Glossary

This is a glossary of key terms and concepts related to WebFOCUS ReportCaster that are found in this manual.

blackout dates

Dates on which schedules cannot be run or set to run.

bursting a report

Used to split the report into sections to be distributed separately to the same or different destinations.

Code Page folder

Allows you to specify the code page to be used by the Distribution Server and web server.

Distribution List

A Distribution List is an easy way to distribute content to multiple recipients or destinations. The list, which is stored in the WebFOCUS repository, contains a previously specified group of individual recipients. The Distribution List automates distribution to this stored list, rather than requiring the entry of each recipient individually into a schedule.

Distribution Server

The WebFOCUS component responsible for submitting scheduled and on-demand jobs for execution, and distributing the output of these jobs.

Distribution Server Failover

Enables you to configure a backup Distribution Server that can assume ReportCaster operations when there is an interruption (planned or unplanned) in the primary Distribution Server.

Distribution Servers folder of the Configuration Tool

The WebFOCUS component that executes jobs and distributes output and log results.

Dynamic Distribution List

Allows you to return in memory either a list of burst values and destinations, or only a list of destinations from a data source (for example, a flat file, SQL database, FOCUS data source, or LDAP).

Email Settings folder of the Configuration Tool

Configures email settings, such as the default email host, the notification email host, number of attempts to distribute to an email host, and security information.

Execution ID

A valid user ID that is used to run a report on a specified WebFOCUS Reporting Server.

External Distribution File

A file consisting of multiple recipients, which can be assigned to any schedule. This distribution file is created outside of ReportCaster.

FEX

A WebFOCUS report procedure.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol. ReportCaster can schedule the retrieval of a file from any FTP server.

FTP Settings

Allows you to specify the default FTP host and user ID, and SFTP security plug-in. You can also indicate whether the server requires a secure SFTP connection and specify the authentication method.

General Preferences folder of the Configuration Tool

Specifies which Address Book access types, schedule tasks, distribution formats, and methods will be available to a user that is creating a schedule.

Global Updates interface

Authorized users can make global updates in the Global Updates interface for the Mail Server, FTP Server, Printer, Email Address, Email from, and Library URL settings from values stored in schedules and distribution lists.

job log

Provides information about a scheduled job that has executed, such as the job ID, start time, execution status, and recipients.

job status

The status of jobs that are executing or that are in the ReportCaster Distribution Server queue.

LDAP Settings folder

Allows you to configure ReportCaster to retrieve email information from an LDAP directory.

Library Access List

A Library Access List defines the groups and users that are authorized to view report output distributed by a schedule to the Report Library. A Library Access List can be used with single or multiple schedules.

Log Settings folder of the Configuration Tool

Allows you to specify log settings, including the number of days after which ReportCaster automatically purges individual log reports, and the time at which purging will occur.

mode

The state and function of the Distribution Server. Options include: Manager, Worker, Full Function, Failover, and Down.

Quick Access Toolbar

A navigation tool, which is always visible, located at the top of the Basic Scheduling tool.

Recovery

A setting that controls whether upon startup, the Distribution Server should re-run jobs that did not complete when the Distribution Server was interrupted.

ReportCaster Console

The user interface that provides access to the tools that administer the Distribution Server and manage schedule job logs, blackout dates, and Execution IDs.

ReportCaster Explorer

The ReportCaster Explorer interface provides users with the ability to obtain a list of ReportCaster items, by type, displayed with detail column information specific to the item type selected.

ReportCaster Configuration Tool

An administration tool that allows authorized users the ability to navigate through and change the various settings that define the ReportCaster configuration.

Repository Settings

Defines how the Distribution Server should manage the database connection to the WebFOCUS Repository tables during schedule job processing.

Scanback

In certain instances, the ReportCaster Distribution Server may be unavailable for a period of time. During this time, no scheduled jobs can run. By default, when the ReportCaster Distribution Server becomes available again, it searches for and runs all jobs with a next run time less than the current time, and resets the next run time according to the next scheduled run time of the job. If the Distribution Server is unavailable for an extended time period, you may want to adjust this behavior. Using the Scanback parameter, you can run only those jobs found in a specified time period of the outage, or just reset the next run time of all unexecuted jobs without running them.

schedule

A ReportCaster schedule allows you to specify when to run a report, the format in which to create the output, and how it will be distributed. ReportCaster schedules are created with the Basic Scheduling tool or the Advanced Scheduling tool.

scheduled jobs

Jobs that are scheduled to run at a specific time.

Server Status

Allows WebFOCUS administrators to select a Distribution Server to restart, suspend, stop distribution, switch servers, or refresh data.

SSL Certificate

A data file that connects a domain name, server name, or host name to the name and location of a company. ReportCaster uses an SSL Certificate to secure the communication between the ReportCaster application and the Distribution Server.

Status

The status of each service currently running on the Distribution Server. Types of status include: Ready, Standing By, Suspend, Listening, Polling, and Monitoring.

Workload Distribution

The Workload Distribution feature enables ReportCaster to distribute the scheduled jobs across multiple Distribution Servers, providing an efficient and fast way to process large numbers of ReportCaster schedules.

Zip Settings

Provides settings to configure how .zip archive files will be created and named.


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