2020, the answer is r8 for single-width, simplex or POD, and r7 for 2-wide, simplex. As of Feb 30, the answer will be r9 for everything.
2-printhead-wide printers was introduced in r7.
Print on Demand (POD) was released in r8.
Duplex releases with r9.
r9 supports 1-wide, 2-wide, and duplex printers. All users should migrate to r9 as long as they have their printer firmware updated.
February 14th, 2023 NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R9.0 (TR1)
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* Workflow 9.0.1.19
* DFE Web Client 2.3
* DuraFlex Spooler 3.0.1.7
* XiSpooler 1.1.2.7
* JobSubmissionLib 8.1.1.1
* XiService 1.3.0.11
* XiEvents 1.2.2.6
* HHR 13.1.3.8
* NCE 3.6
* DCE 3.1
* MacOS Navigator Client 8.9.2.47
* Postflight 51
* DFEBackRest 8
* LogJam 10 with specific configuration for DuraFlex.
Please note:
* This release requires Memjet DuraFlex Press and Interface firmware revisions KPes_xx-21
* This release requires a scaleable RIP license with concurrency of at least 4 for each PC.
Changes:
* Added support for DuraFlex Duplex presses.
DFE Changes:
* Job Editor Dialog has new Print Options feature: Page Filter for selecting All, Odd, or Even pages to output.
* DuraFlex Settings Dialog changes Mid Job Service controls to Enable and Max Page Interval only - Removing Max Length Interval.
* DuraFlex Settings Dialog now has eighteen lines of Printer Status Fields.
* Ink Tank display now supports dual ink tanks.
* DuraFlex Settings Dialog enables the TOF setting for the second stage if the TOF settings array has more than one stage.
* DuraFlex Settings Dialog now allows setting the TOF Media Mode for Stage 1 and Stage 2 independently.
December 9th, 2022 NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R8.0
Workflow 8.9.3.2, XiFlow Server 8.9.3.2, RenderAction 8.9.3.2 DFE Web Client 2.2.2
DuraFlex Spooler 3.0.1.7
XiService 1.3.0.10
HHR 13.1.3.7
NCE 3.5
DCE 3.1
MacOS Navigator Client 8.9.2.47
Postflight 51
DFEBackRest 8
LogJam 10 with specific configuration for DuraFlex.
Please note:
This release requires Memjet DuraFlex firmware 5.2.2.
This release requires a scaleable RIP license with concurrency of at least 4 for each PC.
RIP-only PC installations are yet not yet supported.
Changes:
Added support for DuraFlex Print On Demand. See DuraFlexPOD_instructions.pdf
The batch scripts run by the installers to configure SLP no longer set the SLP service to automatically restart if it quits. Instead, provided %programdata%\xitron\SLP\configure_SLP_to_restart.bat is provided so this can be done manually.
Server and Web Server Client: Implemented UpdateDeviceInfo Web API command.
Added support for 640dpi (NCE, Server, Spooler, RIP Manager.)
Updates to head alignment configuration.
NCE index page enables DuraFlex tab for DuraFlexPOD System Device.
Added GetDuraFlexPODVersions.py in Utilities folder.
Improvements to Web API including bug fixes and addition of Copy Count Multiplier support to Overrides in JobsDB.
DFE New Functionality:
DuraFlex Settings Index Wiper Button now has a slider to select the index level.
DuraFlex Settings Test Print and Service Buttons can now be selectively disabled by a new device command from the WebAPI.
DuraFlex Device Speed Setting in the Job Editor Dialog can now be overridden by a new device command from the WebAPI.
Servicing buttons are now disabled when the DuraFlex engine is not in a state where Servicing is allowed.
DFE Bug Fixes:
DuraFlex “Wipe” button is now called “Index Wiper”.
The on-screen numeric keypad will no longer re-center its position when selecting a different text field to edit.
When closing the DuraFlex Settings window with the on-screen Keypad or Keyboard open, the Keypad or Keyboard will also be closed.
Bug Fix: Index Wiper Button now shows the correct Index value with single head DuraFlex devices.
Desktop Clients:
Added Collate Page checkbox for use as the default in the General tab of the Workflow Editor.
Added Reverse Page Order checkbox for use as the default in the General tab of the Workflow Editor.
Changes in MacOS Navigator Client:
Added Media Thickness to XiPosition media list.
Fixed bug where removing a media template would not immediately remove it from the menu.
Added Resume Job command to Jobs Table.
Fixed bug that could allow identical XiPosition media to be created with different names.
Fixed bug where workflow steps remained under a job in the jobs table if those steps were deleted from the base workflow and the job was then restarted.
DuraFlex Spooler:
Fix to prevent potential crash when updating dialog immediately after launch.
Changes to the Control dialog - reduced available items and resized dialog.
Updates for compatibility with HHR 13.1.3.2 and later.
Added support for DuraFlexPrint On Demand
JobSubmissionLib: updated from 8.0.0.1 to 8.1.1.1
JslConfigs.XML: Enabled second strip for two-wide press support (previously it was commented out; it will be ignored if not needed)
July 12th, 2022 NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R7.0
Workflow 8.7.3.2, XiFlow Server 8.7.3.3, RenderAction 8.7.3.3 DFE Web Client 2.1.3
DuraFlex Spooler 3.0.1.2
XiService 1.3.0.6
HHR 13.1.0.13
NCE 3.1
DCE 3.1
Postflight 51
DFEBackRest 8
LogJam 10 with specific configuration for DuraFlex.
Please note:
This release requires a scaleable RIP license with concurrency of at least 4 for each PC.
Persistent RIP mode is not yet supported.
RIP-only PC installations are yet not yet supported.
Changes:
Multi-head support for two-wide DuraFlex variant. Also supports one-wide DuraFlex variant. Added RIP-only installer for use on second PC.
Two-wide workflows will require Page Filter Action.
An alignment tool is included; see the 'Print alignment' folder.
PES commands for drain printheads and circulate inks are supported.
On the DFE DuraFlex page, if there are two print units, when a button is pressed the user is presented the choice of sending the command to a specific unit or both.
Thumbnailer.exe: corrected crash. If the task file is corrupt, it will now start a new file from scratch. Thumbnailer.exe now ensures thumbnail RIP does not launch Thrift components in all cases.
RenderAction: now uses the correct path to locate the Tone Curve info file.
RenderAction: corrected an issue with overriding calibration selection in the Client Workflow Editor. LogJam 10: added LogJamRemote to automate gathering of log files from the RIP-only PC (if any). FixupShares: overcame an issue causing this to take a long time running, and then fail.
Requeing a job now correctly preserves all of the override settings.
XiService: Now waits for HHR to terminate before launching a new one. Applies only if the RIP is not running in persistent mode. See .ini setting below.
Corrections to RenderAction.
Corrections to XFDebug. DFE:
DuraFlex Settings now supports DuraFlex systems with up to 6 heads. Command buttons will allow commands to be sent to any combination of heads.
Job Editor dialog thumbnail is now displayed even if no RIP step is in the workflow. Added ability to hide Pause/Resume button via ShowPauseResumeButton entry in CustomInterface.json.
Bug Fixes
Fixed thumbnail flashing for running jobs.
Fixed negative and decimal value entry in the DuraFlex Settings TOF Adjustment field. Default the Number of Heads to 1 so the maintenance buttons work for older DuraFlex Servers that do not support multiple heads.
XiService.ini setting to change time allowed for HHR to terminate. The default is ten seconds.
Known issues:
Important note: After a new installation of 7.0 it is required to set XiEventsHost` in `ThriftPorts.json` to the name of the Master PC. Since this is not an obvious thing to have to do, we have specially documented this short procedure here.
FixupShares will no longer localize the 'Everyone' user name. For non-English locales it may be edited and run by hand 'as Administrator' to make the necessary shares and set folder permissions.
If %APPDATA%\Xitron\DuraFlex\DuraFlexSpooler.ini or %PROGRAMDATA%\Xitron\XiShare\ThriftPorts.json have been modified in a previous installation, the changes will need to be applied to those files in this installation.
Running heavy printhead service too soon after having already run it will display error in GUI but jobs can still be submitted. Error will clear once RIP Navigator Client is restarted.
When attempting to run a service command during printing, a fault occurs. Need to re-start the spooler. Running service commands during printing is a corner case.
Status shown as idle/online/ready when system is deprimed.
Two hydration controls are missing from the GUI. Specifically, Sacrificial page length and Prepage spit intensity on a per-color basis. These can be configured in hwparamstore.json.
June 13th, 2022 NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R6.0.2
Workflow 8.6.3.15
DFE Web Client 2.1
DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.1.4
HHR 13.1.0.7
NCE 3.007
DCE 3.1
Postflight v51
Please note: this release requires a scaleable RIP license with concurrency of at least 4.
Changes:
Corrections in XiService, XiEvents.
Correction in Server for overrides in requeued jobs.
RenderAction correction to allow Workflow Editor Render Action step to override the calibration specified using NCE.
April 11th, 2022 NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R6.0.1
Workflow 8.6.3.14 DFE Web Client 2.0.6
DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.1.4
HHR 13.1.0.7
NCE 3.007
DCE 3.1
Postflight v51
Please note: this release requires a scaleable RIP license with concurrency of at least 4. Changes:
DFE: Fixed issue where changing the Spot Color Adjustment Set on the Job Editor dialog didn't work by simply removing the popup menu. It is now just a text label that displays the selected set as is chosen in the Spot Color Adjustment dialog.
The default Web Server port has changed from 80 to 81 to avoid a possible clash with IIS.
February 14, 2022, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R6.0
Workflow 8.6.2.10 DFE Web Client 2.0.3
DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.1.4
HHR 13.1r0 13.1.0.2 NCE v3.004
DCE v2.2
Postflight v51
Please note: this release requires a scaleable RIP license with concurrency of at least 4. Changes:
Persistent RIP. See 'Configuring the RIP Farm to continue running between jobs' in DuraFlexInstallation.pdf
RIP updated to R13.1r0.
Manual Calibration and Tone Curves are pushed on the fly for each job, AKA 'jobpush'.
SLP is now installed under .
Selected symbol files will be installed into the Navigator\Symbols folder. The installer no longer installs the two duplex fake press definitions.
Spooler changes to support scaleable HHR.
Corrected an issue with jobs that restart after being archived to and back off disk in the thumbnailing code.
Implemented change to Pause behaviour. DuraFlex Spooler will default to Stream on Start.
The installer will now configure the Windows firewall to allow XiService, XiEvents, clrip. Added PRE_JOB declog mode option to the Hydration configuration dialog.
Added the ability to set the maximum speed for both DuraFlex resolutions.
Added the ability to configure the press speed for each Y resolution (954 and 1600) on the DuraFlex System Device Advanced dialog. See Installation instructions FAQ section.
Updated User Resources\Utilities, including:
Added BackRest for configuration backup/restore.
Added XiSettings for easy editing of .ini file settings. See its Readme.txt file for final installation step.
DFE Web App
New functionality
Media Size Column in Jobs Table now shows and sorts actual page dimensions if no XiPosition Media Size has been set.
Clicking the Selected column's header in the Jobs Table toggles selecting all jobs in the table.
New Jobs Table Columns: Job Number, Workflow, Printed, Last Printed, Paper, Time Stamp. Jobs Table Columns can now be reordered by drag and drop.
Jobs Table Columns can now be shown or hidden via Settings Panel. Jobs Table Columns in the Recent tab can be sorted.
Jobs Queue can be reordered by sorting table columns. DuraFlex TOF Adjustment added to DuraFlex settings dialog.
Job Editor Dialog now includes Calibration and Tone Curve Color settings. Job Editor dialog now displays name of the job and the job's dimensions.
Thumbnail of the running job will now update as it progresses through the workflow. Changing the "Quality" in the Job Editor now refreshes all of the settings in the associated Render Config or PSU.
Bug fixes
Fixed issue where clicking a button's label would sometimes not activate the button. DuraFlex Settings Pause After Every Job now works even if another setting is changed immediately after it.
Jobs Table is now also sortable by Job Name.
Jobs Table no longer automatically sorts in reverse chronological order when switching tab views.
NCE
Revised appearance.
Added Tone Curve editor to NCE.
Tone Curve import moved from Color Profiles tab to Tone Curves tab. Changes to JSON formats to support 'jobpush' calibration.
Notes:
This release supports PES API versions 4.2.3, 5.0.2, and 5.2.0 with no Xitron software change required.
Although existing manual calibrations will be preserved and converted to the new 'jobpush' method. If these had been saved as 'Use as default' in NCE, only the main adjustments will be honored, not the adjustments in the default curve.
describe two modes for TIFF input. For DuraFlex R6.0, only Mode 1, where the list of TIFF files is fully enumerated, is supported.
Tone Curve selection moved from Color Profiles tab to Render Configs tab. Any existing Tone Curve
selection made on the NCE or DCE Colors tab will not be preserved, the selection will need to be remade in the NCE RenderConfigs tab or DFE.
Manual Calibration will now use 'push' calibration in-line in the job's RenderConfig. Ink Limiting is not yet implemented; the control is hidden.
If the RIP fails to find the selected calibration or tone curve, it issues a warning in its log but does not error the job. If this occurs, it should be highlighted at the top of the Postflight report.
July 14, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.2
Workflow 8.4.7.2 DFE Web Client 1.4.5 DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.10 HHR 13.0r0 2.1.0.4 NCE v2.28 DCE v2.2 Postflight v45
Changes:
Add support for DuraFlexTIFFInput. Fix for mid-job servicing issue.
Postflight amended to run under DuraFlex.
June 18, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.1
Workflow 8.4.5.1 DFE Web Client 1.4.5 DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.10 HHR 12.0r2 1.2.4.6 NCE v2.28 DCE v2.2
Changes:
Adjust a few of the defaults in the DuraflexSpooler.ini file.
June 3, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.1 RC5
Workflow 8.4.5.1 DFE Web Client 1.4.5
DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.10
HHR 12.0r2 1.2.4.6 NCE v2.28
DCE v2.2
Changes:
Removed a couple of ICC profiles from InstallerResources.
June 2, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.1 RC4
Workflow 8.4.5.1 DFE Web Client 1.4.5
DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.10
HHR 12.0r2 1.2.4.6 NCE v2.28
DCE v2.2
Changes:
DFE Web Client updated to v1.4.5, see separate release notes.
May 28, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.1 RC3
Workflow 8.4.5.1 DFE Web Client 1.4.4
DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.10
HHR 12.0r2 1.2.4.6 NCE v2.28
DCE v2.2
Changes:
Update the customized files for a pre-configured system.
Updated User Resources\Utilities: Added BackRest v4.0 for system backup/restore. Updated LogJam v8.0 for gathering log files. Updated Postflight v43.0 Added XiSettings for easy editing of .ini file settings. See its Readme.txt file for final installation step.
May 24, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.1 RC2
Workflow 8.4.5.1 DFE Web Client 1.4.4
DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.10
HHR 12.0r2 1.2.4.6 NCE v2.28
DCE v2.2
Changes:
Fix cancel while a job is paused on the press.
Fix cancel while a job is downloading to the press.
The measurement units are selectable on the DFE. Available units are in/sec and ft/min. This selection is independent of the System Device measurement unit.
Fix various anomalies with printed page counts.
Fix bug with Pause after Job randomly becoming enabled.
TOF timeout is very solid. If this error triggers before the job completes downloading, an internal Spooler error may be displayed; this is expected to be improved in a later release.
Global Color Adjustment (GCA) is working. Job collation works.
Copy count works.
Page count is much improved. The previous job’s total may be visible briefly between jobs before the total is updated.
The completed page count display is now persistent.
The screen selection will now be honored, however this is dependent on using correct _template and ColorSeparations.json files, and removing the existing cached ‘named templates’.
Job chaining works. If a situation occurs where the press does not receive the second job until it has finished printing the first, the solution is to reboot all Press and RIP PCs.
Cancelling of chained jobs works.
The copy count on the swatch sheet may be fixed to a value in the Server's .INI file, overriding the count in the job. For example:
May 10, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.1 RC1
Workflow 8.4.4 build 15 DFE Web Client 1.4.3 DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.9
HHR 12.0r2 1.2.4.6 NCE v2.28
DCE v2.2
Changes:
Implement support to pause a job if, for some reason, the software is not able to spool pages to the press fast enough, in order to prevent a 'data underrun' fault, and to restart it when the data levels reach acceptable levels.
Fix an issue which generated large numbers of blank pages before and after jobs. Fix an issue where the DFE progress did not track the actual printing closely.
Fix an issue where cancellation could leave the Server jobs in an odd state. Fix an issue where cancellation could leave the Spooler in an odd state.
Fix an issue where the DFE showed odd page/total progress behaviour when jobs were not printing. General Improvements to DFE behaviour.
DFE No longer forces the calibration name to match the color setup name, if that calibration is not found.
Deliver a pre-installed linear calibration.
April 9, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.0 TR3
Workflow 8.4.3 build 35 DFE Web Client 1.4.1 DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.8
HHR 12.0r2 1246
Changes:
Fix an issue with thumbnails.
Fix an issue with image corruption.
Fix an issue with a large number of blanks pages at the start of a job.
March 29, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.0 TR2
DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.8 Changes:
Fix an issue where ABT copy count limiter was limiting copy count in all modes.
Fix an issue where cancelling a job caused the next jobs to cancel immediately due to a non-reset flag.
March 22, 2021, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex R5.0 TR1
Workflow 8.4.3.21 DFE Web Client 1.4.1 DuraFlex Spooler 1.2.0.5 HHR 12.0r2, 1.2.4.4 Major changes:
NEW: The system device software will now CAP the printhead when a FAULT occurs.
NEW: The press software now supports job-chaining where jobs with the same criteria can be printed back-to-back resulting in less paper wastage between jobs.
NEW: Ink reporting has been added to the press software and the system software now supports being able to PAUSE the press if INK OUT is reported and the job does not complete within a configurable time period.
NEW: The system software will cancel a job if no TOF signal is received within a configurable time period. The job cannot be paused as there will be pages in the PH buffer that cannot be printed due to the missing TOF signals, so the press will not transition from PAUSING to PAUSED. When the press reports that pages have been printed the timer is updated.
NEW: The system device software now support the 'pause after every job' feature where it will, if enabled, stop the press at the end of every job and move the system into a paused state, which requires the operator to 'resume' the system to print the next job.
NEW: System device software now monitors the press's print buffer and will hold off starting a job until either a configurable trigger percentage is reached, or the job is marked as having finished ripping (all pages are now in the Spooler or on the press.)
Minor changes:
NEW: System software now auto-clears the press's job queue when it connects, and auto-sets the TOF sync mode to SYSTEM_DEFAULT. A future release will allow more control over TOF sync, along with its associated offset value.
System software now correctly reports to the DFE the number of pages printed when a job is PAUSED.
FAULT reporting is improved so that it remains visible.
DFE UI is now much more accurate when reporting press state changes, etc.
December 10, 2020, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex (Phase 4 RC2)
Workflow 842 build 1 DFE Web Client 1.4.1 DuraFlex Spooler 1.1.0.4
HHR 12.0r2 1238
Changes:
Retry FinishPrint command if the DuraFlex print engine goes into Servicing mode at job end. Various improvements in reporting, and maintaining synchronization with the print engine state. Change to allow some the hidden Spooler buttons to be exposed using this .ini setting:
[DFE] No longer throws an exception when double clicking an empty row in the Jobs Table.
[DFE] Job Editor dialog Thumbnail Preview now accurately represents how scaling will be applied.
September 16, 2020, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex (Phase 4 RC1)
Workflow 840 build 5 DFE Web Client 1.4.0 DuraFlex Spooler 1.1.0.1
Changes:
Support PVT.
Stability improvements.
June 2, 2020, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex (Phase 3 RC2)
Workflow 817 build 1
DFE Web Client 1.3.4. DuraFlex Spooler 1.0.1.120.
Changes * Enhance a few RIP messages for job tracking. * Implement test jobs function. * Report JSL network errors to the UI. * Fix pause after every job; UI now shows paused state correctly, allowing resume.
May 19, 2020, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex (Phase 3 RC1)
Workflow 816 build 2 DFE Web Client 1.3.3 HHR 12.0r2 1235 DuraFlex Spooler 1.0.1.119 Changes:
Fix for date logging issue.
Fix for logging of A4/A3 printhead widths.
Fix issue where initial state in DF interface class was OFF so when press reported OFF as initial state on connection the even was NOT posted.
Fix issue where the API versions were not being set properly. Prevent StatusEventThread from corrupting the API version strings. Fix for pause after every job not working.
Don't clear page count at end of job so it stays in the DFE, do it at start of new job. Fixes to resolve issue where job does NOT move from Spooled to Printing.
Fix for an issue where system device did not always honour an INI file setting resulting the system device behaving as it it were in simulation mode.
Report last fault message (if any) if error state is not set. Clear last fault message when press starts PRINTING.
Tweaks to behaviour when clearFault button is pressed on DFE. Fixes for MJS, TOFSync to prevent setting of negative values.
Fixes to resolve broken pause/resume behaviour from DFE.
Update pagesCompleted when press posts JOB_COMPLETION event.
Fix for issue that caused AutoPrint error when press reports PRIMED_IDLE.
Fix for not handling situation where Spooler is still busy processing the previous job when a new job is started.
Increased stability in the spooler and server with network comms issues. Persist the press fault in the UI.
Allow control over whether faults should be cleared automatically.
Support for pausing output when the media profile (color management setup) changes.
Improved back to back job support. After the press completes a job, automatically start the next if not paused.
March 18, 2020, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex
Workflow 812 build 10 DFE Web Client 1.2.1 HHR 12.0r2 v1227 NCE 2.14 DCE 2.0 DuraFlex Spooler 1.0.1.116
Changes:
Phase 2 improved stability.
Cap heads on press errors where possible. Power on and off the press.
February 19, 2020, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex
Workflow 8114 DFE Web Client 1.1 HHR 12.0r2 v1227 NCE 2.14 DCE 2.0 DuraFlex Spooler 1.0.1.110 Changes:
Phase 2 functionality complete Requires PESM 3.1.1
Pause /Resume Mid-job service Cancel
Config editor support for 1600 and 954 vertical resolution.
January 24, 2020, NavigatorDFE for DuraFlex
Workflow 8101 DFE Web Client 1.0 HHR 12.0r2 v1224 NCE 2.14
DCE 2.0
Changes:
Improved engine controls on DuraFlex.