Have you invested a lot of time and resources into a custom configuration of EcoSys and now you need to migrate it? Have you recently taken an EcoSys Training course where you designed forms, reports, and spreadsheets that you would like to migrate into your system? Search no further, the EcoSys Configuration Migration Utility simplifies your transfer of EcoSys configuration elements between EcoSys instances, making it easy and painless. 

Configuration Migration Utility

The process of migrating configuration elements to another EcoSys environment can take a great deal of time and resources. The EcoSys Configuration Migration Utility enables the easy and efficient transfer of configuration elements between EcoSys environments by bundling all elements together into one file. The alternate method is to migrate one configuration element at a time, which can be time-consuming and result in increased migration errors and duplicate configuration elements.

How it Works

The EcoSys Configuration Migration Utility is simple to use via a four-step process. This process includes creating tags, tagging configuration elements, creating a list of tagged elements, exporting all of the configuration elements at once into a file (.ecm), and finally importing the file into the target environment. Menus, Screen Layouts, Spreadsheets, Reports, Report Batches, Forms, Actions, Action Batches, Charts, Visual Workflows, Versions, Custom Fields, Categories, and Formulas can all be migrated. The following is a step-by-step guide for the migration process.

Step 1 – Create a Configuration Tag

1. Navigate to Enterprise Data > Maintain Configuration Element Tag
2. In the Configuration Elements Tags screen (top panel), click the plus sign to add a new row
3. Enter a Tag Name – used to tag configuration elements (For example: ADML)
4. Enter Notes – used to describe the purpose of the configuration tag (For example: Administrative Logs/Reports)
5. Click the checkmark to save 

Step 2 – Assign Tag to Configuration Elements

1. Navigate to each configuration element you wish to migrate
2. Enter configuration tag in the Configuration Element Tags field on the General tab
3. Click the Save button to save

Step 3 – Export Configurations from Source Environment

1. Navigate to Configure > Migration Management
2. Enter tag in the Tag Parameter to display the configuration elements to be migrated
3. Select Sheet > Export to Text to create the .ecm file

Step 4 – Import Configurations into Target Environment

1. Navigate to Configure > Migration Management in the Target environment
2. Click on the Import tab
3. Select Sheet > Import
4. Select Create New/Update Existing
5. Choose the *.ecm file you wish to import

 6. Review the Batch Job Log by going to Admin > System Status & Logs > Batch Job Log to ensure all elements imported successfully.

Utilizing Dependency Views to Confirm Migration

Dependency Views help to ensure related configuration elements are included in the migration to the target environment. The ‘View Dependencies’ button is located in the definition area of Actions, Action Batches, Charts, Forms, Reports, Report Batches, Screen Layouts, and Spreadsheet.

When clicked, it displays the hierarchy of all configuration elements within the definition of the configuration element where the ‘View Dependencies’ button was clicked from.

The hierarchical view of dependent configuration elements (configuration elements within a configuration element) is especially helpful when working with complex Screen Layouts and Menus. The ‘View Dependencies’ button, when clicked from Screen Layouts or Menus, displays a two-panel Screen Layout that allows you to review and edit dependent configuration elements. On the left panel, you can view the dependencies and on the right panel, you can edit the configuration of the selected element.

In addition to viewing configuration elements that are nested within a configuration element, you can view configuration elements within EcoSys menus. To view configuration elements within a menu, navigate to Configure > Configuration Dependencies. A two-panel Screen Layout is displayed, showing a list of menus on the left panel and the configuration elements that are accessible through that menu on the right panel. From the right panel, you can click the Edit link to edit the configuration of a configuration element. You can also use the ‘Resolve’ field to help you manage dependencies. Refer to “Using the Configuration Element Dependency Subject Area” for detailed information and tips on using the Configuration Dependencies screen.

Transferring all your configuration elements at once from one EcoSys environment to another can be as easy as tagging those elements, creating one single file with their definitions, and exporting them all at once! Now that you know about the EcoSys Configuration Migration Utility and Dependency Views, you can quickly and effortlessly transfer configuration elements into any EcoSys environment.

Get hands-on experience with Configuration Migration and other administrative topics in our TECO3000 EcoSys Administration course, which focuses on the functional administration of EcoSys. Topics discussed include standard administrative procedures, such as user creation and security management, and the managing of enterprise data, such as Categories, Rate Tables, Currencies, and Time Periods. Please visit our training page for more information and to register. We look forward to seeing you in our courses!