This document covers the following topics:

• Importing Objects

• Exporting Objects

• Repeating an Import or Export Operation

• Retention Period for Import/Export Requests from Entire Operations GUI Client

Importing and exporting objects via Entire Operations is only possible if the Monitor is running. All import and export operations are executed asynchronously.

---

Importing Objects

This section provides information on the process of importing objects and handling errors.

To import objects

1. In the object workspace, select the General node and choose Import/Export from the context menu.

   A user-specific Import/Export window similar to the example below opens:

   

   The window lists all processing requests submitted for the objects to be imported (or exported). The list is empty if no requests exist.

   The list indicates the current processing status and whether a request has been completed successfully.

   The columns and functions available in the Import/Export window are described in Columns: Import/Export Window and Functions: Import/Export Window, respectively.

2. Choose Add Import.

   (See Exporting Objects for export instructions.)

   An Import Objects window similar to the example below opens:

   

   The input fields available are described in Fields and Options: Import Objects Window.

3. If required, specify the range of objects to be imported from the specified import file and change the import option.

   Choose OK when you are finished.

   The window closes and the new import request is listed in the Import/Export window.

   If the import operation is successful, the objects are added, modified or deleted in the appropriate object node(s) of the object workspace.

   The syntax that applies to the entries in the import file is explained in Syntax in Import/Export Files and Object Processing Rules.

This section covers the following topics:

• Columns: Import/Export Window

• Functions: Import/Export Window

• Fields and Options: Import Objects Window

• Using Favorites for Text Files

• Handling Import Errors

• Repeating a Failed Import

• Deleting Single or Multiple Import/Export Requests

Columns: Import/Export Window

The Import/Export window provides the following columns:

Column	Description
Creation Time	Date and time when the import or export request was added.
Import/Export Type	Operation to be performed (Import Objects or Export Objects) and the type of object selected for processing.
Status	Status of the import or export operation:
	Queued	Import/export request is queued for processing.
	Running	Operation is in progress.
	Completed	Operation performed successfully.
	Aborted	Operation failed.
Objects	Number of objects that were processed successfully.
Failed	Number of objects that were not processed successfully.
Properties	Properties settings used for processing a selected request. These settings correspond to the information shown in the Import Objects or Export Objects window.

Functions: Import/Export Window

The Import/Export window provides the following functions to add import and export requests, obtain information on a selected request or remove a request from the list:

Function	Description
Add Import	Opens the Import Objects window to specify the object you want to import.
Add Export	Opens the Export Objects window to specify the object you want to export.
Repeat	Repeats an import or export operation. See also Repeating an Import or Export Operation.
Display	Displays an extended log file for a completed or aborted import or export operation listed in the window to view information and error messages (if any) on the import or export process. For more information, see Extended Log in the User's Guide.
Delete	Deletes a single or multiple requests (not the resulting output) selected in the table of the Export Objects window to clear the list queue after a request has been processed. See also Retention Period for Import/Export Requests from Entire Operations GUI Client.
Properties	Displays the properties of a request which correspond to the information shown in the Import Objects or Export Objects window.

Fields and Options: Import Objects Window

The fields and options provided in the Import Objects window are described in the following table.

All values entered in this window are checked for their validity. If a Natural object is specified as import file, the file existence is also checked.

Field	Description
Location	The location of the file to be imported. Select either of the following options:
	Natural source	Import from a Natural text object. See also the fields Library and Member prefix.
	Text file	Import from a text file.
Library	Only for Natural source locations. Enter the name of the library, where the Natural objects reside.
Member prefix	Only for Natural source locations. Enter the prefix (maximum is 5 characters) of the names of the objects to be imported, or enter the name of a rejected object (ERR-nnnn, see also Handling Import Errors). For explanations of prefix, see the description of the Member prefix field used for the export operation.
Node	Only for Text file locations. Enter the name of the node through which the specified text file can be accessed. The text file must exist.
Text file	Only for Text file locations. Enter the name of the text file to be used for the import operation.
Favorites	This option button is only available if Text file is selected: see Using Favorites for Text Files.
User ID	Only for Text file locations. Enter the default user ID if defined for the specified node.
Group	Only for Text file locations. Enter the UNIX group or Windows domain (optional) if defined for the specified node.
Initial Mode	The mode to be used when starting to import the object definitions contained in the file to the Entire Operations database. The mode can change during import if the file contains mode commands. Select one of the following options:
	Check Objects	Check syntax of objects.
	Add objects	Add objects to the database (default).
	Update objects	Update objects on the database.
	Replace objects	Replace objects on the database, or add them if they do not exist.
	Delete objects	Delete object from the database.
Owner Network Job	These fields can be used to define a range of objects to be imported from the import file.
	Enter the required owner, network and job. Notes: A selection on a lower level is accepted only if exactly one object is selected on the higher level (i.e. if you have not already used a wildcard). Selections cannot be verified against the target database, since they usually do not exist there. If nothing can be imported, check your selections. The selection is valid for all objects in the import file which contain Owner, Network and Job within their key fields.
Stop after ... errors	Enter the number of errors which can occur before terminating the import process. Valid range: 1 to 99999. Default: 5.
or ... warnings	Enter number of warnings which can occur before terminating the import process. Valid range: 1 to 99999. Default: 10.

Using Favorites for Text Files

You can define favorite text files to be used by default for both the import operation and the export operation.

To select, add and delete favorite text files

1. In the Import Object or Export Objects window, select Text file for Location and enter a name (or name range) in the Text file field, select a name from the drop-down list box, or leave the field blank.

2. Choose Favorites.

   A Text File Favorites dialog similar to the example below opens:

   

   The name (if entered) in the Text file field of the Import/Export Objects is contained in the Text file field of the dialog.

3. To add a favorite file:

   In the Text file field, enter the name of a text file (maximum is 250 characters) or change the name already entered in the field.

   Choose Add.

   The new file is added to the Favorites list.

   The Add button is deactivated if the maximum of five file names is reached or if the specified name is already contained in the Favorites list.

   If the maximum number of file names is reached, you have to a delete an existing file before you can add a new one.

4. To select a favorite file:

   From the Favorites list, select the file you want to use for the current import/export operation.

   The file name is copied into the Text file field of the dialog.

5. To remove favorite files:

   In the Favorites list, select one or more file names and choose Delete.

   The selected file is removed from the Favorites list.

6. Choose OK to save your changes or double-click on a file in the Favorites list.

   (Cancel cancels any changes. A confirmation window asks you to save the changes if the Show confirmation dialog option is selected in your user profile.)

   The changes are saved and the Text File Favorites dialog closes.

   The file entered in the Text file field of the Text File Favorites dialog is copied into the Text file field of the Import/Export Objects and is used for the current import/export operation.

Handling Import Errors

If at least one error occurs within the object, the whole object is rejected. Errors and warnings are counted for single objects during the import. If the error or warning limit is reached, the whole import is cancelled.

Whenever an object is rejected, it is saved with the prefix ERR- and an ascending number (ERR-0001, ERR-0002, and so on) in the library specified for the import operation. These objects contain the rejected object and the errors which caused the rejection. The error text is written directly above the line which contains the error.

In addition, a header is written to the object informing you about the:

• Number of errors or warnings in this object;

• User who started the import;

• Date and time when the object was rejected.

  (See also Date and Time Formats in the User's Guide.)

You can edit these error objects manually and import them again.

Possible error causes and advice about fixing errors are described in the following section.

Error Severity

There are three levels of error severity:

• Warnings
  Warnings are displayed, but do not cause the rejection of the object.

• Errors
  Errors cause rejection of the object but do not cause termination of the import. Import continues with the next object within the file, if the error/warning limit has not been reached.

• Fatal Errors
  Fatal errors are serious problems which cannot be ignored and cause immediate termination of the import. A fatal error occurs, for example, when it is impossible for the parser to continue at a new point.

Causes of Errors - Syntax

If errors or warnings occur during import, some of the possible causes could be syntax errors, for example:

• A value has invalid format.

• A character in a numeric field.

• A keyword was invalid or non-existing.

• The value of a field exceeds valid length.

• A non-existing object type was specified.

These errors should not occur when importing an unchanged exported object. If you edit the exported object online or create a new object manually, these errors could occur.

Causes of Errors - Logical Errors

If errors or warnings occur during import, some of the possible causes could be logical errors, for example:

• Value has correct syntax but does not meet the requirements of Entire Operations.

• A Job type is specified, which is not allowed in Entire Operations.

• The field has a special range (e.g. only Y or N).

• Adding an object to Entire Operations which already exists.

• Deleting a non-existing object.

Repeating a Failed Import

To repeat a failed import operation

1. Correct all erroneous ERR- objects as described in the previous section.

2. If the settings from the import window are not suitable, specify the desired import mode in the first line of the first error object.

3. Start a new import as described in Importing Objects with the location NAT (Natural source) for all objects prefixed with ERR-.

Deleting Single or Multiple Import/Export Requests

To delete single or multiple import/export requests

• From the table in the Import/Export window, select one or more requests and choose Delete from the context menu or press DELETE.

  The selected import and/or export requests are removed from the table.

Exporting Objects

This section explains the export of objects and their key fields.

Exporting an object can invoke the transformation of records from the Entire Operations database into an external format.

The following functions are available to export objects:

• The Export function for a selected object node: selects and exports all objects contained in this node.

• The Export function in a maintenance window: exports current settings of Entire Operations defaults, message, network activation definitions and import or export operations.

This section provides instructions for all export options.

• Exporting Node Items

• Exporting from the General Node

• Exporting Current Settings

• Fields and Options: Export Objects Window

• Object Types to be Exported: Key Fields of the Objects

Exporting Node Items

To export node items

1. In the object workspace, select a node or a node instance and choose Export from the context menu.

   An Export Objects window similar to the example below opens:

   

   Depending on the node or node instance selected, the From section contains different output fields that indicate the source objects used for the export.

2. Select the required options and the location where you want to export the object(s). Depending on the location selected, additional fields appear in the To section of the window.

   All input fields and options available in the Export Objects window section are described in Fields and Options: Export Objects Window.

3. When you are finished, choose OK.

   A user-specific Import/Export window opens.

   The window contains a list of all processing requests submitted for the objects to be exported (or imported). If you selected a node in Step 1, requests for all objects contained in this node are listed.

   The list indicates the current processing status and whether a request has been completed successfully.

   The columns and functions available in the Import/Export window are described in Columns: Import/Export Window and Functions: Import/Export Window, respectively.

4. Choose OK.

   All objects listed in the Import/Export window are exported in the previously specified format.

   If the export process is successful, the data collected for the listed objects is output in the specified export file.

   The syntax that applies to the entries in the export file is explained in Syntax in Import/Export Files and Object Processing Rules.

Exporting from the General Node

To export objects from the General node

1. In the object workspace, select the General metanode and choose Import/Export from the context menu.

2. In the Import/Export window, choose Add Export.

   (See Importing Objects for import instructions.)

   An Export Objects window similar to the example shown earlier opens.

3. Proceed with Steps 2 to 4 in Exporting Node Items.

Exporting Current Settings

To export current Entire Operations defaults, message or network activation settings

1. In the object workspace, select the Administration metanode and choose Entire Operations Defaults from the context menu.

   (See also Accessing Default Settings for Entire Operations in the Administration documentation.)

   Or:
   In the object workspace, select the Administration metanode, choose Messages and Exits from the context menu and open the tabbed page Global User Exits.

   (See also Global Messages and Exits in the Administration documentation.)

   Or:
   In the object workspace, select the General metanode and choose Show Messages from the context menu.

   (See also Viewing Mailbox Messages in the User's Guide.)

   Or:
   In the object workspace, select the General metanode, an owner or a network instance and choose Next Activations from the context menu.

   (See also Viewing and Maintaining Next Network Activations in the User's Guide.)

   Or:
   From a maintenance window (for example, Show Messages and Requests) choose Export.

   An Export Objects window opens where the type of settings to be exported is indicated in the Object type field, for example, Defaults or Mailbox Entry.

2. Proceed with Steps 2 to 4 in Exporting Node Items.

Fields and Options: Export Objects Window

The fields and options provided in the Export Objects window are described in the following table.

Field/Option	Description
From:
	Depending on the Object type selected, owner, network, network version and job used for the export are displays as output fields in the From section.
Object type	Object type to be exported. See also Object Type to be Exported: Key Fields of the Objects.
...	The remaining From fields differ according to the object type selected.
To:
Target Version	Entire Operations version to be used as the target version for the export: see Target and Current Versions.
Location	Location of the file that contains the export data. Select either of the following options:
	Natural source	Export to a Natural text object. See also the fields Library and Member prefix.
	Text file	Export to a text file. See also Using Favorites for Text Files.
Node	Only for Text file locations. Enter the name of the node through which the specified text file can be accessed. The text file must exist.
Text file	Only for Text file locations. Enter the name of the text file to be used for the export.
Favorites	This option button is only available if Text file is selected: see Using Favorites for Text Files.
User ID	Only for Text file locations. Enter the default user ID if defined for the specified node.
Group	Only for Text file locations. Enter the UNIX group or Windows domain (optional) if defined for the specified node.
Library	Only for Natural source locations. Enter the name of the library that contains the Natural text object used for the export operation.
Member prefix	Only for Natural source locations. Enter the prefix (maximum is 5 alphanumeric characters) of the Natural text object(s) that are to store the export data. The prefix is padded with hyphens (-) to its maximum length of 5 character. For example, the prefix entry PRE is converted to PRE--, PREF to PREF-. The prefix is followed by a 3-digit number, for example, PREF-001. One or more text objects with the specified prefix are created depending on the amount of data to be exported. For example: The prefix PREF can comprise text objects with the names PREF-001, PREF-002 and PREF—003.
Append/New/Replace	Only for Natural source locations. Determine how to handle the export data contained in the Natural text object(s) specified with the prefix in the Member prefix field. Possible option settings are:
	Append	Select this option to append the data to be exported to the specified text object. Text object with the specified prefix must exist.
	New	Select this option to save the data in a new text object. If a text object with the specified prefix already exists, an appropriate message is returned. This is the default setting.
	Replace	Select this option to replace the data in the specified text object.
Passwords	Only for object types which contain passwords (e.g., password of a protected data set). Possible radio button settings:
	selected	Export passwords.
	not selected	Do not export passwords.
with Schedules	If you also export the schedules, the imported networks will get the same schedule definitions as the exported networks. (They can be modified after the import.) Possible radio button settings:
	selected	Export schedules (default).
	not selected	Do not export schedules.
with Calendars	If you export object(s) with calendars, all referenced calendars will be exported after objects, each calendar once. Possible radio button settings:
	selected	Export calendars.
	not selected	Do not export calendars (default).
with Symbols	If you export object(s) with symbols, all referenced symbol tables will be exported after objects, each symbol table once. Possible radio button settings:
	selected	Export symbols.
	not selected	Do not export symbols (default).
with Grants	If you export networks, you can determine whether access rights granted to users/owners in the source environment are also exported. Possible radio button settings:
	selected	Export granted access rights.
	not selected	Do not export granted access rights (default).

Target and Current Versions

The version in the Target Version and Current Version fields of the Export Objects window have the format vvrrssffff, where:

vvrrss	Valid Entire Operations version with leading zeros, for example, 050501 for Entire Operations Version 5.5.1.
ffff	One- to two-digit cumulative fix number (if available) with leading zeros, for example, 0001.

Valid input values for Target Version are from 0501010014 to the current (or next) vvrrssffff version. The highest allowed value is preset as default.

You can select a version and cumulative fix from the drop-down list boxes.

The Current Version read-only field indicates the Entire Operations version installed in your current environment.

Object Types to be Exported: Key Fields of the Objects

The key fields you have to specify for any Object name you want to export are described in the following table.

The object types listed in the following table are used in an import or export file. They correspond to the object types (terms in parentheses in the table below) you can select from the Export Objects window opened when performing the Import/Export function from the General node.

Object Type	Key Field 1	Key Field 2	Key Field 3	Key Field 4	Remark
OWNER (Owner)	Owner				This exports all objects which belong to a specific owner.
NETWORK-MASTER (Network Master)	Owner	Network	Version
NETWORK-VERSION-USAGE (Network Version Usage)	Owner	Network
JOB-MASTER (Job Master)	Owner	Network	Version	Job
EOJ-CHECK-MASTER (EOJ Check Master)	Owner	Network	Version	Job
DESCRIPTION (Description)	Owner	Network	Version	Job	A hyphen (-) used instead of a job name exports the description of the network.
SCHEDULE (Schedule)	Owner	Schedule			Schedule = Network
CALENDAR (Calendar)	Owner	Calendar
TO-ACTIVATE (To Activate)	Owner	Network	Version	Job	Job is optional.
SYMBOL-MASTER (Symbol Master)	Owner	Symbol table
SYMBOL-VERSION-USAGE (Symbol Version Usage)	Owner	Symbol table
MAILBOX-DEFINITION (Mailbox Definition)	Mailbox
MAILBOX-ENTRY (Mailbox Entry)	Mailbox
NODE-DEFINITION (Node Definition)	Node
RESOURCE-DEFINITION (Resource Definition)	Resource
RESOURCE-PREREQ (Resource Prereq)	Owner	Network	Version	Job
USER-DEFINITION (User Definition)	User ID
DEFAULTS (Defaults)	Library
CONDITION-ACTIVE (Condition Active)	Owner	Network	Version		The export will be performed for all active runs of the condition.
GLOBAL-EXIT (Global Exit)					All global exits will be exported.

Repeating an Import or Export Operation

To repeat an import/export operation

1. From the table in the Import/Export window, select a completed import or export and choose Repeat.

   An Import Objects or Export Objects window opens with the properties settings of the previous import or export, respectively.

   If required, change the current settings. The fields and options are explained in Fields and Options: Import Objects Window and Fields and Options: Export Objects Window, respectively.

2. Choose OK.

   The request is added to the table and queued for processing.

   The same applies as stated for an initial import or export operation.

Retention Period for Import/Export Requests from Entire Operations GUI Client

Data generated for import and export requests from Entire Operations GUI Client is retained for the number of days specified for active jobs in the Retention Periods of the Entire Operations default settings (see Defaults for Time Ranges in the Administration documentation).

Older import and export requests listed in the Reporting window of Entire Operations GUI Client are automatically removed after this period or during the next database cleanup (see also the Administration documentation).