Job Statuses

Written By alexprinttools

Last updated Over 1 year ago

Overview

Job statuses in PrintTools are essential for tracking the progress of jobs within your print shop. They help you quickly identify the stage of each job, ensuring smooth workflow management. While these statuses are customizable to fit your shop's unique processes, there are two mandatory stages: Starting Stage and Complete Stage. These stages have specific hard-coded functionalities that trigger special actions within the system.

Starting Stage

The Starting Stage is the initial point where all orders begin their lifecycle. When a new job is created, it automatically enters this stage. This stage acts as the entry point, ensuring that every job has a defined starting point for tracking purposes.

Customizable Stages

In addition to the Starting and Complete stages, you can create and customize various intermediate stages to match your shop's workflow. Examples might include stages such as "Design," "Proofing," "Printing," "Quality Check," and "Packaging." These stages help in breaking down the workflow into manageable steps and provide clear visibility into the job’s progress.

Complete Stage

The Complete Stage is where jobs are marked as finished. This stage is crucial because it signifies the end of the job's lifecycle within the system. When all jobs associated with an order are marked as complete, and the invoice is fully paid, the system automatically transitions the order from "Open" to "Complete."

Special Stages

  • Starting Stage: This stage initiates the job’s tracking cycle. When a job is made in PrintTools, it goes to this. Most customers will use something like “Pending” or “Ordered”.

  • Complete Stage: When all jobs are marked as complete and the invoice is paid in full, the order status changes from "Open" to "Complete."

Example Workflow

  1. Order Entry (Starting Stage): The order is entered into PrintTools and begins in the Starting Stage.

  2. Design: The job moves to the Design stage where designers create the required artwork.

  3. Proofing: The design is sent to the customer for approval.

  4. Printing: Once approved, the job moves to the Printing stage.

  5. Quality Check: The printed materials undergo a quality check to ensure they meet standards.

  6. Packaging: Approved prints are packaged for delivery.

  7. Complete (Complete Stage): The job is marked as complete. Once all jobs in the order are complete and the invoice is paid, the order status changes from "Open" to "Complete."

Customizing Job Statuses

To customize job statuses:

  1. Navigate to the Job Statuses section in the PrintTools settings.

  2. Add, edit, or remove stages according to your workflow requirements.

  3. Ensure that the Starting and Complete stages remain defined and are not deleted.

By effectively managing job statuses in PrintTools, you can streamline your operations, enhance productivity, and ensure timely delivery of jobs.