Manual Sequencing

The default sequencing of transports in an Import Queue within ActiveControl is based on the release date/time order of the transports.

Ie If Transport 1 is released on Monday and Transport 2 is released on Tuesday, then the ActiveControl calculated sequence order would be to import Transport 1, then Transport 2.

In most cases, this default release date/time sequencing coupled with the ability to override the default sequence by hard-coding transport dependencies (via the Advanced Options subscreen on the Transport Form) allows customers to appropriately sequence and deploy transports/changes through their SAP landscapes. This is how most Basis Technologies’ customers have safely deployed SAP change for many years.

However, a few of Basis Technologies’ customers have also requested over the years for there to be an easier way of manually sequencing transports to override the default ActiveControl calculation. The main use case cited for this requirement was mainly around larger SAP projects involving hundreds of transports. Often the transports were released in the wrong order by the Development and Functional teams, and the only solution to this was to either manually hard-code lots of dependencies on Transport Forms, or to make use of a custom field on a Transport Form to drive the import sequence.

ActiveControl 9.10 introduces an optional Manual Sequencing solution to replace the custom field solution that some customers have previously used. This Manual Sequencing is performed via the Manual Resequence button in an Import Queue in the Global View.

Figure: Manual Resequencing screen within the Global View.

Figure: A manually resequenced Import Queue is seen via the Manual Order column.

! To import based on the Manual Order sequence, the screen must be sorted on the Manual Order field, and the ‘Import one request at a time’ Import Method must be used. The “AC Default Sequence” import methods cannot be used in conjunction with the Manual Sequencing capability, as those import methods use the “Order” sequence and not the “Manual Order” sequence.

! Automated schedules cannot be used in conjunction with the Manual Sequencing capability. The user must manually perform the Import whilst logged into the Web Platform UI, using the aforementioned ‘Import one request at a time’ Import Method.

Configuration Steps

There is no specific configuration required for customers wanting to use Manual Sequencing capability, however customers not wanting to use this new capability can hide the button from the Import Queue screen via Feature Deactivation.