Creating a variable configuration file and a lookup file using DDU

Creating a variable configuration file

A variable configuration 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.
  1. From DDU, add a settings file or a configuration file.
    Note: For more information on adding a settings file, see . For more information on adding a configuration file, see Adding settings filesand Adding configuration files.
  2. Select Variable UCF File or Variable Configuration File.
  3. Click Create Template File.
  4. In the Base UCF Path or Base VCC Path field, specify the location of the settings file or configuration file of the standard configuration file.
  5. Click .
  6. On the left panel, select a file, and then click >>. The properties and values of all settings available in the file are shown in the right panel.
  7. In the right panel, select the settings. Selecting a setting updates its current value to a variable, ${Var_PropertyName}, where PropertyName is the name of the setting. For example, if you selected WS_SCAN_ENABLED, then the automatically generated variable is ${Var_WS_SCAN_ENABLED}.
    Notes:
    • To change the automatically generated variable name, double‑click it.
    • When changing the automatically generated variable, make sure that the variable name format is ${VariableName}, where VariableName is a unique property name. Variable names are used when creating the lookup .csv file.
    • To sort the settings alphabetically, double‑click the Property column.
  8. If necessary, repeat steps 6 and 7 to select multiple files.
  9. Select either of the following:

    • Save All Settings—Create a variable configuration file that contains all the settings.

    • Save Changes Only—Create a variable configuration file that contains only the settings that you have updated. For example, if you have updated only two settings, then only those settings are included in the configuration file. Other settings are not copied.

    Note: For the variable configuration file of Scan to Network, all settings are saved by default.
  10. If necessary, specify the location where you want to save the new variable configuration file in Out Directory.
    Notes:
    • By default, the new file name contains the suffix _Var and is saved in the location of the original settings file or configuration file.
    • The file name of the new variable configuration file cannot be changed.
  11. Click Save.

Creating a lookup file

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

Notes:

You can create the file using a spreadsheet that supports CSV file format.

  1. From DDU, add a settings file or a configuration file.
    Note: For more information on adding a settings file, see . For more information on adding a configuration file, see Adding settings files. Adding configuration files
  2. Select Variable UCF File or Variable Configuration File.
  3. In the Settings File or Configuration File field, specify the location of the variable configuration file or create a template.
  4. Click Create Lookup CSV File.
  5. Depending on the identifier used when adding a printer, select either IP Address Header or Host Name Header.
    Notes:
    • For more information, see Adding printers.
    • 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 the lookup .csv file.
    • The first row contains the identifier and the specified variable name in the configuration file.
    • The variable name in the first row appears only when the variable configuration file is created using DDU.
  6. In the list, double‑click on the fields to specify the values of the variable name for each printer.
  7. If necessary, specify the location where you want to save the lookup .csv file in Out Directory.
    Notes:
    • By default, the file name contains the prefix CSV_ and is saved in the location of the original settings file or configuration file.
    • The file name of the new variable configuration file cannot be changed.
  8. Click Save.

Understanding the files

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)

The lookup file contains the values of the variable names in the configuration file. These values are deployed to printers that are specified in the lookup file.