| Oracle® Business Activity Monitoring Active Studio User's Guide 10g (10.1.3.1.0) Part Number B28990-01 |
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View PDF |
| Oracle® Business Activity Monitoring Active Studio User's Guide 10g (10.1.3.1.0) Part Number B28990-01 |
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View PDF |
This chapter introduces reports and how to work with them.
This chapter contains the following topics:
You can create reports and share them with other users. When designing reports, you can choose from a variety of template layouts. You might want to include two or more views in a single report. Creating reports also includes selecting data sources, choosing data fields, sorting, filtering, and formatting the information. Reports can display point-in-time or real-time information. Real-time information means the display continues to update within two to 10 seconds of data changing.
After creating reports, you can create alert rules that monitor data related to specific reports and send alerts to users. Alerts sent to Active Viewer users launch the view of the report for them.
This section contains the following topics:
You can view reports from the Home, My Reports, or Shared Reports tabs. You can specify whether to display an indicator as the report information loads.
To view a report on the Home tab:
Click the name of the report in the Recent list or the New list.
The report displays in the work space.
To view a report from the My Reports or Shared Reports tabs:
Click the name of the tab where the report is saved, for example, the My Reports tab.
Click the report to view.
Click View in the Actions list.
The report displays in the work space.
To close the report, either click Close in the Actions list or click another tab.
On the My Reports and Shared Reports tabs, you can sort the report lists by clicking Report Name, Last Modified, or Owner headings.
Reports that include prompts display a dialog that requires user input before the results can display in the report.
If a prompt dialog displays, specify values for the prompts, and click OK. The report displays using the values you specified in the prompts.
You can click the Reprompt button in the toolbar to view the dialog again and present different report results.
When viewing reports, you can pause the display of active data in reports. For reports that are quickly updating, you might want to pause the display to view the current data before more active data is loaded.
To stop the display of active data:
In a report you are viewing, click Pause in the toolbar.
The active data is temporarily halted, and the Pause button turns into a Play button.
To restart the display of active data:
Click Play in the toolbar.
The active data displays, and the Play button turns back into a Pause button.
You create reports from either the Home, My Reports, or Shared Reports tabs. The following is a summary of how to create reports:
Click Create a New Report. This button appears on the Home, My Reports, or Shared Reports tabs. The Create a new report toolbar icon also creates a new report.
Choose a report template. Tiled report templates include layouts for a single view or multiple views. A columnar report template is a continuous report view over several pages and has specific formatting options.
Choose a view type for each space in the template. View types include streaming lists, updating lists, bar charts, line charts, area charts, combination charts, columnar reports, KPIs, crosstabs, and spreadsheets.
Choose a data object. The View Editor walks you through selecting a data object, fields, and other options in a wizard format.
Define formatting properties for the view. Depending on the view type you select, formatting options vary. For example, for lists, you can format text and background colors, but for arrows you only select fields for the arrow layout since there is no text to format.
To create a report:
Click Create a New Report.
The layout templates display. Tiled templates provide a layout for multiple views on one page.
Select a template. Select a tiled layout or select the Columnar Report template to create a multiple-paged, continuous format columnar report.
A group of view types displays in each of the template areas. View types include charts, lists, KPIs, crosstabs, and spreadsheets.
Select a view type.
A placeholder image of the view and the View Editor display. Depending on your data, this can take a few moments.
Select a data object. The data object is the source of data for the report. Data objects are created using Architect and are organized into folders by the Architect user.
Click Next.
Depending on the view you selected, select fields by doing one of the following:
Choosing Fields for Lists
For list views, select the field checkboxes to include fields. Click select none to clear all of the checkboxes. The link switches to select all so you can select all of the fields again. If the data object contains 10 or fewer fields, the fields are automatically selected in the Data Fields list. If more than 10, you must manually select fields.
Choosing Fields for Charts
For chart views, click the field checkboxes in the Group By list. If a field, for example Year, is a number, but you want to group on it, click Include Value Fields so that it displays in the Group By list. In the Chart Values list, select the checkboxes for value fields to display in the chart.
Choosing Fields for KPIs
For KPI views, such as the arrow and gauges, select a field from each list where you want to display data. You are not required to choose a field for every drop down list.
See Chapter 3, "Using Views" for more information on creating and formatting views.
Click Next.
The list of additional options displays. You can click one of the links to add data modifiers or formatting properties.
Click Finish to display the view.
Additional tasks to finish a new report include formatting data, repeating the steps in this procedure for templates with multiple views, and saving reports.
This section contains the following topics:
Creating a columnar report includes different characteristics than a tiled report. A tiled report contains views of data on a single page. A columnar report creates a multiple-paged, continuous formatted report. When you select the Columnar Report template, the columnar report view is also automatically selected. You can also select a tiled report template and a columnar report view although multiple pages are not provided for printing.
The following is a summary of how to create reports:
Choose the Columnar Report template. Tiled report templates include layouts for a single view or multiple views. A columnar report template is a continuous report view over several pages and has specific formatting options.
Choose a data object. The View Editor walks you through selecting a data object, fields, and other options in a wizard format.
Add Groups.
Add Summary Functions.
Define formatting properties for the view. Columnar report views include text formatting with additional options related to columnar reports.
To create a columnar report:
Click Create a New Report.
Select the Columnar Report template.
The columnar report view type is automatically selected when you click the Columnar Report template.
A placeholder image of the columnar report and the View Editor displays. Depending on your data, this can take a few moments.
Select a data object. The data object defines the source of data for the report. Data objects are created using Architect.
Click Next.
Select the data fields to include. Click select none if you do not want to select any fields. The link switches to select all so you can select all fields again. If the data object contains 10 or fewer fields, the fields are automatically selected in the Data Fields list. If more than 10, you must manually select fields.
Click Next.
The Group dialog displays.
Select fields for grouping, and click Next.
The Summary dialog displays.
Select fields for summary functions, and click Next.
The More Options list displays. You can click one of the links to add a filter, a calculated field, or change formatting properties.
Click Finish.
Additional tasks to finish a new report include formatting data, repeating the steps in this procedure for templates with multiple views, and saving reports.
In a columnar report, you can group items, apply sorting, and add headers and footers from the Group tab.
To group items in a report:
Click the Data icon in the View Editor. To open the View Editor, double-click the view you are editing, or click Edit view in the View Tasks/Options list.
Select the Group tab.
Select a field in the Report Fields list. You can select more than one field to move multiple fields at the same time.
Click the Right arrow to move the field to the Report Groups list.
Select either Header, Footer, or Detail from the list for each field. At least one field must have Detail selected.
Select the Ascending or Descending sort direction if you want to change the sort direction for each field.
Select a field and click the Up arrow to move the field higher in the list, and click the Down arrow to move the field lower in the list.
For each field in the Report Groups list, specify whether you want it to display as a group header or a group footer or both by selecting the checkboxes.
Click Apply or OK.
In a columnar report, you can add summary functions as report footers or group footers from the Summary tab.
To add summary functions in a report:
Click the Data icon in the View Editor. To open the View Editor, double-click the view you are editing, or click Edit view in the View Tasks/Options list.
Select the Summary tab.
Click a field in the Report Fields list.
Click one or more summary function checkboxes in the Summary Functions list.
Click the checkboxes to display the summary function in the report or group footers.
Group footer options only display if you created groups on the Group tab.
Click Apply or OK.
You can use the toolbar to apply grouping, sorting, and summarizing on single columns in columnar reports without opening the View Editor.
To apply quick formatting to a single column:
In the columnar report you are editing, click a column to select it.
The column border is highlighted.
Click a button on the toolbar to apply a function to the column.
The button functions include:
Group Sort and Value Suppress sorts by group and suppresses duplicate values from displaying.
Value Suppress suppresses duplicate values from displaying more than once.
Sort Ascending sorts the column in ascending order.
Sort Descending sorts the column in descending order.
Group adds a group header and footer for the column.
Aggregate adds a Sum group footer and report footer for the column.
You can undo these functions or further edit the columnar report by clicking Edit view and then clicking the Data button in the View Editor.
To save a new report you created:
Click Save Report in the Actions list.
The Save Report dialog displays.
Enter a unique name for the report or accept the default name, select the folder to save the report in, and click OK.
You can click Create a new folder in the Save Report dialog to create a folder before saving the report.
A dialog displays to confirm that the report is saved.
Click OK to close the dialog and return to the report.
To save a report you edited:
Click Save Report in the Actions list.
A dialog displays to confirm that the report is saved.
Click OK to close the dialog and return to the report.
To save a report you edited as a new report:
Click Save Report As in the Actions list.
The Save Report dialog displays.
Type a unique name for the report or accept the default name, select the folder to save the report in, and click OK.
A dialog displays to confirm that the report is saved.
Click OK to close the dialog and return to the report.
To save a report for offline viewing:
Open a report for viewing.
Select Save Offline in the Actions list.
The File Download dialog opens.
Click Save.
Choose a location in which to save the report.
Click Save.
Note:
When printing a tiled report that has been saved offline, only the visible data will print. Data that is part of multipage views, as in List views, that is not currently displayed, is not printed. The exception to this is the Continuous mode Columnar report.To rename a report:
Select the report to rename.
Click Rename in the Actions list.
The Rename dialog displays.
Type the new name for the report.
Click OK.
The new name displays as the report name.
This section contains the following topics:
You can edit any reports that you own. You can edit formatting options for each view, and you can change view types. You cannot edit reports shared by other users unless you have Create permissions for the folder they are stored in.
To edit a report:
Click the report to edit.
Click the view that you want to edit.
The view displays selection handles.
Click Edit in the Actions list.
The report displays in the work space.
You can do one of the following:
Click Edit view in the View Tasks/Options list to open the View Editor, which contains the data functions and formatting properties dialogs. You can also double-click the report display to open the View Editor.
To change the view type, click Change view type in the View Tasks/Options list. Previously selected options for the view are applied to the new view type where possible.
When you finish editing the report, click Save Report in the Actions list.
You can use the following buttons to move the View Editor when you are editing:
Move button
Click the Move button in the upper left corner of the View Editor to move it to the upper area of the work space so that you can view your changes without closing the View Editor. Click it again to return the View Editor to its original place.
Hide button
Click the Hide button to temporarily minimize the View Editor. Click it again to display the View Editor.
Similar buttons on the side bar allow you to move or hide the list of actions and the Guide text to customize your Active Studio work space.
You can add titles to display at the top of reports.
To add a title to a report:
In a report you are editing, click in the Click to add a report title text at the top of the report.
The text changes into a text cursor.
Enter the report title.
The title is saved with the report. You can edit the report title by clicking the title text field and typing. You can format the report title in the Report Properties dialog.
You can also add a display title for each view if your report has multiple views.
You can format report titles using the Report Properties dialog. You must add a report title before you can format the text.
To format a report title:
In a report you are editing, click Change Report Properties in the Actions list.
The Report Properties dialog displays.
On the Title tab, click a font name from the Font list.
Click a font style from the Style list.
Click a font size from the Size list.
Click the color swatch.
A color palette displays.
Click the new color from the palette.
The color and the color hex number display. You can also specify the color by typing or pasting a hex number in this field.
Choose the effects to apply to the text by clicking the checkboxes for underline, overline, or line through.
Choose a case for the text such as capitalize the first letters, all uppercase letters, or all lowercase letters.
Click Apply or OK.
You can set a background color an image for reports. The background displays in the title bar, in the space behind view elements, and between views.
To set a background color for a report:
In a report you are editing, click Change Report Properties in the Actions list.
The Report Properties dialog displays.
On the Background tab, click the current color swatch for the report background.
A color palette displays.
Select the new color.
The color and the color hex number display for the report background color. You can also specify the color by typing or pasting a hex number in this field.
Click OK.
The new background color is applied to the report.
To use an image in the background:
In a report you are editing, click Change Report Properties in the Actions list.
The Report Properties dialog displays.
On the Background tab, select the Image checkbox, and click Browse.
The File Upload dialog opens.
Click Browse to locate the image.
Select an image file and click Open.
Click Upload.
Click OK to close the File Upload dialog.
Click OK to close the Report Properties dialog.
You can resize a view in a report. You might want to display a larger view, or you might want a smaller view in a report to make room for inserting another view.
To resize a view in a report:
In a report you are editing, select the view that you want to resize.
The view displays selection handles.
Click a handle and drag in the direction that you want to resize the view.
The view is resized. You can also move the view without resizing by dragging the frame of the view instead of a selection handle.
You can insert additional views into a report. After selecting a report template, you might want to arrange views and add more views.
To insert a view into a report:
In a report you are editing, click Insert View in the toolbar.
The view displays and the selection handles are active.
You can do any of the following to arrange your new view:
Click a handle and drag in the direction that you want to resize the view.
Move the view without resizing by dragging the frame of the view instead of a selection handle.
Click Send Backward and Bring Forward in the toolbar to arrange views that overlap.
You can delete a view from a report. You might want fewer views in a report, and then you can resize the remaining views.
To delete a view from a report:
In a report you are editing, click the view that you want to delete.
The view displays selection handles.
Click Delete View in the toolbar.
The view is deleted.
You can edit a report and change the view type you selected for a specific view. For example, you might have a three view report and decide to change the first view from a streaming list to an updating ordered list, without creating a new report. Many view types can be changed and still maintain the majority of the properties you already specified.
To change a view type in a report:
In a report you are editing, click the view that you want to change.
The view displays selection handles.
Click Change view type in the Actions list.
The view type icons display.
Click the new view type to use.
The view displays using the data object selected for the old view type.
Open the View Editor to make any other formatting selections needed for the new view type.
You can edit a report and change the data object you selected for a specific view. The new data object you select must contain at least the same fields as the originally selected data object. The new data object might contain additional fields. The data objects that do not apply are disabled. To select a completely different data object without starting a new report, create a new view in this report.
To switch a data object in a view:
In a report you are editing, click the view that you want to change.
The view displays selection handles.
Click Edit view in the Actions list.
Click the Data Objects tab.
The list of data objects displays. Data objects that are not similar to the original data object are disabled.
Make any other formatting selections needed for the new view type.
Click OK or Apply.
When you create active data reports where the amount of changing data is large and changes often, you might want to set a time delay so that more data accumulates before each active data retrieval. This will result in better display performance for the users viewing the report. The ideal setting depends on the data characteristics.
If the report display is not keeping up with the active data and the client machine CPU is completely used, adding a small amount of time provides a chance for more records to collect before being sent so that more records are sent each time. The short delay increases display performance.
Determining the ideal amount of time requires displaying the report and testing which amount of time provides the best results. This setting applies to all the views in the report that display active data.
To set a data retrieval interval:
In a report you are editing, click Change Report Properties text in the Actions list.
The Report Properties dialog displays.
Click the Advanced tab.
Enter a number for the refresh interval in milliseconds, such as 500 to represent half of a second or 2000 for 2 seconds.
Click OK to save your changes and close the dialog.
You can print a report you are viewing from the My Reports or Shared Reports tabs.
Note:
All rows may not print in List views. If a List view is broken into two or more pages only the selected page will print. You must select each page and print it separately.To print a report:
Click the report to print.
Click View in the Actions list.
Print Preview and the page orientation options display in the Actions list.
Select either portrait or landscape for your page orientation.
Click Print Preview in the Actions list.
The Print Preview window displays.
Click Print.
The Print dialog for your printer settings displays.
Select printing options such as the printer to send the report to and the number of copies to print.
If you changed the page orientation in Active Studio, then you must also change the page orientation in your printer settings. Click Preferences in the Print dialog, and then click the Basics tab to view the page orientation options.
Click Print.
The printer prints the report.
To close the Print Preview window, click Close.
When you print a columnar report, you can view the print boundaries and the page count.
To print a columnar report:
Click the report to print.
Click View in the Actions list.
Print Boundaries and the page orientation options display in the Actions list.
Click Print Boundaries to view the page layout and page count.
Select either portrait or landscape for your page orientation.
Click Print in the Actions list.
The Print dialog for your printer settings displays.
Select printing options such as the printer to send the report to and the number of copies to print.
If you changed the page orientation in Active Studio, then you must also change the page orientation in your printer settings. Click Preferences in the Print dialog, and then click the Basics tab to view the page orientation options.
Click Print.
The printer prints the report.
To turn off the print boundaries, click Print Boundaries again.
You can copy the URL of a saved report so that you can add it to another location, such as a web page in a portal site or as a link in an e-mail. The report URL contains the complete report location so that clicking the link displays the report in a browser. The report is displayed in Active Viewer.
To copy a report URL:
Select the report in the list in the My Reports page or the Shared Reports page.
Click Copy Shortcut in the Actions list.
The Copy Shortcut dialog displays including the string containing the report URL.
Highlight the string, hold down the Control key, and type C to copy the text.
Paste the URL string in the new location.
You can e-mail reports or links to reports to yourself or other users.
To e-mail a report:
Click the report to e-mail.
Click Email in the Actions list, and choose Link a report or Rendered report. A link to a report displays the active report when it is selected. If you select Rendered report for an active report, you can preview the report in the dialog the way that the recipient will view it. Rendered reports are static and do not include any JavaScript or resizing capabilities. If a web page in an External Content view contains JavaScript, it should not be used.
Rendered reports can only be viewed in Microsoft Outlook. Firefox, Netscape, and other Mozilla clients are not supported for viewing rendered reports.
The Email Report dialog displays.
Specify Oracle Business Activity Monitoring user names in the To, Cc, Bcc fields. You cannot send email to users that are not included in the Administrator. See Oracle Business Activity Monitoring Administrator's Guide for information about setting up users.
Type a message to the recipient.
Click Send.
The email containing the link or rendered report is sent.
You can save reports locally as MHT files. These files are saved on your local machine so that you can view them at another time when you might not have access to Active Studio. The MHT files are viewed in a browser and display the report just as it displays in Active Studio.
To save a report offline:
Click the report.
Click View in the Actions list.
Click Save Offline in the Actions list.
The Save HTML document dialog displays.
Select a folder location to save the file.
Type a name for the MHT file and click Save.
To view a report saved offline:
Locate the MHT file in your local files and double-click it.
The MHT file displays in the Internet Explorer browser. The report display resizes according to the browser window size. Reports saved as MHT files are static and do not show live data.
Note:
When printing a tiled report that has been saved offline, only the visible data will print. Data that is part of multipage views, as in List views, that is not currently displayed, is not printed. The exception to this is the Continuous mode Columnar report.You can delete any reports that you own. You cannot delete reports shared by other users unless the report owner gave you Delete permission for the folder containing the report.
To delete a report:
Select the report to delete.
Click Delete in the Actions list.
A dialog displays to confirm that you want to delete this report.
Click OK.
The report is deleted.
