Using the v5 PMS command line to import Epoline applications
Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:09 pm
A brief description of our system and usage:
We create and check patent applications using networked Epoline clients on our internal network which is not connected to the Internet.
We then export the applications with 'Ready to sign' status and import them to a stand-alone copy of Epoline installed on a PC with Internet access. They are submitted from here. The person doing this has no patent knowledge and is not expected to change any entries.
Until now we have used either the File Manager (FM) or Server Manager (SM) to import the applications.
Unfortunately both these methods cause the applications to be opened with 'Draft' status and this action causes certain entries to be reset to their default values.
The problems mainly relate to fees but have also affected page counts.
The import process appears to be somewhat bug ridden and differs depending on whether FM or SM is used.
We have found importing EPO applications using SM and UK/PCT applications using FM to cause the least problems.
We have been using Epoline since v3.2 and from the start have been requesting a way of importing applications without the status changing, on the assumption that this would mean that they would be imported exactly as they were exported.
We have been consistently told by support that there was no way of importing applications without them being given 'Draft' status.
I tested the import behaviour after the upgrade to v5 and found it no better.
So I was again looking for hidden settings when I finally realised the import of the PMS interface, looked into it and discovered the PMS command line.
Here I found a method of importing applications with the status maintained as 'Ready to sign'.
It took me a while to get the syntax right and to realise that I needed to validate the application before importing it but I eventually succeeded in importing all but one of the set of test applications that I had created.
The problem I have is that when I try to use the PMS commands to import a UK application based on form UK-NP1 I get the following validation error which prevents the application from being imported:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE OLF_2_PMS_response SYSTEM "OLF_2_PMS_response.dtd">
<OLF_2_PMS_response mode="production" language="en" result="failure">
<return_values>
<return_value error_ID="70">Import denied. Please first correct all issues resulting in severity 1 GUI validation messages</return_value>
</return_values>
<application application_ID="" application_language="en" procedure="UKNPUK" user_reference="A2049T" folder="Default Folder" last_saved_date="29.07.2010 17:41:05" last_saved_user="Administrator ">
<validation_info>
<validation_message severity="1" validation_ID="900022" gui_tab="Names">Legal applicant county: Value not in list.</validation_message>
</validation_info>
</application>
</OLF_2_PMS_response>
The application that was exported shows no validation errors and was in 'Ready to sign' state.
The Legal Applicant had an address in the USA (so no 'County') but I have tried changing the address to the Legal Agent UK address (which generates no error) and it still generates the same validation error.
The only way that I have found of avoiding the error and being able to import the application is to delete the 'Legal Applicant' altogether.
This is obviously not an acceptable solution.
Can anyone assist.
Thanks
We create and check patent applications using networked Epoline clients on our internal network which is not connected to the Internet.
We then export the applications with 'Ready to sign' status and import them to a stand-alone copy of Epoline installed on a PC with Internet access. They are submitted from here. The person doing this has no patent knowledge and is not expected to change any entries.
Until now we have used either the File Manager (FM) or Server Manager (SM) to import the applications.
Unfortunately both these methods cause the applications to be opened with 'Draft' status and this action causes certain entries to be reset to their default values.
The problems mainly relate to fees but have also affected page counts.
The import process appears to be somewhat bug ridden and differs depending on whether FM or SM is used.
We have found importing EPO applications using SM and UK/PCT applications using FM to cause the least problems.
We have been using Epoline since v3.2 and from the start have been requesting a way of importing applications without the status changing, on the assumption that this would mean that they would be imported exactly as they were exported.
We have been consistently told by support that there was no way of importing applications without them being given 'Draft' status.
I tested the import behaviour after the upgrade to v5 and found it no better.
So I was again looking for hidden settings when I finally realised the import of the PMS interface, looked into it and discovered the PMS command line.
Here I found a method of importing applications with the status maintained as 'Ready to sign'.
It took me a while to get the syntax right and to realise that I needed to validate the application before importing it but I eventually succeeded in importing all but one of the set of test applications that I had created.
The problem I have is that when I try to use the PMS commands to import a UK application based on form UK-NP1 I get the following validation error which prevents the application from being imported:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE OLF_2_PMS_response SYSTEM "OLF_2_PMS_response.dtd">
<OLF_2_PMS_response mode="production" language="en" result="failure">
<return_values>
<return_value error_ID="70">Import denied. Please first correct all issues resulting in severity 1 GUI validation messages</return_value>
</return_values>
<application application_ID="" application_language="en" procedure="UKNPUK" user_reference="A2049T" folder="Default Folder" last_saved_date="29.07.2010 17:41:05" last_saved_user="Administrator ">
<validation_info>
<validation_message severity="1" validation_ID="900022" gui_tab="Names">Legal applicant county: Value not in list.</validation_message>
</validation_info>
</application>
</OLF_2_PMS_response>
The application that was exported shows no validation errors and was in 'Ready to sign' state.
The Legal Applicant had an address in the USA (so no 'County') but I have tried changing the address to the Legal Agent UK address (which generates no error) and it still generates the same validation error.
The only way that I have found of avoiding the error and being able to import the application is to delete the 'Legal Applicant' altogether.
This is obviously not an acceptable solution.
Can anyone assist.
Thanks