Option to Save to the File System not available in Cognos 11

[kyleb556]

I'm testing out Cognos Analytics 11.0.2 and I cannot get the "save to the file system" option to show in either the Run As or Scheduled delivery options for reports.
The option should show up under the "Delivery" section but I can't make it appear. There is an option called "Save the report on the system" but this is something different.

I've followed the steps in the Cognos 11 install and admin guides.
1. Made a root directory, make share, add permissions
2. Edit Global Configuration, General tab, add root directory
3. Data Access, Content Manager, "Save report outputs to a file system" = True
4. In Administration, Configuration, Dispatchers, Define file system Locations, created new location.

I need this function for file retention rules. I submitted a PMR to IBM and they said it's "not a defect" and it's "on the developer's radar".... whatever that means.

Has anyone been able to make this function work in Cognos 11? Any help is most welcome as this is a showstopper bug for me.

Cognos Anayltics 11.0.2
Windows Server 2008 R2
IIS 7.5
Content Manager, SQL Server 2012

[dougp]

I think you're confusing two different features.

• When users run reports, in addition to the delivery options of "Save", "Print the report", and "Send the report by email", they should have an additional delivery option to "Save to the file system."
• When users run reports and have the output stored with the report, you want that content stored in the file system rather than in the Content Store database.

I think you want (1) -- I know I do.  I use it quite a bit in 10.2.1. -- but have followed the instructions for (2).  I haven't found the documentation for (1) in the Cognos Analytics documentation.  I found it in the Cognos 10.2.2 docs (http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSEP7J_10.2.2/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.c8bizos_ig.10.2.2.doc/t_c8zos_optsavereportoutputinsidetheproduct.html?lang=en), but the same changes seem to have no effect in Cognos Analytics.

Please post here if you are actually able to get this working.

[dougp]

...and this thread may belong in the Administration and Security child board, not in Reporting.

[kyleb556]

Thanks dougp, but I'm not confusing the two. I definitely want (1). To set up (2), you would need to set up the CM.OutPutLocation value in the Content Manager service, which will save a copy of all report output to the file system. I only want it when selected in the delivery options.

The instructions for setting up (1) are split between two documents, the first part is on page 171/172 of the Analytics Installation and Configuration guide (Content Manager part). The second part is on page 123 of the Analytics Administration and Security guide (Dispatchers part).

IBM's recommendation to get it to work in Cognos 11 was to make fake events in event studio that triggered reports, since the option to save to the file system shows up in the old interface in event studio. I argued with IBM yesterday because they were adamant it wasn't a defect. They then tried to call it an enhancement, but finally agreed that it is a bug.

I guess my options are to either put the upgrade on hold for a later version, or set up (2) and write scripts to delete all the report outputs that I don't want.

[kyleb556]

Just an update, here is the response back from IBM. Looks like this feature won't work for a while.

We have talked to the product manager.
They will treat it as a documentation defect and the functionality will not be able to be added very soon.
I apologize for the inconvenience caused.
The enhancement is still valid and hopefully it will be appear in the next release. However, it will not be fixed in the fix packs.

[dougp]

Thanks for the update.  Please post back here when you hear they have included this feature.

[kyleb556]

Very unexpectedly, I received an update from IBM this morning:

To provide better service for customer, we have decided to change the defect to a product defect and it will be officially fixed in the future fix packs in CA11. Here is the defect number PI63047. Please track this defect with this number in 2 weeks.

[cognosjedi]

kyleb556  - Thanks for finding this.  We use this heavily as well!  1 would think this is a feature someone internally should have QA'd or UAT'd previously

[cadams]

Its targeted for R4.

If I get an update I'll update you, We're pushing for a Hot Site.

[cognosjedi]

We had a recent call with our account rep.  Release 4 is to be by end of year.  Cross our fingers i suppose at this point.

[MFGF]

We had a recent call with our account rep.  Release 4 is to be by end of year.  Cross our fingers i suppose at this point.

Looking at the release dates we've seen so far, each new release seems to be around two to three months after the previous one. R3 was released on 6th July, so I'd hope to see R4 well before the end of the year. Hope I'm not being optimistic! :)

MF.

[cadams]

I'm working heavily with the Project Management team at IBM at the moment a lot of eyes are on my project at IBM, I've been told that R4 is expected late September.

[cepete02]

Just curious if there is any update on this issue?  It seems I'm still experiencing the problem in 11.0.9.
Thanks,
Carl

[dougp]

This was resolved in 11.0.4.

There was some unclear communication early in this thread.  This is for scheduled reports or reports run in the background using Run as.  It does not apply to the save button when viewing a report in the UI.  For that, the report should be run to the desired output format and saved appropriately.

See the help for Save Report Output Inside IBM Cognos Analytics.

The documentation seems to indicate that you can only save outputs to the local machine, but that's not entirely true.  I use Windows which allows me to create symbolic links (or whatever Microsoft calls them - junctions?).  Here's my process:

• Create the folder to output the content. We used e:\ReportOutput.
• For that folder, create a share (ReportOutput) and ensure that the Cognos service account (DomainName\AdminUserName) has full control.
• Within the folder, create any "Locations" that you know will need to use. You can add more of these later.
  e:
  cd \ReportOutput
  mklink /D LinkName "\\servername\share name\subfolder"
• As an administrator, start Cognos Configuration.
• Navigate to Data Access | Content Manager.
• Change the Save report outputs to a file system? property to true.
• On the Actions menu, click on Edit Global Configuration...
• Update the Archive Location File System Root value to the location where you will place folders or symbolic links (that lead to other folders) where the reports will be written.
  file://\\CognosServerName\ReportOutput