Using the Archive Information System

1. Checking available information structures

First you should check if an information structure already exists that you could use for reporting archived data. You can then change this information structure to suit your needs. If there is no information structure available that you can use, you can create a new one.

2. Creating the information structure

You define the information structure to be used for archive reporting. In doing this, you specify which source fields from the archive are copied to which fields in the information structure. You do this with the help of application-specific field catalogs, which are included in the features of the Archive Information System.

An information structure is only ever valid for one archiving object. Multiple information structures can be defined for one archiving object. For more information, see Creating Information Structures.

3. Activating the information structure

After you have created an information structure, you need to activate it. Alternatively you can use a standard information structure, provided that it fits your requirements.

At this stage, the system generates a transparent database table and the reporting program. For more information, see Activating Information Structures.

4. Filling the information structure

During an archiving delete run all (activated) archive information structures belonging to an archiving object are filled automatically. To do so, the Archive Development Kit (ADK) transfers all data records found in the archive to the AS interface. From the defined infostructure, the AS filters the data from the data records transferred and enters it in a transparent database table together with an access key. This table serves as the basis for later searches.

As well as the automatic fill using the delete program, an information structure can also be filled later for already available archives This can be useful if you want to fill the information structure, report data that was already archived, or if you have changed the fields of an information structure. For more information, see Filling Information Structures.

5. Reporting information structures

In Archive Explorer, define the archiving object and the information structure from which you want to report. In the selection screen, where necessary, specify the display parameters for the archived data. Select a data object from the list of data objects and, where possible, specify the view in which it is to be displayed. For more information, see Reporting Information Structures.