4.4 Defining, Scheduling, and Managing Retain Reports

Path: Retain Reporting and Monitoring ServerReport or Scheduled Report drop-down

4.4.1 Comparing Reports and Scheduled Reports

Reports and Scheduled reports have the same titles and contain the same information. Reports are generated one time as requested; Scheduled reports are generated at specified intervals.

Table 4-7 outlines the main differences between the Reports and Scheduled Reports.

Table 4-7 Reports vs.Schedule Reports

Feature or Item

Report

Schedule Report

Reports Available

All summarized in Retain’s Reports.

Reports not available as scheduled reports include:

  • Job Run Summary

  • Job Run Mailbox Summary

Output Format Availability:

 

 

 

HTML

Yes (In-browser only)

No

 

PDF

Yes

Yes

 

XLS

Yes

Yes

 

CSV (for Audit User Activity, Export Audit Table, and Device Management reports only)

Yes

Yes

In-browser Delivery

Yes

No

Email Delivery

Yes

Yes

Automatic Report Generation

No

Yes

Report Date Range

Generated reports include the Start Date thru the End Date specified.

The result of the specified Use Data from Last range of time counted back from each report generation specified by the Send Report value.

For example, if the R&M server uses data from the last 1 day and sends a report Daily, each report covers exactly one day.

Obviously it is possible to specify reports that either overlap or miss periods of time.

Report Start and End Dates

One report only is generated for each request made.

Report generation starts on the date specified for the Schedule Start Date field.

If the Schedule End Date field is blank, reports are generated until specifications change.

If a Schedule End Date is set, report generation ceases on the specified date.

Report Size and Multiple Pages

Settings vary by report.

Some let you limit the number of errors reported or set other limitations.

If you select an output other than HTML, some reports let you limit the file size, number of pages, etc.

Generally, the same settings available for the Report version are also available for the Schedule Report version of the same report.

4.4.2 Creating Scheduled Reports—Overview

The process for creating scheduled reports is illustrated and briefly explained in the following graphic and table.

Figure 4-1 Reports Scheduling Overview

Table 4-8 Setting up a Scheduled Report

Number

Details

In the R&M server console, click the Report tab and select a report that you want to schedule for regular generation.

IMPORTANT:The Job Run Summary and Job Run Mailbox Summary reports are not available for scheduling.

Select HTML as the report output format.

Specify Browser delivery for the report you are setting up.

This lets you quickly view in your browser what is being reported.

Adjust the report parameters as needed for the data that you want included in the report.

Click Generate.

An HTML rendition of the report displays.

Review the report contents.

Then if you want to adjust the output, return to Step 4 and adjust the parameters.

When the generated report meets your needs, click Schedule.

The Schedule dialog opens.

Specify the output format you want (PDF or XLS) and the SMTP settings for delivery of the generated report as an email attachment.

Specify the schedule for when, how often, and how long you want the report generated.

Click Schedule.

Retain generates and sends regular reports according to the schedule you have specified.

4.4.3 Configuring Email Delivery of R&M Reports

If you choose to deliver an R&M server report in email, the Email Details panel displays for specifying the SMTP server to use.

By default the R&M server is configured with the same SMTP configuration as you specified for Retain in SMTP Notifications in the Retain 4.9.2: Installation and Upgrade guide.

You can specify a different configuration here if needed.

Table 4-9 Specifying R&M Report Delivery through Email

Email Details Panel

  1. Specify the SMTP configuration settings that you want used for emailing the report you are configuring.

 

Mail Server Hostname/IP

The DNS hostname (preferred) or IP address of the SMTP server that the R&M server uses for emailing notifications.

 

Sender Email Address

The From address shown on the messages that the R&M server sends.

 

Recipient Email Addresses

The email addresses of report recipients.

 

Email Subject

The Subject line on the sent email.

 

Report Name

The reports filename.

 

SMTP Username (Optional)

A username on the SMTP server. Optional if the SMTP server doesn’t require authentication.

 

SMTP Password (Optional)

The password of the user.

4.4.4 Managing Scheduled Reports

You can modify, manually run, or delete scheduled reports by using the Manage Scheduled Reports drop-down options.

Path: Retain Reporting and Monitoring Server > Manage Scheduled Reports Drop-down

Changing or Viewing Scheduled Reports

Path: Retain Reporting and Monitoring Server > Manage Scheduled Reports Drop-down > View/Change Details

  1. To modify or view a report’s settings, select a report in the list, then click View/Change Details.

  2. The report’s configuration dialog opens.

  3. Adjust the report’s settings as needed.

  4. Click Update to save your changes or Cancel to leave the settings unchanged.

Running or Removing Scheduled Reports

Path: Retain Reporting and Monitoring Server > Manage Scheduled Reports Drop-down > Run and Delete Reports

  1. To run a listed report, select its checkbox in the list, then click Run Report Now.

  2. To delete one or more reports, select the checkboxes for the reports you want to delete.

  3. Click Remove Selected.

    The selected reports are removed.