Using the EIM Configuration File to Define a Process

EIM reads a configuration file that specifies the EIM process to perform (import, update, merge, delete, or export) using the appropriate parameters. The EIM configuration file (the default file is default.ifb) is an ASCII text file of extension type .IFB that resides in the Siebel Server/admin directory. Before you can run an EIM process, you must edit the contents of the EIM configuration file to define the processes for EIM to perform.

Note: If you are planning to use Unicode in your implementation, then the EIM configuration file must be saved as a Unicode text file.

EIM then sets the process locale as specified during start up in the command line, the Server Manager graphical user interface (GUI), or the configuration file. You must specify the correct character set, such as Western European or UTF-8, for the target database in one of these locales. For information on locales and character sets, see Siebel Global Deployment Guide.

EIM accepts parameter values from three sources:

• The command line entered by the user who invokes the EIM process

• The Siebel Server Manager GUI

• The configuration file specified, or default.ifb if none is specified

Parameter value searches are performed according to a specific hierarchy: command line, component parameter, and configuration file. Command-line parameters thus override component parameters, and component parameters override configuration file parameters.

Note: If the batch number component parameter is set to 0, the batch number in the EIM configuration file (if any) is used. This is the only exception to the parameter hierarchy.

You can define multiple processes in the EIM configuration file and then invoke a specific process using the process parameters discussed later in this chapter. Alternatively, you can create multiple configuration files and specify which one EIM should use.