Working with packages

A package in Meridian Enterprise is a set of documents contained in an archive (ZIP) file. There are two types of packages available: export packages and import packages. Packages are similar to briefcases but simpler. However, the two are different and are not interchangeable.

You can use export packages to send documents to people who do not have access to Meridian Enterprise, for example, as simple transmittals. The most important way that export packages are different from briefcases is that export packages are sent by Meridian Enterprise Server to a different storage system (Windows file system, FTP site, cloud service, etc.), not to a person by email. Meridian Enterprise Server uses the Accruent Publisher system links to transfer the packages for you. The rest is automatic but you can monitor the status of the package in Meridian Explorer to verify that it was sent. You may also view packages that have already been sent and search for documents inside packages.

An import package is a set of documents contained in an archive (ZIP) file and an accompanying MS Excel workbook that contains metadata about the package documents. Import packages can be imported into a Meridian Enterprise vault through Meridian Explorer.The packages can be created by Meridian Explorer, manually by users, or by some other system and sent to Meridian Enterprise Server.

The following topics describe the different ways that you can work with export packages in Meridian Enterprise. For information about working with import packages in Meridian Explorer, see the Accruent Meridian Explorer User's Guide.