1. Content, Content, Content Organize and Manage it in the Report Library
Gerard Snyder, ReportCaster Product Manager
Susan Trommer, Senior Director WebFOCUS Core Product Management
The Report Library provides secure access to its content, the ability to save multiple versions of the same output, and the ability to set an expiration date and control the number of versions stored in the library. In this session several 8103 ReportCaster highly requested customer new features will be discussed and demonstrated to show how to effectively schedule, organize, and manage content distributed to the Report Library.  This includes the ability to use parameters (amper variables) resolved on the Reporting Server in schedule settings that will be substituted at schedule runtime, the dynamic creation of Library subfolders with burst output distributed to different subfolders, setting the default Library report expiration and a single schedule distributing reports to both the Library and by .

2. Content, Content, Content
Organize and Manage it in the Report Library
Report Library…
Is a secure storage and retrieval facility that ReportCaster distributes to.
Schedules distribute content to the Report Library
What, when and how often is content distributed
Who is authorized to view the Library content
What WebFOCUS Repository folder the content is distributed to
When the content will expire
How many versions of the content to keep or time frame when the content expires.
Whether to send an notification with the URL to the content when a new version is stored in the Report Library
Business Value
Centralize the storage and access of information assets
Reduce information inconsistencies – how was the data obtained?
Reduce IT cost of multiple users running the same report
The Report Library is a secure storage and retrieval facility that ReportCaster distributes to. ReportCaster supports distributing content created through WebFOCUS reporting and non-WebFOCUS content that is accessible to the Distribution Server from the file system or can be obtained via an FTP or SFTP server.
The Business Value of the Report Library is that it centralizes the storage and access to information assets. Information inconsistencies and IT overhead can be are reduced utilizing a centralized and cleansed data source. User access to the content is secure and users can still do personal analytics with WebFOCUS features such as Active Reports.

3. Report Library – Content Organization & Management
Agenda
Scheduling and Distribution of Library Content
As part of a multiple distribution schedule
Dynamic folder creation with:
Parameter value(s)
Burst value
Accessing Report Library Content
Deleting Library Reports
Automatic purge
On-demand delete option
Report Library Configuration
Enabling
Control of Library content access options available for use
Default settings/values for scheduling and notification

4. Scheduling and Distribution of Library Content

5. Multiple Distribution Schedule
An Authorized User Can Edit an Existing Schedule with Parameters
Edit existing schedule
Date amper variable values obtained when scheduled job runs and used in:
&YYMD used in report name.
&DATE used in subject.
As of release you can create schedules with more than 1 Distribution.
An authorized user can add a Library Distribution to an existing schedule using the Advanced Scheduling tool.
This example shows an schedule with another new feature in release which is using amper variables in schedule settings.
Here, amper date variables will be substituted at execution time with the run time values of those variables returned by the Reporting Sever to with the report output.

6. Multiple Distribution Schedule
Advanced Schedule Tool - Add a 2nd Distribution (Report Library) to Schedule
To add another Distribution go to the Distribution workspace and select the Distribution type from the New button list.
Selecting Library brings up the dialogs that contain the settings for a Library Distribution.
After adding the Distribution information, Library is added to the list of Distributions in the schedule,

7. Multiple Distribution Schedule
Report is both ed and stored in the Report Library (WF Repository)
Parameter values substituted in Subject and Attachment
When this schedule executes, the report is delivered by and placed in the Library.
The filename of the attachment contains the value of the &YYMD variable used in the schedule.
Similarly, the message contains the value of &DATE.

8. Dynamic Folder Creation with Parameter Value(s)
Create a New Library Schedule for a Parameterized Report
Select Parameters to obtain and specify parameter information
In the previous example, the Library report was distributed to an existing folder in the repository tree.
As of release , you can specify that reports be distributed to subfolders that are dynamically created at schedule execution time.
In this example the report being scheduled contains a filter that uses the parameter &DISTRIBUTOR. The parameter is set to the value ‘Fox’.

9. Dynamic Folder Creation with Parameter Value(s)
New ‘Advanced’ dialog with ‘Enable Subfolder’
All optional Report Library distribution options are accessed by the Advanced option/button.
In the Distribution workspace there is a new button labeled Advanced.
The folder labeled ‘Subfolder with parameter’ is selected as the destination folder for the Library report.
Clicking the ‘Advanced’ button opens the Library Advanced Options dialog.
The &DISTRIBUTOR variable is entered into the Subfolder Pattern textbox which is available after checking Enable Subfolder.

10. Dynamic Folder Creation with Parameter Value(s)
A Subfolder is Dynamically Created by the Distribution Server
The title of the subfolder contains the parameter values. In this example, &DISTRIBUTOR parameter value is ‘Fox’ so subfolder ‘Fox’ is created.
When the schedule executes a subfolder is created to contain the Library report.
The Name and Title of the folder contain the run-time value of &DISTRIBUTOR.
A subfolder is created with the initial execution of the schedule and a Library item is placed in that folder.
Subsequent executions of the schedule distribute output to the existing Library item in that subfolder even if the value of the parameter changes.

11. Dynamic Folder Creation with Burst Values
The Report Contains a Parameterized Filter and Will be Burst
Check Burst Report
Select a value for the parameter
Burst values can also be used for dynamic subfolder creation.
In this example the burst option is selected for the task.
The scheduled procedure again contains a filter with a parameter, &SHOWWEEK, which is initially set to the week of 11/29/2014.

12. Dynamic Folder Creation with Burst Values
With Burst Report the ‘%BURST’ Symbol can be used in the Schedule
Select Enable Subfolder with ‘%BURST’ in Subfolder Pattern
This example is for a schedule with the Burst option selected that will distribute the report output to the ‘Subfolder with burst value’ folder. As shown in the screen shot the Folder Location as the IBFS path to the ‘Subfolder with burst value’ folder.
In the Library Advanced options, the Enable Subfolder is checked and the symbol ‘%BURST’ (including the single quotes) is entered into the subfolder pattern.

13. Dynamic Folder Creation with Burst Values
A Subfolder is Dynamically Created by the Distribution Server
The titles of the subfolders contain the burst values
When the schedule executes, subfolders are created to contain the burst Library reports.
The report is burst by Movie and the Name and Title of the folder contain the burst value of each report, in this example, the name of each movie.
There were 3 movies that week so 3 subfolders are created.

14. Dynamic Folder Creation with Burst Values
New folders are Created as New Burst Values Appear in the Data
The next run of the schedule produces a new burst value ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’
The next week, a new movie appears in the report and so a new subfolder is created for that burst value.
Reports for the burst values that appeared in the previous run are added to the Library item created in the previous run.

15. Dynamic Folder Creation with Burst Values
New folders are Created as New Burst Values Appear in the Data
And again a new burst value appears with next run ‘Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb’
The following week, another new movie appears in the report and so a new subfolder is created for that burst value.

16. Accessing Report Library Content

17. Library Report Viewer
Menu Options Available on Library Items in the WebFOCUS Repository Tree
Right-click to view the latest version or list all versions
Select Subscribe to add a report to your Watch List
Library reports can be accessed from the repository tree through right-click options on the Library item available to authorized users.
Double-clicking a Library item triggers the default action to open the latest version of the report.
Right-click and select View/Versions to see a list of all version of the report in the Library.
Another right-click option is to Subscribe which adds a report to your Library Watch List.

18. Library Report Viewer
Select View -> All Versions to Open the Library Report Viewer
View a report in a new window by selecting Open from the toolbar or menu
OR…View a report in the preview pane
Choosing to view all versions opens the Library viewer.
The viewer displays all version of the report with some metadata and provides right-click options to Open, Save As or Delete a version (provided you are authorized).
There is also a toolbar option to preview the report in a preview pane.

19. Library Watch List options in ReportCaster Explorer
Only Items You Subscribe to Appear on Your Watch List
Right-click on a Library item and select Subscribe to add it to your Watch List
The latest version of the report appears on your Watch List
notification is sent with each new report version
Library items can also be viewed in the ReportCaster Explorer.
The ReportCaster Explorer generates a flat list of ReportCaster content filtered by content type, in this example, Library Items.
The flat list can include content from the current folder only or from the current folder and children of that folder.
The items display have right-click options similar to the options available to those items in the repository tree.
For example, you can right-click on a Library item and open the latest version or as shown in the slide, Subscribe to the report.

20. Library Watch List Email Notification
Report Options in the Watch List
Right-click to Open or Unsubscribe
Or preview in the preview pane
A subscribed report is added to your Library Watch list.
The latest of each watched report is listed on the Watch List (and only the reports to which you have subscribed).
When you subscribed to a report you are notified by when a new version of the report is available.
The notification contains a link to the report in the Library.
The Watch list also contains options to Open, Preview and Unsubscribe to the report.

21. Deleting Library Reports
On-demand Request

22. ReportCaster Console Delete Expired Reports
Two Options for Deleting Library Reports from the ReportCaster Console
Delete Expired Reports
Delete Reports older than a specified date

23. Report Library Configuration
There are several configuration options for Report Library that provide the ability to control the Report Library access and notification options available to users when creating schedules that distribute content to the Report Library. There are also options to specify which expiration options are available and which one is the default.

24. ReportCaster Console
Several Tools Accessed from a Single Interface
ReportCaster Console provides access to several tools based on WebFOCUS Client Security permissions.
Server Status *
Job Status **
Job Logs **
Configuration *
Blackout Dates **
Execution Ids **
Global Updates *
* Administrative tools
** User tools – access only what they are authorized to
The ReportCaster Console provides access to several tools. There is a WebFOCUS Client Security permission for each tool to be able to authorize group or user access to each tool. The slide uses…
Red asterisk character to indicate the tools that are administrator level tools that manage configuration and the Distribution Server processing.
Blue asterisk character to identify tools that users authorized to create schedules may need to be able to access. Job Logs can be accessed from within the scheduling tools also.

25. ReportCaster Console - Configuration
Several Tools Accessed from a Single Interface
Security privileges control which tools are available
The ReportCaster Console Configuration settings are organized in folders.
Report Library Configuration

26. ReportCaster Console – Configuration
Report Library
Report Library Configuration options. Slide content is too small to read so next 3 slides cover the options on the right panel.

27. ReportCaster Console – Configuration
Report Library
Report Library is enabled by default
Library Distribution Options available to users authorized to create schedules can be controlled
Report Library is enabled by default and can be enabled be deselecting the Enabled checkbox.
Library Distribution Options control the Library access (security options) available to assign to the content that a ReportCaster scheduled job will distribute to the Report Library.
notification informs users when a new version has been distributed to the Library. The notification (by default) includes a URL with the Report Id of the Library content and the current version. The default configuration of the URL is the WF Client installation. The URL value can be customized which is most often done when the ReportCaster API has been used to create a custom application.
When the user selects the URL in the notification they will be prompted to sign-in if the user is not currently authenticated with WebFOCUS Security.
Compression option specifies whether to automatically compress reports that are distributed to the Report Library. Compression saves storage space and but does add some overhead when users view the content because the content as to be decompressed before it is sent to the user to view. The best practice for using compression is with content large text based content. WebFOCUS already compresses images when they are embedded in PDF or HTML documents so the ReportCaster configuration option to compress report content may have little or no change on the size of the content.

28. ReportCaster Console – Configuration
Report Library -> Watch List
Watch List
Provides a quick and easy way to focus on information that is of interest
is sent when a new Library report version is available.
Configure default values for notification
Watch List Notification Only (default)
Watch List and Schedule Notification
The Watch List feature allows users to identify Library reports that you frequently view and want to be notified when a new version is available. The configuration options enable to you to specify default values for the Watch List notification that is sent and whether to send only the Watch List notification or also the Schedule Notification (if enabled for the scheduled).

29. ReportCaster Console – Configuration
Report Library -> Expiration
Configure defaults for schedule creation
Default expiration option and which options are available
Maximum value allowed
Changing the settings does NOT change/impact existing schedules
Report Library Expiration options allow you to configure which expiration options are available to users and default values when creating schedules with the scheduling tool(s). The Enabled checkbox specifies whether an expiration option is available from the scheduling tool. You can also specify which expiration option is the default and set a maximum value for each expiration option. Changing the settings does NOT change/impact existing schedules.

30. ReportCaster – Report Library
Future New Features
Release
Library Distribution to the Repository folder
Library Version – option to specify title value to provide more information for individual versions.
Configuration option to view the version list by default
Release 8.2.x
Library Search
Library reports are stored in the WebFOCUS Repository.
Part of general Search project which will utilize WebFOCUS Magnify.
Library Distribution to the Repository folder will allow SaaS providers to burst content to top level folders.
The Library Version description provides metadata about a version to users so they can know the contents of a version prior to opening it.
The configuration option will let you see the list of version by default rather than immediately opening the latest version.

31. ReportCaster Release 8.2.00 – not Report Library but highly requested
Future New Features
Release – not Report Library but highly requested
Blackout Periods
Blackout Periods – Periods of times when existing schedules will not execute and for which new or existing schedules cannot be set to execute.
These periods can be entire days (like the existing Blackout Dates feature) or potions of a day.
Recurring periods of time can be specified. As shown in the slide for example, every Monday through Friday from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM is a Blackout Period.
Recurrences can be customized to include only particular days of the week, particular months, or individual days of the month .

32. ReportCaster
Questions???
Questions ???