Welcome
Web Reports Guide
Learn how the Web Reports feature extends the power of BigFix.
Tasks for advanced users
This section presents tasks unlikely to be needed by the typical user, but which can be of use to advanced users with specific customization needs.
Exporting activity reports to PDF documents
Web Reports can generate PDF documents for printing or mailing.
On Windows Systems

BigFix Documentation Homepage
BigFix 11 Platform Documentation
Welcome to the BigFix Platform documentation, where you can find information about how to install, maintain, and use BigFix.
Detailed system requirements
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Platform guides in PDF format
Following is a list of links to the BigFix Platform user guides in PDF format:
Common Criteria Certification
BigFix 10.0.1.41 complies with the requirements of the standard ISO/IEC 15408 (Common Criteria) v. 3.1 for the assurance level: EAL2
Getting Started
Use this section to become familiar with BigFix infrastructure and key concepts necessary to understand how it works.
HTTPS across BigFix applications
This topic describes how the SSL/HTTPS communication works in BigFix applications and links the tasks on how to configure it.
Installation Guide
Learn the system requirements, licensing and installation instructions, and how to configure and maintain BigFix.
Configuration Guide
Learn how to configure BigFix according to your needs.
Console Operator's Guide
Learn how to work with the BigFix Console.
Asset Discovery User's Guide
Learn how BigFix Asset Discovery works.
Web Reports Guide
Learn how the Web Reports feature extends the power of BigFix.
- Configuring Web Reports
  Web Reports is used whenever you want to view BigFix data that is spread over multiple databases in your deployment.
- Using the Program
  The Web Reports interface is simple and straightforward.
- Exploring
  The Explore Data section of the program allows you to look at data collected from your entire BigFix network to filter it, and to create reports.
- Reporting
  The Report List section of the program is accessed by clicking the appropriate tab from the top tab bar.
- Administering the Program
  The Administration section of the program lets you manage activities, filters, addresses, users, and databases.
- Tasks for advanced users
  This section presents tasks unlikely to be needed by the typical user, but which can be of use to advanced users with specific customization needs.
  - Understanding the Web Report File
    Web Reports has a general report format using an XML wrapper. It can show reports from content sites and new reports can be added, edited, or removed.
  - Creating a Custom Report
    This page lets you create a custom report. A report like this is actually code that generates a printable report.
  - Web Reports XML
    A custom report is made of HTML, Relevance, and JavaScript, embedded in an XML file.
  - Creating a Portable Report for Propagation
    As you explore data, you can save a report at any time. In general, if you want to share the report with other users, you can set its visibility to Public in the Report List.
  - Exporting activity reports to CSV files
    To create a hardcopy of a report generated by BigFix, export the report to a CSV file and print it.
  - Exporting activity reports to PDF documents
    Web Reports can generate PDF documents for printing or mailing.
    - On Windows Systems
      - Registry Settings
        All the following settings are under the key registry HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\BigFix\Enterprise Server\BESReports.
      - Logging PDF generation on Windows systems
        The keys to enable logging are stored in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node section under HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\BigFix\Enterprise Server\BESReports.
      - Troubleshooting PDF generation on Windows systems
        If charts are not displayed in the generated PDF, ensure that Internet Explorer, running under the SYSTEM account on the Web Reports server box, has the correct security settings to render Web Reports pages.
    - On Linux Systems
      Starting from BigFix Version 11 Patch 1, if you installed Web Reports on a Linux system, you must ensure that you have installed Google Chrome Version 118 or later on the system.
    - Exporting the report output to a PDF file
      If you configured Web Reports to export reports as PDF, when you run a report from the Reports List panel, the entry Export to PDF is displayed in the top right corner of the report output window.
  - Customizing HTTPS on Web Reports
    BigFix Web Reports is configured to use HTTPS by default when it gets installed and creates its own certificate during the installation. If you want to replace it, you need to configure HTTPS manually.
  - Changing the temporary files on Linux
    You can specify a directory for your temporary files of Linux Web Reports by setting up a parameter in the Web Reports configuration file.
  - Querying Using HTTP GET
    You can query and access Web Reports by using HTTP GET. Provide the URL and port for the Web Reports program, and then pass the command you want in your browser address line.
  - Querying Using SOAP
    You can also access Web Reports using SOAP. Most client libraries require the location of a Web Services Description Language (WSDL) file, a method name, and parameters to pass into the method.
  - Session Inspectors
    Console and Web Reports both depend on an in-memory session cache to provide an efficient view of your database.
  - Displaying Web Reports from Content Sites
    Web Reports accepts a report format that can display reports from content sites, allowing new reports to be added, edited, or removed by Fixlet actions or tasks.
  - Disabling local operators on Web Reports
    Starting from BigFix Version 10.0.8, you can decide to disable the local operators from logging into Web Reports, to use LDAP operators instead.
BigFix Explorer Guide
Learn how the BigFix Explorer feature extends the power of BigFix.
WebUI User's Guide
Read this guide for an introduction to the WebUI tools, concepts, and terminology.
WebUI Administration Guide
Read this guide for information about installing and administering the WebUI.
Glossary
This glossary provides terms and definitions for the Modern Client Management for BigFix software and products.

On Windows Systems

Important: On Windows Server 2016 and later, Microsoft Windows security patches removed the ability for the LocalSystem account to access "desktop resources", including printers. Because of that, if you are running the Web Reports service "BESWebReportsServer" as LocalSystem, you will not be able to generate reports in PDF format. Web Reports will be able to generate PDF reports only if the service is run by a local user account or by a service account.

Note: You can keep running BESWebReportsServer as LocalSystem if you do not need to use the PDF export feature. Exports in other formats are still available.

Run the following steps to add this capability to your Web Reports installation on Windows platforms.

On the BigFix console click Fixlets and Tasks.
Search for the following task ID:
- if the version of Web Reports is 11.0.0
  
  Task ID: 5511: BES Web Reports: Enable PDF Reports
  
  otherwise
  
  Task ID: 5436: BES Web Reports: Enable PDF Reports
Run the action in this task to automatically install the PDF generator.

Note: The Task ID 5511 or the Task ID 5436 could be relevant also when PDF Reports were already enabled in the past with a lower Web Reports version. In this case, it is mandatory to run the above steps to avoid malformed PDF Reports.