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i4connected Knowledge Base

Report definitions

Abstract

Check out this description of the i4connected Report definitions and learn more about how to manage them.

Reports are generated using SQL Reporting services which need information from the i4connected application in order to choose the right data for the report. Hence, the users having the appropriate permissions can manually fill in static report definitions.

Viewing the list of Report definitions

The Reports panel lists all the Report definitions to which the currently logged-in user has access.

reports_panel_list.jpg

The Reports list panel

In this view, Reports visibility is granted on basis of the following prerequisites:

The list of Reports can be filtered by typing in the search field the report name or part of the report name. The list will be filtered to display only the corresponding results.

Tip

For more details about the Simple filtering mechanism please also visit the dedicated article here.

By clicking the Refresh toolbar button the user can update the list of Reports.

Adding Report definitions

The top menu of the Reports panel provides the option to add new reports in the i4connected system, for users having the Manage report definitions permission enabled.

By clicking the Add button, the Add report panel is opened, allowing the user to set up a new i4connected report based on an existing Reporting Service report.

add_new_report.jpg

Add report panel

The following Report properties and parameters can be added by the user, in the Report panel:

  • Report name (mandatory) - the name of the i4connected report. This name will be listed in the Reports panel as well as anywhere else in the i4connected portal.

  • Description - the optional description of the report.

  • Supported output type - the format in which the report can be generated for delivery. The user can select the desired format, by marking the respective checkbox:

    • PDF

      PDF.jpg
    • Excel

      Excel.jpg
    • both

      both.jpg
  • Photo - the photo displayed in the i4connected portal, next to the report's name and description.

  • Report group (mandatory) - the report group to which the report belongs.

  • Select owner - the name of the new Report owner.

    Note

    When adding a new Report the creator user is by default set as Report owner.

    The Owner can be changed in Edit report mode, by all the users having access to the Report.

  • Email subject (mandatory) - the subject of the Report email that will be sent to the user.

  • Email body (mandatory) - the body of the Report email sent to the user.

  • Server report URL (mandatory) - the path to the appropriate directory in Reporting Service, which contains the targeted report. The Server report URL can be either manually typed in the designated field or can be selected from the list of reported addresses, by clicking the Browse reports button.

    select_report_addresses_panel.jpg

    The Select report addresses panel

    Note

    This URL path must exclude the path to the server and Reporting Service, as this path should be already existing in the i4connected portal's configuration files. The Server report URL must start with a forward slash /.

  • Report parameters - displays the report parameters, that can be evaluated when scheduling the i4connected report. A report can have one, multiple, or no report parameters.

    The table below reflects the read-only parameters, that can be exposed in this area:

    Report Parameter Alias

    Report Parameter Name

    Required

    Description

    Organizational Units

    HasOrgUnitsParam

    No

    The user can add one or more Organizational Units when scheduling the report.

    Sites

    HasSitesParam

    No

    The user can add one or more Sites when scheduling the report.

    Areas

    HasAreasParam

    No

    The user can add one or more Areas when scheduling the report.

    Devices

    HasDevicesParam

    No

    The user can add one or more Devices when scheduling the report.

    Site Types

    HasSiteTypeParam

    No

    The user can add one or more Site Types when scheduling the report.

    Events

    HasEventsParam

    No

    The user can add one or more Events when scheduling the report.

    Event Types

    HasEventTypesParam

    No

    The user can add one or more Event Types when scheduling the report.

    Event Groups

    HasEventGroupsParam

    No

    The user can add one or more Event Groups when scheduling the report.

    Tip

    Regardless of the currently logged-in user's permissions level, the Add / Edit report panel does not allow the possibility to manage the report parameters.

    Even though while creating a Report definition, the user cannot interact with the exposed parameters, the user will be required to evaluate them, when scheduling the Report.

  • Custom report parameters - displays the custom parameters used by the currently selected report.

    There are two types of Custom Parameters that can be exposed for a Report, in this area:

    • Name convention parameters - these are fixed parameters, recognized by their name. One report can have multiple parameters of the same type if they are properly numbered (e.g. SiteMetadataSelections1, SiteMetadataSelections2, etc).

      Warning

      If the name convention of these parameters is incorrectly written in the reporting service environment, they will be interpreted by the Ewon by HMS Networks as string type parameters and will be excluded from the Name convention parameters category.

      Parameter name

      Custom Parameter Type

      Description

      DeviceFilterIds [1-n]

      DeviceFilter

      Name convention parameter, recognized by its name.

      At the report scheduling step, this parameter features a selector button that opens the Object Filters panel, where advanced filtering options are available, besides the Site / Area / OrgUnit / Device filtering (e.g. entity metadata filtering).

      DeviceFilterIds.jpg

      Applying this parameter to a report will ensure that all devices that satisfy the applied filter, will be included in the report.

      Tip

      Hence, the user can, for example, specify that all devices having their maintenance date older than January 2020, should be included in the report.

      SiteMetadataSelections[1-n]

      SiteMetadataSelection

      Name convention parameter, recognized by its name.

      At the report scheduling step, this parameter features the complete list of Custom field definitions available for Sites. The user can select the desired Custom field definitions, to be applied to the report, by marking the corresponding check-box.

      SiteMetadataSelections.jpg

      AreaMetadataSelections [1-n]

      AreaMetadataSelection

      Name convention parameter, recognized by its name.

      At the report scheduling step, this parameter features the complete list of Custom field definitions available for Areas. The user can select the desired Custom field definitions, to be applied to the report, by marking the corresponding check-box.

      AreaMetadata.jpg

      OrgUnitMetadataSelections [1-n]

      OrgUnitMetadataSelection

      Name convention parameter, recognized by its name.

      At the report scheduling step, this parameter features the complete list of Custom field definitions available for Organizational Units. The user can select the desired Custom field definitions, to be applied to the report, by marking the corresponding check-box.

      OrgUnitMetadata.jpg

      DeviceMetadataSelections [1-n]

      DeviceMetadataSelection

      Name convention parameter, recognized by its name.

      At the report scheduling step, this parameter features the complete list of Custom field definitions available for Devices. The user can select the desired Custom field definitions, to be applied to the report, by marking the corresponding check-box.

      Device_Metadata_Selections.jpg

      TimeResolution [1-n]

      TimeResolution

      Name convention parameter, recognized by its name.

      At the report scheduling step, this parameter features a generic time resolution selector, allowing the user to choose from the following options: 15 minutes, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.

      TimeResolution.jpg

      Tip

      In the context of report scheduling, the time resolution parameter is used in conjunction with a start and an end date (most probably by using a preexisting parameter) and should include the device's counter values.

      KpiIds [1-n]

      Kpi

      Name convention parameter, recognized by its name.

      At the report scheduling step, this parameter features a selector button that opens the list of KPIs, allowing the user to apply one or multiple KPIs.

      KpiIds.jpg
    • Type convention parameters - these are fully customizable parameters, that are recognized by the system on basis of their type. The report creator can define as many type convention parameters as necessary, using the following Report Custom Parameter Types:

      Custom Parameter Type

      Description

      String

      Expects a textual value (e.g. "day").

      Number

      Expects a numerical value (e.g. "1").

      Boolean

      Expects a Boolean value (the user can select between values "Yes" and "No").

      DateTime

      Expects a date (the user can select the date and time from a calendar view).

      StringArray

      Expects a range of textual values (e.g. "day", "month", etc).

      NumberArray

      Expects a range of numerical values (e.g. "1", "2", "3", etc)

    Important

    Both, name and type convention parameters can be required or optional, when scheduling the i4connected report.

    The actual valuation of the custom parameters occurs only at the report scheduling step.

    Tip

    Regardless of the currently logged-in user's permissions level, the Add / Edit report panel does not allow the possibility to manage the report parameters.

Editing Report definitions

Changing a Report's parameters and general settings can be done in the Edit report panel, by users having the Manage report definitions permission enabled.

edit_report_2.jpg

The Edit report panel

In this view, users will find all the properties and parameters described under Adding report definitions article.

Note

The Reports that have been previously scheduled or archived, will no longer allow the user to organize changes at the level of Custom parameters. An information message is displayed: "You can not add or edit custom report parameters because the report is scheduled by the current users or other users."

Custom_reps_info.jpg

Custom report parameters locked

The Users button opens the Report role assignments panel, where the list of users and their roles can be managed.

user_assigned_to_report.jpg

The Report role assignments panel

Tip

For more details about the Entity role assignments feature, please also visit the dedicated article here.

By clicking the Reset button, all the organized, but unsaved, changes can be reset.

reset_button.jpg

Reset button

Further on, the toolbar of the Edit report panel, allows the user to update the list of parameters, by clicking the Refresh report parameters button.

Tip

In case any changes occurred at the level of the Report parameters or the Custom report parameters , the user can refresh them, by means of the Refresh report parameters button.

refresh_report.jpg

The Refresh report parameters

The Edit Report panel provides the user with two save options:

  • Save and Close button will preserve the changes and close the Edit report panel.

  • Close button will not preserve the changes and the Edit report panel will be closed.

Delete Report definitions

Users having at least the Manage report definitions permission enabled can remove redundant Report definitions by clicking the Delete toolbar button of the Edit report panel.

reset_button.jpg

Reset button

The Delete Report panel asks for the confirmation code in order to delete the Report. Once deleted, the report will no longer be visible in the Reports list.

Warning

When deleting a Report definition all its associated Report schedules will be deleted as well.

delete_report_panel.jpg

Delete Report panel