The Packaging Tool allows a Transferring Entity to create a transfer shipment both from within the ERA system and from a standalone (not connected) environment.
Requirements
· A set of files which can be comprised of multiple file types must be available on one or more drive(s).
· An approved Transfer Request for which physical custody has not yet been accepted must be available to associate with Transfer Shipments.
This procedure allows a Transferring Official
to create a transfer shipment utilizing the ERA Packaging Tool both from within the ERA system and a standalone (not connected) environment.
Requirements
· A set of files (which can be comprised of multiple file types) must be available on one or more drive(s).
· An approved Transfer Request for which physical custody has not yet been accepted must be available to associate with Transfer Shipments.
1. From the top menu select "Tools -- Packaging Tool." Note, the packaging tool is launched.
2. Select the Shipment tab, and enter the following contact information :
·
· Name
· Street (address)
· City
· State
· Zip
· Phone
· Email.
3. Select a Transfer Method, either:
·
· VLAN Transmission (1GB)
· DVD-ROM (4GB)
· CD-ROM (650MB)
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 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. Note, the system will only allow the selection of one Transfer Request ID.
7. Select "Associate" to select the Transfer Request or the "Reset" button to start over.
8. Click on the Data Files Tab.
9. Expand the “C:\” folder (or the designated folder) under the File System Structure .
10. Drag and drop the selected files from the C:\ folder into the "Shipment" folder in the Shipment Structure frame.
11. If a file is "associated documentation " rather than record material, select "Move to Associated Documentation" by right-clicking in the Shipment Structure frame.
12. Select "File --Save." Note the "Save" screen will appear
13. Select a location (Save In)
14. Select a File Name to save the file
15. Select the Save button. Note: an ERA Message screen with status will appear
16. Select the OK button
In order for the packaging tool to save its current state to disk for later re-initialization it serializes different components within the tool.
For example:
· the shipment tree is serialized to disk in order to keep track of files the user moved to the shipment tree
· the Associated Documentation table is serialized to disk to keep track of files moved to associated document
· the Shipment Cache is moved to disk to keep track of file uniqueness within the tool.
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.
Each serialized object becomes a file and
there are 5 serialized objects created. From the user's perspective within the
tool, only a single file is saved a .PKT file. When the user presses save
he/she names the file and when the user presses open he/she navigates to the
location of that file to open.
It also is possible to generate a Container Listing (see separate Help file)
The procedure below starts after a shipment has been created and the files have been saved A ".ERA" container and Transfer Shipment manifest will be created
1. Select "Build -- Generate Container." Note the Save screen will appear.
2. Select a location (Save In) to save the file
3. Select the Save button. Note an ERA Message screen with status will appear
4. Select the OK button