In the following you will find detailed instructions on how to proceed when updating the GlobalTaxCenter (GTC) software.

1) Preparation actions

1.1) Check system requirements

Before you start the update, please check whether the application and database servers still meet the minimum requirements. The most important in brief:

• The DBMS used must not be older than 5 years.
• The Tomcat server must be running at least version 9.0.x (with Java 8).

1.2) Stopping the web application server

1. Stop the web application server (e.g. Tomcat) in the usual way using either the command line or the Service Manager.
2. Delete the contents of the “work” directory in the Tomcat installation.

1.3) Performing a database backup

As a first step, you should create a database backup that can be restored (rolled back) if the update fails. For information on how to do this, please refer to the user manual of your database management system.

1.4) Save old deployment

1. In the subdirectory "\webapps" of the Web Application Server, you can find the deployment installed so far (usually with the name "\gtc" or "\ROOT").
2. Rename this directory (e.g. "\gtc_<version>_old") and then move it to a directory outside the "\webapps" directory. Under no circumstances may the backuped deployment remain in the "\webapps" directory. This would lead to serious errors later on in the update process. 

1.5) Download the delivery package

Download the installation package via the link given to you in the delivery mail. Place it in a temporary folder. We will provide you with the deployment package as a war file.

If it is necessary to adapt contents in the package, the file must be unpacked with 7-zip beforehand. Alternatively, rename the file gtc.war to gtc.zip, then you can use Windows Explorer for this.

1.6) Update SAPJCO (optional for systems with a RfC connection to SAP)

The GTC is working with a new SAPJCO version. Provided RFC connections are addressed with the GTC, you must perform the following steps when updating to GTC version 20.11.03 or newer:

1. Download the suitable connector for your system from this offical SAP-Site.
2. Delete any old sapjco{*}.jar from this directory: "<Tomcat-root>/webapps/<gtc-root>/WEB-INF/lib".
3. Paste the new sapjco{*}.jar in this directory:  "<Tomcat-root>/lib". If an old sapjco{*}.jar exists in this folder replace it with the new one.
4. Delete the old sapjco{*}.dll from the system. It can be in different locations, but in most cases it is in the system32 folder from Windows.
5. Paste the new sapjco{*}.dll in this directory: "<Tomcat-root>/bin"

If you get any problems with this please contact our hotline.

2) Update deployment

Copy the new deployment into the subdirectory "\webapps", i.e. "<installation directory Tomcat>\webapps\gtc\". It may need to unzip the zip archive.

Similar to the GTC version installed so far, the new deployment must be told which type of database it should connect to. For this purpose, a reference to the correct database (MySql, Oracle, MS SQL) is created in the central "<gtc-root>\WEB_INF\classes\repository.xml" file. The connection parameters in the respective "repository_<xyz>.xml" must then be updated.

1. Customizing the "<gtc-root>\WEB_INF\classes\repository.xml" file:
   In this file you inform the GTC what kind of database it should connect to. Look for the line <!ENTITY datasource SYSTEM "repository_mysql.xml"> and replace the term "mysql" depending on your type of database if necessary. If you are using Oracle, use “oracle”. For using a MS SQL database write “mssql” (z.B. <!ENTITY datasource SYSTEM "repository_mssql.xml">).
2. Transfer the connection settings from "repository_mysql.xml", "repository_oracle.xml" or "repository_mssql.xml" from the previous backup to the directory "<gtc-root>\WEB-INF\classes\" in the file of the same name of the new deployment.

If you know of any other modifications to the deployment (e.g. in the "web.xml" file), please copy these too by editing the respective file.

3) Update database

The database update can be done automatically or manually.

By default you'll get a delivery package without databasescripts and activated automatic datebase update feature.

Optionally you'll have the chance to update the database by manually executing scripts against the database. We can create and send the scripts to you if needed. Please see Section 3.2

3.1) Automatic update of the database

Please make sure to have a current database backup at hand, so it can be restored if needed.

Update of database doesn't need additional tasks. Upon start of application server (see section 4), the database is updated automatically by application.

After successful update, the logfile should show:

2021-10-22 15:12:57 [INFO ] ###################### Migration successful ######################
2021-10-22 15:12:57 [INFO ] ScriptLocationPath: C:\Tomcat 9.0_GTC\webapps\ROOT\migration/sql
2021-10-22 15:12:57 [INFO ] ConfigLocationPath: C:\Tomcat 9.0_GTC\webapps\ROOT\migration/flywayConfig.properties
2021-10-22 15:12:57 [INFO ] CSVPlaceholderPath: C:\Tomcat 9.0_GTC\webapps\ROOT\migration/FlywayPlaceholders.csv
2021-10-22 15:12:58 [INFO ] ############################################
2021-10-22 15:12:58 [INFO ] Current version: 20211001100000000_DELETE FROM TFLAGCONFIGURATION
2021-10-22 15:12:58 [INFO ] Pending Scripts: No pending scripts
2021-10-22 15:12:58 [INFO ] ############################################

3.2) Manual update of the database

If you are using the manual update, please follow the steps below:

1. Start the DBMS of your database server and select the database schema that belongs to the GTC application.
2. Execute the supplied SQL update scripts in order of the file names or versions on this schema. Use a user who has full permissions on the database.
   
   Example:

• 01_MSSQL_8.3.02_8.4.04.sql
• 02_Insert_Reporting_MSSQL.sql
• etc.

4) Final steps

1. Start the Web Application Server as usual from the command line or the Service Manager. Autorun jobs may now be executed when the server is started. These are part of the update and must be executed successfully.
   Do not cancel the server start, even if it takes longer than usual. If in doubt, please get in touch with the Hotline GlobalTaxCenter.
2. After starting the WAS server, test the access to the GlobalTaxCenter or inform your responsible department to have the access tested if you do not have access data for the GTC yourself.
3. Change (or an authorized representative) in the Masterdata area to the Administration dialogue and there to the Log tab and open the file "gtc_autorun.log". Check whether the autorun jobs have run successfully or whether error messages are displayed. In case of an error, please contact the Hotline GlobalTaxCenter and send the log files "gtc_autorun.log" and "gtc_system.log".
4. If errors occur in the web application after the update, please also contact the Hotline GlobalTaxCenter and send the log files.

5) Transfer to other instances

If you are working with different instances (development, test, integration, production, ...) please be careful that you are doing the same steps in each instance.

For example (only relevant if you continue to perform the database updates manually):

1. In the testing and production environment the GTC is installed in version 22.00.01.
2. Now you update the testing environment with version 22.00.03.
3. A few weeks later you will receive a new delivery package and update the testing environment. This now has the version 22.00.07.
4. The production environment still runs with version 22.00.01.
5. You receive the permission from the business department to update the production system to version 22.00.07.
6. In any case, you must first import the scripts of version 22.00.03 before you continue with the installation of version 22.00.07. This is the only way to prevent an inconsistency in the database.

6) TransferClient installation and integration into the GTC (optional)

If the GTC (Tax Return module) is also used for electronic transfers to the german tax authorities, the TransferClient (TC) version must also be updated at regular intervals. In this case, the GTC update provides a second installation package for the TC. This package has to be installed according to the instructions. During the installation the Web Service URL should be noted, because it has to be stored/updated in the administration area of the GTC.

If the GTC (Tax Return module) is also used to send electronic documents to the German tax authorities, the TransferClient (TC) module must be updated at regular intervals, as the documents are sent via this module.

If you have purchased the GTC module Tax Return, the delivery mail always includes the installation package for the TransferClient module. However, the TC version does not necessarily change with every GTC delivery. To avoid unnecessary effort on your side, please check before the update whether the already installed TC version and the version provided in the mail differ. You can see the version number (=file version) of the installed TC version in the properties of the TransferClient.exe file:

If the two TC versions differ, please install the new TC version with the help of the instructions linked here. During installation, please note the web service URL, as this must be stored or updated later in the GTC administration area.

To configure the TC connection in the GTC, the following steps must be performed. For the configuration, editing authorisations for the area Master Data / Administration are necessary.

1. Activate Web Service to TransferClient
2. Setting up the proxy between GTC and TransferClient (optional)
3. Testing the connection to the TransferClient
4. Setting up the proxy between TransferClient and tax authorities (optional)

6.1) Activate Web Service to TransferClient

The following configuration must be carried out so that the Elster transmission is available as a web service. On the administration page, the connection to the TC is added. (The TC must be started as a web service).

A new connection of the category "WebService" is set up. The name must be "eric" (case sensitive). 

"Host" and "Port" must be entered according to the TC installation. If the Web Service URL of the TC does not end in "eric", the last part of the URL (e.g. eric29) in the connection must be entered in the field Parameter 1.

6.2) Proxy between GTC and TransferClient

The proxy is maintained as a separate connection parameter on the administration page.

6.3) Connection test to the TransferClient

Now the connection to the TC can be tested by clicking on the gear symbol (in the front of the line). A message is then displayed whether the test was successful or not.

6.4) Proxy between TransferClient and tax authorities

The proxy is maintained as a separate connection parameter on the administration page.