Link to Recording: Biotics 6 Conversion Updates and Q and A

Link to full Transcript: Biotics 6 Conversion Updates and Q & A.docx  

Link to Documentation: Conversion Schedule and Program Readiness

 

 

AI Generated Meeting Summary: 

Key Updates

Conversion timeline

  • BC's test conversion begins tomorrow — the first official (non-production) program database test, more complex than prior test databases
  • The rollout schedule is now final (no longer draft)
  • Virginia has requested to move from Dec back to Oct 8 — Shelley is looking for a volunteer program (ideally not DX-dependent, later in the schedule) to swap dates with them
  • Programs near the back of the schedule are less likely to have complex custom objects, so a swap should be relatively painless

Action items for programs

  1. Duplicate/missing email addresses — should've been resolved by Sept 8. If not fixed, affected users can be recreated or updated post-migration.
  2. Conversion CSVs are the top priority.Programs need to:
    • Submit the "Custom Objects Ready to Convert" form (triggers Dave/Shelley to run a pre-migration report)
    • Fix any issues flagged in the report (help desk has a guide for common issues like missing migration decisions, foreign key problems)
    • Resubmit until they get a "no issues found" confirmation
    • The "Biotics Timeline and Readiness" form is lower priority — more of a checklist confirmation than a stage-gate
    • A couple of attendees (Jodi/Vermont, Megan/Virginia) discovered their submissions hadn't registered and were asked to resubmit

MFA setup

  • Can be set up now in Biotics Pilot; carries over to production
  • Options exist for people without smartphones (browser extensions, desktop apps, hardware tokens, old tablets/phones)
  • Anyone needing a Pilot account should email Shelley

Database/technical resources

  • Help desk has solutions for: connecting to Postgres via PG Admin, importing NatureServe Postgres backups into Esri SDE, connecting Postgres to Power BI, and creating a Biotics 6 database from backup
  • A downloadable practice Postgres pilot database backup is coming by end of week (email Shelley to request)
  • Whitney has published documentation on connecting to Biotics 6 via Excel, Access, ArcGIS Pro, and ODBC, plus updating Crystal Reports from Biotics 5 to 6 (47 standard reports already updated and zipped for download — linked at the top of her doc)
  • PG Admin database passwords rotate every 60 days per-user (no more shared/generic logins — each person needs a unique named account, even for machine/system connections) — this is being driven by security/compliance requirements as NatureServe pursues GovRamp/FedRamp certification

Q&A highlights

  • Karen (DNR) asked about archiving tables not being converted — Dave/Whitney recommended a simple SELECT * FROM table export to CSV/Excel rather than standing up an Oracle instance
  • Dave confirmed that for migrated objects, the team will provide both the original Oracle definitions and whatever the AWS Schema Conversion Tool produced (even partial/invalid attempts), to help with rebuilding custom views post-conversion — more documentation on that process to come as more programs convert

Other notes

  • Shelley will be at the Northeast Conference next week, running Biotics 6 sessions and office hours for conversion help; she'll continue monitoring email/tickets while away
  • Weekly office hours will continue throughout the conversion process
  • Recording to be shared within a day or two, also available on the Help Desk

 

Important Links: 

Biotics 6 Conversion Schedule and Program Readiness Solution

Setting up MFA for Biotics

Draft Rollout Schedule

 

Biotics 6  Rollout Timeline and Readiness – Fill out form 

Custom Objects Ready to Convert – Fill out form