Components of an Alert


The Alert feature requires the following components:

  • TIBCO WebFOCUS® Reporting Server. This server is responsible for processing the procedure, accessing and retrieving the requested data, and creating the report when the Alert test is triggered (true).
  • Managed Reporting. This environment is used to create and manage Alerts in the Repository.

An Alert consists of the following:

  • Alert test
  • Alert result

An Alert test is required to check whether or not a set of defined test conditions (rules) is met (true or false). An Alert test can be WebFOCUS Test, which is a simple TABLE request that you create to define the condition to test for. Alternatively, an Alert test can be a Test for File Existence, which checks for the existence of a file that is accessible to the WebFOCUS® Reporting Server to which the Alert test is submitted. The file does not need to be in the APP PATH. It just needs to be in a location where it can be found by the WebFOCUS Reporting Server.

The Test for File Existence file does not need to be an actual file with an extension. Testing for the existence of a folder is also valid.

If the Alert test is triggered (true), returns records, the Alert result request is processed. You have the option of creating the result report or selecting an existing report stored in the Repository that you are authorized to run.

Alerts Created in the Browser

When you select a new Alert from the start page or the WebFOCUS Home Page, the WebFOCUS Alert Assist tool opens for the creation of components. Alert Assist is a Bindows™ application that is launched in a separate browser window.

The browser tab uses the generic name Alertn, where n is an index number starting at 1. All subsequent Alerts increase by 1. If you save the Alert, the dialog box is automatically set up with this generic name. However, you can change the name as desired.

If you select WebFOCUS Test in the browser, you are prompted to create the Alert test using InfoAssist. The version of InfoAssist that is invoked does not have field styling, heading, footing, or report options, such as OLAP and On-Demand Paging. The Alert test determines whether or not a specified condition is true. It is not the report that is displayed as the result of the Alert.

You can create the Alert result using InfoAssist, this time with all the available styling and report options. Alternatively, you can select an existing report stored in the Repository that you are authorized to run.

Note: It is recommended that you select an existing report for the Alert result request, as it is available to edit, run interactively, or schedule independently of the Alert. If you create the Alert result using InfoAssist within Alert Assist, you need to use Alert Assist and select the open option again to edit the request, because the Alert test and the report to be run are contained within the Alert procedure.

Procedure: How to Launch WebFOCUS Alert Assist

  1. Open the Workspaces area, select the workspace in which you want to create the alert, and on the Action Bar, click Alert.
  2. WebFOCUS Alert Assist opens.