TransForm E-Forms Manager provides features that allow you to export content from submitted forms from TransForm E-Forms Manager for use with other software such as archival and document management systems. The exportable content includes copies of the submitted forms themselves in the TransForm .pff format, images of the submitted form pages in .tif or .jpg format, and even form data that can be used for indexing the exported content in the other systems into which it is placed.
The Imaging section of the TransForm E-Forms Manager Administration Tab lets you provide default settings and enable or disable features related to this content export. The settings provided in this screen will help determine:
Which content export features are available to Form Administrators when configuring form automation and publication.
Which content export options are available when viewing and working with submitted forms and submitted form data.
The default image resolution settings that are available to form administrators when configuring form automation, but which may be overridden at a form-version level.
How TransForm E-Forms Manager will integrate automatically with other software systems.
Select Imaging from the Administration tab to specify settings for Imaging.
The Imaging screen contains multiple sections to support different features of TransForm E-Forms Manager related to imaging and content export. Certain sections described below may or may not be present in your installation depending on the features you have licensed. Sections that you might see on this page are:
Default Image Settings: This section allows you to specify default values that determine image resolution, which will be used in other areas of TransForm E-Forms Manager.
Batch Export: This section allows you to enable or disable the batch image export feature, determining whether or not Form Administrators have access to these features within the Form Catalog or Submissions areas of TransForm E-Forms Manager.
Automatic ApplicationXtender Export: This section is only visible if you have registered the optional ApplicationXtender Integrator component, which allows your TransForm E-Forms Manager installation to automatically export submitted forms, images, and index data into an ApplicationXtender system.
Instructions on how to use each section are provided below.
The first section of the Imaging screen allows you to specify default settings that will be used in other areas of TransForm E-Forms Manager relating to the creation of images from submitted form pages. By providing defaults in this area, Form Administrators who may be unfamiliar with your organization's requirements regarding image resolution and file size will always be allowed to use pre-ordained settings.
TransForm E-Forms Manager supports image export into two formats, TIF (.tif) and JPEG (.jpg). For each type of supported image, this section allows you to specify two resolution settings, which determine the size and quality of exported images. When you view this section for the first time, TransForm E-Forms Manager provides default settings which you may choose to keep or modify. To change the default image resolution settings for each supported image type:
Choose a Bits per Pixel value. The dropdown list for each image type contains only the options that are valid for that image type. Note that the higher the value chosen, the greater the image quality, but also the higher the exported file size. Choosing a setting of 1 for the TIF file type or 4 for the JPG file type will result in a black and white (grayscale) image.
Enter a Dots per Inch (DPI) value that is between 100 and 300. Again, the higher the value chosen the higher the quality of the image will be, but also the greater the exported file size.
After you have changed the default image settings, click the "Save Image Settings" button to apply your changes. If you have modified values but you decide not to save them, click "Cancel" and the fields in this section will be reset to their previous values.
TransForm E-Forms Manager's Batch Image Export feature allows you to export content from submitted forms (form files in .pff format, images of the form pages, and index data) to a file system. Exported content can then be used with utilities provided by document management and software vendors (e.g., the ApplicationXtender Image Index Import utility) for importing the content into other systems.
When this feature is enabled, Form Administrators can configure forms for batch export, specifying image format and resolution, types of exported content, and index data. These settings can be made in the Form Catalog and are applied at the form version level. When forms that have been set up for Batch Image Export get submitted by End Users into TransForm E-Forms Manager, Form Administrators are then able to run exports of the specified content from the Submissions area of TransForm E-Forms Manager.
If image export is not a requirement of your organization, you may disable this feature so that Form Administrators do not have to work around the user interface controls and components related to this feature.
To enable the batch export feature, check the Enable Batch Export checkbox and click the "Save Batch Settings" button. To disable the feature, clear the checkbox and click the "Save Batch Settings" button. You will notice that enabling this option makes an "Imaging" tab appear in the Form Catalog's form management properties for any form, and this tab will allow you to view and edit settings at the form version level for batch image export for forms. In addition, the Submissions tab will now contain an Imaging area with a Batch Export tab that allows you to run exports of submitted form content for the forms you have configured. Disabling this option will hide those features.
Using TransForm E-Forms Manager's ApplicationXtender Integrator feature, forms submitted electronically to TransForm E-Forms Manager can be automatically imaged, indexed, and passed into an EMC ApplicationXtender instance. The hand-off to ApplicationXtender can be configured on a form-by-form basis to include:
Images of the form pages, in TIF or JPG format, with customizable image resolution.
A copy of the form in PFF format, allowing it to be opened, viewed, and used in TransForm Filler. This is especially useful for submitted forms that include digital signatures.
Index data comprised of form field values supplied by the user. Form field to index field mappings can be easily supplied and customized within the TransForm E-Forms Manager catalog.
Documents and files attached to a submitted form, which result in additional document pages within ApplicationXtender.
Automatic ApplicationXtender Export is performed through a connection between TransForm E-Forms Manager and ApplicationXtender, using the ApplicationXtender Web or Utility Services. The TransForm E-Forms Manager administrative interface allows you to define the connection to the ApplicationXtender services by supplying the services URL, default ApplicationXtender Data Source, and default login information. Once this connection is defined, the TransForm E-Forms Manager Catalog interface allows you to customize integration of individual forms with ApplicationXtender, by supplying export settings, destination data source and application mappings, and mappings between data fields in the form and application index fields.
In versions of TransForm E-Forms Manager prior to 7.2.1, the connection between TransForm E-Forms Manager and ApplicationXtender is provided through the ApplicationXtender Utility Services. Starting with version 7.2.1, TransForm E-Forms Manager can connect to ApplicationXtender (versions 5.4 and higher) using the ApplicationXtender Web Services interface. Among other advantages, this allows content to be streamed to the ApplicationXtender instance instead of using the shared folder drop-off mechanism employed by the Utility Services, providing a simpler, more secure content delivery transaction.
The instructions below describe how to configure TransForm E-Forms Manager for automatic ApplicationXtender export using the ApplicationXtender Web or Utility Services.
To configure ApplicationXtender Export using the ApplicationXtender Web Services interface, your system must meet the following requirements:
TransForm E-Forms Manager 7.2.1 or later must be installed and running, in an environment that is network accessible to the ApplicationXtender server (or on the same server).
The TransForm E-Forms Manager license must have the optional ApplicationXtender Integrator component registered.
An installation of ApplicationXtender 5.4, 6.0, or later must be installed and running.
The ApplicationXtender installation must include a configured, tested, and running installation of the ApplicationXtender Web Services, version 5.4 or higher.
If the ApplicationXtender Web services run on a server other than the one on which TransForm E-Forms Manager is installed, the TransForm E-Forms Manager server must be allowed HTTP access to the ApplicationXtender server using the port on which the ApplicationXtender Web Services are listening (normally port 80).
Prior to Version 7.2.1 of TransForm E-Forms Manager, the ApplicationXtender Utility Services were required for ApplicationXtender integration. For versions 7.2.1 and later, the ApplicationXtender Web Services integration described above is the recommended type of configuration, especially when using ApplicationXtender 6.0 or later, for which the Utility Services are no longer supported.
To configure ApplicationXtender Export using the ApplicationXtender Utility Services interface, your system must meet the following requirements:
TransForm E-Forms Manager 7.0.7.1 or later must be installed and running, in an environment that is network accessible to the ApplicationXtender server (or on the same server).
The TransForm E-Forms Manager license must have the optional ApplicationXtender Integrator component registered.
An installation of ApplicationXtender 5.3.0 SP2 or 5.4 must be installed and running. (The ApplicationXtender Utility Services are not supported for ApplicationXtender version 6.0)
The ApplicationXtender installation must include a configured, tested, and running installation of the ApplicationXtender Utility Services, version 5.3.0.082 or higher.
If the ApplicationXtender Utility services run on a server other than the one on which TransForm E-Forms Manager is installed, the TransForm E-Forms Manager server must be allowed HTTP access to the ApplicationXtender server using the port on which the ApplicationXtender Utility Services are listening (normally port 80).
If the ApplicationXtender Utility services run on a server other than the one on which TransForm E-Forms Manager is installed, the TransForm E-Forms Manager server and the server running the Utility Services must both be able to reference a commonly accessible drive path with the same name, so that TransForm E-Forms Manager can drop off content for pickup by the AX Services.
If your TransForm E-Forms Manager installation has been registered with the Automatic ApplicationXtender Export feature, you will see a section on this screen where you can provide settings that will allow TransForm E-Forms Manager to communicate with and pass content from form submissions into ApplicationXtender.
Setup of Automatic ApplicationXtender Export requires you to enter the following settings into the interface:
Enable Automated Export:
The first setting available in this section allows you to enable or disable the Automatic AX Export feature. When this feature is enabled, Form Administrators can configure forms for automatic AX export, specifying image format and resolution, types of exported content and index data, as well as specifying in detail how each form version will integrate with an individual AX application. These settings can be made in the Form Catalog and are applied at the form version level. When forms that have been set up for Automatic AX Export get submitted by End Users into TransForm E-Forms Manager, the system can then export submission-related content (forms, images, and index data) as specified and pass them into ApplicationXtender.
If you disable this feature (by unchecking the Enable Automated Export checkbox), Form Administrators will not see the user interface controls and components related to this feature.
ApplicationXtender Services URL:
Enter the fully-qualified URL by which the ApplicationXtender Web Services may be located by the system. The URL you specified should not point to an individual service, but to the path under which the individual services may be provided.
For integrating with instances of ApplicationXtender of version 5.4 and higher using the ApplicationXtender Web Services, provide a URL that points to the ApplicationXtender Web Services. For example, "http://hostname/AppXtenderServices", replacing hostname with the actual host name or IP address of the server on which the AX Web Services are running.
For integrating with instances of ApplicationXtender prior to version 5.4, you should provide a URL that points to the ApplicationXtender Utility Services. For example, "http://hostname/XsWebServices", replacing hostname with the actual host name or IP address of the server on which the AX Utility Services are running.
Default Data Source:
To test whether you have entered a valid ApplicationXtender Web Services URL, click the "..." button next to the Default Data Source field. This button serves two purposes - it allows you to check the URL you entered as the ApplicationXtender Services URL, and if the connection is successful, you are provided with a list of available ApplicationXtender data source names to choose from. When you click this button, if you have entered a valid URL for the ApplicationXtender Services that is accessible from your TransForm E-Forms Manager server, you will see a list of ApplicationXtender data source names:
From this list, you may click one of the data source names, which will be automatically placed into the Default Data Source field.
If your ApplicationXtender Services connection fails, you will see an error message such as "Bad Response (404 Not Found)". In this case, you should check the ApplicationXtender Services URL that you entered, and test to make sure that the Utility or Web Services are running and properly communicating with your ApplicationXtender installation.
Default Security Model:
Starting with version 7.5.0, this setting allows you to select which security model should be used when connecting to the default data source. The available options are CM and Windows. The CM security model requires a user ID and password and is the security model that was used in versions prior to 7.5.0. Selecting Windows as the security model will cause the Windows account that the TransForm E-Forms Manager Server service is running under to be used by ApplicationXtender to authenticate access to the selected default data source.
Note: If a connection to ApplicationXtender cannot be made using the Windows security model, make sure that the Windows account that is configured to run the TransForm E-Forms Manager Server service has permissions to access the data source.
Default User ID:
In this field, you must specify an ApplicationXtender user ID that may be used by TransForm E-Forms Manager to authenticate with AX in order to read information on applications (for form configuration purposes) and to add document pages and index data. This user ID must represent a user created and managed with ApplicationXtender's CM security (not Windows-integrated security). This user ID may be used when mapping individual forms to AX applications by allowing Form Administrators to use default credentials. Form Administrators will also be allowed to specify, at the form version level, an AX user ID other than the default.
Note: When integrating TransForm E-Forms Manager with ApplicationXtender using the ApplicationXtender Web Services (for ApplicationXtender version 5.4, 6.0, or higher), you should use an ApplicationXtender login that does not have Document View privileges. This allows TransForm E-Forms Manager to hand content to ApplicationXtender without requesting an ApplicationXtender user license for the operation. If the login you use for ApplicationXtender integration does have Document View privileges, then every time TransForm E-Forms Manager connects to ApplicationXtender, a license will be requested for the duration of that session.
Default Password:
In this field, you must enter the password associated with the user ID you entered into the Default User ID field above. (If the user ID you specified has no password, you may leave it blank).
Form Processing Interval:
When the ApplicationXtender Auto-Export process is running, TransForm E-Forms Manager checks for submitted forms (those that have been configured for ApplicationXtender Export) at regular intervals to export their specified content and send it into ApplicationXtender. In this field you must specify the interval (in seconds) by which this process runs. The minimum interval you may specify is 10 seconds, and the interval may be as large as you want (e.g., 3600 for once per hour). The value you specify will depend on the volume of submissions you plan to process and the speed with which you want them sent to ApplicationXtender .
Once you have entered these settings, and before you may test your connection, click the "Save Auto Settings" button. After you have saved your settings, click the "Test Connection" button. If the connection is successful, you will see a message reading "Connection Successful." If your connection fails, the message should describe the problem encountered. The following are some possible error messages along with a description of the problems which they likely represent:
Bad response: (404 Not Found): The ApplicationXtender Services URL entered is invalid or cannot be properly called from the TransForm E-Forms Manager server. Check the URL for validity and make sure your AX Utility Services are running.
No configuration data for Authority <Datasource Name>: The data source name that you placed in the Default Data Source field is invalid. Make sure you get the data source name from the list provided by TransForm E-Forms Manager by clicking the "..." button next to the default data source field.
Authentication failed. Invalid login name: The ApplicationXtender user ID specified is invalid.
Once all of your default settings for Automatic ApplicationXtender Export have been validated and saved, you may start the ApplicationXtender Auto-Export process so that it will begin to run at regular intervals.
To start the ApplicationXtender Auto-Export process, click the "Export Process Enabled" control. This will start the process, and it will run first in the number of seconds you have specified in the Processing Interval field. (e.g., if you specified 60 seconds, the process will first attempt to export submissions to AX 60 seconds from the time you click the control.
To stop the process, click the "Export Process Stopped" control. If TransForm E-Forms Manager is currently in the process of exporting content to ApplicationXtender, it will finish the exports it is working on, then stop and not restart.
NOTE: Even if you have this process turned off, submissions that are configured for ApplicationXtender Auto-Export will continue to be queued up for export into ApplicationXtender. This way, when you re-enable the export process, TransForm E-Forms Manager will begin to export the submitted content to ApplicationXtender even though the process was not running when the forms were actually received.