Environments Tree Panel

In this section:

From the Environments Tree panel, you can:

The Environments Tree panel is shown in the following image.

Environments Tree panel

The Environments Tree panel opens with App Studio.

For more information on customizing the Environments Tree panel, see Using the Panel Customization Options.


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Environments Tree Toolbar

The Environments Tree toolbar contains the buttons and menus that you need to navigate, filter, and sort the information that appears in the Configured Environments tree.

View Options

Presents options for viewing items (for example, alphabetical sorting or grouping), as described in the following table.

Option

Name

Function

View Items Sorted Alphabetically Decending sort option

View items sorted in Alphabetical order

Sorts the files alphabetically from A to Z.

View Items Sorted Alphabetically Ascending sort option

View items sorted in reverse Alphabetical order

Sorts the files alphabetically from Z to A.

View items sorted in Chronological order

Sorts the files by the last saved time, in descending order.

View items sorted in reverse Chronological order

Sorts the files by the saved time, in ascending order.

View Items Grouped by File Type sort option

View Items grouped by File Type

Sorts the files by file type.

View Items Titles sort options

View items by Title

Displays the files by title and sorts the files by title. If an item does not have a title, its name is shown.

View Items Names sort options

View items by Name

Displays the files by name and sorts the files by name. If an item does not have a title, its name is shown.

Show All Files in Associated Project Paths sort option

Show All Files in Associated Paths

Toggles between showing files that belong to the Project or folder, or files that are visible in paths associated with the Project or folder.

Available only in the Local Projects and repository nodes.

Note: A red line appears to the left of the files that are not added to a Project or folder, but are visible in the paths associated with the Project or folder.

Refresh View

Refreshes the files and folders that you see in the Configured Environments tree. Refresh View also shows the dependencies of the file or folder that you have selected.

Show All files

Filters the tree to show all file types.

Show only Procedure files

Filters the tree to show only this file type.

Show only Master files

Filters the tree to show only this file type.

Show only HTML files

Filters the tree to show only this file type.

Show only Maintain files

Filters the tree to show only this file type.

Show only Image files

Filters the tree to show only this file type.

Show only ReportCaster files

Filters the tree to show only this file type.

Show only Library files

Filters the tree to show only this file type.

Show only procedure files filter

Other files

Filters the tree to show only this file type.



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Configured Environments Tree

In this section:

The Configured Environments tree displays the WebFOCUS Environments, Data Servers, Local Projects, and Web Applications nodes. If you have the Managed Reporting version of App Studio and WebFOCUS Release 8.0 Version 05 or higher installed on your machine, or configured a remote WebFOCUS 8 environment, a repository node also appears.

If a node under the Configured Environments Tree has been populated and contains content, a green dot is shown on the node icon. If a node has been populated and does not contain any content, a red dot is shown on the node icon. If a node has not been populated, App Studio does not know if there is any content in that node and no dot is shown on the node icon. If you create a new content in a node with a red dot on it, that node now has content in it and will change to a green dot. If you delete all content in a node with a green dot, that node now has no content in it and will change to a red dot.

Note: By default, the Configured Environments tree sorts files and folders by title. If you change the sorting options to View Items by Name, the names of your files and folders will display. Whether you display content by title or by name, the Content, Data Servers, Local Projects, and Web Applications nodes do not display differently.

You can expand the nodes on the Configured Environments tree to view your configured environments, projects, folders, and application files. Use the filtering commands on the toolbar to sort files alphabetically, display by name or title, or include the associated paths.

From the Configured Environments tree, you can manage content for each of your WebFOCUS environments. This includes creating new folders or files, opening existing files, and copying files. Right-click a node, folder, or file to view the shortcut menu of options. You can also open files by double-clicking them.

Note:

You can copy files from your desktop to the Configured Environments Tree.

From the Configured Environments node, you can access the following shortcut menu option:

From your WebFOCUS environment, in the Environments Tree panel, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

Note: You can copy files that are not in App Studio and paste them in the Configured Environments tree to use those files when creating your application.

For more information, see WebFOCUS Environment Properties.



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Reference: Data Servers

The Data Servers node lists each Reporting Server that the WebFOCUS Client can access. This node expands to display the files that you can use to develop WebFOCUS applications successfully.

From the Applications folder or a file, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

From an application folder, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

For more information, see How to Add a New Project.

From a Master File the following shortcut menu options are only available in the Data Servers area:



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Reference: Local Projects

You can use the a Local Projects node to develop content if, during installation, you used a serial number that allows project development. The Local Projects node is part of the Configured Environments tree. It helps you organize, develop, maintain, and deploy WebFOCUS applications as a project.

Local Projects does not require the web-tier APPROOT and the Reporting Server APPROOT to match. This is only necessary if you are developing content that requires the use of the Reporting Server. An example of content that uses the Reporting Server would be an HTML Page that runs procedures

If the APPROOTs do not match you will still see the Local Projects node and can create new projects. However, the content you create can only be saved on the web tier and cannot access Reporting Server files. An example of this type of content would be an HTML page that does not run procedures.

You can uncheck the option, Start local Reporting Server, in the App Studio Options dialog box, and if you try to create Reporting Server content, such as a report, you will receive an error when selecting a Master File.

You can specify a Reporting Server to use for project development in the Environments List dialog box.

From a project folder, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

From an application folder or a file, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

For more information, see How to Add a New Project.



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Reference: Repository

The Repository node is storage space for data or information, and allows you to use App Studio to administer and develop against a Managed Reporting environment. The Repository node lets you manage resources and applications on remote servers, as well as on your local machine if you have performed a full installation of App Studio. You can create and edit application files on all remote servers from one easily accessible interface. You can also create and administer reports for Managed Reporting from a Windows application rather than a web browser.

From a repository node, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

From a folder or file, in the repository, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

Note: For more information on publishing and unpublishing folders and items within the repository, see the WebFOCUS Security and Administration manual.



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Reference: Scheduling

Scheduling allows you to indicate the method and time at which the procedure should run. You can schedule a procedure using one of the following options:

  • Email
  • FTP
  • Printer
  • Report Library
  • Managed Reporting

For more information, see the ReportCaster manual.



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Reference: Web Applications

The Web Applications node allows you to open files with the Text Editor, or the mode you used to create them.

Note: Based on the file type, different options may display.

From the Web Applications node, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

From an application folder, you can access the following shortcut menu options:

From a file, you can access the following shortcut menu options:



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Reference: Node Population

Population is a check to see what content, if any, is contained within a node in the Configured Environments tree. Node population occurs when you select a node in the Configured Environments tree. The node icon will be different depending on whether population has occurred. If a node contains files after population a green dot appears on the node icon. If a node does not contain files after population, a red dot appears on the node icon.

Icon

Description

If a node has not been populated.

If a node has been populated and contains content.

If a node has been populated and does not contain files.

If a node has been populated and contains content, deleting that content will change the green dot to a red dot. Conversely, if a node has been populated and contains no content, creating content in that node will change the red dot to a green dot.



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Master File Shortcut Commands

The following shortcut menu options are available for a Master File:

Note: When a Master File is opened in the Text Editor canvas or the Metadata canvas, all other open options from the shortcut menu are unavailable.



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Opening Files in the Configured Environments Tree

In addition to opening files through the Application menu, or from the Quick Access Toolbar, you can also open files from the development areas in the Configured Environments tree.

Note: Files can only be opened in one area of App Studio at a time to ensure that your changes are not overwritten by another opened version of the file. However, you are able to open a file in App Studio and in a Windows Associated Tool at the same time. To ensure that your changes are saved properly, you should only modify one opened version of the file at a time.


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WebFOCUS Environment Properties

In this section:

How to:

As you set up access to WebFOCUS environments, your settings are retained in a file named wfscom.xml. WebFOCUS environment settings are typically stored in the following locations.

Windows 7:

drive:\Users\user_id\
     AppData\Roaming\Information Builders\wfscom.xml

where:

user_id

Is your Windows user ID.

Note:



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Procedure: How to Add a WebFOCUS Environment

A WebFOCUS environment consists of a web server, a WebFOCUS Client, and a Reporting Server. Adding WebFOCUS environments lets you create and manage multiple environments, such as development, test, and production instances.

To add a WebFOCUS environment, do the following:

The following procedure provides the information you need to add a WebFOCUS Environment.

  1. On the Home tab, in the Utilities group, click Environments.

    The Environments List dialog box opens, as shown in the following image. This dialog box lists all WebFOCUS environments defined for App Studio.

    Environments List dialog box

  2. Click Add.

    The WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box opens, as shown in the following image.

    WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box

    At the top of the dialog box is the Description field, followed by the Environments Settings area. The Environments Settings area contains a series of buttons that represent components in a WebFOCUS environment, and the required parameter fields to configure that environment. When you configure an environment, the areas below the buttons can change according to the parameters that are required.

  3. In the Description field, type a description for the WebFOCUS environment. This description appears in the Configured Environments tree.

    Note: The description cannot contain special characters, such as ., /, \, ?, *, and others. A message with characters not allowed appears if one of the restricted characters is detected during validation.

  4. In the Web Component area, specify the web server information.

    For some environments, once you specify the web server, all other settings default. If the WebFOCUS environment you are accessing does not use default settings, or the components require authentication, click the appropriate button in the Environment Settings area to provide the parameters. The areas that follow explain the parameters available for each component.

    Note: WebFOCUS environment properties must be supplied in a specific order. For example, if web server security is enabled, you cannot set the WebFOCUS Client script name until you have provided valid web server credentials. Similarly, you cannot retrieve a list of Reporting Servers until you have provided a valid WebFOCUS Client Path.

    As you select a component button in the WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box, App Studio ensures that it has the necessary information before it displays the properties of that component in the lower part of the dialog box. If the required information is not available, you cannot proceed to the next component.

  5. Click OK.

    The WebFOCUS Logon - WebFOCUS dialog box, shown in the following image, opens and prompts you for a WebFOCUS ID and password.

    WebFOCUS Logon dialog box

    The WebFOCUS logon dialog box populates the ID wfdesktop, by default. This user ID is configured with WebFOCUS and allows self-service development: development from the Local Projects, Data Servers, and Web Applications area.

    Access to the Repository is restricted, and you cannot create new content with this user ID. You can only see and run published content.

    There is a check box option on the logon dialog box for remembering the ID or password. By default, it is not selected. If you select this box, your credentials are stored and encrypted in the wfscom.xml file, the local configuration file that stores information processed by the App Studio communication layer.

    To clear stored credentials, open the WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box and select the environment that users need to make changes. Click WebFOCUS Client. Under WebFOCUS Credentials, delete the User ID and Password information, and then clear the Supply Credentials check box.

    Note: A logon dialog box can also opens for connection to the web server, application server, or Reporting server, depending on the security implemented in the WebFOCUS environment that is being accessed.

  6. Type the appropriate user name and password, and then click Logon. The WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box closes.
  7. In the Environments List dialog box, click OK.


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Local Machine Properties

Local Machine properties are optional. Click the Local Machine button to access the WebFOCUS Environment Caching area. Select the options in this area to cache remote directory and file information, and enable file-content caching.

The following image shows the WebFOCUS Environment Caching area of the WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box. The file content caching location path is for a Windows 7 machine.

WebFOCUS Environment Caching

In caching, copies of files or information stored on a remote machine are temporarily stored on your local App Studio machine. App Studio then works with the locally stored files.

Caching speeds App Studio performance because remote machines are not accessed and queried every time you request information. This is especially useful when accessing mainframes or when a network connection is slow.

However, caching should not be used when multiple developers are working with the same files because they could overwrite changes made by other developers. By default, caching is not enabled.

Two properties are available:

App Studio retrieves information and files the first time you request them and then caches them locally. App Studio then uses the cached copies until App Studio is restarted, or you click the Clear buttons for each level.

Note:



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Web Component Properties

The Web Components button is typically selected by default. Web Component properties specify how App Studio accesses the web server. The web server must be identified before any other components. The following image shows the Web Component area of the WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box.

Web Component Properties

The following properties are available:



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WebFOCUS Properties

When you click the WebFOCUS button, App Studio makes a connection to your web server to retrieve information about the WebFOCUS environment. Therefore, you have to first specify Web Component properties, and your web server must be running. The following image shows the WebFOCUS area of the WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box.

You are prompted to sign in to WebFOCUS to verify your configuration. You will also be prompted to sign in to WebFOCUS if you click OK to exit the dialog box.

WebFOCUS Client area

The following properties are available:

When the correct WebFOCUS Client Path is provided, you can specify properties for the remaining component.



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Managed Reporting and ReportCaster Properties

Managed Reporting and ReportCaster properties are not available in this version of App Studio.



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Data Server Properties

You can set authentication and view available Reporting Servers by clicking the Data Servers button. When you select Data Servers, App Studio connects to the WebFOCUS Client and retrieves a list of servers from its communication configuration file (odin.cfg).

The following image shows the WebFOCUS Data Servers area of the WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box.

Data Servers section

The following property is available:



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Project Development Properties

Note: These properties only apply to self-service application development, and when performing project development.

If you use remote Project-based development and your remote environment has multiple Reporting Servers, click the Project Development button to specify which server to use when processing requests. This server is referred to as the Project Development Server. The Project Development Server and the WebFOCUS Client must be installed on the same machine or use the same Application Root directory (APPROOT directory) as each other.

The following image shows the Project Development Server area of the WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box.

Project Development Server area

The following property is available:



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Procedure: How to Edit an Existing WebFOCUS Environment
  1. On the Home tab, in the Utilities group, click Environments.

    The Environments List dialog box opens, as shown in the following image.

    Environments List dialog box

  2. Select the environment that you want to edit.
  3. Click Properties.

    The WebFOCUS Environment Properties dialog box opens, as shown in the following image.

    WebFOCUS Environments Properties dialog box

  4. Edit the WebFOCUS environment accordingly, and then click OK to accept your changes.
  5. In the Environments List dialog box, click OK.


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Procedure: How to Add a New Project

To add a project to the Local Projects node:

  1. In the Configured Environments tree, right-click the Local Projects node, and select New Project.

    The Create a Project wizard opens.

    In the Create a Project - Step 1 of 2 dialog box, you can:

    • Type a name for the new project you are creating.
    • Select a different directory name, or browse for an existing directory.
    • View the location and name of the new project.
  2. In the first input field, type a name for the new project. The name can be a maximum of 18 characters in length including spaces.
  3. The Create a Project wizard displays the project name as the default directory in the second input field. You can optionally enter the name of a subdirectory associated with another project file, so that the new project shares project files with the existing project.

    The location and name of the new project displays at the bottom of the dialog box.

  4. Click Next.

    A message displays if the directory does not exist.

  5. Click Yes to create the new directory.

    The Create a Project - Step 2 of 2 dialog box opens.

    From this dialog box, you can add other directories to the project path. Project files in those directories are visible to the project and are accessible for development.

  6. Click Add to add other directories to the project path.
  7. Select a folder you want to add to the project path, and then click OK.

    Repeat this step to add more directories to the project path.

    • To change the order of the directories, select the directory, and click Move Up or Move Down.
    • To remove a directory from the list, select the directory, and click Remove.
  8. When you are satisfied with the order of the directories, and have no other changes, click Finish.

    The new project now appears under the Local Projects node.

    You can update the directory folders associated with a Project after you create it by right-clicking the Project and selecting Properties. The Properties dialog box opens, click the Paths tab. In the Related Application Paths area, you can add, delete, and reorder the directory folders. Click OK to accept the changes.



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Mode Manager

If you have the manage private resources permission, you can use Mode Manager to view and edit private files. To enable Mode Manager, right-click on the Repository node and click Mode Manager. Your view refreshes, displaying all private files in the Repository. You can open and make changes to these private files as needed. When you are finished, right-click on the Repository node and click Mode Normal. Your view refreshes, hiding the private files in the Repository node.

Note: When a file in the Repository is marked as shared, and you do not have permission to save the original file, you will only be allowed to use the Save As command to save the file. This will allow you to save the file under a different name, leaving the original file untouched.


WebFOCUS