Enabling Report Scheduling with In-Process Scheduling

Overview of Tasks

To enable users to use the report scheduling capabilities of SAS Web Report Studio with in-process scheduling, several setup tasks are required. If you implemented scheduling when you installed SAS Web Report Studio, all setup tasks were performed automatically.
If you implement scheduling after installation is complete, you must complete these setup tasks:
  1. Verify or define a SAS Java Batch Server with a subtype of Reporting and a SAS In-Process Services Server.
  2. Identify the scheduling server type to SAS Web Report Studio.
  3. Define archive paths for publishing reports to channels.
  4. Test the configuration.

Step 1: Define Servers

A SAS Java Batch Server definition and a SAS In-Process Services Server definition are automatically created by the SAS Deployment Wizard. Verify that Reporting is selected as the value for the SubType field in the SAS Java Batch Server definition.
If you did not implement scheduling when you installed SAS, you might need to define a SAS Java Batch Server or SAS In-Process Services Server manually. Use the Server Manager plug-in in SAS Management Console to create the definitions. SeeDefining a SAS Java Batch Server for detailed information. You must select a value of Reporting for the SubType field in the SAS Java Batch Server definition.
Note: Do not define more than one SAS In-Process Services server. Using multiple servers will cause errors when you attempt to schedule a report.

Step 2: Identify the Scheduling Server Type

In order to ensure that SAS Web Report Studio uses in-process scheduling, you must specify the type of scheduling server that the application uses. This step is particularly important if you have both a SAS In-Process Services server and a Platform Process Manager server defined. Follow these steps:
  1. In the SAS Management Console Plug-Ins tab, expand the Configuration Manager plug-in.
  2. Right-click on Web Report Studio 4.3 to display the Web Report Studio 4.3 Properties dialog box.
  3. Select the Settings tab.
  4. In the Application field, select Scheduling.
  5. In the Scheduling Enabled field, select Yes.
  6. In the Scheduling Server Type field, select SAS In-Process Services.
  7. Close the Properties dialog box and restart your Web application server.

Step 3: Define Archive Paths

Scheduled reports can be distributed to channels that are defined using the SAS Publishing Framework. If users will be distributing reports to channels that use archive locations (persistent stores), then the archive location must be accessible to SAS Web Report Studio.
To specify the appropriate archive path, follow these steps:
  1. In SAS Management Console, expand the Publishing Framework node.
  2. Expand the appropriate metadata repository node.
  3. Expand the Channels node.
  4. Right-click the channel to which you will be publishing reports, and select Properties.
  5. In the Properties dialog box, select the Persistent Store tab.
  6. In the Type of persistent store area, select the Archive radio button.
  7. In the Path box, specify the path to a network location that all users who will be creating content can write to.
  8. Click OK.
You might also need to update permissions on the physical folder to allow access for the users who will be publishing reports. For information about setting up publication channels, see “Adding SAS Publication Channels” in the SAS® 9.3 Intelligence Platform: Web Application Administration Guide.

Step 4: Test the Configuration

After you have completed all of the configuration steps, use the following procedure to test your configuration. To create a report, you must have the Create Report capability in the Web Report Studio: Report Creation role. To schedule a report, you must have the Schedule Own Report capability from the Web Report Studio: Report Creation role.
  1. On a client machine, use SAS Web Report Studio to create and schedule a report as follows:
    1. Create and save a simple report.
    2. Click View Report to display the report.
    3. Select Filethen selectSchedule.
    4. On the Schedule Report page, select Now, and click Next.
    5. On the next page, click Finish. If the word Running appears in the status field, wait for the job to finish.
  2. In SAS Management Console, check the properties of the scheduled report as follows:
    1. Select the Folder View tab and expand the folders until you locate the report that you scheduled.
    2. Right-click the report, and choose Properties.
    3. Select the Content tab. A folder called Batch should be displayed on this tab. The folder contains the output of the scheduled report.
  3. If the Batch folder is present on the report's Content tab, as described in the previous step, then return to SAS Web Report Studio and complete these steps:
    1. Log off, and then log back in.
    2. Open the report. The following message should appear at the top of the report: 
      To interact with this report, you must first refresh the data.
      If this message appears, then a batch copy of the report is displayed and the configuration is correct.
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