IBM Support

How to Save Report Outputs to a File Location on a Per Report Basis

Troubleshooting


Problem

By default report output files are saved in the content store. This document describes how configure Cognos Analytics to include an option for users to save a copy of report output in file system location outside of Cognos Analytics.

Resolving The Problem

To use this feature you must first configure a root directory in Cognos Configuration and set the file location in Cognos Administration.
NOTE: When the property CM.OUTPUTLOCATION is set for the ContentManagerService service, all reports will be saved to the file location.
Remove the CM.OUTPUTLOCATION parameter in order to save report outputs to a file system outside the content store on a per report basis only.


Steps:

Part A: Configure a root directory in Cognos Configuration

  1. Create a shared directory (folder) in Windows (this will not work in Unix, or Linux environments).
    Tip: Ensure that the directory is accessible to users and separate from the installation directory. For example, in a distributed installation, an archive folder such as \\servername\directory could be used.
  2. In a distributed installation, both the Content Manager and Application Tier component computers must have access to the file location. 
  3. From the Actions menu, click Edit Global Configuration.
  4. In the Global Configuration window, click the General tab.
  5. In Archive Location File System Root, enter a URI in the following format observing case sensitivity:
    file://\\servername\directory

    In a single server installation where the directory is on the same server as the Content Manager, the following URI syntax can be used:
    file://D:/archive
  6. Ensure that the user starting the Cognos service has full permissions on the share location to write files. Also ensure that the share is in the same domain as the Cognos server.
  7. To confirm that the correct location will be used, click Test.
  8. Click OK.
  9. In the Explorer window, click Data Access, Content Manager.
  10. For the Save report outputs to a file system property, click True.
  11. To test the connection to the report output directory, from the Actions menu, click Test.
  12. Ensure that you do not specify localhost for the server name in the configuration. Change this to either the host name of the server or the fully qualified domain name. 
  13. From the File menu, click Save.
  14. Restart the Cognos service.
  15. Make the above changes to all other Content Mangers ensuring the active Content Manager is started before restarting the other Content Mangers
 
Part B: Define File System Locations in Cognos Analytics portal
  1. In the Cognos Analytics portal, click Manage
  2. Click Administration Console
  3. Click the Configuration tab
  4. Click Dispatchers and Services 
  5. Click the Define File System Locations toolbar button
  6. Click New
  7. Specify a name for the output location that users will select when running a report they want to save to the output. Enter an optional description and screen tip.
  8. Specify the name of the folder that will be created in the shared folder. 
  9. Click Finish.
Part C: Saving a report to the file system in Cognos Analytics portal
  1. In the Cognos Analytics portal, navigate to a report and click the ellipsis.
  2. Select Run as > Run in background
  3. Select Advanced > Delivery  > click Save report as an external file. Under Location, you will see the name of the folder that you created in Part B step 7.
  4. After running the report check the shared folder that was created in Part A step 1.

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Historical Number

1037893

Document Information

Modified date:
05 July 2023

UID

swg21342666