Creating a variable configuration file and a lookup file manually

Creating a variable or file

A variable file contains the variable setting names based on the template of the original settings file or configuration file.

Note: Use a text editor that supports UTF‑8.

Using a text editor, open the .ucf file.
From the setting that you want to have a variable value, change its value to ${VariableName}, where VariableName is a unique variable name.
Save the file.

Notes:

We recommend saving the .ucf file with a different name to distinguish it from the original file. For example, you can add the prefix Var_ to the file name.
Take note of the variable names in the configuration file. These variable names are used when creating the lookup .csv file.

Sample standard settings file

nvOemMfgLongName "Lexmark International"
HTTPSENABLE TRUE
LPDTIMEOUT 90
printTimeout "90"

Sample variable file

nvOemMfgLongName $(variable_1)
HTTPSENABLE $(variable_2)
LPDTIMEOUT $(variable_3)
printTimeout $(variable_4)

Creating a VCC variable configuration file bundle

Note: Use a text editor that supports UTF‑8.

Extract the .xml or .ucf files in the bundle that you want to have variable settings.
Using a text editor, open the .xml or .ucf files.
From the setting that you want to have a variable value, change the value to ${VariableName}, where VariableName is a unique variable name.
Save the file.
Compress the updated .xml or .ucf files in another bundle.

Notes:

We recommend saving the bundle with a different name to distinguish it from the original bundle. For example, you can add the prefix Var_ in the file name.
When updating multiple configuration files, use unique variable names. A variable name used in an .xml or .ucf file must not be used in a different .xml or .ucf file contained in the VCC bundle.
Take note of the variable names in the configuration file. These variable names are used when creating the lookup .csv file.

Creating a lookup file

A .csv file contains different values for the variable setting names based on the template.

Note: We recommend creating the .csv file using a spreadsheet that supports CSV file format.

Using a spreadsheet, in the first row, type the headers.

Note: Headers contain the identifier for the printers where you want to deploy the configuration file and the variable names in the configuration file.
Depending on the identifier used when adding a printer, use either HOSTNAME or IP_ADDRESS as the printer identifier.
Notes:
- For example, if you want to use the printer IP address, and you have specified Var1, Var2, and Var3, then type IP_ADDRESS,Var1,Var2,Var3 as the header.
- Use the same identifier when adding a printer. For example, if you used the printer IP address when adding a printer, then use the same when creating a lookup .csv file.
In the succeeding rows, type the printer host names or IP addresses, and the values of each variable for each printer.
Sample lookup file
```
IP_ADDRESS,variable_1,variable_2,variable_3,variable_4
192.168.1.1,"abc International",TRUE,60,"80"
192.168.1.2,"xyz International",FALSE,70,"60"
192.168.1.5,"mno International",FALSE,50,CUR_VAL
```
Notes:
- When using a spreadsheet that supports CSV file format, the values for each variable line does not show a comma. The values are separated by column and cell.
- Make sure that the values of the variable names have the same format as the variable names in the original .ucf or .xml configuration files. For example, if the value in the original .ucf or .xml configuration file has double quotes, then add double quotes. If the value in the original .ucf or .xml configuration file is in capital letters, then use capital letters.
- If the value of a setting contains a back slash, then type another back slash before the first. For example, if the value is \\192.168.1.2\share, then enter \\\192.168.1.2\\share.
- If you do not want to update the current value of a variable setting, then set the value to CUR_VAL.
Note: For more information on setting the values in the lookup .csv file, see Understanding the lookup file.
Save the file.