EQuIS Format Definition Management Configuration

EQuIS formats are structured in eXtensible Markup Language (XML). Each EQuIS Format Definition (EFD) has at its foundation an XML Schema Definition (XSD) to define the structure of the EDD file. The XSD file defines the format sections (EDD tables) and the columns in each of those tables. In addition to table definition, the XSD file defines the data mapping to the EQuIS Schema and any associated business rules, including data type consistency, lookup values, and custom handler code.

The XSD file is unencrypted, plain text. Professional EDP (when using application-level security) and Enterprise EDP require that the EFD file be either encrypted by EarthSoft (i.e., *.xse rather than *.xsd) or be embedded as a resource in a strong-named .NET assembly (i.e., *.dll). Thus, all formats distributed by EarthSoft are either encrypted and/or embedded in a strong-named .NET assembly.

EQuIS Enterprise provides extensive flexibility with how EFD files are managed and consumed by the Enterprise workflow service. Configuration is performed by editing records in the ST_CONFIG table where CONFIG_SECTION = efdManagementConfiguration. Configuration options include:

•General EFD management for each registered format name. This includes defining file paths, assigning commit types, accepting warnings, etc.

•Defining the work folder used by workflow service and web application as a file exchange location.

•Configuring the File Monitor agent to define EDD delivery channels and the client assembly associated with them.

•Setting the Inbound File Type to map an EDD file name extension to the respective custom client assembly for the File Validate agent and File Process agent.

•Disabling features such as automatically renaming upload files when missing information.