Load files map produced documents to their metadata and establish page and document boundaries. Common formats include DAT files for metadata fields and OPT or LFP files for image references.
Field lists and delimiters must match what the receiving platform expects.
Alternative Names:
Load Files, DAT File
Why it Matters?
Load file defects are the most common technical production dispute, and they are entirely preventable. A field delimiter mismatch, an unexpected field order, or missing document boundary markers can make an otherwise complete production unusable until corrected. Specifying the exact field list and delimiters in the protocol and verifying with a small test load before the full production eliminates nearly all of these disputes.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What does a load file contain?
How are load file disputes avoided?
