The
ERA Packaging tool is used by the Transferring Entity to bundle multiple
files/records together to form a single transfer shipment that will later be
processed by ERA. The ERA Packaging tool provides the Transferring Entity the
ability to associate shipments with a Transfer Request in the ERA system, by
associating a Transfer Request ID with a shipment in the tool. In addition to
adding files/records to a shipment, the tool provides the capability of adding
contact information to a given shipment. The main product of the ERA Packaging
Tool is one “.ERA” container file that represents a single shipment. This
container file contains an integrity seal file, transfer shipment manifest
file, and all files that make up the shipment.
The
tool also allows the user to choose the container size limit of the “.ERA”
container files based on the transfer method they will be using to transfer the
files to ERA. The following outlines the available container size limits:
·
VLAN
Transmission (1GB)
·
DVD-ROM
(4GB)
·
CD-ROM
(650MB)
ERA
provides a connected version of the Packaging Tool as well as a stand-alone
version. The stand-alone version allows the Packaging Tool to be used by a
Transferring Entity that is not connected to ERA. It provides all of the same
functionality as the connected version of the Packaging Tool with the exception
of the Transfer Request search.
Requirements
·
The set of files to
be packaged must have been identified and accessible on the computer from which
the Packaging Tool will be run.
·
A Transfer Request that is in a state of ‘Approved’ must be available to associate with the Transfer Shipments.
This
procedure allows a Transferring
Entity to a transfer shipment utilizing the ERA Packaging Tool both from within the ERA and a standalone (not connected) environment.
1.
For
the connected Packaging Tool, from the top menu, select Tools -- Packaging
Tool. For the Standalone Packaging Tool, run the
PackagingTool.bat file.
2.
Select
the Shipment Properties tab, and enter the following in the Contact Information
section:
·
Name
·
Street
(address)
·
City
·
State
·
Zip
·
Email
·
Phone
3.
In
the Preferences section, select one
of the following transfer methods.
·
VLAN
Transmission (1GB)
·
DVD-ROM
(4GB)
·
CD-ROM
(650MB)
Note: The preference section provides the ability
to specify which container size limit applies to the shipment.
4.
Enter
the search criteria in the Associated Transfer Request section.
5.
Select
the Search button to start the search or the Reset button to
clear all fields. The connected version of the
Packaging Tool will:
·
Invoke
the search process
·
Return
the selected Transfer Request.
Note: The
standalone version of the ERA Packaging Tool will allow the user to enter the
Transfer Request, but the user will not be able to search.
6.
Select
a Transfer Request by highlighting a row.
7.
Select
Associate to select the Transfer Request or the Reset button to
start over.
8.
Select
the Data tab.
9.
Expand
the drive folder (or the designated folder) under the File System Structure that contains the files to package.
10.
Drag
and drop the selected folders and/or files from the designated folder into the Shipment
Content folder in the Shipment Structure frame.
11.
Select
the Save button. Note: The
"Save" screen will appear
12.
Select
a location to save the file
13.
Enter
a File Name
14.
Select
the Save button. Note: An
ERA Message screen with status will appear
15.
Select
the OK button
For the packaging tool to save its current
state on the local machine to use later, it creates a series of the following
an integrity seal file, transfer shipment manifest file, and all of the files
that make up the shipment.
In addition other files are written to the users’
machine in different situations:
·
Contact
information is written to a file
·
Log information
is written to a file during any processing within the tool.
It also is possible to generate a Container Listing.
NOTE:
When creating a shipment for a legacy Transfer Request, the following
guidance must be followed:
·
The parent folder
name must be the Transfer Request’s Legacy Transaction Number
·
Subfolders are
named using XMIS numbers
·
Each Subfolder
may only contain 1 file.
The procedure below starts after the shipment
is created and the files are saved. An
".era" container and Transfer Shipment manifest will be created
1.
Select
Build -- Generate Container. Note
the Save screen will appear.
2.
Select
a location to save the file.
3.
Select
a File Name to save the file
4.
Select
the Save button. Note: An ERA
Message screen with status will appear
5.
Select
the OK button.
The
system will generate a file that will follow the naming convention of:
era_data_<TR
Human Readable ID>_YYYYMMDDhhmmss_sequencenumber.era
The
file is to be uploaded to the Transfer Folder for the associated TR for transfer
processing.
The procedure below allows the user to modify
an existing ERA shipment. r the shipment
is created and the files are saved. An
".era" container and Transfer Shipment manifest will be created
1.
Select
Shipment – Open
2.
Select the location of the .era file.
3.
Select the Data tab.
4.
Expand the drive
folder (or the designated folder) under the File System Structure that contains
the files to package.
5.
Drag and drop the
selected folders and/or files from the designated folder into the Shipment Content folder in the Shipment
Structure frame.
6.
Select the Save button. Note:
The "Save" screen will
appear
7.
Select a location
to save the file
8.
Enter a File
Name
9.
Select the Save button. Note:
An ERA Message screen with status will appear
10.
Select
the OK button