System and method for converting print jobs stored in printshop job description language files into printshop workflow

In a computer system, a method comprising the steps of:

• submitting a print job to a printshop having resources, said print job stored in a printshop job description language (PSDL) file;
• automatically, without user intervention, extracting print job requirements from said PSDL file;
• comparing said print job requirements, including material and labor requirements, from said PSDL file against available resources, status of the work-in-progress, current schedule and available materials in the printshop;
• and
• automatically, without user intervention, creating a proposed workflow for said printshop from said print job requirements and from printshop resource knowledge resources, said proposed workflow dividing said print job into components and mapping said components of said print job to available resources of said printshop so as to set buffer space between machines to optimal levels while processing said print job.

A computer executable medium for use with a computer system, said medium holding computer-executable instructions for a method, said method comprising the steps of;

• submitting a print job to a printshop having resources, said print job stored in a printshop job description language (PSDL) file;
• automatically, without user intervention, extracting print job requirements from said PSDL file;
• automatically, without user intervention, comparing said print job requirements against available resources, work-in-progress, current schedule and available materials in the printshop;
• and
• automatically, without user intervention, creating a proposed workflow for said printshop, said proposed workflow dividing said print job into components and mapping said components of said print job to available resources of said printshop so as to set the-buffer space between machines to optimal levels while processing said print job.