How do I add filters for Database Reports?

Article created 2004-04-15 by Tamsila-Q-Siddique.

1. You would need Base Product Key and Window Reporting Module or Pix Reporting Module Key for this scenario.

2. Once MonitorWare Console 2.0 is opened, on the left hand side, you can see a tree view with a node called "Reports". Click on that node. It will show you the list of available reports under it as well as on the right hand side. You will see something similar to the following figure:

You can now click on any of the displayed reports. For the purpose of this article, I have selected "System Status Report" because it is a very comprehensive report and summarizes the overall network activity very well. Once you click on the System Status Report, you will see something similar to the figure shown below.

Note: Windows Reports are displayed in a band of Lilac whereas the PIX Reports are displayed in a band of Blue.

3. Once you click on System Status Report, the following form will be displayed:

4. This form displays the report options. If you double clicked on any "Report", then in that case, this form will open up with default options that you had set. (For details about defining global settings, please refer to MonitorWare Console's Manual which can be accessed by pressing the Help button in MonitorWare Console's tool bar). These settings help you out if you want to generate many reports with almost the same settings.

5. After setting the general options, click on "Database Reports" tab. MonitorWare Console provides a powerful feature of letting users define and apply filters on any report. Using this form is further explained in the upcoming steps, you can apply the filters of your own choice on the underlying database.

6. There are 5 main options in the Report Filter Section which you need to understand for applying filters. Each one of these are briefly explained over the next coming sections, these are:

• Select Column
• Select Operator
• Add / Remove Button
• Select Upper / Lower Value
• Add Filter Button
• Save Report

Select Column - With this combo box, you can select the column on which you want to apply the filter. Some of the available options are: Customer ID, DeviceReportedTime, Facility, Priority, etc. etc.

Select Operator - Several operators are provided for applying meaningful filters. These operators generally correspond to the most common SQL operators that maybe mentioned in the WHERE clause. (For additional information on the use of operators see Operators' Reference in Manual).

Add - This button will be enabled only when "is one of" or "is not one of" operator is selected from "Select Operator" Combo box. You can select different values from "Select Lower Value" combo box and click this button to add to the list on its right. Please note that the filter will not be added, until you click on "Add Filter" button.

Remove - This button will be enabled only when "is one of" or "is not one of" operator is selected from "Select Operator" Combo box. You can select different values from the list on its right and click this button to remove them from the list on its right. Please note that the filter will not be updated, until you click on "Add Filter" button.

Select Lower Value - In the "Select Lower Value" combo box, values corresponding to the selected field (Select Column combo box) are picked from the database for user's convenience.

Select Upper Value - In the "Select Upper Value" combo box, values corresponding to the selected field (Select Column combo box) are picked from the database for user's convenience.

Add Filter - Clicking the "Add Filter" button, after specifying the filter, adds that filter to be applied to the report. All added filters are displayed in the text box on the filter form. Any number of filters maybe added. However, only one operator maybe applied on one field at time. Trying to add another filter on the same field will simply result in over-writing the previous filter for that field. All filters, applied to several different fields, are ANDed together to form one complete filter condition. This complete condition is always updated in the text box in the filter form for display.

Save Report - With this option, you can save the report on which you had applied your desired filters. Once done you can simply double-click on the saved report and all of the filters will be there!

7. Let's assume that you are interested to generate a report where the  "DeviceReportedTime is greater than 4/13/2004 3:43:20 PM", "EventSource is equal to Security" and, "EventId isn't one of 105, 108 and 114" .

8. Select "DeviceReportedTime" from the "Select Column" combo box, then select "is greater than" operator from "Select Operator" combo box and then set the "Select Lower Value" to "4/13/2004 3:43:20 PM". Press "Add Filter" button. In the end your Report Filters form should look something like this:

9. Select "EventSource" from the "Select Column" combo box, then select "is equal to" operator from "Select Operator" combo box and set the "Select Lower Value" to "Security". Press "Add Filter" button. In the end your Report Filters form should look something like this:

10. Select "EventId" from the "Select Column" combo box, then select "is not one of" operator from "Select Operator" combo box. You would see that Add / Remove has been enabled when you select the "is not one of" operator. Set the "Select Lower Value" to "105". Press "Add" button. Then set "Select Lower Value" to "108" as shown in the screen-shot. Press "Add" button. Once again set "Select Lower Value" to "114". Then Press "Add" button. Once all the values are selected for the filter, press "Add Filter" button.

In the end your Report Filters form should look something like this:

11. When you press the "Generate Report" button, it will open up a report in HTML format according to your defined filters.

12. We can save this report as well. Let's say we save this report as "Adding Filters". Press the "Save Report" Button. A screen shot similar to the one below will appear:

Enter the report title as "My Report". Provide a brief description as desired - here I left it blank, and then press Ok.

13. The report has been saved, you can even save the report before generating it. Saving the report can be of great advantage to you e.g. Lets say you have applied 5 or 10 different filters and you want to generate the same report with the same 5 or 10 filters daily. With this Save Report option, you can save this report so that you don't have to apply these filters daily. You will simply save the report and the next day you will double click on your saved report and all of the filters will be there.

14. Once you quit this form you would see your saved report exactly placed under "System Status Report Template" in Report Manager. Please note that the saved report is in the lighter shade as displayed below:

15. You can even schedule this saved report on the daily basis!