Managed Reporting 5.2.1 Introduces Edit and JOIN for Analytical Users

By Susan Trommer and Laura Drezek

Two of the most common requests we receive from customers for WebFOCUS Managed Reporting (MR) are to allow users to create custom reports from scratch using the WebFOCUS Java^TM Editor and HTML Reporting Tools and to create JOINs within the HTML Report Assistant.

We listened. This functionality is implemented in WebFOCUS 5.2.1 for the MR Applet User Interface for the MR Administrator, Domain Administrator and Analytical User privileges. It is also expected to be completed for the Business Intelligence Dashboard (BID) in WebFOCUS 5.2.3.

Before we get into the details on the new "advanced" user capability that turns the Custom Reports feature on, we need to define what an Analytical User is. An Analytical User is a MR user that can run Standard Reports and create My Reports using Reporting Objects made available by an MR Administrator or Domain Administator.

If you are thinking that sounds a lot like the MR "Java User," you’re right. What changed in 5.2.1 is the labeling within the User Administrator User Properties dialog. A "Java User" in MR 4.3.6 is an "Analytical User" in MR 5.2.1. The 4.3.6 "Run-only" user is an "Analytical User" who can run reports but cannot create his/her own My Reports. There is also a new "User" privilege for users who can run reports but are not allowed to create My Reports. Don’t worry, you don’t need to make any changes to your user definitions if you are upgrading from an earlier release. It is all handled internally behind the scenes for you.

Additional enhancements were implemented in Release 5.2.1 within the User Administrator User Properties dialog. In prior releases, creating an MR user is a two-step process. First you would specify the user’s signon and description, then go find the user in the list and edit his/her properties.

We combined the dialogues in Release 5.2.1 so you can create one or more users and specify all their properties when you create them. User privileges are selected from a list box rather than radio buttons, and the user capabilities checkboxes that are the base functionality of a user privilege are by default disabled and checked. In addition, the User Properties dialog remains open when a user is created to enable you to conveniently create additional users.

Now that you are acquainted with the Release 5.2.1 Managed Reporting end users and the enhancements made in the User Administrator tool to create them and specify their properties, let’s create an Analytical User with the new "Advanced" capability. As shown in Screen 1, just check the Advanced checkbox to grant the capability to create custom reports. Now let’s look at the enhancements to the MR Domains Applet and how a user creates custom reports.

Screen 1

In Release 5.2.1 the Domains Applet user interface loads when an MR user with the "advanced" user capability logs into the MR applet Environment via the default signon page http://yourserver/ibi_ html/mrlogon.htm or a customized signon page. When a domain is opened the My Reports tab displays the new Custom Reports folder. As shown in Screen 2, to create a custom report select the Custom Reports folder and the new option on the menu bar or right-click with your mouse and select New. From within the New options, select the tool to create a custom report.

Screen 2

When using the HTML reporting tools, the list of Master Files is determined by the default Reporting Server's profile settings or, if set, by the Server and Application Path settings on the Domain. You do not have the ability to set a Server and/or Application Path at the Custom Report level in the 5.2.1 release.

In addition, as shown in Screen 3, the JOIN option within HTML Report Assistant is available to users when creating custom reports. Custom reports can be run, run deferred, shared and scheduled just like other My Reports. Users that have the Create My Reports and Advanced capability can make a copy of a shared custom report.

Screen 3

If you create a custom report in the HTML Report Assistant or HTML Graph Assistant, reopen in in the Editor and make changes, the Editor becomes the only means of editing the report.

The HTML Report Assistant and HTML Graph Assistant tools will no longer be available for editing.

As with other My Reports, an MR Administrator has access to Custom Reports via the User Management tree object that is displayed in Domain Builder. Custom Reports will appear for users that have the "Advanced" capability. The available options available to an Administrator to manage Custom Reports are the same as for My Reports.

With this enhancement, Managed Reporting adds a great deal of flexibility in user functionality and control. A known set of users is granted the capability to create its own reports not requiring a Reporting Object while administration tools are available to review and manage what users create.