Initiating AS2 Outbound Transactions

EFT’s AS2 module provides the ability to initiate outbound AS2 transactions as an AS2 client; that is, an AS2 Sender. The Server provides two methods for initiating AS2 outbound transactions, described below:

• Partner Profile method. A Folder Monitor Event trigger mapped directly to a user account’s (trading partner's) AS2 profile can monitor a specified folder for files added and, when triggered, send those files to the specified partner AS2 profile. This Event is neither visible nor editable in the Event Rules node.

• Event Rules. The AS2 Send file to host Event Rule Action can be triggered using the Scheduler (Timer) Event, Folder Monitor Event, or any file-based Event trigger. When triggered, the AS2 Send file to host Action uses the provided configuration data to send the context or manually specified file(s) to the specified partner AS2 profile. (Refer to Sending Files to an AS2 Partner via Event Rules for details.)

To use the Partner Profile method

1. In the administration interface, connect to EFT and click the Server tab.

2. Configure a reusable AS2 partner profile. (Create a new user or modify an existing user account.)

3. In the left pane, click the user (trading partner) you want to configure.

4. In the right pane, click the Connections tab.

5. Click AS2 Outbound. The AS2 Outbound Settings dialog box appears.

6. In the Monitoredhot folder box, click the open icon to specify a folder that is tied to that partner profile/user account (e.g., the user's Home folder).

7. Click OK to close the Browse for Folder dialog box.

8. Click OK to close the AS2 Outbound Settings dialog box.

9. Click Apply to save the changes on EFT.

EFT verifies whether the selected folder exists and, if not, displays an error message. If a file is added to the hot folder, it is immediately sent to the predefined remote AS2 host and (optionally) deleted from the source location after a confirmed send (MDN received and verified). This method creates a hidden Folder Monitor Event Rule with an "If user is" Conditional statement that triggers an AS2 Send File to host Action when files are added to the folder.