Notes on CONNECT and iCONNECT

CONNECT is often used to upload ZOF files to support. The focus of this Wiki is to clarify confusion about the various methods of uploading.

This is incomplete, current goal is explaining CONNECT\S vs CONNECT\IU

CONNECT\I vs CONNECT

CONNECT\I always uses the iLoop. CONNECT without the \I will either use the iLoop, or the BBS loops where supported at the DRPC in question.

We care more about the iLoop as years ago VAS dropped support for the BBS loops.

CONNECT\S vs CONNECT\IU

Both will create a ZOF and upload it. If the user is not set up for the iLoop, CONNECT\S will shell to wCONNECT to send it to the DHI BBS. As stated above, we do not suppor or recommend that method. Assuming the user is set up for the iLoop, CONNECT\S will upload the ZOF to the iLoop ZOF staging area.

Further dicussion here assume the user is set up for the iLoop.

CONNECT\S is internal to Dairy Comp. It creates a ZOF and using internal routines (not iConnect), it uploads the ZOF. Since it is internal and has the cowfile open, it "knows" the DRPC (DHI, eg AG, DO, MN etc) and the file will be properly routed to the DRPC.

CONNECT\I always shells to iConnect. It creates the ZOF then shells to iConnect to upload it. It does not always know the DRPC, so it is possible that the DRPC will not get the ZOF. (It is always available to support in the RS2 ZOF Upload area though). However it usually knows the DRPC.

Unfortunately in DC305 versions before 20 May 2010, it did not recognize Agsource ZOFs. this is now fixed in 20 May versions (to be posted 20 May).

Either CONNECT\IU or CONNECT\S can be scheduled.

That's nice, but which one should we use ?

Either one is fine, and they're mostly the same if iLoop is enabled, but if the user has internet we recommend CONNECT\IU. If no internet, CONNECT\S is the only option.

If you use CONNECT\IU, and you want the ZOF to go to the DRPC also, then we recommend first running CONNECT\I, which calls iConnect directly, and select the DHI inside of iConnect. This sets the DRPC in iConnect itself. This needs to be done just once. Also note that we just fixed a bug for AgSource when CONNECT\IU is used so eventually that extra step won't be needed.

In other words, just use CONNECT\IU and if someone from a a DHI cant get the file, set up the DRPC setting.

Whats the deal with CONNECT\IW, thats what I was using ?

CONNECT\IW and CONNECT\IU are exactly the same. We recommend using \IU for future compatibility. Originally \IU used FTP and \IW a webservice. We hate FTP and when the webservice method stablized, we dropped FTP and both use the webservice.