Interfaces
Interfaces refer to data exchanges between Florida PALM and external business systems. Florida PALM will interface with agency business systems, enterprise partners (e.g., MFMP, People First) and third parties (e.g., banks). Agencies are responsible for gaining an understanding of planned Florida PALM functionality, making decisions about how the agency will provide or consume Florida PALM information, and preparing agency business systems for interfacing with Florida PALM. As the system designs are completed, the Project will provide a list of new or updated interface layouts through the Interface Catalog on the Knowledge Center.
- Interface Approach describes Project and agency activities to prepare for interfacing with Florida PALM.
- Interface Standards for Agencies details Florida PALM standards for interface file folders and file names.
- How to Read a Flat File Interface Layout Video describes how to read the most common Florida PALM Layouts and its components.
The Data Availability Graphic illustrates where and how data will be available within the Florida PALM system, Data Warehouse, and agency business systems. This graphic also describes where agencies may choose to receive information using standard interfaces from Florida PALM to maintain agency business systems to support those ongoing operations. Alternatively, agencies may request the Project create agency unique data extracts from the Data Warehouse to support agency unique needs for information not contained in the Project provided interfaces. These requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Interface Testing
As described in the Interface Testing Approach, interface testing will be conducted in three cycles for the Financials and Payroll Implementation Waves.
- Cycle 1 – Connectivity Testing ensures that interfacing partners can connect to the Florida PALM Managed File Transfer (MFT) Server to deliver inbound interface files and access outbound interface files.
- Cycle 2 – Technical Interface Testing ensures that:
- Inbound interface files from interfacing partner systems can be processed by Florida PALM.
- Outbound interface files from Florida PALM can be picked up and processed by interfacing partner systems.
- Cycle 3 – Full Integration Testing during User Acceptance Testing (UAT) ensures that interfacing partners can complete all processes from start to finish, including those upstream and downstream processes that rely on interfacing system integration and interface data.
Key dates associated with data conversion, interface testing, and user acceptance testing are included in the below Testing Timeline. Additional details about agency readiness tasks can be found in the Readiness Workplan.
