2020.2

l
Values:Print content items and sets don't contain data fields, but they do have a link to
the data record with which they were created, so selecting and sorting them by value is
still a possibility.
l
Properties are key/value pairs that can be set on entities in the Connect database. There
are two ways to do that:
l Using the Set Properties task.
Ideally, the Set Properties task directly follows the Create Print Content task in a
Workflow process. The Create Print Content task returns the IDs of the content items
as well as the ID of the content set to the process via the Metadata. Using those IDs,
the Set Properties task can either set properties on all new Content Items or on the
Content Set that was just created.
Use two consecutive Set Properties tasks to set properties on both levels.
l Through a Post Pagination script in the template. (See "Post Pagination Scripts" on
page906 and "contentitem" on page1416.)
Sorting by property is only possible if the property has been set explicitly on the respective
content items (not content sets) in the Connect database.
It is also important to note that in order to use a data field or property in a sorting rule, it should
be present in all content items.
You may have to set properties on content items (not content sets) or add data fields to a data
model (see "Data mapping configurations" on page197), for no other reason than to sort the
items by them eventually.
In Connect there are two places where you could group and sort print content after it has been
retrieved from the Connect database:
l In a Job Creation Preset.
l On the Batching/Commingling tab of the Retrieve Items task.
Job Creation Preset
Based on the settings in a Job Creation Preset, the Connect Server can filter, sort, and group
print content items, add meta data and make finishing settings (see "Job Creation Presets" on
page1449). Compared with the Batching/Commingling tab of the Retrieve Items task, a Job
Creation Preset offers a lot more options. It is also usually more efficient; that's why it's the
recommended method, for larger jobs at least.
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