Summary
Promotions is an InfoBurst administrator tool used to promote items between InfoBurst environments. The environment where a Promotion is created is referred to as the Source. The environment into which an item is promoted is referred to as the Target. Promotions is located under System.
Promotions is currently a Preview feature. The feature is in active development and promotion results should be validated and tested.
Requirements
The Source and Target environments must use the same InfoBurst version. If you currently use only Production and Test InfoBurst servers, then you may consider utilizing a third QA InfoBurst environment where QA is used to create and test items that will be promoted to Production and Test is used for qualifying new software versions and environmental changes.
Recommendations
Backup
It is strongly recommended the InfoBurst repository used by the Target environment be scheduled for nightly backups. A recent backup can be used to restore the Target environment in the event of an unintended Promotion result.
Change Management
To avoid conflicts when promoting items, it is recommended that items not be changed on the Target. Changes to any item should be made and qualified in the Source environment then promoted to push the changes to the Target environment.
Rules
The following rules govern item promotion. Please review before promoting an item into a Production InfoBurst environment.
A Promotion item and any referenced items and/or system dependencies will be created if they do not exist on the Target.
Any item that references the promoted item will not be promoted. To determine what will be promoted with the parent promotion item, view the References > References section within the parent item. Items under Referenced By will not be promoted. For example, a Burst is in a Schedule. The Schedule will not be promoted as part of the Burst promotion. If the Schedule is promoted, then the Burst will be promoted as well.
The following rules apply when promoting an item that already exists on the Target:
| Item | Rule(s) |
| Document | Item will not be replaced. If Source document has been updated to capture changes (e.g. parameter added), then existing Target document must be updated manually to capture change(s). |
| LIst | Item will not be replaced unless Replace Target Data Source(s) is enabled. This InfoBurst Data Source contains data and requires opt-in to replace. |
| MultiColumn List | Item will not be replaced unless Replace Target Data Source(s) is enabled. This InfoBurst Data Source contains data and requires opt-in to replace. |
| File List | Item will be replaced. |
| Database Connection | When referenced by another promoted Item (e.g. Burst), only the query or queries associated with that Item will be replaced. Any connection change(s) will be promoted. Item will be replaced on the target (connection and queries) when Database Connection is the primary promotion item. An ODBC used by a Database Connection will not be promoted. The ODBC must be configured manually on the Target before promotion. Database Query deleted on Source will not be deleted on Target. Delete manually. |
| Template | Item will be replaced. InfoBurst Portal Destination: Portal must be configured on Target before promoting a Template that contains a portal delivery. Secure FTP Destination: Certificate will not be promoted. Certificate must be present on the Target before promotion. Certificate must be updated in Target Template if name differs from Source certificate. Printer Destination: Printer must be installed on Target before promoting a Template that contains a Printer delivery. |
| Burst | Item will be replaced. InfoBurst Portal Destination: Portal must be configured on Target before promoting a Burst that contains a portal delivery. Secure FTP Destination: Certificate will not be promoted. Certificate must be present on the Target before promotion. Certificate must be updated in Target delivery if name differs from Source certificate. Printer Destination: Printer must be installed on Target before promoting a Burst that contains a Printer delivery. Defer for Review: A Burst that uses Defer for Review is not currently supported for promotion. |
| XDC | Item will be replaced. Burst Cache Query Data Source: When referenced by a promoted Burst, only the query or queries associated with that Burst will be replaced. Cache Query deleted on Source will not be deleted on Target. Delete manually. |
| Schedule | Item will be replaced. |
| Event | Item will be replaced. |
| Action | Item will be replaced. |
| Workflows | Item is not eligible for promotion. |
Item Management
Rename
An item name change on the Source will be reflected on the Target when the renamed item is promoted.
Folder renaming is not supported. A new Promotion must be created referencing the renamed Folder and Folder must be renamed manually on the Target before executing the new Promotion.
Move
Relocation of an Item or Folder is not supported. A new Promotion must be created referencing the moved items and Target items must be moved manually to match Source before executing the new Promotion.
System
The following items will be created on the Target as part of a Promotion if they do not exist:
- User(s)
- Group(s)
- Platform(s)
- Network Folder(s)
- Parameter Alias(es)
These items will not be updated on the Target if they change on the Source. Any changes to these items on the Source must be accommodated for manually on the Target.
No other System settings will be configured or synced to the Target environment as part of a Promotion. This includes change of Authentication type or use of authentication sources like Active Directory Sync or Authentication Data Source.
Platforms
A Platform cannot be promoted independently. A Platform is created on the Target as part of a Promotion if it does not exist.
Platform access rights are not promoted. Any user groups and folders that use access rights must be configured on Target before promoting an item that is sourced from a Platform restricted by access rights.
If a user is logged into Target user interface and a Platform is created as part of a Promotion, then the user must log out and back into Target user interface before the Platform will be visible.
Folders
A Folder cannot be promoted independently. A Folder is created on the Target as part of a Promotion if it does not exist.
Folder access rights are not promoted. Any user groups and folders that use access rights must be configured on Target before promoting an item that is in a folder restricted by access rights.
Crystal Database Logons
The Crystal DB Logon of the promoting user will be created on the Target but not kept in sync. Any other required DB Logons or changes to existing logons must be accommodated for manually on the Target.
Add Target
To add a Target InfoBurst server:
- Select System
- Select Configuration
- Select Category Promotion
- Select OPTargets
- Enter target InfoBurst server name
- Select Save
Promotion Management
| Create New Promotion |
|
| Execute Promotion |
|
| Update Existing Promotion |
|
Switching Sources
It is possible to promote an item that references a non-production asset into a Target where the equivalent production asset should be used. For example, a Source Burst references a WebI document that originates from a non-production BusinessObjects environment. After promoting the Burst, the equivalent production WebI document should be referenced.
Requirement
The Target item (which originates from a different source) must exist in the same folder path and have the same name as the Source item.
Qualified Items
When promoting an item that references one of the following items, the equivalent Target item will be used:
- Document
- Database Connection/Query
- File List