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Web Reports Guide
Learn how the Web Reports feature extends the power of BigFix.
Tasks for advanced users
Tasks unlikely to be needed by the typical user, but which can be of use to advanced users with specific customization needs.
Querying Using SOAP
You can also access Web Reports using SOAP.

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
  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. It typically consists of HTML with embedded Relevance and JavaScript commands.
  - 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.
  - 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.
  - 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.
  - Logging Web Reports
    You can keep track of your Web Reports usage by setting up a log file. In a fresh installation, Web Reports logging is disabled by default and its settings do not exist.
  - 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.
  - Querying Using SOAP
    You can also access Web Reports using SOAP.
    - PERL
      The PERL code using the SOAP::Lite module that takes three arguments, Web Reports username, password, and relevance expression, and prints the results of the call.
    - Raw SOAP Request and Response Format
      A SOAP request looks like this:
  - Session Inspectors
    Both the Console and Web Reports 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.

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. The WSDL file describes the network endpoints required to query the BigFix Database using Web Reports. The WSDL can be accessed from the Web Reports server as in the following example: http://server/webreports?wsdl.

Alternatively, you can find a sample file, relevance.wsdl, in the BigFix installation directory. This WSDL file defines relevanceExpr, which allows you to evaluate a relevance expression. If you installed BigFix to a folder named BigFix Enterprise, you can find the file in this directory:

BigFix Enterprise\BES Server\BESReportsServer\wwwroot\soap

The registry location for your installation is HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\BigFix\Enterprise Server\BESReports\Paths.

This registry key has a string value named wsdl that contains the path name for the WSDL file.

The request includes a tag labeled relevanceExpr, which contains the relevance expression number of BigFix computers. This is one of the operations defined in the WSDL file.

Some of the available methods include:

GetRelevanceResult( String relevanceExpression, String username, String password )
StoreSharedVariable( dashID, variableName, variableValue, [success/failure 
callback], [database id] )
DeleteSharedVariable( dashID, variableName, [success/failure callback], 
[database id] )

Note: Only Web Report administrators are allowed to use the StoreSharedVariable and DeleteSharedVariable methods.

To submit queries from SOA clients specify the following BigFix http path:

http://web_report_server/soap

where web_report_server is the hostname or IP address of the Web Report server.