Import and export of application groups

1. General information

• Import and export of application groups in NET Genium are used to transfer application groups between different system installations, to deploy new versions of application groups, and to create backup copies.
• The application group import and export functions are intended exclusively for users with the highest permission level — the Administrator user with database ID 1. This permission is required primarily because of the ability to modify the structure, permissions, and links of application groups.
• Icons for importing and exporting application groups are available in administrator mode in the navigation area after expanding the “NET Genium” link with the gear icon.
• The standard format for importing and exporting application groups is a file with the “ngg” extension, which contains the complete definition of the application group.
• Importing an application group always creates a new instance of the application group in the target environment.
• Updating an existing application group (similar to applications) through importing an application group is not supported.
• Imported application groups are placed at the end of the application group bar.
• An “ngg” file can also be imported using the “Import application” icon; all its applications are then inserted into a single application group.
• In NET Genium Online the import of application groups is not available – the “Import application group” icon is not displayed. Exporting application groups is not restricted.

2. Import of application groups

• Import of application groups is available exclusively to users with the highest permission level, i.e., the Administrator user with database ID 1.
• Import of application groups is available through the “Import application group” icon in the navigation area after expanding NET Genium with the gear icon in administrator mode.
• The “Import application group” dialog allows importing from a file with the “ngg” extension.
• Importing application groups may lead to data inconsistency, especially if the options “Import rights” or “Keep bindings to other applications” are enabled. The target environment may contain different identifiers of users, groups, or links than the source environment. In such a case, only numeric IDs may be displayed, or the import may be interrupted with a data consistency violation message.

2.1. Options

• I am the owner of the imported data
  • Checking this box determines whether the import overwrites the owner of all database records in all imported database tables.
  • A detailed description of ownership and co-ownership of records is provided in the separate guide Edit form.
• Import history of records
  • Checking this box determines whether the record history of all imported database tables should be imported.
• Import rights
  • Checked – When importing rights, user and user group IDs will be used exactly according to the rights settings in the source (exported) application group and in all its child objects. This form of import can cause a data inconsistency between the rights in the source and destination application groups. The same IDs can indicate different users or user groups in two different NET Genium. At the same time, some IDs may not exist in the target NET Genium. In the rights settings of the imported application group, only ID numbers will be displayed instead of the user or user group name.
  • Unchecked – The imported application group and all its child objects that had at least one right set in the source NET Genium will have the rights to the user group “Users” set. Objects without rights remain accessible only to administrators. In the same way, all users of the “Users” group become co-owners of edit form records.
• Keep bindings to other applications
  • The behavior of both options is the same as for the import of an application. A detailed description is provided in the separate guide Import and export of applications.

2.2. Select file

• “Browse...” button to upload the file of the imported application group with the “ngg” extension.

3. Export of application groups

• Export of application groups is available exclusively to users with the highest permission level, i.e., the Administrator user with database ID 1.
• Export of application groups is available through the “Export application group” icon in the navigation area after expanding the “NET Genium” link with the gear icon in administrator mode.
• The “Export application group” dialog enables the export of application groups after pressing the “Export” button. A file with the “ngg” extension is generated, containing the complete definition of all selected application groups. The export includes the structure of the selected application groups, their applications, controls, links, and, depending on the selected options, also data or file attachments.

3.1. Application groups

• List of all application groups that can be included in the export.
• If the application group name is checked, the selected application group will be part of the resulting export.
• The “Home page” and “Settings” application groups cannot be exported.

3.2. Options

• Including data
  • Checking this box determines whether the database records of all exported database tables should be included in the resulting export.
• Including attachments (files/images)
  • Checking this box determines whether file attachments of all exported database tables should be included in the resulting export.