Due to TimeTrak’s heavy integration with the ERP system, it is important that both the TimeTrak and the ERP database are kept in sync.
This is especially important for test environments to ensure they can be used without error.
Before TimeTrak version 19.1, refreshing a TimeTrak test environment required a consultant to manually back up and restore both the TimeTrak and ERP databases and then update tables and fields within the database to ensure they were pointing to the test as well as the correct website files.
From version 19.1, a Test Environment Set Up Wizard was added to the TimeTrak Administrator Console.
Additional security was added in version 22.1, preventing end users from accessing the test environment setup wizard, as this should always be configured by a TimeTrak consultant to ensure the databases are pointing to the correct test websites.
TEST ENVIRONMENT WIZARD
Credentials:
The wizard will have SQL credentials that provide access to the SQL Server that the test databases belong to.
The destination test databases (TimeTrak and ERP) will be selected and mapped.
File locations of both TimeTrak and ERP databases will be specified.
Backup File Location:
A file location where the live databases are backed up to prior to being restored on the test databases will be specified.
Note: The Services Account that SQL Management Studio runs under will need to have permissions to this file location.
Customisations:
Enter any Custom Scripts to be run across the test TimeTrak or ERP database after it has been refreshed.
For example, A stored procedure can be created and run on the ERP database to update the colour of the test ERP’s “splash screen” so the end user is aware that it is the “TEST” environment.
This stored procedure could also update any database triggers which are hardcoded to point to the LIVE database names.
Web Configuration and Urls’
The test website URLs will be specified
The web configuration (location of the website files) will be specified for all the applicable test TimeTrak websites.
Attachment Storage:
The file location and credentials used for adding/ viewing attachments will be specified.
Emails & Passwords:
After a “Refresh” of the test environment, there is the ability to reset all passwords in the test database as well as replace all the email addresses in the databases.
For example, if the database has appointment or task email notifications enabled and you do not want users to receive these when testing in the test environment, you could update all email addresses.
HOW TO REFRESH THE TEST TIMETRAK ENVIRONMENT:
Once this function has been set up and configured by a TimeTrak consultant, when global administrators log into the TimeTrak Admin Console, they will see an option under Help as per below to “Refresh Test Environment”.
Once this option is selected users will see a Refresh Test Environment box pop up as per below,:
This will show the progress: TimeTak & ERP databases are backed up, then restored and update scripts run to ensure the test environment is set correctly.
Once finished, the above status pop-up will close, and users can log in to their TEST websites and or TEST connections in the TimeTrak Admin Console and ERP applications.
In some instances, the “Refresh Test Environment” may not display. If this is the case:
a) This may not have been configured yet.
b) This is unable to be configured due to IT permission issues.
c) This function may have been disabled for end users.
From 22.1, there is an option for this function to be hidden from end users.
This is helpful in instances where the test environment has been upgraded.
If end users were to complete a refresh, this would need to be completed again.
To prevent this, TimeTrak Consultants would disable the refresh function until the upgrade has been
complete.
You can contact the TimeTrak Support team to discuss this and arrange for the refresh function to be set up if it has not been previously.