Is there a way to invoke a reportcaster schedule from within a fex? Also, where do I find the documentation for the reportcaster API?

If DSTRUN works in your version, you use that. (it apparently is broken in 5.2.1).
See "ReportCaster and Two-Way Email API for Self-Service Applications"

Hi,

You can view, download, and/or buy the ReportCaster and Two-Way Email API for Self-Service Applications manual (DN4500500.0903) from the Technical Documentation Library.

If you have an InfoResponse ID, login on the Tech Support web site and then access the Library. By logging in first, you can download the PDF file and/or view the HTMLHelp version.

You can access the Technical Documentation Library via the following Web sites:

• http://techsupport.informationbuilders.com
  (From the top navigation bar, click Publications. Then, select Tech Library Home.)
  

• www.informationbuilders.com
  (From the top navigation bar, click Services & Support. Then, select Documentation.)
  

• www.iwaysoftware.com
  (From the top navigation bar, click Services & Support. Then, select Bookstore.)
  

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Jennifer

Not sure what your exact situation is but in our environment we kick-off Caster schedules via a focexec in the daily mainframe batch cycle.

When we create new schedules (using the API) we set them to "Run Once." Then we have a focexec that is called in the last step of the batch after all the other processing is finished.
(EX CCTRW568 SCHEDID=Stnsge39u13).

The focexec basically locates the schedule and modifies the NEXTRUNTIME for the specified SCHEDULEID to be a time in the past and updates BOTSCHED. So, the next time Caster "wakes up" it will run the schedule.

Not sure if this information is helpful or not but thought I'd pass it along.

codermonkey, that's quite swell.
Would you consider writing an article for Developers Corner with the content of CCTRW568.fex? You'ld have a lot of fans.

I went to the API sample login page at http://hostname/context_root/samples/rbalogon.htm, and after filing in fields and clicking the logon button, I got a "Page Cannot be Displayed" error.

What's worse, when I now try to go access reportcaster through MRE, BID or whatever, I get an error saying "Unable to communicate with the Distribution Server to obtain configuration information. Please confirm that the Distribution Server is started and that the values of the Distribution Server server host and port are correct."

Can anyone tell me what I may have done wrong, and what I can do to get my reportcaster access back?

Hi Brad,

Are you still receiving the error message? I did a search on the documents and realized that, for this kind of generic errors, i.e. "Page Cannot be Displayed", "Unable to communicate with the Distribution Server", there may be various reasons. Therefore, the most appropriate channel for assistance would be Information Builders' Customer Support Help Desk. The phone number is 1-800-736-6130, or you can access the online system at http://techsupport.ibi.com.

A quick thought, have you made any changes to the Distribution Server, for example, the port #, the IP address, etc? Or any changes to the WebFOCUS Server, i.e. password, authentication, etc?

Hope this helps.


Cheers,

Kerry

Coder monkey,

Can you please throw some light on how you can have a mainframe jcl execute a focexec and update BOTSCHED in the following deployment scenario:

Reporting servers : Z/OS USS
Report Caster : Windows 2003 / SQL SERVER

Thanks

In our environment our caster repository is FOCUS databases on MVS so writing to the caster tables is very straight forward. I've not had to deal the scenario you described myself.

I've seen cases on tech support where caster is called by setting up JCL on MVS to execute RDAAPP and run a fex on a windows server. The fex in turn uses DSTRUN to run the Caster job. Depending on the your release this can be problematic (see post above from N. Selph).

My suggestion is to check out the caster self-service doc referenced in this post and do a search on tech support. You can also open a case and get help for your specific situation.

Good Luck.