You can use programs in the Shipper Validation Menu (7.9.11) that provide centralized management of validation rules:

A single system administrator can export rule or profile data from a central domain/database to various domains/databases within the network.

Target system database administrators can optionally and selectively import the rule data to their domain/database. This centralized management lets administrators quickly distribute and implement shipper processing validation setup and update data from a single point. They can also synchronize the validation data that a central domain/database uses with all network domain/databases.

Export and Import Process depicts the basic steps involved when exporting and importing shipper validation data from a central domain/database. Once rule and profile data is imported, you can choose to have the system automatically move or copy successfully imported files from the import directory to the archive directory.

To implement centralized management of rules, ensure that:

Use Shipper Validation Control (7.9.11.24) to set default directories where the system stores files for exporting, importing, archiving, and to hold custom Progress source programs for compilation.

You can specify an unlimited number of export directories in the Export Directories frame. You can also specify whether the system automatically deletes import files after archiving them.

Use Export Rules (7.9.11.18) to export rule records and all associated data needed to re-create the rule in another domain/database.

You can specify a rule category to select all rules and associated data records for that category and an export file name, then run the export. Or, you can specify an individual rule by rule ID and an export file name.

To specify a range of rules, use the Last Modified Date fields.

You can select directories to export from a drop-down list by setting Select from List of Directories to Yes, or you can specify a single directory in Export File Directory. To save time, you can set Pre-Select All to Yes to select all export directories.

The system exports rule data and any custom Progress source code programs to the directories you specify in the Export Directory field.

The system reports Rule ID and other data that are being exported to the output format you specify in the Output field.

Along with the rule data you specified in Export Rules, master data, and the Progress source code files associated with field validation definitions, the system also exports the following data that you set up for the rule in Rule Definition Maintenance (7.9.11.1):

Use Export Profiles (7.9.11.19) to export profiles and their associated Rules records to re-create the profiles and rules in another domain/database.

When you create a profile in Source/Destination Rule Link (7.9.11.5), you set up source and destination address combinations and link existing rules to the combinations. When you export profiles, you specify this same source and destination criteria to export.

You can enter individual selection criteria for the profiles to export, specify a filename, then press Go to export. When you do, the system exports profiles, rules, and associated data for your selection.

Or, you can leave the selection criteria blank and specify an export file name to export all data associated with the profiles.

You can select directories to export from a drop-down list by setting Select from List of Directories to Yes, or you can specify a single directory in Export File Directory. To save time, you can set Pre-Select All to Yes to select all export directories.

The system reports profile and other data that are being exported to the output format you specify in the Output field.

When target database administrators import validation data, the import process uses the selection criteria information to delete profiles from the target database that do not exist in the data being exported from the central database.

The selection criteria fields are the same as those in Source/Destination Rule Link (7.9.11.5). Refer to the section that describes that program for field descriptions. The remaining fields in the program include the following:

The system uses the export file data when importing to:

Once rule and profile data is exported, you can selectively import the files.

Begin the import process by reviewing the export output report. Administrators can optionally output the export information that displays when they export rules and profiles to a file that you can review before you import.

Locate the import, archive, and Progress source code directories in Shipper Validation Control. You have the option to overwrite the directory settings when you import in Import Validation Data (7.9.11.20).

You should also note the name of the import file that is located in the import directory. The import file has an .xml extension and is located in the import directory. If the file is in an import directory set by a central database administrator and you plan to specify a different import directory, move the import file to that directory.

When you are ready to import files, use Import Validation Data (7.9.11.20).

You can select files to import by setting the Select from List of Files to Yes. The system displays a drop-down list of files that you can scroll through to select files to import. Press Enter to select the file. The system marks the file with an asterisk. If you also set Pre-Select All to Yes, all files in the drop-down list are marked with an asterisk. You can deselect files in the list by pressing Enter.

You can specify that the import overwrite only rules by setting Import Rules Only to Yes in Import Validation. You can also specify the import directory where files are ready to be imported and the import file name.

You can simulate the import by setting Update to No. When you do, the system displays the files to load and any error messages. When you are ready to import, set Update to Yes. The system displays the files that successfully imported, the number that were in error, and other import information in the output form you specify in Output.

The system provides fields in Rule Definition Maintenance and Source/Destination Rule Link that indicate:

When you import data using Import Validation Data (7.9.11.20), the system displays a report of the imported data in the program, along with any import errors.

Import errors can occur when the system cannot find records, such as customer/ship-to, dock, or address records that exist in the central database but not in the target database. You can correct these errors by creating the records in the target database.

If the system displays import error messages that indicate a record was not available for import update, ensure the Allow Import field is Yes in Rule Definition Maintenance (7.9.11.1) to import rules and Source/Destination Rule Link (7.9.11.5). After you make these adjustments, run the import again using Import Validation Data.

In Rule Definition Maintenance (7.9.11.1), you can specify a custom Progress source program as a validation program. When you export rules and profiles, the custom programs associated with field validations are exported, too. Ensure that you compile the programs after you import them. Administrators at the central database specify the source code directory in Shipper Validation Control (7.9.11.24); however, you can specify another directory when you run the import with Import Validation Data (7.9.11.20). During the import, the system copies the custom source code programs to the directory you specify.

Once you compile the custom source code programs, you should put them into the directory where the compiled code is stored.

To ensure that validation data is synchronized in target databases with the central database, the system deletes profiles from the target database that do not exist in exported central database profile data. The system deletes profiles based on the profile export selection criteria.

You can review which profiles the system deletes before import by reviewing the export selection criteria for profiles that the system reports when you run an import simulation in Import Validation Data.

You can also review the deleted profile information that displays when you run the actual import.

Central database administrators can also set Display Unreferenced Rules Only to Yes in Rules Report (7.9.11.14) to aid in rule cleanup. Central database administrators should set these fields and run the report before exporting profile and rule data to be imported by target databases.

You can view exported rule data when you run Export Rules (7.9.11.18) and exported profile data when you run Export Profiles (7.9.11.19). The system reports imported rules, profiles, and selection criteria when you run Import Validation Data (7.9.11.20).