How to Create a Project for Staging Business Data

This topic describes how to create a project to stage business data by using the Commerce Server Staging (CSS) Microsoft Management Console (MMC). You can create a project to stage business data either manually or by using the New Project Wizard.

Important Note:
Before you create a project for staging business data, review the information in How to Stage Business Data.

The following table summarizes which business data project properties are mandatory and which are optional. The following table also indicates which properties are only applicable to specific server roles. For more information about staging options for business data projects, see Business Data Staging Options.

Property	Specification
Project Name	Mandatory. The project name must be the same on all servers in the staging topology.
Project Type	Mandatory. The project type must be the same on all servers in the staging topology.
Roles	Optional. When no option is selected, the project defines a waypoint. When both options are selected, the project defines a same box replication. Role optionServer role SourceSelected only for the source staging server. This option is checked for the project that is defined for the source staging server. When it is checked, you must specify a Source Site. Together, these options specify that an export operation will be performed from the Source Site. DestinationSelected only for endpoints This check box must be selected for the project that is defined for an endpoint. When it is checked, you must specify at least one Destination of type Local Server and the destination site name. Together, these options specify that an import operation will be performed at the Destination Site. Note: If your project contains waypoints, we recommend that you create routes to define the route path that contain the waypoints. Then, when you create a project by using the New Project Wizard, the Roles are automatically configured correctly for the waypoint and endpoint servers specified in the routes.
Source Site	Mandatory. Specifies the site from which data will be exported. This property is applicable only for the source staging server.
Project Local Directory	Mandatory. Specifies where the exported/transmitted business data will be stored. This property is applicable for all servers in the staging topology.
Destination	Required. This property is used to specify one of the following options: Waypoint to which data will be forwarded. The Destination Type is Server. Route that specifies one or more servers to which data will be forwarded. The Destination Type is Route. Endpoint to which data is forwarded and from which data is imported into the destination site database. The Destination Type is Local Server. Same box replication. The Destination Type is Local Server. The destination site must be different from the Source Site. At least one destination must be specified for business data to be staged.
Catalog, Marketing, Orders, Site Terms	Required. You must select at least one type of business data for a project to be staged. Business data properties must be defined only for the source staging server. The options selected for the source staging server are propagated throughout the staging topology. Important Note: Avoid making catalog schema changes to a production run-time site, as this requires the affected catalog to be rebuilt.
Scripts	Optional. Specifies the script path and file to be executed. Scripts are run based on the server role. Scripts must be defined on the server where they will be run. Script optionServer role Before any content is sent.Script is run on a source staging server or waypoint. After all content is deployed.Script is run on a source staging server or waypoint. Before any content is receivedScript is run on a waypoint or endpoint. After all content is received.Script is run on a waypoint or endpoint.
Schedule	Optional. Specifies the schedule to use to automate the replication of business data. Schedule optionServer role Set schedule replicationApplicable only to source staging server. Set schedule applyNot applicable to business data staging projects.
E-mail	Optional. Specifies the e-mail address where staging events are to be sent. Applies equally to all server roles.
Security	Optional. Specifies project-level authentication and users. Applies equally to all server roles.

Follow these steps to create a business data project by using the New Project Wizard or manually.

Important Note:
When you create the project with the New Project Wizard, the wizard defines the project on each server in the staging topology. When you create the project manually, you must create it manually on each server in the staging topology.

To create a project by using the New Project Wizard for staging business data

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 , and then click Commerce Server Staging.

2. In the Commerce Server Staging console, in the left pane, expand Commerce Server Staging, expand <server name>, right-click Projects, point to New, and then click Project with a Wizard.

3. On the Welcome to the Microsoft Commerce Server New Project Wizard page, click Next.

4. On the Specify the Project Name page, type a name for the staging project, and then click Next.

5. On the Select the Project Type page, click Deploy Business Data from a Commerce Resource, and then click Next.

6. On the Specify the Project Business Data Site page, from the drop-down list, select the commerce site that is associated with the business data that you want to stage, and then click Next.

7. On the Specify the Project Source page, type the path of a source directory to temporarily store the business data, or click Browse to move to the source directory, and then click Next.

8. On the Select the Business Data Resources page, select the specific business data resources that you want to stage, and then click Next.

9. On the Marketing page, click Promotion Codes if you want to include promotion codes in the staging project:

   • Select Incremental staging of promotion codes if you want to stage only the incremental changes to promotion codes.

   • Select Full staging of promotion codes to stage all promotion codes.

   Then, click Next to continue.

   Note

   The wizard will not display this page if you did not select the Marketing resource on the Select the Business Data Resources page.

10. On the Catalog page, select the specific catalogs that you want to stage, click Catalog Staging Options to configure additional settings, and then click Next.

    Note

    The wizard will not display this page if you did not select the Catalog resource on the Select the Business Data Resources page.

11. On the Specify the Project Destinations page, click Add.

12. In the Add Project Destination dialog box, do the following:

    Use this	To do this
    End point server	Click to stage business data to a remote server. Specify the name of the remote server, a destination site, and a destination directory on the remote server. Optionally, you can enter the credentials for an authentication account on the remote server. If you do not specify an authentication account, Commerce Server tries the project level authentication account. If that is unavailable, the project will use the default authentication account. If you specify an account, it must belong to the CSS Administrators group or the project creation will fail on the destination server.
    Route	Click to select a specific route for staging the business data.
    Local Server	Click to import the business data to a site. Type the path of the site name.

13. Click OK.

14. On the Specify the Project Destinations page, click Next.

15. On the Create Project Schedule page, click Add.

16. In the New Schedule dialog box, click Once to stage the project a single time, specify the Start time, Month, Day, and Year for staging the project, and then click OK.

    If you want to stage the project on a recurring basis, click Weekly on, select the day on which you want to stage the project, and then click OK.

    Commerce Server Staging (CSS) automatically sets the schedule to run as the default authentication account. If you want to change the account for running the scheduled task, use the Scheduled Tasks manager to update the task.

17. On the Create Project Schedule page, click Next.

18. On the Project Summary page, review the project options that you specified to make sure that they are correct, and then click Finish.

To create a project manually for staging business data

1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 , and then click Commerce Server Staging.

2. In the Commerce Server Staging console, in the left pane, expand Commerce Server Staging, expand <server name>, right-click Projects, point to New, and then click Project.

3. In the New Project dialog box, type the name of your project, and then click OK.

4. On the Specify a Project Name page, type a name for the staging project, and then click Next.

5. In the Project Type dialog box, click Deploy Business Data from a Commerce Resource, and then click Next.

6. Define the properties for the project, depending on the role it has in deploying content.

7. When you are finished, click OK.

8. If you have defined a waypoint in your staging topology, see How to Specify Project Properties for a Waypoint.

See Also

Other Resources

How to Stage Business Data

How to Create a Project for Staging Web Content

How to Associate Database Accounts with Database Roles

How to Specify Project Properties for a Waypoint

What Database Access Permissions Must You Grant to CSS Authentication Accounts?

Changing the Properties of a Business Data Project

Creating Projects for Staging