Using Variables in AnzioWin

Starting with version 15, AnzioWin contains a feature for utilizing environment replacement variables. These can be used in most any function that calls or creates a file name or needs a directory path, such as for opening files, file transfers, generating PDFs or TIFs and more. These variables can also be used in AnzioWin's macros and scripting and in commands sent from the host application or script.

This document explores the use of these environment replacement variables. See additional web pages for information on using these variables within file names and macros and scripts.

Macros and scripts

AnzioWin supports user-defined macros and scripts, as well as scripting from the host, sending AnzioWin commands to the PC. These scripts often times will require additional PC related information only available at runtime. This might be the user's default directory, the current date and time, or even the PCs IP address. All this information can be used in scripting with e AnzioWin environment variables.

AnzioWin environment variables get interpreted when the function or call is performed, replacing the variable with the current information available on a specific PC. There are a couple of exceptions to this, such as when setting the output file name for a PDF, this gets interpreted when the next passthrough print job comes along (this is so you can accurately use the print job's date and time if need be).

Typical command from the host

A host application or script could set the file type and naming convention prior to sending down a passthrough print command. This can be done through an AnzioWin-specific command (for more information on host programming of AnzioWin, check out the Scripting AnzioWin from the Host knowledgebase article).

A host command might look like the following BASH script:

# First set the default printer type and a file name including the year and date
echo -e '\034printer "pdf://c:\\temp\\${ANZ_DATE_YY}_${ANZ_DATE_MM}.pdf" \$035"
# Now print the job
# ...

Note that in version 16 or higher you may be able to replace the back-slashes, which can be troublesome in some scripts, with a single forward-slash.

Likewise, on many UNIX / Linux operating systems, you can use the /usr/bin/ version of printf and separate the string into a different variable surrounded by single-quotes. This prevents back-slashes from being interpreted by the printf command, such as:

/usr/bin/printf "\034%s\035" 'printer pdf://c:\temp\${ANZ_DATE_YY}.pdf'

Expansion options

The table below lists the available replacement variables that can be used with AnzioWin. Some of these may not make sense to use in certain situations and may indeed be empty. Please test thoroughly before putting these into use.

Additionally, any available Windows variable can be used as well. To do this simply include the dollar-sign, the variable name and the ending curly bracket, i.e.

/usr/bin/printf "\034%s\035" 'printer pdf://${TEMP}/${ANZ_DATE_YY}.pdf'

Conclusion

With replacement variables, AnzioWin macros and scripts and the naming of files can be quite useful. This provides a very powerful feature. And a reminder - always test thoroughly before implementing.