Overview

This article describes the process to export all items from an Archive Store into EML (MIME) formatted files without using the Import Export Tool. It demonstrates how the GFI Archiver Import Service (MAIS) can be used to convert each BIX formatted item into EML formatted files.

Process

Important Notes

• This procedure requires to edit files manually. If edited incorrectly it can leave the server in a non-operational state. Please keep backups of any file which is edited throughout this article before saving any changes to them.
• It is recommended to update to the latest version before performing this procedure.
• As items will be handled on disk, it is recommended to disable anti-virus software completely during the whole process.
• Ensure that sufficient disk space is available on all disks involved including the disk on which the GFI Archiver installation is located.
• For the sake of readability, this article often refers to the folder ..\MAIS\Pickup - the full default folder is: C:\Program Files\GFI\Archiver\MAIS\Pickup

Procedure

1. Configure MAIS to only convert BIX files into EML formatted files

   The normal operation of MAIS is to process and import files which are placed in ..\MAIS\Pickup and save them into an Archive Store. One module of MAIS monitors ..\MAIS\Pickup for BIX files and converts them into EML formatted files. This is the functionality that is to be used for this procedure, and it is desired to disable other functionality in MAIS, which would process items further as this conversion.

   Note: This configuration change should only be used for the duration of this procedure, and the relevant configuration files should be restored to their original versions after the export is completed.

   1. Stop the GFI Archiver Import Service.
   2. Open the following file in Notepad: ..\MAIS\Data\ASettings.xml
   3. Find the node which refers to the enveloping plugin, it reads:
      

      <PlugIn Enabled="true" xmlns="">  
      <Path>bin\MArc.Enveloping.exe</Path>    
      <StartupObject>MArc.Enveloping.Enveloper</StartupObject>    
      </PlugIn>  

   4. Set the Enabled attribute for the enveloping module from true to false, the node should read:
      

      <PlugIn Enabled="false" xmlns="">     
      <Path>bin\MArc.Enveloping.exe</Path>     
      <StartupObject>MArc.Enveloping.Enveloper</StartupObject>     
      </PlugIn>

   5. Save the file.
   6. Start the GFI Archiver Import Service.

2. Export all items from an Archive Store into BIX files

   The goal of this step is to get all items in BIX format from an Archive Store into a folder on disk.
   
   METHOD A (PREFERRED) - Using the ExportSQLRawDataTool
   Applies to: Full-SQL, SQL+NTFS, the database as well as the binary folder are still present and can be accessed
   Does not apply to: Firebird

   1. Note down the Microsoft SQL Server instance, the database name and the path to the binary source:
      1. Open the web interface and navigate to Configuration > Archive Stores
      2. Highlight the source Archive Store > select Summary
   2. Start ExportSQLRawDataTool.exe.
   3. Use the tool to connect to the desired Archive Store and export its items to a temp folder (for example, d:\temp\2008).

   METHOD B (FALLBACK) - If the ExportSQLRawDataTool cannot be used
   Applies to: Firebird or SQL+NTFS

   1. Note down the path to the binary source:
      1. Open the web interface and navigate to Configuration > Archive Stores
      2. Highlight the source Archive Store > select Summary
   2. Make a backup copy of the binary directory (for example, d:\temp\2008).
      
      

3. Move the BIX files

   The goal of this step is to transfer the BIX files into ..\MAIS\Pickup and have MAIS convert them into EML formatted files.

   1. Start movebix.exe
      1. Open a command prompt (elevated) and navigate to the folder ..\MAIS\bin
      2. Run the following command: movebix.exe "<source binary path>" "<MAIS pickup folder>"
         • source binary path - the temp folder into which ExportSQLRawDataTool.exe saved the bix files
         • MAIS pickup folder - the folder which the Import service monitors for files. The default path is: ..\MAIS\Pickup
         For example: movebix.exe "d:\temp\2008" "c:\Program Files\GFI\Archiver\MAIS\Pickup"
   2. Once BIX files enter the ..\MAIS\Pickup folder and get converted the output files will stay in ..\MAIS\Pickup, they should have either a RAW or TXT extension.
   3. Manually move any RAW and TXT files out of ..\MAIS\Pickup to the desired destination folder.
      • This must be done regularly. Otherwise, the movebix process will pause.
      • It is recommended to automate this last step via a script (such a script is not available from GFI Software).
   4. Rename the RAW and TXT files to EML using the following commands in the destination folder
      • ren *.RAW *.EML
      • ren *.TXT *.EML

   Notes:

   • Never run movebix.exe against a live binary folder, it would remove BIX files from the installation while the installation still relies on them.
   • Copybix.exe could be run instead of movebix.exe when using this procedure against an Archive Store of a type that uses a binary folder on disk.
   • Be careful in the last steps and try to avoid placing a very high number of files into the same folder.
     
     

4. Restore the original configuration files of MAIS

   1. Ensure all files have been moved out of ..\MAIS\Pickup.
   2. Stop the GFI Archiver Import Service.
   3. Restore the original backup files of any configuration file which was edited in step 1.
   4. Start the GFI Archiver Import Service.