Patent ID: 7333231

Claim:
A method for generating and finishing documents, comprising: converting a first data file in a first format, which data file describes the content of at least one document, into a second data file in a second format, comprising image defining instructions and other instructions for finishing said at least one document; processing said second data file into a processed second data file, wherein said image defining instructions are processed into driving instructions for generating at least one document, and wherein said other instructions for finishing said at least one document are processed into driving instructions for finishing said at least one document; thereafter driving equipment for generating and finishing said at least one document in accordance with said driving instructions; and generating and finishing at least one document by means of said equipment in accordance with said driving instructions; wherein said driving instructions for generating documents comprise instructions for printing documents are fed to a printing apparatus, and wherein said driving instructions for finishing documents comprise instructions for finishing physical documents printed by said printing apparatus are fed, separately from said driving instructions for generating documents, to a system for finishing physical documents, and wherein documents are finished by said finishing apparatus in accordance with said instructions for finishing physical documents.