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How to Initiate Timed Release of a Web Content Project

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You can initiate the timed release of a Web content project either manually or automatically. The timed release option is useful when you want content to be available to all users at a specific time, regardless of time zone. This option works by replicating the content from the source staging server either manually or according to a set schedule. However, content received on the destination server is not copied to the destination folder until an Apply command is received on the destination server.

You can issue the Apply command in one of the three following ways:

  • From the Commerce Server Staging (CSS) Microsoft Management Console (MMC) project's Action menu Apply command. This command is only active when the Enable timed release option is enabled for the project. This option is set through the Project Properties, Advanced Tab.

  • Defining a schedule on the destination server by selecting the Schedule apply option.

  • Issuing an Apply command through the command line, and specifying the project name and destination server as follows:

    css.exe apply <projectname> /server <servername> /user <username> [pass | *]

The timed release option can be used together with the following Web content staging options:

  • Manual content replication.

  • Automatic content replication.

  • Scheduled content replication.

Note

In order to use the Apply command, you must have permission to manage the project. You have permission if you are a member of the CSS Operators or CSS Administrators group or if you have project-level permission.

Select from the following two procedures based on whether you want to initiate timed release of Web content changes manually or according to a set schedule.

To initiate timed release of a Web content project manually

  1. Create the Web content project by using the New Project Wizard. Complete steps 1 through 11 that are defined in How to Create a Project for Staging Web Content.

  2. (Optional) On the Create Project Schedule page, click Add. Specify the time that you want the content to be replicated from the source staging server. Add a schedule and select Schedule replication. Optionally, you can start content replication manually.

  3. (Optional) On the Create Project Schedule page, select Deploy content automatically as content changes if you want to apply Web content changes on a set schedule.

  4. On the Project Summary page, review the project options that you specified to make sure that they are correct, and then click Finish.

  5. Set the timed release option on each participating destination server.

    1. In the left pane, expand an endpoint server that is specified as a destination server for the project that you created in step 1, and then click Projects.

    2. In the right pane, right-click the desired project, and select Properties.

    3. Click the Advanced tab, and select Enable timed release.

    4. Click OK to apply the changes to the project.

    5. Repeat step 5a through 5d for each participating destination server.

  6. After the content has been replicated according to the set schedule or manually, apply the changes on each participating server.

    1. In the left pane, expand an endpoint server that is specified as a destination server for the project that you created in step 1, and then click Projects.

    2. In the right pane, right-click the desired project, and select Apply.

    3. Repeat step 6a through 6b for each participating destination server.

To initiate timed release of a Web content project according to a set schedule

  1. Create the Web content project by using the New Project Wizard. Complete steps 1 through 11 that are defined in How to Create a Project for Staging Web Content.

  2. On the Create Project Schedule page, click Add. Specify the time that you want the content replicated from the source staging server. Add a schedule and select Schedule replication.

  3. Click Add again to specify the apply time. Select Schedule apply to specify the time that you want the content to be applied on the destination servers.

    Dd451988.alert_caution(en-US,CS.90).gifImportant Note:

    The apply time that you specify should be set at a time after the replication will be completed.

  4. (Optional) On the Create Project Schedule page, select Deploy content automatically as content changes if you want to apply Web content changes on a set schedule.

  5. On the Project Summary page, review the project options that you specified to make sure that they are correct, and then click Finish.

  6. Set the Enable timed release option on each participating destination server.

    1. In the left pane, expand an endpoint server that is specified as a destination server for the project that you created in step 1, and then click Projects.

    2. In the right pane, right-click the desired project, and select Properties.

    3. Click the Advanced tab, and select Enable timed release.

    4. (Optional) Click the Schedule tab, select the schedule you specified for the apply time and make any changes that you want.

      Note

      The time that is specified for the apply time is based on the destination server's computer time. To make content available to all users at a specific time, regardless of time zone, you specify different apply times on the destination servers, according to its time zone. For example, to apply content on servers in New York and London at the same time, you set the apply time for New York at 6:00 A.M. and for London at 11:00 A.M. Because the time zones for these servers are five hours apart, the servers will update at the same time.

    5. Click OK to apply the changes to the project.

    6. Repeat step 6a through 6e for each participating destination server.

See Also

Other Resources

How to Create a Project for Staging Web Content

How to Start Project Replication

Web Content Staging Options

Managing Staging Projects