Forms Extractor

The Forms Extractor allows you to design a form on a test server, and then export the form to the production server. This program is run independently from the TMS main menu and is executed once you log on to TMS. If the form you are copying has an associated workflow, the workflow and form will be copied together.

A user must have Read/Write permission to the following directory:

TMS_Web\Webroot\ViewFormsData\FormsDefExp-ImpData

To run the Export function:

  1. After logging onto TMS, execute the function by entering /ViewFormsData/FormsDefExp-Imp.aspx after the TMS server name and site name in the browser address field:

http://<servername>/<site name>/ ViewFormsData/FormsDefExp-Imp.aspx

For example:

http://d500-svr/tms/ ViewFormsData/FormsDefExp-Imp.aspx

  1. Click the Extract Forms Definitions button.
  2. Select the Form Group (packet) you would like to export.
  3. Select the Individual Forms with the packet.
  4. Select a File name for the file to which you are exporting, or use the default.
  5. Click the Create Forms Definition Export File button.

A file name and location display at the bottom of the form.

  1. Write down the path and name of the export file.

To run the Forms Extractor –Import Function:

  1. Copy the export file from the test server into the same directory path on the production server.
  2. Execute the Forms Extractor using the same instructions for the Export function, substituting the production server’s name and database.
  3. Click the Import Forms Definition button.

A list of export files displays.

  1. Select the export file that you copied from the test server.
  2. Click the Import Forms Definition File button.

The system imports the form definition into TMS on the production server.

  1. Open up the imported form in the Form Designer on the production server to verify the import.
  2. Add signers to the signature fields of the form where applicable.
  3. If applicable, open up the workflow design and add any activity recipients that are hardcoded in the workflow.
  4. If applicable, reconnect the template.

The template must be manually copied from the test server. It will not be copied over by the Forms Extractor.

NOTE: The system will not copy the form if duplication could occur, as indicated by the following error message:
    ***Duplicate <name> entry - file not imported
If this error message displays, you should remove the duplications and execute the Export – Import Forms Definition program again. You can also edit the HTML file to remove the duplicates manually.