Why purge and archive?
Preserving historical data is imperative, but sooner or later available disk space becomes a subject of concern. A choice has to be made between increasing the disk space or removing the data. While it is always possible to store an increasing amount of information, as more data is kept on the live system, more time is required for processing. It is important to find the balance otherwise storage space and processor size have to be continually increased.

Why purge data?
• Databases are growing at an uncontrollable rate.
• System performance is affecting the efficiency of the business.
• It is expensive to upgrade hardware.
• To speed up migrations by reducing the volume of data to convert.
• To ensure agility in the disaster recovery plan.

Facts to consider
Legal requirements usually determine how long to keep data records accessible. In addition, contractual agreements with customers, or internal management rules e.g. credit control, can also be determining factors. Even if you are not required to keep the data in the production database, it is necessary to find a compromise between reducing the size of the production database and the ease and speed of access to archived data.
• Legal constraints can be applicable across the board or specific to certain industries within a country.
• Contractual constraints are generally tied in to either contracted or verbally agreed service agreements with customers.
• The integrity of your financial data and the ease of auditing accounts.

Our experience
The gains from purging and archiving aren’t just limited to reducing the costs of buying disks, but can be extended to the overall response times of the system, the speed of saving and restoring, reducing down-time, reducing time spent on analysing errors in the database, reducing time required for week, month and year-end closure together with time for consolidating the information.

The overall reduction of the size of the production database allows a greater flexibility when choosing backup tools, a reduction in their cost and, at the same time, making the database easier to use.

Whitehouse works with Arctools
• ARCTOOLS is a product recommended by Oracle.
• ARCTOOLS was developed in collaboration with JD Edwards and extensively tested at several JD Edwards sites

• ARCTOOLS is compatible with both JD Edwards World and EnterpriseOne
• The set up for ARCTOOLS takes into account the differences between World and EnterpriseOne, for example in Accounts Receivable.

Whitehouse Consultants has extensive experience working with ARCTOOLS and, additionally, understands the JD Edwards applications, having been a business partner since 1991. This brings a fuller understanding of the implications of any purging project and ensures the customer receives the best advice.

Which product is suitable for my system?
ARCTOOLS is compatible with the following platforms:

Platform	Database	ARCTOOLS Product
Windows	Oracle	ARCTOOLS Enterprise Manager
Windows	SQL/Server	ARCTOOLS Enterprise Manager
Unix	Oracle	ARCTOOLS Enterprise Manager
IBM i-series	DB2	ARCTOOLS/400

i-series users click here
Oracle and SQL/Server database users click here

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I-series
Purge and archive with AS400 and the JD Edwards module

One of the key concerns for IT departments relates to performance issues for users when running on the I-Series platform. Systems slow down as databases grow out of control and companies are faced with costly processor upgrades. An alternative is to implement some 'good house-keeping' and consider purging and archiving data.
What are the options for tackling a purging and archiving project?

* Write your own purge programme. Many ERP systems have in-built purge facilities but they require a high level of knowledge of the base data and the inter-relationship between files. These purge facilities can in turn cause problems, as users are locked out of the system and data integrity is impaired.
* Use SQL. This can be very risky with the high volume of records to be selected.
* Use ARCTOOLS 400 and the JD Edwards module.

ARCTOOLS 400 is an award-winning purge and archive utility, which allows purging without the need for programming, whilst allowing users to remain on the system. The JD Edwards module was developed in conjunction with the company and refined and enhanced by working with customers. The module consists of a collection of ARCTOOLS rules, procedures, documentation, queries and CL programs designed to purge data from JD Edwards databases with integrity, both in the production and archive environments.

ARCTOOLS 400 will run in manageable increments; the process can be started and stopped as required. An exclusive 'throttle' function prevents adverse impact on other system activity as it allows control over the resources that are allocated to the purge/archive or reorg job being run.

Reorg Wizard is the module for re-organising files and hence optimising disk space once purging has taken place. As with ARCTOOLS 400 users can continue on the system and the process can be stopped and started as required.

More information about ARCTOOLS can be found on our fact-sheet and case study pdf documents. We also offer a WEBEX demo facility. Contact us at sales@whitehouse-consult.co.uk

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Oracle and SQL/Server databases -
Purge and archive with ARCTOOLS Enterprise Manager

ArcTools Enterprise Manager (AEM ®) has been developed specifically for JD Edwards EnterpriseOne but has designed with an open architecture that allows for future growth.

AEM allows the user to purge and archive their business data in a controlled and accurate manner. The key to any purge project is that the objective of space and performance improvement is achieved within an acceptable timeframe, normally over a weekend, but that the integrity and usability of the data is never compromised. The ability to easily reverse the purge back into the production database is also vital.

As the design of AEM is open and flexible, the product is capable of migrating to other ERP systems such as Oracle's e-Business Suite, PeopleSoft HR, Siebel, Retek and custom built Oracle applications.

ArcTools Enterprise Manager is a rule-based / parameter-driven Purging/Archiving Solution, designed in such a way as to allow for maximum configuration flexibility.

AEM has two primary technical components:

The database component, which because of its close proximity to the database and the data, ensures effective management of large data volumes. The rules and the relationships for the JD Edwards Module are contained within a control database and the engine which interprets/transforms these rules into dynamically generated procedural SQL statements is developed in PL/SQL (for Oracle) or TSQL (for MS SQL Server).

The front-end component, which can be installed on the database server, a separate application server or simply on a client machine, was written in html/javascript/jsp/servlets based on the MVC pattern. All administration tasks for AEM are made easy by this user-friendly interface.

Features of ArcTools Enterprise Manager
• The product has a built in understanding of the rules and relationships that underlie the JD EDwards EnterpriseOne database, ensuring that data is purged in a reliable and accurate manner without compromising database integrity.
• The option of proof/test mode enables the user to validate results before performing the actual purge.
• Total control over each step in the archive/purge cycle is ensured, and the ability to rollback purged data if the need arises.
• The activation/deactivation of rules, the inclusion of bespoke tables or indeed the creation of new Purge Modules is easily managed by our product.
• AEM has a built-in scheduler that enables users to purge proactively and automate the purging process.

More information about ARCTOOLS Enterprise Manager can be found on our technical datasheet and case study pdf documents
Contact us at sales@whitehouse-consult.co.uk.

View all pdf documents of Purge & Archive information

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