Simple calculation

In setting up your tasks you have to select one of 6 possible calculation types for each task, and you can't change the type at calculation-time. Simple calculations are just that - simple. With the exception of 'per cut' calculations (see below) they aren't really recommended except for quick 'rule of thumb' calculations. The screens are different for each calculation type and are as follows:

All you have to do is enter the number of hours, and the system will multiply it by the specified rate and tell you the answer. You could also set it up with a setup cost which would be automatically added in. It is assumed that these are in-house costs, although you can if you like specify an external cost so that the system can correctly compute the added value. If it is a finishing task then the hours will pro-rata to the quantity of finished copies required.

Here we can see the calculation for a quantity of 2000 finished copies. The system has added the pre-defined setup cost of 5.00 to 2x15.00, which comes to 35.00. There is no need for any further input on your part unless again you want to specify an external cost.

3) Cost per 1000 per 'something'. The something could be (e.g.) 'LINE SCORED ', in which case the cost would be 'per 1000 run per LINE SCORED ', or maybe for (say) laminating it could be 'SRA4 2 SIDES'.

All you'd have to do in this example is to enter the number of SRA4 2 sided sheets which would be the equivalent of one copy of your job for this purpose, and it will calculate the answer. Depending on how you set it up, the system can not only add a setup charge, but also a setup charge per SRA4 2 sides.

The problem with this is that if you then change the size of the job, this is a 'dumb' calculation, so it won't automatically change the number of SRA4 2 SIDEs for you (unlike a properly set up price list). Its not OK for a 'Quick Quote', but it's OK for a quick and simple 'rule of thumb' calculation.

If, say, you were printing 2 copies of something on the same sheet, you would only have to fold ONCE for each 2 copies. This would be multiple 2, and this part of the cost would be halved.

So all you have to do at run-time is to enter the multiple and the system does the rest. This example has a setup cost as well. We don't let the system suggest the multiple because we don't know the precise details (i.e. you might be cutting it in half before you put it on the folder)

You might use this for collating carbonless sets printed with more than one on a plate, in which case you could use cost per 1000 per PART divided by the multiple.

This is the most important of the calculation types. It is used exclusively for pre- and post -press cuts, which are always defined as the first two finishing tasks (and yes, we know that technically a pre-press cut is not finishing, but since it depends on the length of the run, we include it as such).

CUTs:- is the number of cuts required to cut each sheet. This is provided by the calculation, except in the case of the post-press cut for a book, where we can't forecast how you are going to finish it. Changes to this figure are liable to be overwritten when re-calculating , unless you switch to manual mode.

Sheets per stack:- refers to the number of thicknesses of this material you can cut at one time, as set up in the guillotine parameters of System Configuration. Again, changes to this figure are liable to be overwritten when re-calculating, unless you switch to manual mode.

If the process name has been changed in the task setup from "CUT" to something else (e.g. "slice") then the system assumes that you want to enter your own figures for CUTs and Sheets per stack, in which case the system does not try to enter its own figures.