Activating and deactivating Express Transfer

You have the ability to activate and deactivate Express Transfer for use with Import/Export. However, the recommended method for transferring data is with Express Transfer activated.

Prerequisites

To use Express Transfer, install the following in this order:

  1. Install Import/Export application from the Application Library in the workspace. See Installing Import/Export for more information
  2. Install Express Transfer desktop application on your computer. See Installing Express Transfer for more information

Considerations when to use and not use Express Transfer with Import/Export

We recommend using Import/Export with Express Transfer activated whenever possible for all importing and exporting workflows, and particularly when:

  • data file size is greater than 20GB, although Express Transfer can be used for any size data transfer.
  • processing multiple import jobs. The jobs will be queued and executed when the previous job is complete.
  • slow or unstable network connection. Express Transfers enables you to retry the upload.

Use Import/Export without activating Express Transfer when:

  • your company policy prohibits installing desktop applications.
  • your network configuration does not allow third party applications to send or receive data, such as proxy settings.
  • data file size is less than 20GB.
  • data is in ZIP files.
Note: You need to use Express Transfer to upload and process encrypted materials, such as password-protected zip files or Case files (L01/N01) that require Password Bank functionality. If you cannot use Express Transfer for such imports, zip your encrypted materials in a single unencrypted ZIP container. The 20 GB limit for the zip file size applies. Import/Export will transfer and extract the top-level zip file, preparing your encrypted materials for Processing. Then, Processing will utilize Password Bank to decrypt materials.

Activating Express Transfer

To use Import/Export with Express Transfer, you need to activate Express Transfer. Once activated, it will remain active until your Relativity session ends or until you deactivate it.

To activate Express Transfer for use with Import/Export:

  1. Navigate to the Import/Export Job page.
  2. Click the New Import/Export Job button to start a new job.
  3. Click Activate on the Choose workflow dialog to activate Express Transfer.
    Choose workflow dialog with Activate button highlighted
  4. If a browser message box appears asking to allow the site to open Express Transfer, click Open Link to proceed with activating Express Transfer. If you do not, then Express Transfer will not be activated.
    Note: To always allow your system to open the link to Express Transfer, select the "Always allow" checkbox, and the message box will not appear anymore.
    Allow this site to open Express Transfer dialog box
    Note: If the activation process fails, click the Complete activation button on the message that appears to initiate the activation process. Refer to Express Transfer Connectivity check for more information on connection status information.
  5. When the activation process successfully completes, the Express Transfer application opens.
    Empty Express Transfer In Progress list
  6. Return to the Import/Export application. The Express Transfer status will change to Active on the Choose Workflow dialog.
    Note: The Express Transfer application will remain active until you click the Deactivate button or log out of RelativityOne. You do not need to keep reactivating it to use it. However, if you deactivate it or log out of RelativityOne, you will need to reactivate Express Transfer to use it again with Import/Export.
    Choose Workflow dialog with Express Transfer Active status on

Deactivating Express Transfer

If you do not want to use an active session of Express Transfer with Import/Export, you can click the Deactivate button on the Choose Workflow dialog.

Choose Workflow with Deactivate button highlighted

In order to use Express Transfer again with Import/Export, you will need to reactivate it.

Data transfer performance considerations

There are many variables that can degrade or improve the performance of data transfers for desktop applications, such as Express Transfer. Transfer rates when using desktop applications are influenced by several variables and results may vary based on factors such as RAM, CPU, local drive specifications, network drive specifications, and available bandwidth at the time of the transfer.

If you experience issues despite following the information below, please contact Support for assistance. For additional information, refer to the Community article Performance considerations for data transfers.

  • Run on local machine: Express Transfer has been designed and tested as a desktop application being run on a user’s local machine.
  • Read access: Ensure that Express Transfer has read access to all files/folders. Remove system / hidden attributes.
  • Port 443: Ensure that port 443 is open and is not blocked or traffic is restricted to it. See the Community article Performance considerations for data transfers for more information.
  • Internet connection: Use a strong and stable internet connection for data transmission. Wi-Fi is not recommended.
  • Internet speed: Transfer speeds are dependent on your internet speeds. Check your internet connection using Speedtest or any other bandwidth testing website. Make note of the upload speed in megabits per second. Also refer to Express Transfer Limit bandwidth setting if needed.
  • Local storage speed: Transfers from network drives or external disks, such as thumb drives/USB drives, will degrade performance and/or cause issues maintaining a connection. It is most effective to copy data to and from a fast local storage.
  • Local machine specs: Ensure your local machine and browser adheres to the Express Transfer minimum system requirements and is operating the latest version of the software.
  • Level of data fragmentation: Due to bandwidth sharing, avoid performing large and fragmented transfers in parallel. The more fragmented the dataset, the lower the transfer performance.
  • Concurrent transfers: Number of concurrent transfers that are happening at the same time within the network by various tools, services, and users.
  • Concurrent utilization: Level of concurrent utilization of the user's computer resources, that is CPU, RAM, I/Os, by other processes on that computer.
  • Compressed datasets: Avoid compressing datasets with ZIP, 7z, etc. The faster transfer time due to fewer multi-part files is negated by the time and effort to compress and decompress data. However, compressing datasets without decompressing in the destination folder (staging directory) can be considered when all the following are true:
    • Dataset consist of fragmented data
    • Destination folder is a Processing source location
    • The dataset uploaded is going to be processed by Relativity Processing
  • VPN usage: Using a VPN can potentially slow down internet traffic. When workstations use a VPN session, it can interfere with transfers from that workstation. RelativityOne is hosted in a public cloud and does not require VPN to use. See the Community article Performance considerations for data transfers for more information.
  • Traffic monitoring and data protection software: These types of software tools influence data transfer. See the Community article Performance considerations for data transfers for more information on each of these:
    • Firewall: Firewall configuration may require special tuning to use the Express Transfer.
    • Antivirus software: Antivirus software may disrupt the transfer protocol in Express Transfer.
    • Anti-malware software: An exception should be created for Express Transfer in Windows Defender or in other anti-malware software installed on the user's machine.