Create a Promotion Configuration (Direct Access)

You can specify a collection of objects to be available for promotion The transfer of a copy of objects specified in a promotion configuration from one Loftware Application Server to another. from this Loftware Application Server (source) to another Loftware Application Server (destination). The promotion configurations A plan specifying objects to promote from this Loftware Application Server to a specified destination server. It also includes any parameter values to be replaced in data services on the destination server when promotion occurs. In the System Management page, the Object Promotion Source pane lists the promotion configurations for which this Loftware Application Server acts as the source server. that you create on this Loftware Application Server can be viewed and edited by any user with the necessary permissions to view the System  page.

Important! Object promotion is supported for devices, cross reference tables, and objects that support version control The following types of objects are version controlled when saved in a version-controlled folder: label templates, forms, images, layer objects, layouts, reusable objects, field data catalogs, applications, business rules, processes, workflow templates, and data services. Images do not support minor versions.. Except for devices and cross reference tables, all objects to be promoted must be version-controlled, must be published, and may not be built-in system objects installed with Loftware Enterprise SP. If you attempt to include a built-in object such as a stock image, it is omitted from the promotion configuration because it already exists on the destination server.

To create a promotion configuration, perform the following steps.

Note: To perform this task, you must be signed in as the ClientAdmin or SuperAdmin user. For more information, see Controlling Access to System Settings.

1. On the source server, in System , click Object Promotion.
2. In the Object Promotion panel, click New Object Promotion.
3. In the Properties window, you can edit the default name of the promotion configuration and enter a description of it.

   Note: The name of the new promotion configuration is not displayed in the tab until you save it.

4. In the Configuration panel, click Add Objects to select objects to be included in the promotion configuration.
5. In the Add Objects window, perform the following steps.
   1. For Type, select the type of objects to add.

      Tip: You can minimize the amount of manual object selection that you must do by selecting objects such as label templates, applications, or processes. Loftware Enterprise SP will automatically include objects that are referenced by these objects.

   2. For Search Folder, select a folder containing objects to be promoted.

      Tip: Since you can only select a folder for this step, the message This folder is empty is displayed for all folders, even if a folder is not empty.

   3. Select the Recursive check box if you want objects in subfolders to be searched.
   4. You can limit the search to objects last modified by a specific user by selecting a user for Modified By.
   5. You can use Date Modified to limit the search to include only those objects that were last modified within a specific time range, before a specific time, or after a specific time.
      • To view all objects that were last modified within a time range, enter that range in the From and To fields.
      • To view all objects that were last modified after a specific time, enter the time in the From field. Leave the To field blank.
      • To view all objects that were last modified before a specific time, enter the time in the To field. Leave the From field blank.
   6. Click Search to display the list of objects that meet your search criteria.
   7. In the table, select the objects that you want to include in the promotion configuration. You can use the Ctrl and Shift keys to select multiple rows.
   8. Click OK.The objects that you explicitly selected are displayed in the Configuration panel.

      Tip: If an object has an error displayed saying that the last published version was not found, you may be able to resolve the issue by publishing the object.

6. If you are considering adding more objects to the promotion configuration, use one of the following approaches to review which objects have already been automatically included in the promotion configuration because they are referenced by objects that you selected.
   • To view a list of the objects referenced by one of the objects that you explicitly included in the promotion configuration, on the Configuration panel, click the object, and then click View References. The References dialog box displays the objects referenced by the selected object and implicitly included in the promotion configuration.
   • To view a comprehensive list of the objects included in the promotion configuration, scroll to the Promote Objects panel. The objects that you explicitly selected as well as any objects that they reference are displayed and included in the promotion configuration.
7. If there are additional objects that you would like to include, return to step 4.
8. When you are finished adding objects to the promotion configuration, scroll to the Promote Objects panel.
9. For Destination Server URL, enter the URL for the Loftware Application Server that will act as the destination server. Include the port number, but not the folder name.

   Example

   If you use the following URL to sign into the Loftware Application Server to which you want to promote objects
   https://example.com:8443/loftwarespectrum

   then you should enter the following as the Destination Server URL.
   https://example.com:8443

   Tip: You can test whether the destination server is accessible from the source server by clicking Test Access and entering a valid Loftware Enterprise SP username and password.

10. If you are promoting data services that include parameters for the URL, username, or password, you can specify different values for those parameters on the destination server. The Parameter replacements for data services table lists any parameters with replaceable values. For each parameter, the value on the source server is the Current Value.

    For any available combination of key and current value, you can define a replacement value.

    • If a replacement value is defined, then for any data service that has that combination of key and current value for a parameter the replacement value is substituted as the value on the destination server when the data service is promoted.
    • If no replacement value is defined, then the current value of the parameter specified on the source server is used on the destination server when the data service is promoted.

    Example: Replacing parameter values

    A promotion configuration includes the data services Svc1 and Svc2 in which the username parameter has a defined value of ServiceAdmin, Svc3 in which it has a value of SvcUser, and Svc4 in which the username is not defined as a parameter.

    In the Parameter replacements table, this results in one row with a key of username and a current value of ServiceAdmin, and another row with a key of username and a current value of SvcUser. Because Svc4 does not have the username defined as a parameter, it does not contribute a row for that key.

    On the destination server, Svc1 and Svc2 must be run using the username SvcAdmin. To achieve this, in the Parameter replacements table select the row in which the key is username and the current value is ServiceAdmin. Click Edit Replacements, and for New Value enter SvcAdmin. Enter an appropriate comment, and then click OK. Save the promotion configuration.

    When the data services are promoted, on the destination server the usernames for Svc1 and Svc2 are changed to SvcAdmin. The username for Svc3 is set to SvcUser because no replacement value was specified for when the current value is SvcUser. The username for Svc4 is unchanged because it is not a defined parameter in that data service.

    If you want to replace the value of a parameter with a different value on the destination server, do the following for each unique combination of key and current value for which you want to replace the value.

    1. Either click the parameter and then click Edit Replacements, or else double click the parameter.
    2. In the Edit Replacement Value dialog box, for New Value enter the value to substitute for the parameter on the destination server.
    3. Enter a comment, and then click OK.
11. Click Save to save the promotion configuration.

You have created a promotion configuration that can be used by any user who has the permissions necessary to view the System  page. When you are ready to promote the objects specified in a promotion configuration, see Promote Objects (Direct Access).