Constraint evaluation and re-evaluation for managing print jobs

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embedded therein for controlling a data processing apparatus, the computer readable program code configured to cause the data processing apparatus to execute a process for managing a plurality of print jobs, each print job including a job ticket having a plurality of settings, the process comprising:

• (a) receiving an assignment of a print job to a printer by an operator, the print job including a job ticket having a plurality of original job ticket settings;
• (b) evaluating the assignment to detect any constraints by comparing the job ticket settings with capabilities of the printer;
• (c) displaying one or more messages each regarding a detected constraint;
• (d) displaying one or more job ticket settings that caused a detected constraint, the job ticket settings being displayed adjacent the corresponding message;
• (e) receiving a first operator input for changing a job ticket setting value of a job ticket setting displayed in step (d);
• and
• (f) in response to a second operator input, re-evaluating the assignment to detect any constraints by comparing the job ticket settings including the changed value received in step (e) with the capabilities of the printer.

A computer implemented method executed in a print shop management apparatus for managing a plurality of print jobs, each print job including a job ticket having a plurality of settings, the print shop management apparatus being connected to a plurality of printers each having its capabilities and executing print shop management software to carry out the method, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving a printer independent print job, the printer independent print job including a job ticket having a plurality of original job ticket settings;
• (b) detecting any constraints by comparing the job ticket settings with capabilities of a printer;
• (c) displaying one or more messages each regarding a detected constraint and one or more job ticket settings that caused a detected constraint in association with the corresponding message;
• (d) receiving a first operator input for changing a job ticket setting value of a job ticket setting displayed in step (c);
• and
• (e) detecting any constraints by comparing the job ticket settings including the changed value received in step (d) with the capabilities of the printer.