Upgrading to Argos 7.1 from Argos 7.0.x

Overview

Argos 7.1 introduces a new method of handling black-and-white versus color. This document describes how that method differs from previous version of Argos, and how to adapt your existing Argos installation to suit the new method. Consider this screenshot from the EFI Fiery connector in Argos:

Note that it requires you to specify separate black-and-white and color media.

How will this change?

Argos 7.1 introduces a new color dimension to media. By enabling color pricing on a given media, you can now define both black-and-white and color costs and charges within the same media. There's no longer a need to create separate black-and-white and color versions of the same media:

The same Fiery connector discussed above now looks like this:

Why did we make this change?

Color is an attribute of a print or copy job. The color attribute stands independent of what kind of paper the job was produced on. Prior to 7.1, Argos instead bent a simplified media model to the modern realities of color devices, resulting in complexity for administrators and end users. The 7.1 media model brings with it two significant benefits:

• It vastly simplifies device and integration setup. No longer do you need to specify both a black-and-white and a color media each time you wish to set up a device or connection. Instead, at the device level you simply specify the kind of paper you have in mind ("20 lb. bond"), then rely on the new Argos media model to take care of correctly computing costs.
• It more closely models the real world, allowing you and your users to address Argos the way you tend to think about things ("I just loaded 20 pound bond into that printer").

What do I need to do?

1. Consolidate any media pairs (e.g. "Small Format B&W" and "Small Format Color") into a single media. During the consolidation process your activity will be updated to point to the single media.
2. Update any integration connection to ensure that they reference to correct media.

1. Consolidate media pairs

For each media pair you will choose one of the two media to live on, and delete the other. The one that remains should be renamed to drop the "black and white" or "color" descriptor. For example, if you have "Small Format B&W" and "Small Format Color":

1. Edit "Small Format B&W" and rename it to "Small Format" (eliminate the "B&W" component of the name).
2. From the Media & Costing page, use the "gear" menu to enable color pricing for "Small Format." (How?)
3. Manually copy the cost and charge values from "Small Format Color" to the color section of "Small Format"
4. Use the gear menu to delete "Small Format Color." (How?)
5. When prompted for a replacement media, choose "Small Format."

2. Update connections

1. From the Devices & Terminals page, click the "All Devices" group.
2. For each device that has integration (usually indicated as an expandable device, although it's also possible to have standalone integration devices), open the properties dialog and inspect the Media settings. Each integration adapter has a different configuration, so be sure to thoroughly inspect its configuration for all media options.