CA11/ feedback on customized welcome page

[thomassikic]

Hi guys,

We would like to customize our welcome page (after login, the default perspective for anyone who didn't set another as homepage).
I went through IBM docs and videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWZfh3XrJWo), and I understand the concept but I fail to implement as I'd like to.

My idea, is to build an home page implemented in html that runs a few of additional .js scripts.

Does anyone tried to "play" with customized homepage? Any help on that would be much appreciated,


In more details, I think my issue is that I don't strictly follow the folder architecture as per indicated in IBM docs & videos but I don't see how to make it work in my case.
the basic folder architecture to respect is the following:
- folder css
- folder images
- folder js
    - subfolder views
      file pageview.html + pageview.js
file spec.json

Mine is like that:
- folder css
    several css files instead of only one in the samples
- folder fonts
    several .etf, .otf, .svg, .ttf, .woff & .woff2 files
    I wonder if supported? Even if not, no big deal, it shouldn't prevent page display
- folder images
    several images
    -subfolder portfolio
    -video subfolders
    I wonder if supported? Even if not, no big deal, it shouldn't prevent page display
- folder js
    - subfolder views, as per in the samples
      in this views subfolder, I have the pageview.html and pageview.js referenced in the spec.json as per in the samples
      But, I also have several additional .js scripts

You'll find the result I have in the attachment custo_homepage_fail.png.
From my understanding, the pageview.html is well loaded, but then run of additional .js scripts is a mess: my app bar is kind of overwritten by the one generated by my customized welcome page, and the content doesn't load.

What do you think?

[Lynn]

I have done customizations although I am inherently a rule-follower, so I didn't deviate much beyond what IBM presents. My skills to do much more are limited at best anyway, but even so I'd worry that if I did too much meddling and got it to work in the current version that it might not work in subsequent releases. I don't know if that is a realistic concern or not but thought I'd mention it in case others can chime in more on the matter.

[TomCognos]

Yup we have fully customised C11. Had to wait to 11.0.4 before we could get real value out of the extensions and themes.

If you want to change the main background image change it in here.

\\Program Files\ibm\cognos\analytics\webcontent\bi\images\welcome_web.jpg

Just keep a copy of the old job.

Examples of the jsons for the thems and extensions are in the following directory

\\Program Files\ibm\cognos\analytics\samples\extensions
\\Program Files\ibm\cognos\analytics\samples\themes

One thing to note on the themes, going from 11.0.4 to 11.0.5, set the brand icon to "brandIcon": "null" including the quotes. Previously you could just leave it blank.
One thing to note on the extensions going from 11.0.4 to 11.0.5 any blank entries need to be removed. i.e. if you had "toolItems": [], remove the entire line, but keep an eye out for you commas.

I added in a link on the left bar Cognos Connection home page to Tm1. I have an icon that pops out with a list of departments that link to their own perspective (home page) see examples on how to do this. Each perspective has its own background image and welcome text.

Best to load the "All" example and start mucking around. JSON is not overly difficult. Also Notepad++ helps alot.

Also note in 11.0.5 you can secure perspectives.

Lastly withing extensions. i put an entry in for each perspective, (report=authoring, dashboard=createBoard and dashboard etc) and adjust functionality from the portal. i.e. see exclude items

   {
      "perspective": "authoring",
      "comment": "This code will apply only to the authoring perspective.",
      "features": [{
         "id": "wm.authoringPerspective.excludeItems",
         "excludeItems":["com.ibm.bi.glass.glassUpload","com.ibm.bi.admin.admin","com.ibm.bi.share.notifications", "com.ibm.bi.contentApps.deleteAction.DeleteAction"]
      }]
   },

[thomassikic]

Hi Grumble,

Thank you for your feedback, good to know the tricky changes from 11.0.4 to 11.0.5.

Still I don't manage to work with my own complex folder architecture of js files. I'm working on embed my js files see how it goes.
I'll keep you posted.

Rgs,

[nichollsvi]

Grumblenuts,

Thanks for that. Apparently when our stuff was loaded, we didn't get the samples loaded. Any other ideas? I've got a json but I'm finding I need to define multiple areas.

For example I have a "welcome" area that is the middle of the screen. I want to remove the current items on the app/nav bar and add other things of my own there. That's where I'm having the problem.

Vic