AE=1506 PRINT ERROR -3: RipEngine Cannot Write to Folder

RipEngine / RIPServer Error -3

Applies to: Ergosoft RIP 17 (all versions) · RipEngine · all Print Environments

Use this when:

  • The RipEngine stops ripping a job and shows the message "[AE=1506]:PRINT ERROR #-3".
  • The error occurs again with other jobs on the same Print Environment.

Problem / Question

The RipEngine cannot finish a job and shows the error "[AE=1506]:PRINT ERROR #-3". The job is not printed.

Solution / Work-Around

Cause

Ergosoft RIP cannot write to one of the folders that it uses while it rips and prints a job:

  • Raster folder: temporary raster data of the RipEngines. It is in the User Data Folder.
  • Spool folder: temporary print data of the PrintQueue. You set it for each PrintQueue.
  • Output folder: only for Print Environments with a file interface (the driver writes print files to a folder).

Typical reasons:

  • The Windows user has no write permission for the folder.
  • The folder is on a network drive or an external drive, and the connection is unstable or lost.
  • The disk is full or almost full.

Fix

Step 1: Check the Free Disk Space

  1. Open Windows Explorer and check the free space on the disk with the User Data Folder and on the disk with the spool folder.
  2. If the free space is low, delete data that you do not need. To delete temporary Ergosoft data, use the SystemGuard (see How to delete temporary files).

Result: the disk has enough free space for raster and spool data.

Step 2: Check the Write Permissions

  1. In Windows Explorer, find the raster folder, the spool folder of the PrintQueue and, for file interfaces, the output folder.
  2. Right-click the folder, select Properties, and open the Security tab.
  3. Make sure that the Windows user who works with Ergosoft RIP has Modify and Write permissions.

Result: Ergosoft RIP can write to all three folders.

Step 3: Move the Spool Folder to a Local Disk

  1. Close the PrintQueue.
  2. Open the Print Environment and go to Output Device.
  3. Click Edit next to the PrintQueue.
  4. In the spool folder field, select a folder on a local disk of the RIP PC.
  5. Click OK and start the PrintQueue again.

Result: the spool folder is on a local disk.

Step 4: Print the Job Again

  1. Send the job to the PrintQueue again.

Result: the RipEngine rips the job without the error.

Additional Check

  • If the output folder of a file interface is on a network drive, make sure that the connection is stable and that the RIP PC can always write to it.
  • If several RipEngines rip at the same time, separate raster folders for each RipEngine help to prevent file access conflicts. Set this in Application Defaults > PDF/EPS Interpreter Settings > Temporary Raster Files.
  • If this does not help, contact support. See Important information when reporting an issue.

FAQ

Can I use a network drive for the spool folder?
We do not recommend it. Spool files can be several GB in size, and an unstable or slow connection causes print errors. Use a fast local disk.

What is the difference to the error "[AE=1311]: Blocked file access"?
Error AE=1311 occurs when two RipEngines try to use the same temporary raster file at the same time. The fix is separate raster folders for each RipEngine. Error AE=1506 #-3 means that a folder cannot be written at all.

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References

  • Changelog #15682 – Ergosoft RIP 17.6.2.0282: SystemGuard > DiskSpace Observer: This observer is now enabled by default for all disks for new installations. Critical low disk space inevitably leads to sporadic errors, such as print aborts.
  • Changelog #16295 – Ergosoft RIP 17.8.2.0650: When multiple RipEngines rendered the same file, a file access conflict could abort one RipEngine; the error message now reports [AE=1311] and recommends separate raster subfolders for RipEngines.