FINALIZER Batch Suite

Automated Adobe Illustrator Finalization System for Logo Registration Workflows

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⚠️ Workflow-Specific Notice

This tool was built for a specific internal production workflow at a promotional products organization. It is not a general-purpose utility. Folder naming conventions (PROOF#, FINAL), file naming patterns (GR#####_LR#####), layer naming (BACKGROUND), and Illustrator version paths are all tailored to this environment.

If you work in a similar industry and want to adapt it, the architecture is straightforward — but expect to modify paths, naming conventions, and JSX logic for your own setup.

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📋 Overview

FINALIZER Batch Suite automates the final production file processing step in a logo registration workflow. After a proof is approved by the customer, the Graphics team must prepare and upload finalized art files to the order management database. This step has traditionally been a manual, repetitive process prone to inconsistency.

FINALIZER eliminates that manual work entirely.

The problem it solves: After proof approval, a technician previously had to:

• Manually duplicate the highest PROOF folder
• Open each PDF in Adobe Illustrator one by one
• Export a PNG from each file
• Toggle the BACKGROUND layer off in each document
• Save and close each file
• Manually create a ZIP of the PDFs
• Name everything consistently and log the run

FINALIZER does all of this from a single Send-To right-click action, with no further interaction required.

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✨ Features

• Zero-click automation triggered via Windows Send-To
• Automatically identifies and clones the highest-numbered PROOF folder
• Batch PDF processing through Adobe Illustrator JSX scripting
• PNG export at consistent production settings
• BACKGROUND layer toggle (off) prior to PDF save
• Automatic cleanup of .ai temp files
• ZIP creation scoped to PDFs only, named per job convention
• Dropbox-safe retry logic for virtualized file environments
• Detailed log output per run

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📁 Folder Structure

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🔄 Workflow Diagram

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🚀 How It Works

1. Right-click any job folder

2. Select Send to → FINALIZER

3. The batch script:

   • Identifies the highest PROOF# folder
   • Clones it into a new FINAL folder
   • Opens all PDFs in Adobe Illustrator
   • Runs the JSX automation suite (export PNG, toggle BACKGROUND layer, save PDF, close)
   • Waits for Illustrator to finish via a flag file handshake
   • Removes .ai temp files
   • Creates a ZIP of PDFs only, named JOBNAME_FINAL.zip
   • Writes a detailed log file

4. The FINAL folder contains:

   • Updated PDFs (BACKGROUND layer off)
   • PNG exports
   • A ZIP ready for database upload
   • A log file documenting the run

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🛠 Requirements

• Windows 10 or 11
• Adobe Illustrator 2026
• PowerShell
• Dropbox (if operating in a Dropbox-virtualized file environment)

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📦 Installation

1. Clone or download this repository

git clone https://github.com/Shernandez520/finalizer-batch-suite.git

2. Place the src files in a Scripts folder

Example:

C:\Scripts\

3. Install the Send-To shortcut

Use the included PowerShell installer:

install_sendto.ps1

4. Ensure Illustrator paths match your system

Edit FINALIZER.bat if Illustrator is installed in a different directory.

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🧩 Send-To Installer Script

Save this as install_sendto.ps1:

# Path to FINALIZER.bat
$scriptPath = "C:\Scripts\FINALIZER.bat"

# Path to Send-To folder
$sendTo = [Environment]::GetFolderPath("SendTo")

# Shortcut path
$shortcut = Join-Path $sendTo "FINALIZER.lnk"

# Create WScript Shell COM object
$wsh = New-Object -ComObject WScript.Shell
$sc = $wsh.CreateShortcut($shortcut)

# Set shortcut target
$sc.TargetPath = $scriptPath
$sc.WorkingDirectory = Split-Path $scriptPath
$sc.IconLocation = "shell32.dll, 13"

# Save shortcut
$sc.Save()

Write-Host "FINALIZER Send-To shortcut installed successfully."

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🗺️ Phase 2 Vision

The current tool handles local file finalization. A natural next phase would extend automation upstream into the order management system:

• API integration to automatically upload FINAL files to the database upon completion
• GR auto-completion triggered post-upload, eliminating the manual database entry step
• Proofing would remain a manual, human-reviewed step — automation only engages post-approval

This would reduce turnaround time further and remove the remaining manual touchpoint between file finalization and order completion.

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💼 Portfolio Context

This project is included in my portfolio as a real-world example of workflow automation design and implementation in a production environment.

It demonstrates:

• Problem identification from domain expertise — recognizing a high-frequency manual process as an automation target
• Cross-technology orchestration — coordinating Windows Batch, Adobe ExtendScript (JSX), and PowerShell within a single workflow
• Production environment constraints — designing around Dropbox file virtualization, Illustrator's document lifecycle, and flag-based process synchronization
• Deterministic, repeatable output — every run produces consistent, predictable results regardless of job size
• Practical scoping — keeping human judgment (proof approval) in the loop while automating the mechanical steps that follow

This was built entirely on personal time as a solution to a real operational pain point, then proposed internally for adoption.

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🧩 Technologies Used

• Windows Batch Scripting
• Adobe Illustrator ExtendScript (JSX)
• PowerShell ZIP utilities
• Dropbox-safe file handling

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📝 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

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📚 Changelog

Version 1.0

• Initial release
• Stable Illustrator automation via JSX
• ZIP retry logic for Dropbox environments
• Flag-based process synchronization
• Clean per-run logging