Five Q & A about data import automation
Five questions and answers about importing data in batch mode:
Q1: At what time does Microsoft Exchange create a new message tracking file?
A: For On-Prem Exchange, date and time are always expressed in GMT/UTC and the system closes message tracking files at 00:00 GMT/UTC. Promodag Reports considers that the log is completely closed after 1AM GMT/UTC.
Q1: At what time does Microsoft Exchange create a new message tracking file?
A: For On-Prem Exchange, date and time are always expressed in GMT/UTC and the system closes message tracking files at 00:00 GMT/UTC. Promodag Reports considers that the log is completely closed after 1AM GMT/UTC.
As for Exchange Online, the application creates one log per hour and numbers them from 1 to 24 starting at midnight GMT/UTC.
Q2: At what time can I schedule my import batch jobs?
A: Import batch jobs should be scheduled from 1 AM GMT/UTC onwards, after yesterday's logs have been closed.
Q3: Is it better to import data everyday, or once a week/month?
A: We would recommended you to import data on a daily basis. The process is shorter and easier to monitor. This is especially important if you use Exchange Online, which only keeps message tracking data for 90 days at most.
Q4: In which order does the batch job execute actions?
A: The selected actions, in whichever order they were included in the batch file, always execute in the following order:
1. Purge Imported Data,
2. Import Directory Data,
3. Import Message Tracking Data,
4. Import Storage Size Data,
5. And then eventually custom reports are generated.
Q5: Is it better to create a batch file for purging imports, and then another one for importing data?
A: No, it is not, for the data purge job may still be in progress when the data import job is scheduled to start, and therefore it will fail.
A much better option is to create one single import batch including a Purge Imported Data action. Imports will only start once data have been cleared.
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Q2: At what time can I schedule my import batch jobs?
A: Import batch jobs should be scheduled from 1 AM GMT/UTC onwards, after yesterday's logs have been closed.
Q3: Is it better to import data everyday, or once a week/month?
A: We would recommended you to import data on a daily basis. The process is shorter and easier to monitor. This is especially important if you use Exchange Online, which only keeps message tracking data for 90 days at most.
Q4: In which order does the batch job execute actions?
A: The selected actions, in whichever order they were included in the batch file, always execute in the following order:
1. Purge Imported Data,
2. Import Directory Data,
3. Import Message Tracking Data,
4. Import Storage Size Data,
5. And then eventually custom reports are generated.
Q5: Is it better to create a batch file for purging imports, and then another one for importing data?
A: No, it is not, for the data purge job may still be in progress when the data import job is scheduled to start, and therefore it will fail.
A much better option is to create one single import batch including a Purge Imported Data action. Imports will only start once data have been cleared.
Related articles:
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