Introduction
In one of the previous article we have seen what is an agent and the various components of the same. In this article we would try to demonstrate how an agent actually works and how the same can be used to deliver results over email.
Worked Example
As a perquisite we will use a pre-existing OTBI Analysis (max_date_analysis for this example). The analysis returns some basic details of an individual including his/her Person Number, Start Date, Hire Date among other fields. The Analysis appears as below:
Now the intent is to deliver the same results via email delivery channel to a specific user.
Navigation
In order to create an Agent we need to follow the below navigation
Login to Application -> Navigator -> Tools -> Reports and Analytics
Once you click on the ‘Reports and Analytics’ this will take us to the Reports and Analytics HomePage
where from we should click on the ‘Browse Catalog’ Book icon
Creating an Agent
Once we click on the Agent it will take us to the ‘General’ Tab where we need to populate the following details:
General
We would need to populate the following details in this tab
Attribute Name |
Attribute Value |
Priority |
Normal |
Run As |
Specified User (HCM_IMPL) |
Schedule
This tab controls when the agent should run. The following fields needs to be populated
Attribute Name |
Attribute Value |
Enabled |
Checked |
Frequency |
Never |
Start |
<System Date> (gets auto-populated) |
Re-run Agent Every |
Unchecked |
Until |
11:59:00 (gets auto-populated) |
Condition
This tab is used to apply any specific conditions when we want to run the agent. Like only run the agent when the analysis has some data
Attribute Name |
Attribute Value |
Settings |
Use a Condition |
Create Condition Based on |
Analysis |
Condition Data |
<path of the Analysis on which the condition is based upon> |
True if Row Count |
Any Specific condition (‘is greater than 0’ for this example) |
Delivery Content
This tab controls the content which would be delivered to the recipients. It has several attributes which needs to be populated.
Attribute Name |
Attribute Value |
Subject |
TestAgent: Result of MAX_DATE_ANALYSIS |
Content |
Analysis(/Shared Folders/Custom/Practice Samples/max_date_analysis) |
Format |
Device default |
Delivery |
Deliver Results Directly |
If Condition is False |
Deliver This Message (‘The Analysis returned no results’) |
Recipients
This tab determines who all would be receiving the content.
Attribute Name |
Attribute Value |
Show |
All |
Name |
Email address for content delivery (separate multiple addresses with commas) |
Destinations
This tab determines the places where the content is to be delivered
Attribute Name |
Attribute Value |
User Destinations |
Home Page and Dashboard - Checked Devices (Specific Devices -> Email) - Checked |
System Devices |
Oracle BI Server Cache (For seeding cache) - Unchecked |
Actions
This tab specifies one or more actions to execute when an agent finishes. For this example, we would use the default features.
Attribute Name |
Attribute Value |
Agent Condition True or No Condition Exists |
<BLANK> |
Agent Condition is False |
<BLANK> |
Once all the tabs are populated we may save the agent with a name (say TestAgent for this example)
Running the Agent
Once we are done with saving the Agent we may run the Agent.(The ‘Run Agent Now’ icon would only be enabled after we have saved the Agent.)
Once completed we will get a confirmation message
Verifying the Results
Once the Agent has run successfully we would expect the content to be delivered to the specific email address we have mentioned.
So, this is how we can schedule and Agent to deliver the contents of an OTBI analysis to a specific email-id. One may even use complex conditional logic, multiple destination channels, actions and other advanced techniques to achieve more complex business requirement.
That’s all for now and hope you all have an interesting read.
Wishing All of you a Very Happy and Prosperous Diwali……. Enjoy to the Fullest.
Comments
I've no understanding of computer programming however I had been hoping to start my own blog
in the near future. Anyway, should you have any suggestions or tips for new blog owners please share.
I know this is off topic however I just needed to ask. Many thanks!
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