Manual & Automatic Exporting works to sync records between the following FirePoint applications:
Here's how it works.
The Administrator has set a server path to the shared TRANSFER folder. This path must be the same for all FirePoint installations that intend to share data. If the Administrator entered the data file's station ID as "HQ", (Command Window, Maint button, Administrator Preferences) pressing the Exports button on the Command Window will start an operation that looks in the TRANSFER folder to see if there are records needing to be imported into the central database.
If the Administrator entered the data file's station ID as a numeric, such as "02", "03", "04", etc. pressing the Exports button on the Command Window will start an operation to search for Incidents, Apparatus, Patients and Classes records entered after the last export. These records will be copied and exported into the TRANSFER folder.
Exporting Records Using Manual Exports
If you are exporting to a TRANSFER folder on your file server make sure the network is operational.
Like other applications Exports is started from the Command Window. When the Exports list view appears on the screen press the Add Record button.
FirePoint will ask if the Export is to be done via the Server path or the Local path. FirePoint defaults to the path default you set when you entered the path (Command Window, Administrator Operations, Set the Path).
Next FirePoint wants to know if you want all unexported records located and exported by FirePoint (Standard export) or you want to select your own records for export (Custom export).
Press OK to initiate the standard export default.
FirePoint next will take you to the Exports data entry area. This is where records to be exported are identified and exported.
The Serial Number identifies how FirePoint intends to label the files to be exported. Notice records will be exported to the "HQ" station from the "02" station. ("HQ" station never exports records.")
The first time you create an export, records are exported from 1/1/90 at 00:01 to the current date and time. The next time a set of records is exported, the beginning date and time will correspond with the date and time of the last export. The create date and time refer to the current date and time. FirePoint also identifies the user responsible for the export. Press the Prepare Export button to continue.
FirePoint lists the sets of records to be exported. If you wish you may double-click on a record for more information.
To initiate the export of records listed in the Exports input layout, simply press the Save button. All records will be copied and placed in the transfer folder via the selected path.
Exporting may take a minute or two. When exporting is complete press the Cancel button to return to the Exports output layout.
Press the Show All button and you will see your first export record displayed.
FirePoint station databases retain their export record listing for 90 days. After that time the export record is automatically deleted.
If you were to look inside the transfer folder this is what you would see.
There are four files. "93" refers to the year of the export. "HQ" refers to the station to which the export is addressed. "02" refers to the station making the export. The next three digits refer to the number of the export. Here, "001" is the first export in 1993. "IN1" indicates the Incidents file. "IN2" indicates the related
Descriptions file. "CL1" indicates the Classes file. "CL2" indicates the related student list held in the Roster file.
The final character is an uppercase letter "O" (not a zero). This character indicates the export files belong to the group of "Operations" applications; Incidents, Apparatus, Patients and Classes.
Importing Records at the HQ Station
Outlying fire stations use Exports to export records to the HQ station. The central "HQ" database is designed to import records from the stations.
Here's how it works.
At the HQ station, press the Exports button on the Command Window.
When the Exports list view appears, press the Add Record button. Select a path; server or local. Since FirePoint presents the default path, simply press OK. FirePoint will look in the transfer folder. If any exported records are present, they will be imported into the appropriate FirePoint file. Duplicate records will not be imported.
Since this is the HQ station FirePoint will simply let the user know that the HQ data file does not export. Acknowledge this warning by pressing OK. You will return to the Exports list view. Press the Done button to complete the importing process at the HQ station.
FirePoint's manual exporting function locates, packages, forwards and updates records between workstations. It's a powerful feature. But FirePoint also has the power to perform each of these operations automatically. Here's a look at automatic exporting.