The Import from Client command allows any type of item from another client to be imported into the current client. In addition, all references (except databases) for the item are automatically imported. For example, if you import a Plan Definition, ProVal will import the Plan Definition plus any referenced Benefit Definitions, Benefit Formula Components, Payment Forms, etc. If ProVal encounters any naming conflicts, “#2” will be appended to the name of the imported item. If the identical item already exists (i.e., from previously using Import from Client), it will not be duplicated. Database files must be copied manually.

The possible uses for Import from Client are broad. Some examples include:

• Tables. Import tables from another client or a master client that you create.

• Fields. Import field names from a similar client or a template client that you create. Fields that already exist (and in the case of coded fields, have the same codes and labels) won’t be copied, so you can select all fields from another client and ProVal will just import the ones you don’t already have.

• Plan Definitions. Import a Plan Definition from a client with a similar design or from a template client that you create that contains sample plan definitions (e.g., a final average plan, a cash balance plan, etc.). A drawback of this approach is that Benefit Formula Components cannot easily be renamed.

• Distributed processing. Suppose you have 4 core projections for client X which each take 8 hours to run. In addition, suppose it is 5pm and you need the results by 9am. After making 4 copies of client X, you can set core #1 to run on computer #1, core #2 to run on computer #2, and so on. Then, you can use Import from Client (3 times) to import cores #2, #3, and #4 back into the original client.

• Approximating concurrent multi-user access. Suppose John and Mary are both working on client X. John is working on the OPEB Plan Definition and Valuation Assumptions; Mary is setting up the pension Plan Definition and Valuation Assumptions. John and Mary can work on separate copies of client X and then use Import from Client to put their work together.

Import from Client is located on the File menu. It’s easiest, though, to access it from within a library by pressing the Import… button (or, for inverted libraries, by pressing the Library button and selecting Import from Client…). This will open the Import from Client command with the Mode and Library defaulted accordingly.

 

The Import from Client utility copies objects from the Source Client into the current client.

Objects to import is a list of the objects from the source client that have been queued for copying.

Click the Add/Omit… button to add or omit an item to the list of objects to import. This opens another dialog box, in which you can select objects from a given Mode and Library. The date last modified is listed next to each item. You can add/omit… select several items to import at once, from as many libraries as you wish.

The Import button will complete the procedure and import those objects that have been selected.

 

Also see Client Merge, which is a quick way of importing everything from one client into another. When the source client is a (revised) copy of the target client, Import from Client is often the better choice, since Client Merge will make extra copies of items with revised references in the source client (e.g., extraneous output styles might be created).