How to Create Templates

What are Templates?

Templates are saved text documents — typically JDF or JMF formatted — that can be rendered with dynamic data at runtime. They are used for generating job tickets sent to print equipment.

Template types

Type	Use case
JDF Template	Job Definition Format tickets for CIP4-compatible machines
JMF Template	Job Messaging Format messages for press control

How to create a Template

1. Go to Menu → Developer → Templates
2. Click + New Template
3. Enter a Name and select the Type
4. Write the template — use {{variable}} syntax for dynamic values
5. Click Save

Rendering a Template

Render a template with the renderTemplate GraphQL mutation — by its handle, passing a JSON context string with the values your {{variable}} placeholders reference. From a Workflow Script node:

local res = ctx.graphql.query([[
  mutation($tpl: RenderTemplateInput!) {
    renderTemplate(input: $tpl) { output }
  }
]], {
  tpl = {
    handle = "hp-indigo-jdf",
    context = ctx.json.encode({
      jobId = input.jobId,
      copies = input.quantity,
      substrate = input.paper_type
    })
  }
})

local ticket = res.data.renderTemplate.output

output is the rendered text. You can also use the GraphQL workflow node to call renderTemplate without writing Lua.

Shortcut: ctx.template.render

Scripts and Custom Apps can skip the GraphQL round-trip with the direct Lua call. It takes the template handle and a JSON-encoded context string, and returns the rendered text:

local ticket = ctx.template.render("hp-indigo-jdf", ctx.json.encode({
  jobId = input.jobId,
  copies = input.quantity,
  substrate = input.paper_type
}))