Scheduling Data Updates

In a production environment (where source data changes continuously), it is a good practice to update the project regularly, preferably nightly. This allows users to quickly and efficiently open the visual analysis dashboard with the latest data in ADVM format, from a standard network location. The update process can be controlled by a batch script invoked by the Windows Task Scheduler.

In the recommended procedure, the Adv2Advm utility loads the master ADV project file from a protected directory and the data from the database server, using an administrative account. It then saves the resulting ADVM file in a shared network location. Prior versions of the ADVM can be preserved for future reference by renaming them to include a date stamp, using batch script syntax. For example:

%date:~4,2%-%date:~7,2%

The same batch script can update a project that has been published to WebFOCUS Visual Discovery Server AE, by copying the ADVM file created by the Adv2Advm utility to the appropriate Projects subdirectory.

Note: All project files in the WebFOCUS Visual Discovery Server AE Projects directories are named with a .adv extension. Ensure the script renames the ADVM file with the .adv extension to replace the previous ADV file. As an example, your nightly update batch script might have the following structure and format:

rename C:\ibi\apps\visdis\Latest\DataAnalysis.advm DataAnalysis%date:~10,4%-%date:~4,2%-%date:~7,2%.advm
"C:\Program Files\Information Builders\WebFOCUS Visual Discovery Workbench AE\Adv2Advm"
-i:C:\ibi\apps\visdis\Master\DataAnalysis.adv
-o:C:\ibi\apps\visdis\Latest\DataAnalysis.advm
copy/Y C:\ibi\apps\visdis\Latest\DataAnalysis.advm "C:\Program Files\Information Builders\WebFOCUS Visual Discovery Server AE\Projects\Official\DataAnalysis.adv"

The Project Directory listing (http://server/adv), identifies projects with embedded data, as Static type and others as Dynamic. It is recommended to publish projects with embedded data. If changes are being made to a project and the Export Data or Export Project functionality is desired, embedded data is not required. When changes are made to the project, first publish to the WebFOCUS Visual Discovery Server AE with the Embed Data option cleared, but with the Export Data or Export Project options selected. Copy the ADV file from the WebFOCUS Visual Discovery Server AE Projects directory to the protected directory, and replace the master project file. This will allow the export options to be preserved in the nightly update process.


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