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The Filesystem Connector saves  submissions to local or remote file systems (Windows, Linux). You can:

  • Save each submission to it’s own folder
  • Save all submissions to the same folder
  • Choose to keep file names or generate a file name
  • Generate metadata for import into your Enterprise Content Management system.

Submission form/flow XML document(s), attachments that are added by the user and the PDF snapshot of your form/flow can be saved in the configured submissions directory.

Note
Signatures are not saved as they are a different content type than attachments.

Using the Filesystem Connector to save submissions to a shared directory might be an alternative if your forms/flows contain sensitive/secure information that you would rather not send via email or if you want to import the submissions into your Enterprise Content Management system.  

Submissions from  are posted to the Filesystem Connector using the Doc Action Save to File System wizard.

The Filesystem Connector is available for cloud and in-house  customers. It can be deployed under any Servlet container.

Generation of a metadata file for each submission can imported into a document management system. This is possible with the Save to Filesystem wizard and a descriptor file that provides the instructions in freemarker language.  Once the metadata file is generated, it is the customer's responsibility to import it into the document management system. 

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  1. If you use the Live Forms Cloud hosted server,  you must ensure that the connector is accessible from the frevvo servers. This is done by opening up one of the following ports in your firewall:

    • HTTP Ports: 80 or 19080
    • HTTPs Ports: 443 or 19443

    Code Block
    We recommend that you use https and not http. Https is a secure channel.
  2. Customers that use firewall white-listing, should make sure the frevvo cloud outgoing server IP 54.86.85.105 (host outgoing.frevvo.com) is added to the list.
  3. If you want to install the Filesystem Connector in the frevvo In-House tomcat bundle, follow these easy steps: (You don't have to use the  application from this bundle).
    1. Review the Supported Platforms list.
    2. Download and install the certified version of the Java Development Kit (JDK) or Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and set the JAVA_HOME environment variable as described here 
    3. Download the frevvo tomcat bundle
    4. Unzip the frevvo zip file into a location of your choice: e.g. c:\frevvo.   We'll refer to this directory below as <frevvo-home>.
    5. Install the Filesystem connector inside that same tomcat. 
      1. Download the filesystem zipflile 
      2. Extract the filesystem.war to <frevvo-home>\tomcat\webapps directory.
      3. Delete <frevvo-home>\tomcat\webapps\frevvo.war
      4. Configure the Filesystem Connector
  4. Start by clicking on the startup.(bat,sh) file for your operating system in the <frevvo-home> directory. It is also possible to configure Live Forms as a Windows service

In-house Customers with an existing tomcat bundle installation

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  1. Stop

  2. Download the latest version of the Filesystem Connector

  3. Extract the filesystem.war to your <frevvo-home>\tomcat\webapps directory.

  4. Verify that the Filesystem Connector configuration is correct for the new version. You will need to convert the context parameters in the the <frevvo-home>\tomcat\conf\catalina\localhost\filesystem.xml file from your previous installation to properties in the <frevvo-home>\tomcat\conf\frevvo-config.properties file.

    Expand
    titleClick here to see how to convert the parameters from the filesystem.xml file to properties in the frevvo-config.properties file
    1. Let's say your filesytem.xml file from your previous version looks like this:

      Code Block
      <Context unpackWAR="false" path="/filesystem" swallowOutput="true" unloadDelay="40000">
      <Parameter name="spring.main.banner-mode" value="OFF" override="false"/>
      <Parameter name="logging.file" value="${catalina.base}/logs/file-connector.%d{yyyy-MM-dd}.log" override="false"/>
      <Parameter name="connector.file.root.dir" value="C:\" override="false"/>
      <Parameter name="connector.file.name.keep" value="true" override="false"/>
      <Parameter name="connector.file.ignore.attachments" value="false" override="false"/>
      <Parameter name="connector.file.descriptor.suffix" value=".xml" override="false"/>
      <JarScanner scanClassPath="false"/>
      </Context>
    2. Edit the <frevvo-home>\tomcat\conf\frevvo-config.properties file
    3. The Context unpackWar, spring.main.banner-mode, logging.file and JarScanner scanClassPath parameters from the filesystem.xml file are not needed.
    4. Convert the remaining parameters to properties. You can add them to the existing File Connector settings section or make a new section with a comment as shown in the example below
      1. Copy the parameter name without the surrounding quotes into the frevvo-config.properties file. This is the name of the property.
      2. Add an equal sign after the property name
      3. Copy the value without the surrounding quotes and add it AFTER the equal sign.
      4. Repeat for all the configured parameters
      5. Save the frevv-config.properties file

    The frevvo-config.properties file should look similar to the one shown below after the conversion:

    Warning
    • In a properties file, a backslash is considered as a continuation character when splitting across lines. Escape it with another backslash so it is not treated as such. i.e. C:\\ or use the forward slash i.e. c:/ when specifying the connector.file.root.dir property.
    • You may notice the following property for the Filesystem connector listed in the frevvo-config.properties file by default. In previous versions of these properties were configured as parameters in the <frevvo-home>\tomcat\conf\catalina\localhost\frevvo.xml file. If you modified the values for this property in the frevvo.xml of your previous installation, copy the value into the default property listed in the frevvo-config.properties file.

    • Uncomment the properties property by deleting the # that precedes them if you are using them.it, if necessary

      Code Block
      # File Connector settings
      #frevvofrevvo.filesystem.connector.url=http://localhost:8082/filesystem
      

    The first statement, preceded by the #, in the example shown below is a comment for informational purposes.

    Code Block
    #Filesystem Connector properties
    connector.file.root.dir=C:/
    connector.file.name.keep=true 
    connector.file.ignore.attachmentse=false
    connector.file.descriptor.suffix=.xml

    5. Start

  5. Proceed to Connect Forms/Flows with the Save to FileSystem wizard to continue.

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  1. You may notice the following properties property listed in the File Connector settings section of the frevvo-config.properties file.

    1. the frevvo.filesystem.connector.url - The location of the Filesystem connector is set for the installation with this property. It defaults to http://localhost:8082/filesystem. The <localhost:8082> in the default URL can be changed to the <server:port> where you installed the Filesystem connector in your environment.

    2. the frevvo.filesystem.connector.metadata.prefix - this property is needed to retrieve field mapping when generating a metadata file. It defaults to md followed by a dot. In most situations, there is no need to change this value.

    3. Remember to uncomment the properties Uncomment the property by deleting the # that precedes them if you are using them.it, if necessary

      Code Block
      # File Connector settings
      #frevvofrevvo.filesystem.connector.url=http://localhost:8082/filesystem
      #frevvo.filesystem.connector.metadata.prefix=md.
  2. Add these properties to the <frevvo-home>\tomcat\conf\frevvo-config.properties file. You can add them to the existing File Connector settings section or make a new section with a comment as shown in the example below. Refer to the table for a description of the configurable properties:

    Configuration ParameterDescription
    connector.file.root.dirThis is the location in your file system where the submission docs will be saved.  Set the submissions directory field in the Save to Filesystem wizard as a relative path from the root directory specified by the connector.file.root.dir in the connector deployment configuration. It's value can contain one or more control template strings. For example, if the configuration file contains C:\ for the connector.file.root.dir parameter, enter the name of the directory where you want to save the submissions in the Submissions field in the Save to Filesystem wizard. This will save the submissions in C:\<DIRECTORY NAME>. If not explicitly configured, it defaults to the user home directory. Change the value to reflect the location for your file system.
    connector.file.name.keepThis parameter determines whether the original files names will be retained. If this is set to true, then you either have to make sure that all your files have unique names or else save the documents of each submission under a separate uniquely named folder. If this parameter is not included, or is set to false, submission files will be named with a generated identifier as the prefix suffixed by '_' and a sequence number to make the file name unique. The original filename extension is retained. This is the default behavior. Ex: e454fa08-9a6e-4c54-9743-18f4ba0ad0b4_1.xml instead of form.xml.
    connector.file.dir.submission   This parameter allows you to create a unique new sub-folder for documents of every submission if true.
    connector.file.ignore.attachmentsThis parameter determines whether attachments will be saved or not. If the value is false, attachments will be saved. Change the value to true and attachments will not be saved.
    The submission XML does not store the names of uploaded attachments, instead it points to unique ID that is assigned to each attachment when that submission in created in . This is as-designed.
    connector.file.descriptor.suffixThe metadata descriptor filename is a generic GUID filename, followed by a configurable suffix. The default suffix is '.xml'. Use this parameter to change the suffix.The suffix can make identifying the metadata file easier, particularly if you save the files from all submissions into the same folder.
    Ex: 432e0d1f-d084-4cd4-8bbe-50f6e9bd5ee6_desc.txt

    Here is an example of the Filesystem Connector properties added to the File Connector settings section of the frevvo-config.properties file. When executed, submissions will be:

    • Saved on the local drive in a directory specified in the wizard that is located under the root directory configured here. Ex: C:\Submissions.
    • Individual file names will be retained.
    • Attachments in the submission will be saved.
    • Add the suffix "_desc.txt" to the metadata file for each submission.

      Warning

      In a properties file, a backslash is considered as a continuation character when splitting across lines. Escape it with another backslash i.e. C:\\ or use the forward slash i.e. C:/ when specifying the connector.file.root.dir property.

      Code Block
      # File Connector settings
      frevvo.filesystem.connector.url=http://localhost:8082/filesystem
      cnector.file.root.dir=C:/
      connector.file.name.keep=true 
      connector.file.ignore.attachments=false
      connector.file.descriptor.suffix=_desc.txt
      


  3. Start . If you are running v7.0+, remember to start the Insight server first.
  4. Make sure the directory where you plan to save the submissions is created and and has the appropriate access for the OS you are using. For example:

    1. If you are using Windows, you can map a drive to a server directory, or you could use the UNC path i.e. //host-name

    2. If you are using a Unix operating system you could mount a remote filesystem as a directory and use it as your destination directory

      Warning

      To ensure interoperability across file systems, it is recommended that you follow a good naming standard such as POSIX when creating files and folders. For example, folder names can't contain slashes so a folder named '1/2/15' would not be valid.

  5. Browse http://<your server:port>/file/health (replace <your server:port> with your frevvo server:port) to check the status of the connector. If the connector is up and running, you will see { "status" : "UP" }

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  1. You have created a small form that has a Name, Address, City, State and Zip Code fields. A mapped W - 4 PDF is included in the form. The Save PDF property is selected and the PDF Name property is configured with the template {Name}.

  2. You want to store the submission files for this form in a directory on your local machine named Submissions. 
  3. You want to create a sub directory for each submission under the Submissions directory. The name of the sub directory is created from the value entered into the Name field on the form
  4. You want to save the form/flow PDF, any mapped PDFs associated with the form, an xml file and any attachments uploaded to the form in the subdirectory. 
  5. Follow these steps to fulfill the requirements by using the doc action Save to Filesystem wizard
    1. Login as a designer.
    2. Edit your form/flow in the appropriate designer.

    3. Click on the what happens to my data? icon.



    4. Click Save to FileSystem to display the wizard.

  6. To fulfill the requirements listed above, we only need to fill in the URL, Submission Directory and File sections of the wizard. Here is an explanation of the fields:
     

    1. The URL: this is the URL to the location where you installed the Filesystem Connector.

      1. In-house: The location of the Filesystem connector is set for the installation using the frevvo.filesystem.connector.url parameter in the <frevvo-home>\tomcat\conf\frevvo-config.properties file. It defaults to http://localhost:8082/filesystem in the tomcat build. The <localhost:8082> in the default URL can be changed to the <server:port> where you installed the Filesystem connector in your environment. This is a required field. The value entered here overrides the value in the frevvo-config.properties file.

      2. Cloud customers will see the placeholder http(s)://host:port/filesystem/submission - enter the https url to the location where you installed your  Filesystem Connector.


         

    2. Submissions Directory - Enter a relative path from the root directory specified by the connector.file.root.dir parameter in the configuration file created above. Control templates are allowed in this field. You can use a control template to store submissions in subdirectories. The template, {Name}, will populate the Template field. Copy the template from the Template field and add it to the Submissions Directory path after the forward or backward slash. Note the forward or backward slash can be used to create subfolders.

      Examples
    •  if the value of the connector.file.root.dir parameter in the configuration file is "c:\" then entering Submissions in the Submission Directory field in the wizard saves the files in the local directory c:\Submissions.
       
    1. File Section - One or more types of submission content can be specified by checking the Send Snapshot, Files, Gen Forms and Data checkboxes:
      1. Select the snapshot format to be sent by selecting a choice form the Send Snapshot dropdown. The format choices are PDF, PNG or JPEG.
      2. Check the Files checkbox to send any file attachments uploaded to the form.
      3. Check the Gen Forms checkbox to send the mapped W - 4 PDF.
      4. Check the Data checkbox to send the form XML document for the form.



  7. Click the Submit button.
  8. Click the save and exit icon to save your changes.
  9. Create some submissions by clicking the Test button, filling in the form and clicking submit.
  10. The results of 3 submissions are shown in the image.

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