This reference describes the Included Steps field on the finishing machine editor under Estimate Setup → Finishing Machines, plus the eligibility rules Estimator uses when deciding whether to apply the included-step calculation on a quote. Tag routing, machine eligibility limits, and substrate compatibility are covered in their own clusters.
Fields on the finishing machine record that drive included-step behavior
Field | What it controls | When to change this | What depends on it |
Included Steps | The additional post-press operations this machine performs inline as part of the same pass — declared on each step record that participates in the combined operation. | When you add or remove an inline operation on a combined finishing machine (creaser/folder, cutter/creaser, laminator with trim). Always update both machine records in the pair, never just one. | Whether Estimator applies the combined make-ready calculation on the price breakdown; whether the route comparison considers the combined path at all. |
Name | The shared identifier across the two step records that represent the same physical machine. Estimator matches step records by this name when applying the included-step calculation. | When a single physical machine should be considered as the same shop machine across two step types. | Whether Estimator recognises the two step records as the same physical machine and applies the combined calculation. |
Tags | The routing tags Estimator uses to pair this machine with compatible work. For included-step pairs, both step records should carry the same tags. | When routing for the combined operation needs to be restricted or relaxed. | Whether the machine is eligible on the route at all — and therefore whether the combined calculation can apply. |
Step type | The primary post-press operation this record represents. One record per step type per physical machine. | When you add a new step record for a physical machine that already has one for a different operation. | Which post-press operation the record participates in; Included Steps is the other operation in the pair. |
Accepted values
Value | Meaning |
| Cutting operation performed inline. |
| Creasing or scoring performed inline. |
| Folding performed inline. |
| Lamination performed inline. |
Enter one value per inline operation, comma-separated for multi-operation machines (cut,crease). Spaces after commas are tolerated but make imports harder to audit.
Eligibility rules
Rule | What it means | Where to check it |
Both step records exist for the same physical machine | A creaser/folder needs a fold record and a crease record with identical Name values. One record is not enough. | Estimate Setup → Finishing Machines — both rows must be present. |
Tags overlap between the two records | The two step records carry the same routing tag (or both carry no tag at all). Mismatched tags break the pair. | Tags column on each record. |
Machine is eligible for the route | Sheet size, weight, step type, and substrate constraints all accept the spec. | Issue analysis on the quote → Excluded machines section. |
Combined path is cheaper than separate-step path | Estimator runs both calculations and keeps the cheaper result. The combined path applies only when it wins on cost. | Price breakdown on the quote — compare the make-ready row count to expectations. |
Notes on exceptions
Included Steps affects post-press operations only. It does not merge print, prepress, or paper cost into the finishing machine — those stay on their own lines on the price breakdown.
Included Steps does not remove every kind of running spoilage or setup sheet. Configure those fields independently on each step record.
A single physical machine can carry Included Steps values for more than one extra operation (a
cut,creaseline, for example). Each value must be a valid step type from the accepted-values list.