Packaging Tool : Introduction

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.

Create a Transfer Shipment Using the ERA Packaging Tool

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.

Generate the ”.ERA” 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.

Modify an existing ”.ERA” File

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