FAQ

Before answering the question: "What is the maximum size allowed for a file that will be sent by Sofie?", it is necessary to briefly recall how Sofie works.

The Sofie client will create a file containing the data to be transferred in a state that does not allow anyone other than the recipient to read it and make sure that it comes from the real sender.

Here are the steps operated by SOFiE :

- Validation of the file name and possibly its content

- Compression of the original data

- Encryption of the compressed data

- Signature of the encrypted data

- Creation of the file that will actually be transferred to the central Sofie server

- Sending the file to the central server where it will wait to be retrieved by the recipient.

The maximum size allowed for a file transferred to the Sofie server is currently 300 MB.

The size of this file will not only depend on the size of the original file, but also on the type of data this file contains.

This is due to the fact that the data is compressed at the beginning of the processing, as we have seen before.

To give an order of magnitude for the original file, we assume that a file compressed into a ZIP file will double in size once the Sofie client has encrypted it.

So a text file will usually be much more compressed than a JPG (photo) file, for example. If the ZIP file is less than 140 MB, it should generate an encrypted file of less than 300 MB and should therefore be accepted by the Sofie server.

It’s possible to check the password for a given user account (e.g. 999900208) on the same web server as the one used by the SOFiE client to access the SOFiE server.

Please use the following link “Test my password” and enter a valid user account (aka user id)  and its corresponding password.

If these credentials are valid, a login successful page will be showed.

Otherwise, your web browser will keep asking for valid credentials (user id + password) as long as the number of allowed retries is not reached. After that, an error message is displayed.

Please note that the password used to launch the SOFiE client may be a different from the one on the web server.

Should you experience any problem launching your SOFiE client, please contact our helpdesk by phone at +352 3 55 66 600 or by email at sofie.lux@worldline.com.

To modify the directory opened by default in the graphical interface of SOFiE, it is necessary to use version 5.19 or later and to add the following properties in the client. properties file of the concerned SOFiE account:

• sofie. client. %UID%. transmission. gui. folder, for the directory opened via the "Processing / Emission" menu (only available for Business and SORT-Transport accounts)
• sofie. client. %UID%. encryption. gui. folder, for the directory opened via the "Processing / Encryption" menu (only available for SORT-Crypt accounts)
• sofie. client. %UID%. decryption. gui. folder, for the directory opened via the menu "Processing / Decryption".

The possible values are:

• “DEFAULT”, to leave the current behavior. It is not necessary to make any change.
• “LAST_USED”, to open the last directory opened during the current SOFiE session.
• “name of an existing directory”, to always open this directory.

Example:
Suppose that we want to modify the default folder that should be opened when sending a file with SOFiE user account 888810001.

In file 888810001.client.client.properties which is located in the subdirectory "SOFIE HOME\properties\clients", add the line below (using any text editor)!

sofie.client.888810001.encryption.gui.folder=C\: \\files_to_send\\

Let's start the SOFiE client by entering the username (here: 888810001) and the corresponding password!

Then open the menu "Processing / Encryption".

The window that allows you to select files to be loaded shows this folder "C\: \files_to_send".

Worldline (Europe) S.A. offers technical support for the FATCA and CRS report files editor.

Should you need any assistance concerning any business related issue, you may contact ACD’s helpdesk (Administration des Contributions Directes) per email or phone.

Email: aeoi@co.etat.lu
Phone : (+352) 40800 - 5555

More information on this reporting is available on ACD’s website on this pages « FATCA »,  « CRS ».

Once the SOFiE user interface is started, go to the menu “Help” and then “About”.

A new window opens. Scroll to the top of the page and look for a line starting with “Java Version”.

If the version number starts with “1.7”, this means your SOFiE client installation is using the recommended Java version.

Another way to check this version number is to look for a string starting with “java.version” in SOFiE’s log files (in the “logs” sub-folder), e.g.:

- java.version (JRE version): 1.7.0_51

SOFiE support  version 2 of the FATCA report starting with version 5.15. This version is to be launched on January 18th 2017 in the late afternoon.

The embedded FATCA editor will also be up to date.

You will find more information about FATCA 2 on the ACD’s website on the following page: “FATCA”  (French only).

Yes, SOFIE will allow the exchange of NCD / CRS reports with the Administration des Contributions Directes (ACD) as of the first quarter of 2017.

To exchange files, you will need to subscribe to the CRS Basic package.

To use the input screens and exchange files, you must subscribe to the CRS Basic and CRS Saisie packages.

For more information on the NCD / CRS exchange format, visit the following page on the website of the Luxembourg administration. (only in french).

• Website Administration des Contributions Directes (ACD)
  http://www.impotsdirects.public.lu/echanges_electroniques/CRS_NCD/index.html

A configuration error in SOFiE versions released before April 26th, 2016, prevented the decryption process of some feedback files sent by the “Commissariat aux Assurances “ (CAA ). It concerns the feedback file of type FBR and FBV. This error has been fixed in version “V5.12 20160426”.

New value accepted as table for EDP reports towards the CSSF

Version “V5.12 20160426” and later accepts a new value, Z22, for the field “TAB” in the filename of the EDP reports (reporting établissements de paiement).

Example: EDPREP-Z9999-2011-03-Z22-L0-L-N--.xls

In order to rotate the log file « log_audit.log »  please edit the file « log4j.properties », located in the « properties » sub-folder.

Comment  these two lines out by adding a pound or hash sign (#) at its beginning:
#log4j.appender.A_AUDIT_FILE.Append=true
#log4j.appender.A_AUDIT_FILE=org.apache.log4j.FileAppender

Add these two :
log4j.appender.A_AUDIT_FILE=org.apache.log4j.DailyRollingFileAppender
log4j.appender.A_AUDIT_FILE.DatePattern='.'yyyy-MM-dd'.log'

Restart the SOFiE batch or GUI client

After sending or receiving a file, you should see that the old file has been renamed and a new one created in the “logs” sub-folder.

Yes, the ACD accepts the FATCA reports in their production environment starting July 3rd, 2015. as announced in the following newletter (only in french).

In most cases, SOFiE will reject a valid FATCA report because the chosen context (default = Production) does not fit the information found in the FATCA report's filename. The last letter in the filename before the file's extension shows whether that file is intended for the test or the production environment. (e.g.: FATCA_20150702182431_C_20102216578_ACDEFG.00012.ME.442_T.xml).

This means that, in order to send a test report, the Test context has to be chosen in the graphical interface or set in the "batch.properties" file.

SOFiE supports FATCA since august 2015. Exchange files with the Administration des Contributions Directes (ACD) is one of the functionalities of SOFiE application.

In order to send FATCA files you have to subscribe to package “FATCA Basic”.

In order to use the dedicated editor, you need to subscribe to package “FATCA Saisie”.

In order to capture FATCA data and to send the created file, both packages are needed.

The package FATCA Saisie gives access to a FATCA report editor.

For more information about FATCA, please visit this page on ACD’s website.

The ABBL has released a newsletter on July 15th, 2015.

SOFiE needs to be installed with an administrator account.

The application is available for all users.

The user who uses SOFiE needs writing rights on the installation folder (default: "c:\Program files\Cetrel\")

The SOFiE user needs also  full access rights on the SOFIE_HOME folder (default: c:\cetrel\sofie)

The filename conventions for the legal reporting are available on the CSSF website:

www.cssf.lu/

For more information, please check also the page:

www.cssf.lu/reporting-legal/transport-securisation/

The user who is running the update needs a write access to the SOFiE installation folder (default : "C:\Program Files\Cetrel").

There are 3 possible causes:

• The name of your file is not correct (see file name conventions)
• The content of your file is not correct (see file format conventions)

There are two ways to install the sofie.config file:

• If the sofie.config file is related to a new certificate ordered, a dialog box  invites you to select the config file when you log into the application.
• Through the GUI of the application (when logged in) , by "Tools->User configuration file import" menu.

SOFiE can be installed either in "standalone" or in "connected" mode.

• In "connected" mode, Sofie is updated automatically by JavaWebstart (Windows OS only)
• In "standalone" mode, you need to download the last version manually on the SIX website from a  computer connected to internet. Then you have to transfer and install the download on the computer where Sofie is installed.

Sofie supports simple authentication towards a proxy.

The following URL have to be authorized:

•  https://sofie.cetrel.lu/
•  http://sofie.cetrel.lu/

You have to check that the proxy has been properly configured in the SOFiE GUI menu: "Tools -> Options -> Default HTTP Settings".  Check the parameter value for "proxy_host", "proxy_port". The value for "useProxy" needs to be set to "true".

If you set the parameter "useBrowserSetting" to "true", SOFiE tries to retrieve them from Internet Explorer proxy parameters (Notice: this functionality has no effect in batch mode, you have to specify the proxy parameters manually).

You need to open the following ports:

• https://sofie.cetrel.lu/  (port 443)
• http://sofie.cetrel.lu/   (port 80)

• Backup your SOFIE_HOME folder (default path : c:\cetrel\sofie\)
• Install SOFiE on the new computer with the installer package. Don't run the application once installed.
• Restore your backup on the new computer in the folder you want to use as the SOFIE_HOME.
• If the new SOFIE_HOME path is different from the old installation , you have to check that the paths in the client and batch configuration files are still correct.
  (if you use only relative paths in the configurations files, there is no change to do)
• You can now run SOFiE on the new computer and select the path corresponding to your SOFIE_HOME during the first startup.