FILE, not LIST.
not in the caster manual!!! go fig.
Has anyone ever used a DISTRIBUTION FILE?
Does it have to be in XML or what format?
Do I just specify 'appname/listname.ext' in the To: box? do I need to say 'on server EDASERVE':
Does this list just look like:
guy1@google.com
guy2@google.com
...etc

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FP Mod Chuck,

I've used Distribution File.

So, if you want to BURST values to various emails, you set up a text file as follows:

email1@ibi.com,ENGLAND,$
email2@ibi.com,JAPAN,$

Then you point the To: to that file as in the following example:
C:\ibi\apps\restful_web_services\reportcaster_email_distribution.txt

Hope this helps.

Efrem

Susannah

Efrem did provide a great example. The ReportCaster manual that you can download from the techsupport site does have a full chapter on distribution options including the distribution file.

Efrem, nice to see you. Two questions:

1. When you select Distribution File, the To: box does not have a "Browse" button like "Dynamic Distribution." Does that mean that RC will not check for the existence of the file at schedule creation time?

2. Can you mix BURST value email IDs with non-burst values (IOW, that address gets ALL output), or will that need to be separate schedules?

Thanks in advance.

Susannah,
With my quick test, ReportCaster does not check for the existence of the file when creating the schedule.
The error will show up in the log when running the schedule.

My suggestion for using the Distribution File to distribute the entire report to email addresses is to setup a separate schedule with the same Distribution File defined.
But, for the Task, you will need to uncheck Burst.

Efrem

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Wolff:
Susannah

Efrem did provide a great example. The ReportCaster manual that you can download from the techsupport site does have a full chapter on distribution options including the distribution file.

Chuck- great to see you here too; howz Retirement treating you?

The doc is a little lacking: does the distribution file have to be on the reporting server, or on the distribution server? Can it be called anything; is there a required file name/extension?

I am testing is I can mix burst and non-burst, but that information would also be nice.

Thanks for the assist.

Okay, I am going out on a limb, and making the following conclusions:

1. You cannot use one distribution list for burst and non-burst output; the doc strongly implies this with the following entries (8.0.09/10 manual): "To specify a record for a non-burst procedure, use the following format...To specify a record for a burst procedure, use the following format:" Not definitive, but hey.

This means that if you have data/reports/email that you want SOME values to be burst delivered, and other destinations to receive ALL copied, then you MUST have SEPARATE schedules to run the same job twice- once for burst addresses, and once for non-burst addresses. This seems, imho, wasteful and less than efficient. A CC option would handle this nicely.

2. Distribution file must be on the client box in a multi-tier directory: the doc states, when talking about automatically DELETED external Distribution files: "Create a blank text file named fileaddr.txt in the cfg directory under the ReportCaster installation directory." Again, this implies that non-automatically deleted files ALSO go somewhere on the client tier.

Again, we are currently 8.0.09- anything different in the newer releases?

Thanks, Folks.

Hi Susannah,

I know this is not the same release as you have in your signature, but the content is still relevant.
Distribution File

T

Apologies, should also mention that you can specify the external file as [drive]:/ibi/apps/baseapp/distfile.txt or the like.

T

Tony, thanks for the reply; hope all is well on your side of the pond. The doc link implies the Distribution file has to be where the client is installed. Your post implies that it may be on a server tier. Thanks for the assist.

Hi Mr H,

Yes all is well here thank you although I've just heard about hurricane Irma in the Caribbean and so I'm concerned for folks in that region and the likely path of the storm

As for the document link, hmmm, conflicting information .... BAU then!

T

thanx T, didn't work.
using either forward slashes or backward.
stills says the file for the dist list does not exist. used full c: reference.
c:/ibi/apps/xsusantest/test_dlist_list.txt

This message has been edited. Last edited by: susannah,

IDK if this will help or not. What we, use that works really well, is a Dynamic Distribution List. It grabs the email (and burst value if needed) from a database table that is maintained by someone else. That way we don't have to be in charge of updating a text file when email values change. Documentaion on this can be found here You can still use a tex file with this method, you would just need to make a master file from that text file and then create the distro list in a fex.

This gives you a browse button to find the file.

youre in 8
I'm in 7
you're creating a schedule using a dynamic list
I'm talking about using a FILE.

quote:

Originally posted by susannah:
youre in 8
I'm in 7
you're creating a schedule using a dynamic list
I'm talking about using a FILE.

My bad... Sorry.

Hi Susannah

This must be a bug.. I tried it and get the same error as you. Please open a case.

Hi S,

Are you on a multi tier environment? Client on one machine, WFRS on another?

If so, then this could explain why this doesn't work for you.

Try putting the distribution file on the client.

T

I have several jobs that use a distribution file. It is just a text file (not XML). The distribution file must exist when the job is run, even if it is empty. We have ours on the Reporting Server in baseapp. You do have to specify the full path (/opt/ibi/apps/baseapp/yi621_supr.ftm). Our client server and reporting server are different virtual servers and we are Linux. We are 8.0.08 but it was exactly the same in 7.6.11.

I think this is a bug with 8.1.05 as I am doing exactly as you suggested on a single platform and it will not locate the file.

Chuck, what about 8.2.01M? We are preparing to move. If this is a bug in 8.1.05, is it fixed in 8.2.01M?

My test was in WF 8.2.01M on a single tier installation, so it should be OK.

T

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Wolff:
I think this is a bug with 8.1.05 as I am doing exactly as you suggested on a single platform and it will not locate the file.

Ok, I can confirm the following:

1. you CAN have BURST and non-burst email addresses in the same distribution file;

2. When using a Distribution File, the file / subdirectory location MUST be available to ReportCaster.

I finally found item two in the doc, in an odd location; so, pebkac.

This means that it will not work to point to a Distribution file on the server, unless there is share/link/path to the server.

Gerry C- why does Dynamic Distribution List have a browse button, but Distribution File does not ?

Say, here's a thought- IBI, here's a suggestion to increase Focal Point participation: let's have a New Feature Request of the Month.

I vote for "how to determine Private focexecs in the 8x repository. Francis, are you in?

Thanks all for the assist, here and on the related post.

Steve

I'm in.

Steve

I think your idea of a monthly post to discuss new feature of the month is a great idea... A case with techsupport will still need to be opened as that is the official way to get the ball rolling. Once I know the case number I can grease the skids with product management letting them know that it is really a Focal Point request and more than one customer wanting the new feature.

How does that sound?

Susannah,

quote:

thanx T, didn't work.

Is it possible that your FILE resides on a shared drive? One that needs to be addressed by it's "share name"?