I want to use repoort caster and distribute my report to an ftp site. How I can do that? Is there a good document?

This is what I am doing:

Create a new schedule
A new task
Task Type - WF Server Procedure
Server name -
Execution id and passowrd
Procedure Name - ibisamp/carinst
everything else default


Distribution:
Distribution reports by: FTP
FTP Server Name: ort> i am using non standard port
Directory:
FTP User and password set correctly (I can test it on a browser)
Distribution Information (don't know what to set this - currently set to Single File: and name test)

When I run this, it run successfully but when I see the log, it always has error: most of the time ArrayOutofBoundsException or 550 error.

What I am doing wrong? I will be happy to see cars report at my ftp site

There is user documentation that comes with ReportCaster. End users manual or Admin manual. If you don't have them they are available on the techsuppport site.

As for the values you need - looks like you're getting things correct. The FTP Server name is the name or IP address of the destination server. It must have an FTP server running there. You shouldn't have to worry about a port number. The server should KNow which port number it listens on. You can always try adding it to the end of the server name like

10.0.0.1:2000

You must also have FTP as an available service on the host where RC resides. Best way to test this whole thing is to get into a native (NOT browser) FTP session on that box and try FTP'ing a test file to your intended destination. You'll enter the same parameters in a native session that you put into RC.

If you can get a native session to work but not an RC session, then we'll try some other things. BTW, the default FTP server can be set in the RC configuration tool.

Darin,

Thanks for reply. When I try with this configuration, I can see some activity on the FTP server. I can see it logged correctly. However it throws an error when I RC tries to make a PUT call.

Error is

java.lang.StringIndexOutOfBoundsException: String index out of range: -1
[Apr 21, 2008 12:12:53 PM (FTPConnection-84_155)]: at java.lang.String.charAt(String.java:558)
[Apr 21, 2008 12:12:53 PM (FTPConnection-84_155)]: at com.intraspect.ftp.FTPConnection.STOR(FTPConnection.java:718)

indicating I am not able to pass in the name with which file needs to be stored. Any ideas?

Also i will appreciate, how I can use 'Distribution Information' option? How this (Distribution list, file, single file or dynamic list) is related to FTP?

Thanks

Shailesh

What is the file name you are using?

Were you able to successfully do a put with that same name in your native FTP session?

The java error you are receiving is not from any RC classes. There's something not working correctly with your FTP setup.

The distribution information determines the destination/location names of files to be distributed via FTP. It is best explained in the RC user's manual. Start there.

Hello Darin,

That is what my problem is. If my task is set to 'WF Server Procedure' then 'Save report As' value should be the file name I am going to add via FTP. Is that a true statement? If that is not the case, where should I teel RC the file name? Also I am not using standard ports (20 and 21). How I can tell RC which ports to use? I guess, as part of server name, I can tell my command port, but what about my data port?

On my ftp server, I can see traffic for logging in and changing directory, but then it dies while put operation.

Thanks
Shailesh

You didn't answer either of my questions and you're making this more complicated than it is. Task type has no relation to your problem. "Save report as" also makes no difference. The only things that matter are:

report format used when setting up task
ALL parameters in distribution tab:
FTP Server name is name/ip address of destination server
directory is location on that server if other than default
FTP User/Password for FTP authentication on destination server
SINGLE FILE and complete file name with extension (what you want the FTP'ed file name to be called) in Distribution information.

If you have all these correct and you are getting errors, then there is a problem with your NATIVE FTP ENVIRONMENT. If this is the case, there isn't anything you can do in RC until that is fixed.

Port numbers are also irrelevant. That is set up as part of your native FTP environment. If you can't resolve those issues, you need to get with a system administrator that has responsibility for the destination server.

In a nutshell, my suggestion is this: Forget about ReportCaster for now. Until you can FTP a file in a native FTP session from the server where RC lives to your destination server using the same name as what you want, there isn't anything that RC can solve.

Darin,

Thanks for reply.

My native ftp environment is working fine (from browser as well as command line).

Here is what I did:

I have two ftp server, one is listening on default port (21) and other one is on port 8884. I can get RC to work correctly with default port!

However, when I use non standard one (I do pass host name and port on distribution tab), I get errors. I turned on the trace, and here is what I saw


Sending: USER admin^M

331 Password required for admin (9c9949a209cf68fa).

Sending: PASS ******
230 User admin logged in.

Sending: CWD FTP^M

250 "CWD" command successful.

Sending: PASV^M

227 Entering Passive Mode (192,168,40,51, 233, 162).

java.io.IOException: PASV response format error:227 Entering Passive Mode (192,168,40,51, 233, 162).



at ibi.broker.net.ftp.DSTFTPTransport.openPassiveDataConnection(DSTFTPTransport.java:615)
at ibi.broker.net.ftp.DSTFTPTransport.openDataConnection(DSTFTPTransport.java:226)
at ibi.broker.net.ftp.DSTFTPTransport.put(DSTFTPTransport.java:377)
at ibi.broker.distribute.DSTFtpDistribute.put(DSTFtpDistribute.java:247)
at ibi.broker.distribute.DSTFtpDistribute.distribute(DSTFtpDistribute.java:161)
at ibi.broker.scheduler.job.SCHDistribute.distributeTaskReport(SCHDistribute.java:186)
at ibi.broker.scheduler.job.SCHPacketDist.distribute(SCHPacketDist.java:147)
at ibi.broker.scheduler.job.SCHPacketDist.distributeReport(SCHPacketDist.java:120)
at ibi.broker.scheduler.job.SCHPacketJob.runJob(SCHPacketJob.java:283)
at ibi.broker.scheduler.SCHWorker.run(SCHWorker.java:559)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:595)
Sending: PORT 0,0,0,0,201,200^M

200 "PORT" command successful.

Sending: STOR ibisamp_carinst.csv^M



So my user is logging in correctly, and it is chnaging directory correctly (FTP is name of my directory), however somehow it can't PASV.

Any ideas?

Shailesh

Hello,

Also if you look at the trace from my previous message, I believe, PASSIVE and PORT should not come back to back. PORT is not used in passive mode. Also, the foirst four numbers in port command are client IP address, In my case they are all ZAROs..am I missing some configuration here??

Thanks

Shailesh

Are you testing the FTP FROM THE BOX WHERE RC IS INSTALLED or from your PC? Just wondering because you say that it works fine from a browser - you're running a browser on the Solaris box?

You're probably going to need to open a case with IBI for further help on this one. We have successfuly done what you are trying (different platforms, though) so there is something not quite right that techsupport will have to help you with. Sorry I can't help you out more.