To: SEDAR Filing Service Subscribers, the Canadian Securities Administrators and
Canadian Market Centres
In our Subscriber Update of November 27, 1998, we provided information on the Year 2000
readiness status of the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval, known as
the SEDAR system. In that update, we stated our intention that the SEDAR system operated
by CDS INC. (which consists of the SEDAR client/server application and its operating
environment) would be ready for the Year 2000 by the end of December 1998, and that all
Year 2000 testing would be completed by that date.
We are very pleased to advise you that all components of the SEDAR system (now in
production, or scheduled for production by the end of February, 1999) are Year 2000 Ready
in that they have passed Year 2000 testing in all material respects.
CDS INC. is continuing its work on the SEDAR system to ensure that it meets the
challenges of the transition to the Year 2000. In the coming months, we will turn our
attention to external testing with the SEDAR user community. We will provide Year 2000
testing support to SEDAR subscribers. In addition, any new SEDAR development or software
upgrades or enhancements in 1999 will undergo regression testing to ensure Year 2000
readiness. A Year 2000 freeze of the SEDAR client/server application code and environment
is scheduled to begin on July 31, 1999 and end on March 3, 2000.
This update is provided for informational purposes only and reflects CDS INC.'s current
understanding of and intentions with respect to the matters outlined and does not
constitute a certification and warranty of any kind. Since Year 2000 readiness is an
on-going effort and information on Year 2000 is rapidly changing, the information provided
in this letter is also subject to change.
Please consult our Web site at www.sedar.com for further information on the status of
the SEDAR Year 2000 Readiness.
Sincerely,
Dean Peloso
General Manager, SEDAR
SEDAR® Year 2000 External Test
INTRODUCTION
CDS INC. has undertaken extensive internal testing on the Year 2000 readiness of all
components of the SEDAR system (which consists of the SEDAR client/server application and
its operating environment) and has reported on the progress of this project from time to
time by Subscriber Update. Now, in order to support the Year 2000 testing of the SEDAR
user community, CDS INC. will make a Year 2000 Test Server of the SEDAR system available
for testing in 1999. The Year 2000 dates to be simulated by the SEDAR Test Server will be
available for external testing in accordance with the test schedule set out below.
Subscribers wishing to participate must enroll by returning the attached enrollment form
(by fax or mail) to CDS INC. by February 26, 1999.
OBJECTIVE OF SEDAR YEAR 2000 EXTERNAL TEST
The objective of the SEDAR Year 2000 External Test is to provide SEDAR subscribers and
recipient agencies (the Canadian provincial securities commissions and Canadian stock
exchanges) with the opportunity to test the Year 2000 readiness of their own internal
systems and environment which interface with the SEDAR system. It is not to test the Year
2000 readiness of the SEDAR system.
TESTING PROCESS
Upon receipt of a completed FORM 1-Y2K (attached at the back of this document) CDS INC.
will process the Form and send a SEDAR Year 2000 test package to the Subscriber's
designated Year 2000 Coordinator. The SEDAR Year 2000 test package will include
instructions on setting up the subscriber's PC for SEDAR Year 2000 testing connectivity,
all necessary ID's and passwords, guidelines and system requirements. ID's will be created
by default as having 'Unlimited Payment Authority' on the SEDAR system.
Test subscribers will have an opportunity to submit filings and perform searches on the
SEDAR Test Server. Please note that any fees entered in test projects will NOT be
processed with any Financial Institutions. Test filings will not be made available on
www.sedar.com for public viewing.
DATE CHANGE PROCESS
Because of the need to provide the Year 2000 Test Server to subscribers in multiple
time zones, only one date rollover will occur in a 24-hour period. At 9:00 a.m. Eastern
Standard Time, the Test Server will be brought up with a Year 2000 simulated date (e.g.
December 31, 1999) and subscribers will be able to conduct testing. At 11:00 p.m. that
evening, the Test Server will be shutdown and allowed to roll over to the next scheduled
Year 2000 simulated date (e.g. January 1, 2000). At 9:00 a.m. the following day,
subscribers can begin testing under the new simulated date. This procedure will continue
daily from Monday to Friday, until all five Year 2000 test dates have been run in that
week. The test cycle is planned to be repeated a total of four times (i.e. four Monday to
Friday weeks), as per the stated test schedule below. The final two days of May 10, 1999
and May 11, 1999 will give subscribers the opportunity to conduct testing on two
additional simulated test dates.
YEAR 2000 TEST SCHEDULE
The following table shows the planned test dates (in shading) and their corresponding
Year 2000 simulated dates (beneath the shading) scheduled to be available on the SEDAR
Test Server. There are four (4) scheduled cycles, each having the same five simulated Year
2000 dates.
In addition, the last two Year 2000 simulated dates of December 31, 2000 and February
28, 2001 will be available on the SEDAR Test Server once only, on the planned test dates
of Monday, May 10, 1999 and Tuesday May 11, 1999, respectively. These last two Year 2000
simulated dates will not be repeated.
Cycle 1:
Monday
Apr 12, 1999
Tuesday
Apr 13, 1999
Wednesday
Apr 14, 1999
Thursday
Apr 15, 1999
Friday
Apr 16, 1999
Dec 31, 1999
Jan 1, 2000
Jan 4, 2000
Feb 29, 2000
March 1, 2000
Cycle 2:
Monday
Apr 19, 1999
Tuesday
Apr 20, 1999
Wednesday
Apr 21, 1999
Thursday
Apr 22, 1999
Friday
Apr 23, 1999
Dec 31, 1999
Jan 1, 2000
Jan 4, 2000
Feb 29, 2000
March 1, 2000
Cycle 3:
Monday
Apr 26, 1999
Tuesday
Apr 27, 1999
Wednesday
Apr 28, 1999
Thursday
Apr 29, 1999
Friday
Apr 30, 1999
Dec 31, 1999
Jan 1, 2000
Jan 4, 2000
Feb 29, 2000
March 1, 2000
Cycle 4:
Monday
May 3, 1999
Tuesday
May 4, 1999
Wednesday
May 5, 1999
Thursday
May 6, 1999
Friday
May 7, 1999
Dec 31, 1999
Jan 1, 2000
Jan 4, 2000
Feb 29, 2000
March 1, 2000
Two Additional
Test Dates:
Monday
May 10, 1999
Tuesday
May 11, 1999
Dec 31, 2000
Feb 28, 2001
YEAR 2000 TEST SYSTEM SUPPORT
CDS will provide support for the Year 2000 Test Server in the same manner as is done
for subscriber acceptance testing of SEDAR releases. More specifically, CDS will:
Provide access to the Year 2000 Test Server via the IBM Global Network to subscribers
who have enrolled in the test.
Provide network test addresses and instructions on how they are to be defined.
Provide a new Test User ID and password to the Year 2000 Test Server and the IBM Global
Network.
Administer the Test Server environment in accordance with the Test Schedule.
Provide Help Desk support for investigation and resolution of SEDAR Year 2000 related
errors (if any are found).
Support will not be provided for the creation, execution or verification of subscriber
test plans and test scripts. Also, support for the subscriber's test environments (except
for the SEDAR client application) is the sole responsibility of the subscriber.
TEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
Subscribers are strongly advised to use for the Test a dedicated Year 2000 ready PC
(Windows 95 or Windows NT) on which the current release of the SEDAR client application
will be installed. Performing any Year 2000 testing with Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11, and
Windows 3.11 for Workgroups is NOT supported by CDS and should not be done. During
testing, the date on the subscriber's PC must be set according to the Year 2000 Test
Schedule (e.g., on Wednesday, April 14 the date must be set to January 4, 2000), reset to
the next Year 2000 simulated date, and/or reset to the actual calendar date, as
applicable. A dedicated PC will ensure that subscriber testing will not conflict with
normal business operations (i.e., the subscriber's test PC will connect to the SEDAR Year
2000 Test Server). Using a non-dedicated, production PC will cause corruption of the
subscriber's SEDAR client application database.
SUBSCRIBER RESPONSIBILITIES
Return completed Enrollment Form to CDS by February 26, 1999
Allocate the subscriber PC test system (see requirements above)
Design and execute Year 2000 test scripts which may include sample defined on page 5
Verify test results
Pay CDS for all Year 2000 External Test Charges, as invoiced.
LIMITATIONS
Year 2000 readiness is an on-going effort and information on Year 2000 is rapidly
changing. Information provided in respect to the Test is provided "as is", is
subject to change and is not intended to provide any warranty or certification or to
replace, modify, supplement or supersede any representations, warranties and agreements
that may currently exist. CDS INC. is not responsible for ensuring that subscriber's
systems, equipment and environment are Year 2000 ready. CDS is also not responsible for
monitoring testing undertaken or not undertaken by subscribers or any other persons and
will not be responsible for any subscriber Year 2000 noncompliance. It is subscriber's
responsibility, prior to participating in the SEDAR Year 2000 External Test, to have
conducted and successfully completed Year 2000 readiness testing on its own internal
systems, including use of a PC having a Year 2000 ready operating system, and to set its
PC clock to the particular Year 2000 simulated date then being tested with the Test
Server, reset to the next simulated date and/or returned back to the actual date, where
applicable. CDS INC. assumes no responsibility or liability resulting from Year 2000
related problems and/or errors and/or database corruption, whether or not related to
improper PC setup by subscriber.
Y2K EXTERNAL TEST CHARGES
Subscribers participating in the SEDAR Year 2000 External Test will be invoiced at the
completion of the testing period, for test charges set out below. All charges are
non-refundable.
Data Communication Line Usage Costs: $6.50 per hour (Note: It is estimated that a
subscriber may incur approximately 2.5 hours to complete the minimum tests as outlined by
CDS. Further testing would result in additional charges).
One time account set up fee per subscriber: $20.00
SAMPLE YEAR 2000 TEST SCRIPT
Module
Subscriber Action
What to Look For
Step 1
User Profile and Defaults
1. Enter the provided Y2K Test User ID and Password in
the User Defaults--Logon Info and click 'OK'.
2. Press 'Refresh'
in User Information and verify that you are connected and using the SEDAR Y2K Test Server
with the proper User information.
1. User information provided will verify that the tester
is properly connected to the SEDAR Y2K Test Server.
Step 2
Profile Management
3. Create a profile and submit it.
(UG sec. 2.2)
Note the profile number:
___________________
4. Refresh the same profile.
(UG sec 2.4)
2. Verify that the 'Last Updated Date' consists
of the current server date being tested.
Step 3
Filing Management
5. Submit a project with fees.
(UG sec. 3.2-3.6)
The tester will have to supply or create documents with the appropriate SEDAR file
extensions.
Submitting to all recipient agencies in your testing is strongly encouraged.
6. Do a refresh project. (UG sec. 7.4)
7. Attempt to retrieve the document from the filing you sent.
(UG sec. 7.7)
3. Verify that the 'Date' consists of the current
server date being tested.
Step 4
Search Filings
8. Build an inquiry (i.e.: Date of
Submission>=mm/dd/yyyy of the current server date)
(UG sec. 8.3-8.4).
9. Attempt to retrieve the documents from one of the projects
that was returned from your search.
(UG sec. 8.4)
1. Open the report that is returned from the inquiry and
verify that the 'Date Last Submitted/Updated' coincides with the server date being
tested.
Step 5
Search Profile
10. Submit a search inquiry. (Profile Number = profile #
from Step 1.)
(UG sec. 2.3-2.3.2)
2. Open the report that is returned from the inquiry and
verify that the date 'LaUpdated' coincides with the server date being tested.
UG = SEDAR Filer User's Guide (Release 5.0)
Note: The above is only a sample test script for SEDAR subscriber testing. This test
script does not reflect complete subscriber functionality and Year 2000 testing. More
testing is recommended. It is the subscriber's responsibility to ensure all facets of Year
2000 testing are complete and comprehensive enough to ensure the satisfaction of the
subscriber organization's Year 2000 compliance standards.
SEDAR CDS CONTACT
Contact the SEDAR Help Desk with Year 2000 External Test questions at 1-800-219-5381.
In addition, information on the status of the SEDAR Year 2000 Readiness Project will be
posted on our web site at www.sedar.com.
FORM 1-Y2K
SEDAR® Year 2000 External Test Enrolment Form
Once completed, FORM 1-Y2K should be returned by February 26, 1999 by:
Fax to:
CDS INC.
Attention: Nicole Heidt
Fax # (416) 365-9194
Mail it to:
CDS INC.
85 Richmond St. W., Suite 900
Toronto, Ontario M5H 2C9
Attention: Nicole Heidt
The undersigned subscriber hereby applies for enrolment in the SEDAR Year 2000 External
Test scheduled to commence on Monday, April 12, 1999 and to conclude on Tuesday, May 11,
1999 (the "Test"). The undersigned acknowledges that its participation in the
Test will be subject to the terms of the SEDAR Year 2000 Test Procedure, including the
limitations set out in the procedures, below and SEDAR Form 2. The undersigned agrees to
pay the charges invoiced to the undersigned for participation in the Test. The
undersigned's use of any Test User IDs and passwords assigned by CDS shall further confirm
acceptance of the foregoing, and the undersigned shall be permitted to access and use one
additional copy of the SEDAR Filer Software, subject to SEDAR Form 2, solely for the
purposes of this Test.
1. SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION
Legal Name of
Subscriber: _____________________________________________
Name of Principal Contact : _____________________________________________
2. SEDAR YEAR 2000 TESTING CONTACT Please complete below the name of the person who is the primary contact for the SEDAR
Year 2000 External Test. This person will be sent the package of Ids, passwords and other
documents relating to participation in the Test from CDS.
Telephone: ( ) ____________________ Internet
E-mail: ____________________
3. TEST FILING SERVICE OPTIONS
Number of PC's Testing will be performed with: ________________________________
Documentation to be provided in what language: English French
4. EXTERNAL TEST CHARGES
The Subscriber agrees to pay the following non-refundable charges for participating in
the Test, which will be invoiced by CDS INC.:
Data Communications line usage costs: $6.50 per hour
One time Account Set up fee: $20.00
5. LIMITATIONS
Year 2000 readiness is an on-going effort and information on Year 2000 is rapidly
changing. Information provided in respect to the Test is provided "as is", is
subject to change and is not intended to provide any warranty or certification or to
replace, modify, supplement or supersede any representations, warranties and/or agreements
that may currently exist. Subscriber acknowledges that CDS INC. is not responsible for
ensuring that subscriber's systems, equipment and environment are Year 2000 ready. CDS is
also not responsible for monitoring testing undertaken or not undertaken by subscriber or
any other persons and will not be responsible for any subscriber Year 2000 non-compliance.
It is Subscriber's responsibility, prior to participating in the Test, to have conducted
and successfully completed Year 2000 readiness testing on its own internal systems,
including use of a PC having a Year 2000 ready operating system, and to set the
subscriber's PC clock to the particular Year 2000 simulated date then being tested with
the SEDAR Test Server, reset to the next simulated date and/or returned back to the actual
date, where applicable. CDS INC. assumes no responsibility or liability resulting from
Year 2000 related problems and/or errors and/or database corruption, whether or not
related to improper PC set-up by subscriber.
The Subscriber agrees with the terms of enrolment in the SEDAR Year 2000 External
Test.
Signature of Principal Contact: ___________________________ Date:
______, 1999
I/We have authority to bind the Subscriber