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Accruent Confidential and Proprietary, Copyright © 2012

Accruent Confidential and Proprietary, Copyright 2012.

This material contains confidential information that is proprietary to, and the property of, Accruent, LLC. Any unauthorized use, duplication or disclosure of this material, in whole or in part, is prohibited.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, recorded, or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means—whether electronic, mechanical, photographic, or otherwise—without the written permission of Accruent, LLC.

The material in this manual is subject to change without notice and is provided “AS IS”.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration Table of Contents

Proprietary and Confidential © Copyright 2010; Accruent, Inc. All Rights Reserved. i

Table of Contents GENERAL INFORMATION

8.0 Updates ................................................................................................................................... 1

Guide Overview ............................................................................................................................ 1

Important Tip! ............................................................................................................................ 3

Accruent 8 ..................................................................................................................................... 3

The System-Administrator Dashboard ....................................................................................... 4

DASHBOARD ADMINISTRATION

General Information ..................................................................................................................... 7

The Foundation Information Layer ............................................................................................. 8

General Information .................................................................................................................... 8 Standard-Views Naming Conventions ......................................................................................... 9 Creation of OIL Views for Distributed Queries ........................................................................... 10

Important!: Alleviating “Session Locks” .................................................................................. 11

Setting Session Time-Out Values ............................................................................................. 11

Create an SQL-Server Scheduled Job on the Foundation Database ........................................ 12

Steps to Building a Dashboard Object ..................................................................................... 12

1. Register data from other systems. ........................................................................................ 13 2. Prepare the data for use........................................................................................................ 13 3. Present the data. ................................................................................................................... 16

Role-Based Dashboards ............................................................................................................ 16

Dashboard Objects ..................................................................................................................... 24

Types of Dashboard Objects .................................................................................................. 24

Register Data Locators ........................................................................................................... 30

Add a Data Locator, and Select SQL View ...................................................................................... 30

View, Edit, or Delete a Data Locator ................................................................................................ 36

Prepare the Data for Use ........................................................................................................ 39

Build an AAE Template ................................................................................................................... 39

Add, Edit, or Delete a Template Field .............................................................................................. 51

Add, Edit, or Delete a Template Filter .............................................................................................. 60

Add System/ Public AAE Views ....................................................................................................... 67

Table of Contents Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Dashboard Administration

ii Proprietary and Confidential © Copyright 2010; Accruent, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Table of Contents DASHBOARD ADMINISTRATION

Dashboard Objects

Prepare the Data for Use (Cont.)

Add or Edit an AAE-View Field ........................................................................................................ 82

Add, Edit, or Delete an AAE-View Filter ........................................................................................... 90

View, Edit, Copy, or Delete an AAE Template ................................................................................. 95

Present the Data .................................................................................................................... 100

Add a Grid View .............................................................................................................................. 100

Build a Chart ................................................................................................................................... 107

Change a Chart’s Presentation Style ............................................................................................. 128

Create a Dashboard Object with a URL ......................................................................................... 130

Create Inter-Connecting Dashboard Objects ................................................................................. 130

Build a Circular Gauge ................................................................................................................... 136

Create a Video-URL Dashboard Object ......................................................................................... 143

Connect a Web-Cam Dashboard Object with a Grid ..................................................................... 146

Create a Combination Chart........................................................................................................... 148

Create a Dashboard Object That Contains Microsoft Outlook ...................................................... 150

Create a Grid for a Virtual Earth (Map) Dashboard Object ............................................................ 151

Add a Dashboard Object to the Dashboard ................................................................................... 152

Changing “Out-of-the-Box” Shared Dashboard Objects ................................................... 153

Advanced Dashboard Objects ............................................................................................. 155

General Information ........................................................................................................................ 155

Dynamics and Components of a DO.............................................................................................. 156

Dynamically Generated SQL .......................................................................................................... 157

HyperText Mark-Up Language (HTML) ......................................................................................... 161

The Href Attribute ......................................................................................................................... 161

The Target Attribute ..................................................................................................................... 162

The Title Attribute ......................................................................................................................... 163

Query Strings ............................................................................................................................... 163

Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Dashboard Administration Table of Contents

Proprietary and Confidential © Copyright 2010; Accruent, Inc. All Rights Reserved. iii

Table of Contents DASHBOARD ADMINISTRATION

Dashboard Objects

Advanced Dashboard Objects (Cont.)

Using HTML for Advanced DO Functionality ................................................................................... 164

Create a Hyperlink Within a Grid ................................................................................................... 164

Add Color to Grid Text .................................................................................................................. 170

Putting a Dynamic Date in the Grid Header ................................................................................... 171

Put an Icon or Image in the Grid Header, with Dynamic Date ........................................................ 173

Add Conditional Formatting .......................................................................................................... 174

Filters ................................................................................................................................................ 175

Managing Security .................................................................................................................... 181

Login Screen ......................................................................................................................... 181

Administration Home Page .................................................................................................. 181

Member Management............................................................................................................ 181

User-Class Management....................................................................................................... 181

Member Relationship with User-Class Management ................................................................... 181

Manage Security by User Class (i.e., Role) ......................................................................... 182

Manage Security by User Class (Roles) ........................................................................................ 182

Manage Security by Item ................................................................................................................ 185

APPENDICES

Appendix A: AAE Filter and Column TOKENS ....................................................................... 188

Appendix B: “Toolbox” Tools (Link, Case, Image) ................................................................ 192

Appendix C: Additional Information About Building Filters ................................................. 193

Appendix D: Outlook.htm File Contents ................................................................................ 194

Appendix E: Reference Sheet .................................................................................................. 196

Appendix F: Common Basic SQL Statements and Commands .......................................... 199

SQL Chart ............................................................................................................................... 199 Aggregate Functions ............................................................................................................... 200

Appendix G: Absolute and Relative URLs.............................................................................. 201

Absolute URL .......................................................................................................................... 201

Relative URL ........................................................................................................................... 201

Which One Should I Use? Absolute or Relative? ................................................................... 202

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration 8.0 Updates

Proprietary and Confidential © Copyright 2010; Accruent, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1

8.0 Updates There are no 8.0 updates for this guide.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration General Information


Guide Overview This guide includes the following information.

GUIDE OVERVIEW

Accruent 8 States a brief description of the Accruent suite.

The System-Administrator Dashboard

Shows the main components of the system- administrator dashboard and lists the various administrative functions for managing:

■ Company ■ Program ■ Member ■ Project ■ Folder ■ Prototype ■ Dashboard ■ Lease

… information and related user-defined fields.

Dashboard-Object Administration States a brief purpose of the Dashboard-Object Administration pane.

The Information Layer States recent information-layer changes, standard-views naming conventions, and how to create information-layer views for distributed queries.

Alleviating Session Locks States how to alleviate session lock-ups

Setting Session Time-Out Values States information about the session “sweeper” and how to create an SQL-scheduled job on the Foundation database.

Steps to Building a Dashboard Object

Generally, states what’s involved in registering data locators (i.e., pre-defined SQL views that draw data from the database), preparing data (i.e., templates/views) , and how to present the data (in the form of dashboard objects).

Continued on next page

General Information Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration

2 Proprietary and Confidential © Copyright 2010; Accruent, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

GUIDE OVERVIEW (CONT.)

Role-Based Dashboards Describes Accruent’s six default dashboards.

Dashboard Objects States how to create them.

Managing Security States how security is managed in the Accruent Application Explorer

Appendices ■ Appendix A: AAE Column Filters and TOKENS

Filters and tokens used in the performance of detail views and drilldowns.

■ Appendix B: “Toolbox” Tools (Link, Case, Image)

States how use the Toolbox in the Calculation field of the Step 3: Create Field List pane of the AAE Create Template View Wizard (pg. 52).

■ Appendix C: Additional Information About Building Filters

(Self-explanatory)

■ Appendix D: Outlook .htm File Contents

The .htm file contents you need to create a dashboard object that contains Microsoft Outlook.

■ Appendix E: Reference Sheet

Shows a quick-reference table for building dashboard objects.

■ Appendix F: Common Basic SQL Statement and Commands

Displays common basic SQL statements, commands, and aggregate functions.

■ Appendix G: Absolute and Relative URLs

(Self-explanatory)

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) –Dashboard Administration


IMPORTANT TIP!

If you are viewing this document in Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader:

When you click on a cross-reference (red linked number and word) to navigate to a

referenced page, click the Back arrow in the above toolbar to return to the page

you were previously viewing.

Accruent 8

Accruent 8 is a Web-enabled, end-to-end, real estate ERP suite that lets retailers manage their assets—in one place, in real time.1

Namely, retailers can:

■ Manage site selection, design and construction, and facility maintenance.

■ Centralize all documents, schedules, and issues.

■ Use built-in reporting tools to create and analyze asset data.

_____________________________

1 ERP means enterprise resource planning.



The System-Administrator Dashboard

System-Administrator Dashboard

The system-administrator dashboard is where you manage:

■ Company (i.e., general information, templates, milestones, dictionary, forms, custom lists, form flows, workflows, parts/inventory, tasks’ custom-email notification, budget administration, user-defined fields, lease management [i.e., lease sets and critical-issue types/questions]— and maintenance tasks [i.e., geocode entities/competitors, LDAP import configuration, LDAP-user import, audit-table management, checking the environment, and cache management])



■ Program

■ Member

■ Project

■ Folder

■ Prototype

■ Dashboard

■ Lease

…administration information and user-defined fields.

What do you want to do? 2

■ Manage company information (see the Accruent Administrator’s Guide[s] – Company Administration [Parts I, II, III, and IV]).

NOTE: Company information is the first information you should enter/ configure.

■ Manage program information (see Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Program Administration).

■ Manage member information (see Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Member Administration).

■ Manage project information (see the Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Project Administration).

■ Manage folder information (see the Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Folder Administration).

■ Manage prototype information (see the Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Prototype Administration).

■ Manage lease information (see the Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Lease Administration).

■ Manage dashboard information (see below, along with the rest of this guide).

_____________________________

2 For general information about the Accruent application, its configuration elements/drivers, requested documents/

deliverables, the administrator’s responsibilities, and Accruent’s Entity Set-up Wizard, see the Accruent Administrator’s Guide – General Information, Entity Set-Up Wizard, and System-Administration Reports



(For general information about:

■ The Accruent suite

■ Its configuration elements/drivers

■ Requested documents/deliverables

■ The administrator’s responsibilities

■ Accruent’s Entity Set-up Wizard

■ System-administration reports

…see the Accruent Administrator’s Guide – General Information, the Entity Set-up Wizard, and System-Administration Reports.)



Dashboard Administration

The Dashboard-Object Administration pane is where you manage:

■ Data locators

■ AAE template/system views

■ Dashboard objects

■ Security settings



The Foundation Information Layer

General Information The Foundation information layer creates single-object mapping to all data used by the suite, regardless of where the information resides. Users can build upon an information model published today, as well as have that functionality work with little or no modification as the location of the back-end databases change over time.

IMPORTANT!

■ Before creating any new view, review existing ones to see if they can be reused.

1. Create a linked server to any remote-source SQL Server database (technical details to be provided). A linked server is only required if the source database is SQL Server, and it does not reside on the same database server as the Foundation database.

2. Write and create the view on a source database, then create the view (with same name) on the Foundation database, accessing the remote view.

■ For more functionality and reusability, avoid creating aggregate views unless necessary; and allow the AAE wizard to perform the aggregation.

■ For views that will be used across legacy client-server databases (REM, SLIM, RL), make sure that data types are consistent; e.g., if column is a string in one database, and a number in another, then cast the number as string.

3. Tune views before finalizing creation.

■ Naming convention

■ View names must start with vw_OBJ_CUS_ or vw_BIZ_CUS_ (See below for definition).

■ To support Oracle, names should be 30 characters or less.

■ Be descriptive.

■ Use uppercase letters for Oracle information-layer views.

■ Views must have a row_id column that is a unique integer—normally the primary key—or MAX(primary key)—for aggregate views; or use ROWNUM for Oracle, if required.

■ If no native column can be used for the row_id—and the source DBMS is SQL 2000— then exclude the row_id from the source view; and add the following row_id column to the information-layer view, using function new to SQL 2005: row_id = ROW_NUMBER()OVER(ORDER BY “any column in source view”.



Standard-Views Naming Conventions The naming conventions for standard views will be as follows:

■ Vw_OBJ_[description] - Views prefixed with this designation will be single entity views mirroring the base tables representing these entities while allow abstraction of field names and the option of not including none business entity fields

■ Vw_BIZ_[description] - Views prefixed with this designation will be based on two or more "vw_OBJ" views and join them in ways that make sense from a business perspective.

■ Vw_OBJ_CUS[description] – Both PS and customer extension views

■ Vw_BIZ_CUS[description] – Both PS and customer extension views

NOTE:

In the future: When Foundation replaces any legacy databases, and business entity tables are created within Foundation, then—when creating views—include the primary keys of business-entity tables to support ACL security.

Creation of a linked server to a remote database can be done either through SQL Server Management Studio or via scripts. The example below is for creating a linked server—called REM_REMOTE—to a SQL Server REM database.

USE master GO

-- create linked server EXEC sp_addlinkedserver @server = 'REM_REMOTE', @srvproduct = 'SQLServer OLEDB Provider', @provider = 'SQLOLEDB', @datasrc = '?servername?' GO

-- set login credentials for SQL Server user EXEC sp_addlinkedsrvlogin ''REM_REMOTE ', 'false', NULL, 'login', 'password' GO

-- set collation compatible and RPC properties to true EXEC sp_serveroption 'REM_REMOTE', 'collation Compatible', 'true' GO

EXEC sp_serveroption 'REM_REMOTE','rpc','true' GO

EXEC sp_serveroption 'REM_REMOTE','rpc out','true' GO



Creation of OIL Views for Distributed Queries To create OIL views for distributed queries:

Step 1: Create the database view in the source database.

Example 1: SQL Server database REMDB

CREATE VIEW vw_OBJ_CUS_TEST_SQLSERVER AS SELECT LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME, ADDRESS FROM DBO.EMPLOYEE

Example 2: Oracle

CREATE VIEW VW_OBJ_CUS_TEST_ORACLE AS SELECT LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME, ADDRESS, ROWNUM AS ROW_ID FROM SCHEMAOWNER.EMPLOYEE

Step 2: Create the database view in the Foundation database.

Example 1a: If SQL Server database REMDB is on the same server as Foundation:

CREATE VIEW vw_OBJ_CUS_TEST_SQLSERVER AS SELECT LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME, ADDRESS FROM REMDB.DBO.EMPLOYEE

Example 1b: If SQL Server database REMDB is on a different server than Foundation (use linked server):

CREATE VIEW vw_OBJ_CUS_TEST_SQLSERVER AS SELECT LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME, ADDRESS FROM REM_REMOTE.REMDB.DBO.EMPLOYEE

Example 2: If Oracle, then creation of a database view in Foundation is not required. A direct connection will be used within the application, instead.

Step 3: Generate AAE metadata, using a registered data locator; or query the view directly within Foundation.



Important!: Alleviating “Session Locks”

There are situations where you may accidentally close your browser by clicking the close-window icon ( ) rather than the Add, Update, Close, or Cancel button. This may cause a session lock. To alleviate the lock, run the following script on the database:

Delete from fdn_tbl_session where user_code_key='<user class name>'

…where: <user class name> = the name of the user class.

Setting Session Time-Out Values There are two rows in the Control Property table (fnd_tlu_control_property) that contain the parameters for the session sweeper.

control_code_key Description Value_1 Value_2

AutoCacheTimeout Timeout, in minutes, to purge cache 20 15

AutoLogoffInMin AutoLogoffInMin/TTL-Interval 20 15

The SQL-server agent has a job called Olympus Delete Idle Sessions. This job executes the stored procedure dbo.FND_SP_delete_idle_session_lock, which deletes inactive sessions from the fnd_tbl_session table.

A formula is used to determine which session rows need to be deleted. First, the difference between the current time, in minutes—and the last time the session was refreshed—are taken. Next, this is compared with the Value_1 of the control_code_key AutoLogoffInMin;. and if the difference is greater than Value_1, then the row gets deleted.



Create an SQL-Server Scheduled Job on the Foundation Database

To create a new SQL-server agent job, on a five-minute schedule, that will delete idle sessions from the Foundation database:

1. Start SQL Server Management Studio.

2. Make sure the SQL Server Agent is started and running.

3. If the name of the Foundation database is not Olympus_ALPHA, then edit the script file AOF_create_scheduled_job.sql; and find and replace Olympus_ALPHA with the name of the Foundation database, using the exact case of the name.

4. Execute the script file: AOF_create_scheduled_job.sql.

5. Verify that the job, called " Olympus Delete Idle Sessions", has been created under SQL Server Agent\Jobs.

Steps to Building a Dashboard Object Dashboard objects are “windows” that present the data in a certain style (such as grid, chart, pie charts, Web links, streaming video, etc.) and are placed onto the dashboard to reveal information from underlying systems and databases. They can also be connected to each other to feed information from one to another.3

A “dashboard” is a buzzword for an executive summary consisting of key indicators that are viewed as charts or graphs of some sort,. A busy manager can check, at a glance, every day, every week or every month (depending on the dynamics of the particular business).

Its metaphor is the collection of gauges on a car or plane dashboard (closer to plane than car, given the number of items these things usually include). The selection of what particular indicators are shown varies from business to business; and, in some software products, can be customized by each individual user. That is, when one logs into the Home Page every morning, what are the important metrics (to that person) that will affect the decisions one make today? If the metrics can be simplified to Safe/Caution/Danger numeric ranges, then they may all be rendered like fuel gauges. But in more complex management situations, it is typical that a dashboard might include some bar charts, some stoplight indicators, a sales curve, a Gantt chart, etc.—a mishmash of different kinds of graphics, in other words.

_____________________________

3 See “Create Inter-Connecting Dashboard Objects“ on pg. 130.



Also, links within a dashboard object can be created as a “drill-down” ,so that when one clicks on the link, a pop-up window displays further information regarding the item you have just clicked. 4

1. Register data from other systems.5

A. Register a data locator.

■ Register data when adding custom fields and when integrating information from other systems. (Register the data as information-layer elements.)

■ Create OIL-level SQL views. (Data from the standard Foundation model are already registered as information-layer elements.

B. Add the data locator to the system.

2. Prepare the data for use.6 A. Prepare AAE templates.

You can prepare AAE templates from OIL elements, and:

■ Add calculated fields.

■ Hide/show fields, and change field labels.

■ Change default order and sorting.

■ Apply grouping and filtering.

… and perform other activities.

B. Create template views.

A grid default template is created when a data locator is registered. (See the second bullet in the NOTES: on pg. 30.) It is designed to provide rapid grid-and dashboard-object development and includes all table fields.

You can build multiple system views with a single template, with different field names, filters etc., so that you do not need to create a new template every time you want a new system view.

_____________________________

4 For example, the bars on a bar graph can contain drill-down links so that, when you click on a bar, a pop-up appears.

The pop-up displays further information pertaining to that item, such as store information, store location, a map, the weather, a video stream, etc.

5 See pg. 13 for procedural information.




However, if you want to create a “summary view”, you need to create a “summary template” (i.e., one that drills down to detailed views of the data.)

Once the system view is created, there are certain limitations as to what you can do in the template.

Add New Edit Delete

Template Column

No “downstream” effect; that is, does not affect dependent system views and dashboard objects.

All editable attributes are copied downstream. No provisions to edit tool tip, word wrap, width.

All child views are deleted.

Template Filter Adds new filter to template view with a downstream effect.

All editable attributes are copied downstream.

All child views that use this filter are deleted.

C. Create system/public views.

There are two types of views you can create: system and public. There are also different capabilities in each, mainly around the properties you can set for fields and filters.

■ System Views – A system view is the lower-level view, has more capabilities, and is required as a reference when building a public view. When creating a dashboard object, only system views are available, and only system views can be connected to another dashboard object.

■ Public Views – Public views are based on system views and appear (in the view selector) as alternate views.

Views are hierarchical.

■ A public view is derived from a system view, which derives from a template view, which derives from a data locator.



■ With the data locator being at the top of the hierarchy, if anything changes, all lower items in the hierarchy will be broken and deleted. Also, any dashboard object connected to a system view will also be broken and deleted.

Add New Edit Delete

System Column

Adds a new column to list of selected columns.

If the column is Mandatory or Return Value—and the child view does not have the column, delete all child views.

Non-mandatory columns are added only to system view.

There is no provision to edit tool tip, word wrap, width. Changes to column label/ description are not propagated downstream.

If the column is either Mandatory or Return Value —or is an Identitysort column, delete all child views that make use of that column.

Add New Edit Delete

System Filter

Adds a new filter to the list of filters. If the filter is Mandatory, then all child views are deleted.

For all filters that are made Mandatory or Read-Only, if the same filter—and sequence number—exists in the child views, also make those filters as Mandatory or Read-Only. If the filter does not exist, delete all of the child views

For all filters that are not Mandatory or Read-Only, if the filter and the filter sequence match in the child views, do an update in child views. Otherwise ,delete all child views.

Non-mandatory filters are added only to the system view.

All the child views that use this Mandatory filter are deleted. If Mandatory, or Hidden, or Read-Only, then the filter should not be deleted.



D. Regarding “private” views – You can create private views for particular user(s) or you may give rights (from within the dashboard objects) to particular users (based on “role) to create their own private views. These views will only be visible to the those users.

3. Present the data.7

Use dashboard objects (DOs) to:

■ Present AAE views as charts, grids, custom screens, etc.

■ Publish into a catalog. (This configuration is stored as a dashboard object and available to be put on a dashboard.)

a. Create a DO.

b. To view the DO, add it to the dashboard.

Role-Based Dashboards Accruent’s six default role-based dashboards are:

■ “C” Level (i.e., Executive)– A dashboard intended for senior executives, that focuses on portfolio management. Upon log-in, included are the following “default” dashboard objects (available via the Dashboard tab [see pg. 117].)

“C” Level Dashboard Objects

Occupancy Cost as a Percent of Revenue

Compares occupancy cost as a percent of revenue, and measures the overall profitability of each location.

Revenue Per Store Provides a view of revenue, cut by geography and category (or department). Represented as a 3D bar chart with three axes.

Top n Highest, Per Area Rents

Shows users the highest rent rates (monthly rent, per area) of all active leases within their portfolios.


_____________________________




“C” Level Dashboard Objects (Cont.)

Development Funnel Visualizes the health of the overall development pipeline (that is, by detailing the number of locations in various phases of development), and compares them against the RE plan, resulting in a net number of stores to be opened and revenue weeks to be produced.

Rev Weeks vs. Plan Provides an analysis of real-time revenue weeks completed to date and projected for a given period, compared to the planned number of weeks in that period. Is a critical success factor for both “C” level and real-estate executive users.

Total Cost of Occupancy, by Region

Provides an overview of the total cost per location (or region), broken down into rent components. Captures all related expenses and lets users analyze the data to determine options and courses of action to reduce costs.



■ Real Estate Manager – A role-based dashboard with special focus on real estate items. Upon log-in, included are the following “default” dashboard objects (except for Sites, are available via the Dashboard tab [see pg. 117].)

Real Estate Manager Dashboard Objects

Sites Located on Accruent’s Home Page tab:

Home Page tab

…displays a list of the sites—by market. The markets are listed in alphabetical order with a count (total). Users can click a market to display a list of sites for that market. From there, they can click a site to view its details.




Real Estate Manager Dashboard Objects (Cont.)

Revenue Weeks, by REM

1. Planned Revenue Weeks – From Accruent’s RE planner, each slot (the gray bar in the planner) has a number of revenue weeks planned in a given period (typically, fiscal years) that represents the number of new weeks of revenue gained from that slot being opened as a store.

2. Completed Revenue Weeks – From Accruent’s RE Planner, each slot that has a project tied to it (the multi-colored bar underneath the gray slot bar) that has been completed (last date in project schedule is marked complete) represents actual revenue weeks within the time period. There is no relationship to the slot’s planned open date; just the actual project’s completion date.

3. Projected Revenue Weeks – From Accruent’s RE Planner, each slot that has a project tied to it (the multi-colored bar underneath the gray slot bar) that is in process (last date in project schedule is NOT marked complete) represents projected revenue weeks within the time period. There is no relationship to the slot’s planned open date; just the actual project’s completion date.


Sales Per square Foot of Space, By Sector

Entails Corporate sales per square foot of space to indicate how intensively a company uses space to generate revenue. This dashboard object displays this information by sector (primary use).

Competition Details Displays information about a given project, such as its location and projected open dates. Also shows competitor (store) information, such as location, size, estimated annual sales, and other information.



■ Construction Manager – A role-based dashboard concentrating on project-related components. Upon log-in, included are the following “default” dashboard objects (except for Sites, are available via the Dashboard tab [see pg. 117].)

Construction Manager Dashboard Objects

My Projects Displays a list of projects and key project attributes.

Budgets at Risk Lists budgets with the widest variations between the percentage of budget spent and the percentage of project completion.

General-Contractor Performance

Is a unique vendor performance-comparison component that provides client management with a basis to select partners and hold them to contractual agreements.

Sites Located on Accruent’s Home Page tab (pg. 18), displays a list of sites—by market. The markets are listed in alphabetical order with a count (total). Users can click a market to display a list of sites for that market. From there, they can click a site to view its details.


■ Lease Administrator – A set of dashboard objects that pulls together lease-administration information across the portfolio. Upon log-in, included are the following “default” dashboard objects (available via the Dashboard tab [see pg. 117].)

Lease Administrator Dashboard Objects

My Leases Displays a list of all entity leases where the lease administrator is a member. Information includes facility name, lease status, remaining term, current rent, percent rent, and landlord name.




Lease Administrator Dashboard Objects (Cont.)

Total Cost of Occupancy, By Region

Provides an overview of the total cost per location or region, broken down into rent components. Captures all related expenses and lets the lease administrator analyze the data to determine options and courses of action to reduce costs.

Lease Expirations Displays lease expirations (grouped by year) over the next three years, with a physical count, the amount of rent, and rentable area affected by the expiration.

Critical Dates, By Region

Displays the total number of critical dates (by critical date type) for each region for the current month. The lease administrator can view all lease expirations, cancellations, renewals, early terminations, rental increases, and/or other tickler dates in the system, to proactively manage options and make better decisions.

Top n Highest, Per Area Rents

Shows the highest rent rates (monthly rent, per area) of all active leases within the lease administrators’ portfolios.

Top n Lowest, Per Area Rents

Shows users the lowest rent rates (monthly rent, per area) of all active leases within their portfolios.

Portfolio Distribution Shows the overall allotment of the rentable area—or the total number of leases active on a specified date—grouped by type of tenant (landlord, tenant, sub-tenant, etc.) or by primary- use categories. The lease administrator can view the portfolio distribution to identify savings opportunities (e.g., subleasing, cancellations, and/or selling off excess space).



■ Facilities Manager – A series of dashboard objects that focus on the work performed in the Facilities area. Upon log-in, included are the following “default” dashboard objects (available via the Dashboard tab [see pg. 117].)

Facilities Manager Dashboard Objects

My Facilities Displays all active facilities to which the facilities manager is assigned. Displays facility name, city, state, last year’s sales, store number, and store manager.

Top 10 Issue List Based on the service, lists the top 10 issues (based on the count) for a particular time period (user-entered).

Service-Line Selection Summary

For each service, shows the total number of requests for a particular time period (user-entered).

Space Allocation Shows a breakdown of the total rentable square feet allocated to each organization within a certain organization region. Lets the facilities manager understand portfolio segmentation to optimize space, identify excess space, identify trends, and evaluate options.

Employees, By Region

Displays a graphic representation of the number of employees of a company/store, by region

My Projects Displays a list of projects and key project attributes.

Project Webcam List Provides a list of available Webcams on all projects the project manager has access to. Once the project is selected, the Webcam is opened on the dashboard, in a connected dashboard object.



■ Market Planner – A role-based dashboard that includes several analysis tools, including demographics, mapping and performance modeling, to determine the best markets and trade areas in which to put a retailer’s stores. Upon log-in, included are the following “default” dashboard objects (available via the Dashboard tab [see pg. 117].)

Market Planner Dashboard Objects

Revenue Weeks vs. Plan

Provides an analysis of the real-time revenue weeks completed to date and projected for a given period, compared to the planned number of weeks in that period. Is a critical success factor for both “C” level and real-estate, executive users.

Top n Highest Per Area Rents

Shows market planners the highest rent rates (monthly rent, per area) of all active leases within their portfolios.

Development Funnel Visualizes the health of the overall development pipeline—by detailing the number of locations in various phases of development, and compares them against the RE plan, resulting in a net number of stores to be opened and revenue weeks to be produced.

Revenue Per Store Provides a view of revenue, cut by geography and category (or department). Represented as a 3D bar chart with three axes.

Sales Per Square Foot of Space, By Sector

Entails corporate sales per square foot of space, to indicate how intensively a company uses space to generate revenue. Displays this information by sector (primary use).

Top n Sales, Per Area

Shows market planners the locations with the highest sales within the portfolio.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration Dashboard Objects


Dashboard Objects

Types of Dashboard Objects There are many types of dashboard objects that can be added to your screen.

Types of Dashboard Objects

Bar

(Multi series)

Stacked Bar

(Multi series)

Column

(Multi series)


Dashboard Objects Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


Types of Dashboard Objects (Cont.)

Stacked Column

Combination Chart

On one chart, you can combine up to three charts.

Line

Pie





Funnel

Grid

Grids are like tables that look like a spreadsheet. The columns can be sorted and filtered.

Outlook Mail

Outlook can be embedded as a dashboard object where users can navigate through emails and different parts of Outlook.





URL

The URL can be linked to any Web site and be used like a Web browser.

Screen

Custom screens can be built and generated with the Dashboard Object Wizard.

Virtual-Earth Web-cam




Types of Dashboard Objects (Cont.,)

Virtual-Earth Web-cam (Cont.)

Video URL

The Web cam will deliver video and sound down to the user’s desktop.

Web-cam and Video





Gauge

Following are the three “Steps to Building a Dashboard Object” (pg. 12).

What do you want to do?

■ Register data locators, see pg. 30.

■ Prepare the data for use, see pg. 39.

■ Present the data, see pg. 100.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration Dashboard Objects – Register Data Locators


Register Data Locators Data locators are predefined SQL views in the system that pull information from a database that may reside on any given server. Registering a data locator is the first step (see pg. 13) to creating a new dashboard object. In this step, you specify what information and database to retrieve.


■ Add a data locator and select SQL view, see below.

■ View, edit, or delete a data locator, see pg. 36.

Add a Data Locator, and Select SQL View

NOTES:

■ A database administrator needs to create OIL-level SQL views before you can add data locators.

■ Upon adding data locators, AAE templates are automatically generated for them. The naming convention for these templates is <Data Locator Name> Template#. However, you can also use the data locator to create new templates. You can create as many templates as you wish, using the same data locator.

■ Once a data locator is added, it will no longer show in the list of available data locators.

■ Testing the SQL view that you choose for the data locator is good practice to ensure that it is a valid view and also lets you preview the information that it is retrieving from the database.

To access the data locator:

1. In the Dashboard Administration section of the system-administrator dashboard, click the Dashboard-Object Administration link (pg. 7).


Dashboard Objects – Register Data Locators Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


Add a Data Locator, and Select SQL View (Cont.)

The Dashboard-Object Administration pane appears.

Dashboard-Object Administration pane

2. In the Information Layer pane: Click the Add link under Register – Data

Locators.

Information Layer pane on the Dashboard-Object Administration pane





The Add Data Locator pane appears.

Add Data Locator pane

3. Enter a data-locator name (e.g., Region/Market) and brief description in the appropriate textboxes.

4. Click the Connector dropdown-arrow, and select the connector (e.g., Olympus Foundation).

5. From the SQL View Name textbox, select an SQL view (e.g., ww_OBJ_SLM_LINK_REGIONMARKET).





6. Click the Test Connection button to test the SQL view (to ensure that it is a valid one before adding). The screen expands, displaying “grid” information.





7. Click the Add button to save the information. (The pane label changes to Edit Data Locator, and a message appears indicating that the information has been added.)

8. Click the Close button on the Edit Data Locator pane. The Dashboard-Object Administration pane reappears (pg. 31).





9. In the Information Layer pane: Click the View/Manage link under Register – Data Locators (pg. 31) again. A Views grid appears, with the newly added data locator (e.g., Region/Market).

The Region/Market data locator appears on the Views grid.



View, Edit, or Delete a Data Locator

1. In the Dashboard Administration section of the system-administrator dashboard, click the Dashboard-Object Administration link (pg. 7). The Dashboard-Object Administration pane appears (pg. 7).

2. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the View/Manage link under Register – Data Locators (pg. 31). A Views grid appears, displaying data-locator names, active status, and when last updated.

Views grid

3. To:

■ Edit a data locator, see pg. 37.

■ Delete a data locator, see pg. 37.

NOTE:. You can also add a new data locator/template from this Views window by clicking the Add a New Data Locator and Default Template link in the upper-right corner. (The Add Data Locator pane appears [see pg. 30 for instructions]).




View, Edit, or Delete a Data

EDIT A DATA LOCATOR

Locator (Cont.) To edit a data locator (e.g., Region/Market)

1. Click its Edit link on the Views grid (pg. 36).

The Edit Data Locator pane appears.

The Edit Data Locator pane for the Region/Market data locator

2. Follow the same instructions as stated in steps 3. through 9. on pgs. 32-35

under “Add a Data Locator, and Set SQL View”.

DELETE A DATA LOCATOR

To delete a data locator (e.g., Region/Market):

1. Click its Delete link on the Views grid (pg. 36).




View, Edit, or Delete a Data

DELETE A DATA LOCATOR (CONT.)

Locator (Cont.) 2. At the prompt, click the Yes button to confirm the deletion.

3. Refresh the screen. The Dashboard-Object Administration pane (pg. 7) reappears.

4. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the View/Manage link under Register – Data Locators (pg. 31) again. The Views pane appears without the template (if you navigate through the grid, the view you just deleted will not be there).

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration Dashboard Objects – Prepare Data for Use


Prepare the Data for Use

NOTES:

■ If you wish to use a default template without making any changes to it, then to “present the data” (which is the third step in building a dashboard object; see pg. 16), proceed to “Add System/Public AEE Views” on pg. 67. (The default template makes all data-locator columns available or use in the views that you build [and no filters are provided for this template].)

■ If you wish to make changes to, copy, or delete the default template, proceed with this section.

■ If you wish to create your own template, proceed with this section.

Templates have configuration information that involves setting properties, selecting fields and filters to be used in views, and mapping the security of the view.


■ Build an AAE template, see below.

■ Add, edit, or delete a new template field, see pg. 51.

■ Add, edit , or delete a template filter, see pg. 60.

■ Add system/public AAE views, see pg. 67.

■ Add or edit an AAE-view field, see pg. 82.

■ Add, edit, or delete an AAE-view filter, see pg. 90.

■ View, edit, copy, or delete an AAE template, see pg. 95.

Build an AAE Template

To build an AAE template:

1. In the Dashboard Administration section of the system-administration dashboard, click the Dashboard-Object Administration link (pg. 7). The Dashboard-Object Administration pane appears (pg. 7).


Dashboard Objects – Prepare Data for Use Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


Build an AAE Template (Cont.)

2. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the Add link under Prepare Templates.

Information Layer pane of the Dashboard-Object Administration pane

Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template) appears (pg. 40).

STEP 1 – CREATE NEW OR COPY EXISTING (TEMPLATE)

To create a new AAE template or copy an existing one:

Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template)





STEP 1 – CREATE NEW OR COPY EXISTING (TEMPLATE) (CONT.)

(Cont.) 1. Enter the name (e.g., Revenue Template) and description in the appropriate

textboxes.

2. If copying a template, click the Select a Template View to Copy dropdown-arrow, and select the template (e.g., FM My Facilities) you want to copy.

Select a Template View to Copy dropdown

3. To:

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 2 – Set View Properties: Click the Next button.

■ Cancel and exit the wizard without saving any information: Click the Cancel button.





STEP 2 – SET VIEW PROPERTIES

(Cont.) To select a registered data locator for the template and set the template’s view properties:

Step 2 – Set View Properties

1. Click the Select Data Locator dropdown-arrow, and select a data locator

(e.g., FM – Facilities).

NOTE:. If you copied a template back in Step 1 (see step 2. on pg. 41), then there will be no dropdown menu to select from. Instead, the name of the template you copied (now, hard-coded in the UI) displays (e.g., FM My Facilities).





STEP 2 – SET VIEW PROPERTIES (CONT.)

(Cont.) 2. To set the template’s “view” properties.

■ If creating a view for a grid: Click the Number of records per page dropdown-arrow, and select the number of records (e.g., 10) to be displayed per page. (Minimize the number of records to optimize performance.)

■ If creating a summary view that will have drill-throughs to detailed views: Check the Is summary view checkbox.

■ If creating a template to be used as a detailed (i.e., drill-through) view: Click the This view can be connected to a summary view checkbox. (By checking this box, you may notice a filter item in the filter list called WHERECLAUSE. This item is automatically generated by the system in order for detail views and drill-downs to work. See Appendix A: “AAE Filters and Column Tokens” on pg. 188 for more information.)

■ Click the Display total record count checkbox to display the total number of records on the template.

3. To:

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 3 – Create Field List: Click the Next button.

■ Return to Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template): Click the Previous button.






STEP 3 – CREATE FIELD LIST

(Cont.) To create a field list for the AAE template:

Step 3 – Create Field List

1. In the Available Fields textbox, select the fields you want to display.8 (To select individual fields, also hold the CTRL key on your dashboard. For consecutive fields, hold the SHIFT key, and select the first and last fields [those in between, highlight].)

Moves highlighted fields in Available Fields textbox to the Display Fields textbox

Moves all fields in Available Fields textbox to the Display Fields textbox.

Moves all fields in Display Fields textbox back to Available Fields textbox.


_____________________________

8The number underneath the Available Fields textbox is the number of fields available/selected.




STEP 3 – CREATE FIELD LIST (CONT.)

(Cont.)

Moves highlighted field in Display Fields textbox back to Available Fields textbox.

,

Re-arranges field order (and specifies the order the columns are displayed in the grid. Select a field, then continuously click the up or down arrow to place.)

Seven fields were selected and added to the Field List textbox

2. To:

■ Add, edit, or delete template field, see pg. 51.

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 4 – Create Filter List: Click the Next button.

■ Return to Step 2 – Set View Properties: Click the Previous button.






STEP 4 – CREATE FILTER LIST

(Cont.) To create a filter list for the AAE template:

Step 4 - Create Filter List

1. In the Available Filters textbox, select the filters you want to display.

(To select individual filters, also hold the CTRL key on your dashboard. For consecutive filters, hold the SHIFT key, and select the first and last filters [those in between, highlight].)

Moves highlighted filters in Available Filters textbox to the Display Filters textbox.

Moves all filters in Available Filters textbox to the Display Filters textbox.

Moves all filters in Display Filters textbox back to Available Filters textbox.

Moves highlighted filters in Display Filters textbox back to Available Filters textbox.

,

Re-arranges filter order. (Select a filter, then continuously click the up or down arrow to place.)





STEP 4 – CREATE FILTER LIST (CONT.)

(Cont.)

Three fields were selected and added to the Filter List textbox

2. To:

■ Add, edit, or delete a template filter, see pg. 60.

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 5 – Add Security: Click the Next button.

■ Return to Step 3 – Create Field List: Click the Previous button.






STEP 5 – ADD SECURITY

(Cont.) To add field security for an AAE template:

Step 5 – Add Security

1. For every role, click the appropriate button (e.g., Full, Read Only, or None) to specify their access to the template.

2. To:

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 6 – Complete: Click the Next button.

■ Return to Step 4 – Create Filter List: Click the Previous button.






STEP 6– COMPLETE

(Cont.)

Step 6 - Complete

1. Review the template information for accuracy.

2. To:

■ Save the information and exit the wizard: Click the Finish button. The AAE Create Template View Wizard closes. (Proceed to the next page.)

■ Return to Step 5 – Add Security: Click the Previous button.






STEP 6– COMPLETE (CONT.)

(Cont.) 3. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the View/Manage link

under Prepare Templates (pg. 40). The List Template Views appears (below).

4. Scroll through the list of templates to locate the template you just created.

The new Revenue Template now appears in the List Template Views pane



Add , Edit, or Delete a Template Field


2. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the View/Manage link under Prepare Templates (pg. 40). The List Template Views pane appears (pg. 50).

3. Click the EDIT link of the relevant template (e.g., Revenue Template).


4. Click the Next button until you reach Step 3 – Create Field List (pg. 44).

5. To:

■ Add a template field, see below.

■ Edit a template field, see pg. 56.

■ Delete a template field, see pg. 58.

ADD A TEMPLATE FIELD

To add a new template field:

1. Click the Add link on Step 3: Create a Field List (pg. 44):




Add , Edit, or Delete a Template

ADD A TEMPLATE FIELD (CONT.)

Field (Cont.) Step 3 – Create Field List refreshes to display:

Step 3 - Create Field List (for entering a new field)

Properties

(Fields in red are mandatory.)

Field Name Enter the name of the new field (e.g., Estimated Tax). (Is referenced by the data locator and in formulas.)







Field (Cont.)

Properties (Fields in red are mandatory.)

Display Name

The name of the field to be displayed in the grid. (It is the same name as entered in the Field Name textbox, is hard-coded in the application, and is seen by the end users in all presentation styles.)

Description Enter a brief description of the field.

Data Type Click the dropdown-arrow, and select the type of data (e.g., Currency) the field is to display. (The Drill-through Grid data type enables a drill-through view selector on the page.)

Properties As relevant, click any of the following radio buttons.

• Available – Determines if the field will be available for system, public, and private views.

• Can Sort By – Determines if the field will be available for sorting.

• Can Group By – Determines if the field will be available for grouping.







Field (Cont.)


Drill-through View

Shows the current selected view to display on drill-through (only enabled if the Drill-through Grid data type is selected in the Data Type dropdown). This should only show non-summary system views with the same data locator as the template view being edited by default.

<Select> launches a system/public view selector pop-up.

Once a view is selected, the appropriate URL, with AAEID and AAEVIEWID, will be inserted into the Calculation field.

Show All Click the checkbox to indicate if all drill-through non-summary system views are to be shown. (No longer restricted by being from same data locator.)

Calculation This is an open text area for you to create valid SQL calculations on the specified field, such as aggregations or case statements, etc. You can use fields shown in the second textbox below…(they are from the Field List on the Step 3 pane [pg. 45]) by clicking the Field List link—OR you can click the Toolbox link to use any of the three tools (i.e., Link, Image, Case) provided (see next page).






Field (Cont.)


Toolbox When calculating formulas, you may click the Toolbox link (shown in the previous graphic) and select the following tools::

■ Link – You can create a hyperlink on a field name.

■ Case – You can create case statements

■ Image – You can embed an image into a grid.

(See “Appendix B: “Toolbox” Tools (Link, Case, Image)" on pg. 192 for instructions.)

2. Click the Update link to save the changes (or Cancel, to exit without saving).9 The Step 3 – Create Field List pane refreshes to display the new field in the Field List pane.


_____________________________

9 The Previous and Next buttons at the bottom of the pane are inactive. Only click the Cancel button ONLY if you want

to exit the wizard (no information you entered will be saved).




EDIT A TEMPLATE FIELD

Field (Cont.) To edit the name/properties of a template field (e.g., Country):

1. On Step 3: Create a Field List (pg. 44): Highlight it in the Field List pane, then click the Edit link.

The Step 3 – Create Field List pane refreshes to display the field’s name and properties.





EDIT A TEMPLATE FIELD (CONT.)

Field (Cont.) 2. Edit the fields by following the same instructions as stated in the Properties

table on pgs. 52-56.

NOTES:.

■ Regarding Display Name: If you click the Edit link, the field name (e.g., Country) displays in the first textbox.

■ Regarding Calculation: If you click the Edit link, the field name (e.g., Country) displays in the first textbox.

3. Click the Update link to save the changes (or Cancel, to exit without saving).10 The Step 3 – Create Field List pane refreshes to display all of the fields again.


_____________________________






DELETE A TEMPLATE FIELD

Field (Cont.) To delete a template field (e.g., Rentable):

1. On the Step 3: Create a Field List (pg. 44): Highlight it in the Field List pane, then click the Delete link.

2. At the prompt, click the OK button to confirm the deletion.





DELETE A TEMPLATE FIELD (CONT.)

Field (Cont.) The field no longer appears in the Field List pane (but does remain in the Available Fields pane).

The Rentable field was deleted from the Field List pane

NOTE: If the reason you deleted the field is because you FIRST deleted it from a form’s—or custom list’s—base field set, then the field will also no longer appear in the Available Fields pane (above).

(For further explanation, see the NOTE: at the beginning of the “Delete a Form/Issue Field” and “Delete a Custom-List Field” procedures in the Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Company Administration/Part II [Forms and Custom Lists]).



Add , Edit, or Delete a Template Filter



3. Click the EDIT link of the relevant template.


4. Click the Next button until you reach Step 4 – Create Filter List (pg. 46).

5. To:

■ Add a template filter, see below

■ Edit a template filter, see pg. 64.

■ Delete a template filter, see pg. 66.

ADD A TEMPLATE FILTER

To add a template filter:

1. Click the Add link on the Step 4: Create Filter List pane (pg. 46):




Add, Edit, or Delete a Template

ADD A TEMPLATE FILTER (CONT.)

Filter (Cont.) The Step 4 – Create Filter List pane refreshes to display:

Step 4 – Create Filter List

Properties


Filter Name Enter the name of the filter. (Is referenced by the data locator and in formulas).

11

Display Name Enter the name to be displayed for the filter.



_____________________________

11 The filter name cannot contain any spaces.





Filter (Cont.)

Properties


Data Type Click the dropdown-arrow, and select the type of data the filter is to display.

Description Enter a brief description of the filter.

Default Value If no other value is supplied, enter the filter’s default value.

Minimum Value

Enter the filter’s minimum value. (Used for validation. The criteria provided cannot be less than this value.)

Maximum Value

Enter the filter’s maximum value. (Used for validation. The criteria provided cannot be greater than this value.)

Properties As relevant, check any of the following checkboxes:

• Use Operator - If False, the operator must be hard-coded into the calculation (automate). (Default = True)

• Use Value – If False, the operator must be hard-coded into the calculation (automate). (Default = True)

• Is Literal Value – If the data type is a String or Date, this must be True if the criteria is Calculation (automate). (Default = False.)

• Mandatory – Determines if criteria for this filter must be supplied. (Default = False)







Filter (Cont.)

Properties


Properties (Cont.)

• Read Only – Determines if the filter can be altered in public and private views. (Default = False)

• Hidden – Determines if the filter is visible to public, and private, view builders. (Default = False.)

Calculation This is an open text area for you to create valid SQL calculations on the specified field, such as aggregations or case statements, etc. You can use fields from the Field List on the Step 4 pane (pg. 46), OR you can click the Toolbox link to use any of the three tools (i.e., Link, Case, Image) provided (see below).

Toolbox When calculating formulas, you may click the Toolbox link (shown in the above graphic) and select the following tools::










Filter (Cont.) 2. Click the Add button to save the information (or Cancel, to exit without

saving). 12 The Step 4 – Create Filter List pane refreshes to display the new filter in the Filter List pane.

EDIT A TEMPLATE FILTER

To edit the name/properties of a template filter (e.g., LocationID):

1. On the Step 4: Create a Filter List (pg. 47): Highlight it in the Filter List pane, then click the Edit link


_____________________________






EDIT A TEMPLATE FILTER (CONT.)

Filter (Cont.) The Step 4 – Create Filter List pane refreshes to display the filter’s name and properties.

2. Edit the fields by following the same instructions as stated in the Properties

table on pg. 61-63.

NOTE:.

Regarding Calculation: If you click the Edit link, the display name (e.g., LocationID) displays in the first textbox.





EDIT A TEMPLATE FILTER (CONT.)

Filter (Cont.) 3. Click the Update link to save the changes (or Cancel, to exit without saving).13.

The Step 3 – Create Field List pane refreshes to display all of the fields again.

DELETE A TEMPLATE FILTER

To delete a template filter (e.g., LocationID):

1. On the Step 4: Create a Filter List (pg. 47): Highlight it in the Filter List pane, then click the Delete link

2. At the prompt, click the OK button to confirm the deletion.


_____________________________






DELETE A TEMPLATE FILTER (CONT.)

Filter (Cont.) The field no longer appears in the Filter List pane (but does remain in the Available Fields pane).

The Location ID field was deleted from the Filter List pane

Add System/ Public AAE Views

AAE views are layers of information that represent the data of the underlying systems. As opposed to the system just displaying raw data, these layers are set up and arranged in a way that is usable and makes sense to the average person to view and use. Within the view, the user can manipulate the represented data, search, and sort—using operands, filter, rearrangement, etc.

When adding AAE views, you can create one—or copy one that already exists—and modify its properties later on. As mentioned, when adding AAE views, you are preparing the information for presentation in a dashboard object. You will be specifying things such as:

■ Name of view

■ Data locator

■ An AAE template on which the AAE view will be based

■ “View” properties, such as how rows are displayed per page

■ Field list and properties

■ Filter list and properties

■ Security settings




Add System/ Public AAE Views (Cont.) NOTE: Not all views can be used by all presentation styles. That is, they need to be

configured to work with charts, funnels, circular gauges, which typically require aggregations and group-bys for all fields.

To add a system/public view:


2. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the Add link under Prepare - AAE System and Public Views.


Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (View) of the AAE Create System View Wizard appears (pg. 69).




Add System/ Public AAE Views (Cont.)

ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 1 – CREATE NEW OR COPY EXISTING (VIEW)

To create or copy a system/public view:

Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (View)

1. In the Name field, enter the view name (e.g., Revenue).

NOTE: You cannot create a system view with the same name as one that already exists. Ensure that the view you are creating does not already exist and that the new one you are creating will have a unique name.

2. In the Description field (optional), enter a description of the new view you are

creating.





ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 1 – CREATE NEW OR COPY EXISTING (VIEW) (CONT.)

3. If you are copying an existing view: Click the Select a System View to copy

dropdown-arrow, and select the view you want to copy.

4. Click the appropriate radio to indicate if it is a System or Public view you are adding.

5. To:

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 2 – Set View Properties: Click the Next button.






ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 2 – SELECT VIEW PROPERTIES

To select a registered data locator for a view and set the view’s properties:

Step 2: Set View Properties

NOTE: The Is Summary view and Display total row count checkboxes are not available here. They are only available when creating templates.





ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 2 – SELECT VIEW PROPERTIES (CONT.)

1. Click the Select Data Locator arrow, and select a data locator (e.g., SLM

RevenueWeeksVsPlan) for your view.

2. Click the Selected Template View dropdown-arrow, and select a template view (e.g., D Revenue Weeks vs. Plan 2).

NOTE: If you did not create one, one was automatically generated when you created the data locator. It would be called <Data Locator Name> Template#.

Continued on next page `




ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 2 – SELECT VIEW PROPERTIES (CONT.)

3. If you are creating the view for a grid: Click the Number of records per page

dropdown-arrow, and select the number of records (e.g., 10) to be displayed per page. (Minimize the number of records to optimize performance.)

4. To:

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 3 – Create Field List: Click the Next button.

■ Return to Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template): Click the Previous button.






ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 3 – CREATE FIELD LIST

To create a field list for the view:


1. In the Available Fields textbox, select the fields you want to be displayed.

(To select individual fields, also hold the CTRL key on your dashboard. For consecutive fields, select the first and last [those in between, highlight] while holding the SHIFT key.)

Moves highlighted fields in Available Fields textbox to the Display Fields textbox

Moves all fields in Available Fields textbox to the Display Fields textbox.

Moves all fields in Display Fields textbox back to Available Fields textbox.

Moves highlighted field in Display Fields textbox back to Available Fields textbox.

,

Re-arranges field order (and specifies the order the columns are displayed in the grid. Select a field, then continuously click the up or down arrow to place.)





ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 3 – CREATE FIELD LIST (CONT.)

All fields were selected and added to the Field List textbox

2. To:

■ Add or edit an new AAE-view field, see pg. 82.

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 4 – Create Filter List: Click the Next button.

■ Return to Step 2 – Set View Properties: Click the Previous button.






ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 4 – CREATE FILTER LIST

To create the filter list for the view:


1. Click the first dropdown-arrow, and select an operand (e.g., AND, OR) to limit

your search.





ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 4 – CREATE FILTER LIST (CONT.)

2. Click the Choose a filter dropdown-arrow, and select a filter (e.g.,

RevenueWeeksPlan).

3. Click the third dropdown-arrow, and select another operator (e.g., equals).





ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 4 – CREATE FILTER LIST (CONT.)

4. In the textbox, type in key words for your search.

5. To:

■ Add, edit, or delete an new AAE-view filter, see pg. 90.

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 5 – Add Security: Click the Next button.

NOTES:

■ Before you click the Next button, you may add another filter list by clicking the up or down arrows (i.e., to add a filter above or below the current one).

■ You may also click the to delete a filter.

■ Return to Step 3 – Create Field List): Click the Previous button.






ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 5 – ADD SECURITY

To add security for the view:

Step 5 – Add Security

1. For each role, Click the Full, Read-Only, and/or None buttons, as applicable, to specify its access to the view.

2. To:

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 6 – Complete: Click the Next button.

■ Return to Step 4 – Create Filter List: Click the Previous button.






ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 6 – COMPLETE

Step 6 - Complete

1. Review the view information for accuracy.

2. To:

■ Save the information: Click the Finish button. The AAE Create Template View Wizard closes. (Proceed to step 3. on the next page.)

■ Return to Step 5 – Add Security:: Click the Previous button.

■ Cancel and exit the wizard without saving any information: Click the Cancel button





ADD A SYSTEM/PUBLIC VIEW – STEP 6 – COMPLETE (CONT.)

3. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the View/Manage link

under Prepare – AAE System and Public Views (pg. 68).

4. Scroll through the list of views to locate the view you just created.

The new Revenue view now appears in the List Systems View grid



Add or Edit an AAE-View Field


2. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the View/Manage link under Prepare - AAE System and Public Views (pg. 68). The List Systems Views grid appears (pg. 81).

3. Click the EDIT link of the relevant view (e.g., SLM Projects System/View).

Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (View) of the Edit System View Wizard appears.

Step 1 - Create New or Copy Existing (View)


5. To:

■ Add a new field to the view, see pg. 83.

■ Edit a system-view field, see pg. 87.




Add or Edit an AAE-View

ADD AN AAE-VIEW FIELD

Field (Cont.) To add an AAE-view field:

1. On the Step 3 – Create Field List (pg. 74), click the Add button. (You are warned that you are adding a template column in a system view. Click OK to continue.)

The Step 3 – Create Field List pane expands to display:

Properties


Field Name Enter the name of the new field (e.g., RevenueYTD). (Is referenced by the data locator and in formulas.)






ADD AN AAE-VIEW FIELD (CONT.)

Field (Cont.) Properties


Display Name

(It is the same name as entered in the Field Name textbox, is hard-coded in the application, and is seen by the end users in all presentation styles.)


Data Type Click the dropdown-arrow, and select the type of data (e.g., Currency) the field is to display. (The Drill-through Grid data type enables a drill-through view selector on the page.







Field (Cont.)

Properties (Cont.) (Fields in red are mandatory.)

Properties As relevant, click any of the following radio buttons.

• Available – Determines if the field will be available for system, public, and private views.

• Can Sort By – Determines if the field will be available for sorting.

• Can Group By – Determines if the field will be available for grouping.

Drill-through View

(See pg. 54.)

Show All Click the checkbox to indicate if all drill-through non-summary system views are to be shown. (No longer restricted by being from same data locator.)

Calculation This is an open text area for you to create valid SQL calculations on the specified field, such as aggregations or case statements, etc. You can use fields from the Field List on the Step 3 pane (pg. 75), OR you can click the Toolbox link to use any of the three tools (i.e., Link, Case, Image) provided (see next page).







Field (Cont.)


Toolbox When calculating formulas, you may click the Toolbox link (shown in the previous graphic) and select the following tools::





2. Click the Add button to save the information (or Cancel, to exit without saving). 14 The Step 3 – Create Field List pane refreshes to display the new field in the Field List pane.

(Screen shot)


_____________________________






EDIT AN AAE-VIEW FIELD

Field (Cont.) To edit the name/properties of an AAE-view field (e.g., RegionName):

1. On the Step 3 – Create Field List (pg. 74): Highlight it, then click the edit link.

The Step 3 – Create Field List pane expands to display:





EDIT AN AAE-VIEW FIELD (CONT.)

Field (Cont.)


Field Name The name of the new field. (Is referenced by the data locator and in formulas.)

Display Name (It is the same name as entered in the Field Name textbox, is hard-coded in the application, and is seen by the end users in all presentation styles.)


Data Type Displays the type of data the field is to display (e.g., Boolean, Integer, Text, Currency , Date Time, Date, Decimal, Large Text).

Properties You may click any/all of the following checkboxes:

■ Visible – Displays a field in the selected presentation style.

■ Mandatory – Marks the field as Mandatory, to be used for connections between dashboard objects. This means it cannot be removed from system, public, or private views and is indicated by an asterisk (*) next to the field name in field selector. (Not available for public view)

■ Return Value – Marks the field to return a value to the “calling” function, to be used for making connections between dashboard objects. See “Create Inter-Connecting Dashboard Objects“ on pg. 130. (Not available for public view)

■ Enable Quick Filter – Turns on quick-filtering (i.e., automatically generates a template filter, adds it the system view, etc.)

NOTE: This checkbox is only active if the chosen data type (see above) supports the use of quick-filtering.

■ Default Quick-Filter Operation – Determines which operator is used by default when a quick filter appears by a field (on the user side of the application, e.g., Contact Name, Company Name, Customer ID). The filter entries are based on the data type (see Data Type above) that you select for that field.

NOTE: (Same as above)






EDIT AN AAE-VIEW FIELD (CONT.)

Field (Cont.)


Sort Type Click any one of the following radio buttons (e.g., None, Ascending, Descending) to indicate the order/precedence in which the sorting will be applied for this field.

Sort Order Enter/edit to indicate the order the sorting will be applied for this field.

Grouping Order

Enter/edit the order in which the grouping will be applied for this field.

In SQL, it is the “group by” for aggregate functions. You need to specify the grouping order if there are aggregate functions to the column.

Drill-through View

(See pg. 54.)

Show All Click the checkbox to indicate if all drill-through non-summary system views are to be shown. (No longer restricted by being from same data locator)

Calculation Open text area for users to create valid SQL calculations on the specified field such as aggregations or case statements, etc.

2. Click the Update button to save the information (or Cancel, to exit without saving). 15 The Step 3 – Create Field List pane refreshes to display all of the fields again.


_____________________________





Add, Edit, or Delete an AAE-View Filter

NOTE: For additional information about filters, see:

■ Appendix C: Additional Information About Building Filters” on pg. 193.

■ Appendix A: AAE Filter and Column Tokens” on pg. 188.

To add, edit, or delete an AAE-view filter:


2. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the View/Manage link under Prepare - AAE System and Public Views (pg. 68). The List Systems Views grid appears (pg. 81).

3. Click the EDIT link of the relevant view (e.g., Revenue).

Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (View) of the Edit System View Wizard appears.

Step 1 - Create New or Copy Existing (View)




Add, Edit, or Delete an AAE-View Filter (Cont.)

4. Click the Next button until you reach Step 4 – Create Filter List (pg. 76).

5. To:

■ Add a new filter to the view, see below.

■ Edit a view filter, see pg. 91.

■ Delete a view filter, see pg. 94.

ADD AN AAE-VIEW FILTER

To add an AAE-view filter:

1. Follow the same instructions as stated under steps 1. through 4. on pgs. 76-76.

2. To:

■ Save the information: Click the Next button until you reach Step 6 – Complete; then click the Finish button.


EDIT AN AAE-VIEW FILTER

To edit an AAE-view filter:

1. On the Step 4 – Create Filter List pane (pg. 76): Click the Edit link next to the relevant filter (e.g., RevenueWeeksPlan).




Add, Edit, or Delete

EDIT AN AAE-VIEW FILTER

an AAE-View Filter (Cont.) The pane expands to display:


Properties


Filter Name The name of the filter (referenced by the data locator, and in formulas).

16

Display Name The name of the filter to be displayed in the grid.

Data Type The type of data the filter is to display (e.g., Boolean, Integer, Text, Currency , Date Time, Date, Decimal, Large Text).



_____________________________

16 The filter name cannot contain any spaces.




EDIT AN AAE-VIEW FILTER (CONT.)

an AAE-View Filter (Cont.)


Description A brief description of the filter.

Default Value If no other value is supplied, enter the filter’s default value.

Minimum Value Enter the filter’s minimum value. (Used for validation.) (The criteria provided cannot be less than this value.)

Maximum Value Enter the filter’s maximum value. (Used for validation.) (The criteria provided .cannot be greater than this value.)

Properties ■ Use Operator – (Is inactive, but see pg. 62 for definition.)

■ Use Value – (Is inactive, but see pg. 62 for definition.)

■ Is Literal Value – If data type is String or Date, this must be true if criteria is Calculation (automate). (Default = True)

■ Mandatory – Determines if criteria for this filter must be supplied. (Default = False)

■ Read Only – Determines if the filter can be altered in public and private views. (Default = False)

■ Hidden – Determines if the filter is visible to public, and private, view builders. (Default = False)






EDIT AN AAE-VIEW FILTER (CONT.)

an AAE-View Filter (Cont.)


Calculation Open text area for users to create valid SQL calculations on the specified field, such as aggregations or case statements, etc.

2. To:



DELETE AN AAE-VIEW FILTER

To delete an AAE-view filter:

1. On the Step 4 – Create Filter List pane (pg. 76): Click the next to the relevant filter (e.g., RevenueWeeksPlan).

2. To:





View, Edit, Copy, or Delete an AAE Template


2. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the View/Manage link under Prepare Templates. The list of template views appears.


List Template Views pane




View, Edit, Copy, or Delete an AAE Template (Cont.)

3. To:

■ View/edit an AAE template, see below.

■ Copy an AAE template, see pg. 97.

■ Delete an AAE template, see pg. 99.

VIEW/EDIT AN AAE TEMPLATE

To view/edit an AAE template (e.g., Lease Expiration Drill-Through Grid):

1. Click its Edit link on the List Template Views pane (pg. 50). Step 1 –Create New or Copy Existing (Template) appears (the name of the template you selected displays in the Name textbox).

Step 1 –Create New or Copy Existing (Template)

2. To edit any information:

■ See pg. 40 for Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing instructions.

■ See pg. 42 for Step 2 – Set View Properties instructions

■ See pg. 44 for Step 3 – Create Field List instructions.




View, Edit, Copy, or Delete

VIEW/EDIT AN AAE TEMPLATE (CONT.)

an AAE Template (Cont.) ■ See pg. 46 for Step 4 – Create Filter List instructions.

■ See pg. 48 for Step 5 - Add Security instructions..

■ See pg. 49 for Step 6: Complete instructions.

COPY AN AAE TEMPLATE

There are two ways to copy an AAE template: Via its Copy link (see Step 1. below) or via the Add a Template View link (see step 2. on the next page).

1. To copy an AAE template (e.g., Lease Expiration Drill-Through Grid) via its Copy link:

a. Click the link on the List Template Views pane (pg. 50). The Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template) pane of the AAE Create System View Wizard appears (showing the view being copied).

Step 1 - Create New or Copy Existing Template





COPY AN AAE TEMPLATE (CONT.)

an AAE Template (Cont.) b. For Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template):

1) Enter a name (e.g., Revenue Template) and description (optional) for the template view.

2) To copy an existing template:

a) Click the Copy Existing radio button.

b) Click the Select Template View to Copy dropdown-arrow (pg. 41), and select the view you want to copy.

3) Click the Next button to save the information and proceed to Step 2 – Set View Properties (or Cancel, to exit without saving).

c. For Step 2 – Set View Properties instructions, see pg. 42.

d. For Step 3 – Create Field List instructions, see pg. 44.

e. For Step 4 – Create Filter List instructions, see pg. 46.

f. For Step 5 – Add Security instructions, see pg. 48.

g. For Step 6 – Complete instructions, see pg. 49.

2. To copy an AAE template via the Add a New Template View link:

a. Click the link in the upper-right corner of the List Template Views pane (pg. 50). Step 1 – Create or Copy Existing (Template) appears ().

b. Follow Step1. through Step 6. of the wizard, on pgs. 40-50, to copy and complete the new template.





DELETE AN AAE TEMPLATE

an AAE Template (Cont.) To delete an AAE template (e.g., FM – Facilities):

1. Click its Delete link on the List Template Views pane.

2. At the prompt, click the Yes button to confirm the deletion.

3. Refresh the screen, then—In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard—click the View/Manage link under Prepare Templates (pg. 95). The List Templates View pane appears without the template.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration Dashboard Objects – Present the Data


Present the Data This is the third main step of building a dashboard object. Here, you will be presenting the data that you have registered and prepared.

This is where you would set up the dashboard-object properties, such as what it will be called, its display name, its format or presentation style (e.g., grid, chart, URL, etc.), the order the fields are displayed if it is a grid; the X-Y coordinates if it is a chart; etc.

NOTE: Before creating a dashboard object, be sure that you have already set up your system (or public) view; or that one already exists.


■ Add a grid view, see pg. 100.

■ Build a chart, see pg. 107.

■ Create a dashboard object with a URL, see pg. 130.

■ Create inter-connecting dashboard objects, see pg. 130.

■ Build a circular gauge, see pg. 136.

■ Create a video-URL dashboard object, see pg. 143.

■ Connect a Web-cam dashboard object with a grid, see pg. 146.

■ Create a combination chart, see pg. 148.

■ Create a dashboard object that contains Microsoft Outlook, see pg. 150.

■ Create a grid for Virtual Earth dashboard object, see pg. 152.

■ Add a dashboard object to the dashboard, see pg. 152

Add a Grid View

To add a grid view:

Grid view


Dashboard Objects – Present the Data Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


Add a Grid View (Cont.)


2. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the Add link under Present - Dashboard Objects.

Presentation Layer pane of the Dashboard-Object Administration pane

The Step 1: Select Information Source and Presentation Style pane of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears (below).

STEP 1 – SELECT INFORMATION SOURCE AND PRESENTATION STYLE

Step 1 – Select Information Source and Presentation Style





STEP 1 – SELECT INFORMATION SOURCE AND PRESENTATION STYLE (CONT.)

1. In the Name and Description textboxes, enter the grid’s name (e.g., Revenue)

and description.

2. Click the Category dropdown-arrow, and select where (e.g., General) to put the grid in the dashboard-object catalog.

3. Click the Information Source dropdown-arrow, and select AAE_View as the information source.

Additional information appears.





STEP 1: SELECT THE INFORMATION SOURCE AND PRESENTATION STYLE (CONT.)

a. Click the Select View dropdown-arrow, and select the system/public view

(e.g., CriticalDates_By_Region) the grid will be based on.

b. For Information on this Dashboard Object will expire, click either the:17

■ Immediacy radio button (Default) – Information refreshes every time the dashboard reloads.

IMPORTANT! This will slow performance and should be used with caution.

■ Every radio button - Information refreshes every time the dashboard

reloads and the set interval has relapsed; or on user demand.18


_____________________________

17 This is the cache time-out for information shown in a dashboard.

18 The default is five minutes. Minutes entered must be greater than zero.




STEP 1: SELECT THE INFORMATION SOURCE AND PRESENTATION STYLE (CONT.)

c. Click the Presentation Style dropdown-arrow, and select Grid.

4. To:

■ Save the information and proceed to Step 2c – Grid Editor: Click the Next button.


STEP 2C: GRID EDITOR

Step 3c – Grid Editor





STEP 2C: GRID EDITOR (CONT.)

1. To change the order in which fields display on a grid: Select the field in the

Display Fields textbox, and use the up and down arrows to change its order.

2. For the Display Name: Select one of the fields (e.g., Region) in the Display Fields textbox. The Display Name and Column Width textboxes auto-populate with the name (e.g., Region) and column width (e.g., 100 [pixels]).

3. For Column Formatting: Click the Word wrap or No Word wrap radio button.

4. Click the Update link to save the information.

5. To:

■ Proceed to Step 6 – Dashboard Object Wizard Complete: Click the Next button.

NOTE: For grids and all AAE views, the wizard will automatically skip Step 5 – Add Security. Object-level security is set when creating system and public views. The wizard will proceed to the security step only for URL information sources.





STEP 2C: GRID EDITOR (CONT.)

■ Return to Step 1 – Create Field List: Click the Previous button.


STEP 6 – DASHBOARD OBJECT WIZARD COMPLETE

Step 6 – Dashboard Object Wizard Complete

To:

■ Complete creation of the grid: Click Finish to save the information and exit the Dashboard Object Wizard.

■ Return to Step 2c – Grid Editor: Click the Previous button.


Once you have finished creating the grid, you can add it to the dashboard. (See “Add a Dashboard Object to the Dashboard” on pg 152.)



Build a Chart You can build a single-series chart (with a drill-down grid, if you wish), or a multi-series chart with multiple views (system and public).19

NOTE: If you wish to create a chart with a drill-down grid, you have to build the drill-down template—and system view—first. Then,, when you create the chart template and its system view, you can affiliate the drill-down view with the chart view.

To:

■ Build a single-series chart, see below.

■ Build a multi-series chart with views (system and public), see pg. 118.

BUILD A SINGLE-SERIES CHART

NOTE: The following instructions are applicable for creating the following types of single-series charts: Bar, Column, Pie, and Funnel. (The only difference is their presentation styles.)

Example: The vice president of sales needs to know last year’s sales revenues and related information—separated by region.

To build a single-series chart, you must:

■ Create a template. (See below.)

■ If applicable: Create another template (for the summary view, if you created the first template as a drill-down). (pg. 110.)

■ Create a system view (pg. 113).

■ Create a dashboard object (pg. 115).

■ Add the single-series chart to the dashboard (pg. 117).

NOTES:

■ BEFORE YOU BEGIN THIS PROCEDURE: You should have a good understanding of how to navigate around the application, including wizards, before you proceed with this example.

■ For all single-series charts, generally the data columns are some form of aggregation, such as a sum; or some finite number (e.g., highest, lowest, count, etc.)


_____________________________

19 For the single-series chart, the drill-down grid is optional. If you don’t want to create a drill-down grid, simply omit

step 1 of the procedure and proceed to step 2 on pg. 110.



Build a Chart (Cont.)

BUILD A SINGLE-SERIES CHART (CONT.)

1. To create a template:

a. In the Dashboard Administration section of the system-administrator dashboard, click the Dashboard-Object Administration link (pg. 7) The Dashboard-Object Administration pane appears (pg. 7).

b. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 40): Click the Add link under Prepare Templates. Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template) appears (pg. 97).

c. Follow the same instructions as stated in steps 1. through 3 on pg. 41.

d. In Step 2 of the AAE Create Template View Wizard (as shown below) of the template wizard:

1) Be sure to select SLM Revenue Per Store when you click the Select Data Locator dropdown arrow.20

2) Then, depending on if you want to create this template for just the chart or want to create the template as a drill-down grid:

■ Click the Is Summary View checkbox, if you just want to create the chart.

Step 2 of the AAE Create Template View Wizard


_____________________________

20 If the SLM Revenue Per Store data locator is not there (per the Example [pg. 107] represented in this procedure),

then see “Add a Data Locator” on pg. 30.





…OR…

■ Click the This view can be connected to a summary view checkboxes, if you do want to create a drill-down grid for the chart.

IMPORTANT! If you click the This view can be connected to a summary view checkbox, then this template will serve as the drill-down template. You will then have to create ANOTHER template for the chart. To do so, see step 2 on pg. 110.

e. Next—create a system view (see “Add System/Public Views” on pg. 67).

NOTE: If you used step 1 on pg. 108 to create:

■ A drill-down grid template: Then, only complete Step 1 and Step 2 of the AAE Create System View Wizard. (In Step 1. of the wizard., name the system view SLM Revenue per Store.)

■ A chart template:

– In Step 1 of the AAE Create System View Wizard: Name the system view SLM Revenue per Store.

– In Step 3 of the wizard: Select the fields you want to be displayed in the chart template.

– In Step 4 of the wizard: Select the filters you want to make available. (Check the filter list for a filter called WHERECLAUSE. [This is automatically generated when you check the Is Summary View checkbox when creating the template].)






2. IF APPLICABLE: To create another template that will serve as the summary view for the drill-down template (created in step 1 on pg. 108):21

a. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 40): Click the Add link under Prepare Templates. The AAE Create Template View Wizard appears.

b. In Step 1: Create New or Copy Existing (Template): Label the template appropriately.

c. Click the Next button and on Step 2 – Set View Properties:

1) Select the appropriate data locator. (For this example, it is SLM Revenue by Store).

2) Check the Is Summary view checkbox.

d. Click the Next button and on Step 3 – Create Field List:

1) Choose the following display fields:22

■ LastYearAnnualSales

■ RegionName

2) To edit the LastYearAnnualSales field:

a) Highlight it in the Field List pane, then click the Edit link.


_____________________________

21 Follow the instructions in this step ONLY if you used step 1. (pg. 109) to create a drill-down grid.

22 To create the fields (if not there), see “Add, Edit, or Delete a Template Field” on pg. 52.





(The Step 3 pane appears again, displaying the field’s properties.)

Step 3 of the AAE Create Template View Wizard

b) Click the Edit link next to the Calculation field, and (in the

textbox that appears) type sum(LastYearAnnualSales).

c) Click the Update link beneath the Calculation textbox (to save and close it.).

d) Click the Update link at the top-right side of the pane to save all information and exit the pane.

3) To edit the RegionName field:

a) Highlight it in the Field List pane, then click the Edit link. (The Step 3 pane appears again, displaying the field’s properties.)





BUILD A SINGLE-SERIES CHART CONT.)

b) Check the Can Group By checkbox.

c) Click the Update link at the top-right side of the pane to save all

information and exit.

e. To add a new DrillThrough field:

NOTE: Skip this step and proceed to step f. on the next page, if you did not create a drill-through template (via step 1. on pg. 108).

1) Click the Add link on Step 3: Create Field List (Step 3 refreshes).

2) Enter DrillThrough in the Field Name textbox.

3) Click the Data Type dropdown menu, and select DrillThrough

4) Click the Drill Through View dropdown-arrow, and select the view that you created in the “Create a template” step on pg. 108.

5) Click the Add link in the upper-right corner of the Step 3 pane to save the information.





BUILD A SINGLE-SERIES CHART CONT.)

f. Click the Next button and on Step 4 – Create Filter List: Select all filters.

g. Proceed to Step 6: Complete, and click the Finish button to save the information and exit the AAE Create Template Wizard.

3. To create a system view:

a. In the Information Layer section of the dashboard (pg. 68): Click the Add link under Prepare - AAE System and Public Views. The AAE Create System View Wizard appears.

b. Create the system view, using the same steps as stated in Step 1: Create New or Copy Existing (View) on pg. 69.

1) Give the view an appropriate name.

2) For Type of View, click the System radio button.


1) Select the same data locator (i.e., SLM Revenue Per Store) you used to create the template view (in step 1.d.1 on pg. 108).

2) Select the template that you created for the summary view.


1) Select all fields to be displayed.








b) Enter 1 in the Grouping Order textbox.

NOTE: In SQL, even though there is one grouping—or “group by”—for this scenario, you still need to specify the grouping order, especially if there are more aggregate columns.

c) Click the Update link to save the information and exit the pane.

3) Proceed to Step 6 – Complete, and click the Finish button to save all information and exit the AAE Create System View Wizard.






4. To create a dashboard object (DO):

a. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 101): Click the Add link under Present – Dashboard Objects. Step 1 – Select Information Source and Presentation Style of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears.


b. Enter a name and description in the appropriate textboxes.

c. Click the Category dropdown-arrow, and select where (e.g., Location Management) to put the dashboard object in the dashboard-object catalog.

d. Click the Information Source dropdown-arrow, and select AAE View.

e. Click the Select View dropdown-arrow, and select the system view on which the new dashboard object will be based. (In this case, it will be the one you created in step 3 on pg. 113).

f. Click the Presentation Style dropdown-arrow, and select a presentation style (e.g., Column). (Note: You can show the columns in the chart as cylinder-style if you make the chart three-dimensional. See step g.2 on the next page.)

NOTE: If you wish, you can also choose the Bar, Pie Chart, or Funnel style—and you can change the presentation style once the DO is placed on the dashboard.






g. Click the Next button and on Step 2 – Chart General Properties.

Step 2 – Chart General Properties

1) Provide a title for the chart (optional).

2) Click the appropriate radio Chart Style radio button to show the chart columns in a 2D or 3D cylinder style.

3) Click the Show Series Legend checkbox, if applicable. (You can add or remove the legend at a later time, when editing dashboard object properties within the dashboard view.)

4) If you created a DrillThrough field (see step 2.e. on pg. 112): Click the DrillThrough Launch field dropdown-arrow, and select the DrillThrough field.

h. Click the Next button and on Step 3 – Chart X-Axis Properties:

1) Specify what the X-axis series is (e.g., Date, Int [integer [whole number], string [i.e., text]; is String for this example).

2) Specify an x-axis label (optional).

i. Click the Next button and on Step 4 – Chart Y-Axis Properties:. (All fields in this step are optional.)

j. Proceed to Step 6 – Complete, and click the Finish button to save the information and exit the Dashboard Object Wizard.






5. To add the single-series chart to the dashboard:23

Dashboard tab (Formerly entitled SLM Portal tab)

a. Click the Dashboard button at the top-right corner of the system-

administrator dashboard (pg. 4).

b. Click the Edit Dashboard link.


_____________________________

23 To reach the dashboard, click the yellow Dashboard button at the top of page, then click the Dashboard

tab.





c. In the catalog, locate the dashboard object you created: (For information

about the dashboard catalog, see “”Add a Dashboard Object” in the Accruent User Guide: User Interface/Navigation, Home Page, Workflow Inbox, and Dashboard.)

d. Select a zone to drop it in; then click the Add link.

BUILD A MULTIPLE-SERIES CHART WITH VIEWS

Example of a stacked bar/column chart

Creating a multi-series chart is almost completely identical to creating a single-series chart, with the difference being that you are displaying more columns (from the database) when you set up your template views.

You can also have multiple views for a single dashboard object. That is, you can create a system view, which would be the main view that other views (called “public views”) are based on.

The example for this multi-series chart will be: Show a Revenue vs. Plan chart, showing the individual sums of the Revenue Weeks Projected, Revenue Weeks Planned, and Revenue Weeks Complete fields.

The graph will represent the sums versus region/market areas.





BUILD A MULTIPLE-SERIES CHART WITH VIEWS (CONT.)

To build a multi-series chart with views, you must:

■ Create a template (see below).

■ Create system view (pg. 121).

■ Create public view(s) (pg. 123).

■ Create a DO (pg. 124).

■ Add the multi-series chart to the dashboard (pg. 127).

NOTES:

■ BEFORE YOU BEGIN THIS PROCEDURE: You should have a good understanding of how to navigate around the application, including wizards, before you proceed with this example.

■ The following instructions are applicable for creating the following types of single-series charts: Column, Bar, Stacked Column, and Stacked Bar. (The only difference is their presentation styles.)

■ As is the case for single-series charts, the data columns for multi-series charts are generally some form of aggregation, such as a sum; or some finite number (e.g., highest, lowest, count, etc.)

1. To create a template for a multi-series/-group chart:

a. In the Dashboard Administration section of the system-administrator dashboard, click the Dashboard-Object Administration link (pg. 7). The Dashboard-Object Administration pane appears (pg. 7)).

b. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 40): Click the Add/Copy link under Prepare - Templates. Step 1 of the AAE Create Template Wizard appears.

c. In the Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template) pane: Label the template appropriately.

d. Click the Next button and on Step 2 – Set View Properties:

1) Select the appropriate data locator (e.g., SLMRevenueWeeksVsPlan).

2) Click the Is Summary View checkbox.





BUILD A MULTI-SERIES CHART WITH VIEWS (CONT.)

e. Click the Next button and on Step 3 – Create Field List:.

1) Choose the following fields. 24

■ RevenueWeeksProjected

■ RevenueWeeksPlan

■ RevenueWeeksComplete

■ RegionName (This will be one group, by column, for the system view.)

■ MarketAreaName (This will be another group, by column, for the public view.)

2) To edit the individual RevenueWeeks… fields:


b) Click the edit link next to the Calculation field, and type sum(RevenueWeeks… (as shown in the figure below).


_____________________________

24 If any of the fields are not there, see “Add, Edit, or Delete a Template Field” on pg. 51.





c) Click the Update link below the Calculation field…

…as well as in the upper-right corner.

(Do the same for the all of the RevenueWeeks… fields.)

3) To edit the RegionName and MarketAreaName fields:


b) For each field: Click the Can Group By checkbox, and leave everything else as is.

c) Click the Update link (in the top-right corner of the pane) to save the information and exit the pane.

f. Click the Next button, and on Step 4 – Create Filter List: Select all filters.

g. Click the Next button, and on Step 5 – Add Security: Set security.

h. Click the Next button and on Step 6 – Complete: Click the Finish button to save all information and exit the AAE Create Template Wizard.

2. To create a system view:

a. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 68): Click the Add link under Prepare - AAE System and Public Views. Step 1 of the AAE Create System View Wizard appears (pg. 69).

b. On Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing:

1) Give the system view an appropriate name.

2) For Type of View, click the System radio button.







1) Select the data locator you used to create the template (in the first step of this example [e.g., SLM RevenueWeeksVsPlan in step 1.d.(1 on pg. 119]).

2) Click the Selected AAE Template dropdown. and select the template that you created in the first step of this example.


1) Select all fields to be displayed.

2) Delete the MarketAreaName field. (This will be used for the public-view group, re: step 3. on pg. 123.)



b) Enter 1 (for this example) in the In the Grouping Order textbox.

c) Click the Update link to save the information and exit the pane.






d) Click the Update link to save the information and exit the pane.

e. Click the Next button, and on Step 5 – Add Security: Set security.

f. Click the Next button, and on Step 6 – Complete: Click the Finish button to save all information and exit the AAE Create System View wizard.

The rest of the groupings in the dashboard-objects dropdown will be set up as public views.

3. To create public views:

a. In the Dashboard Administration section of the system-administrator dashboard, click the Dashboard-Object Administration link (pg. 7). The Dashboard-Object Administration pane appears (pg. 7).

b. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the Add link under Prepare - AAE System and Public Views (pg. 68). Step 1 of the AAE Create System View Wizard appears.

c. In Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (View):

1) Give your view an appropriate name.

2) Click the Select the System View to copy dropdown-arrow, and select the system view you created in the previous step.

3) For Type of View, select the Public radio button.

d. Click the Next button, and on Step 2 - Set View Properties:

1) Set the number of records to be displayed in your DO.

2) Check the Default View checkbox if you want this view to be the one that is displayed by default when you put the DO on your dashboard.

e. Click the Next button, and on Step 3 - Create Field List:

1) Remove the RegionName field (because it was used in the system view for this example; see the fourth bullet under step 1.e.1. on pg. 120), and add the MarketAreaName field.25


_____________________________

25 To add a public view field, see “Add or Edit an AAE-View Field” on pg. 82.





2) To edit the MarketAreaName field:


b) Enter the order number (e.g., 1) in the Grouping Order textbox.

f. Click the Update link to save the information and exit the pane.

g. Click the Next button, and on Step 5 – Add Security (pg. 79): Set security on the public view.

h. Click the Next button, and on Step 6 – Complete (pg. 80), click the Finish button to save all information and exit the AAE Create System View Wizard.

4. To create the multi-series/-group chart as a dashboard object (DO):

a. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the Add link under Present – Dashboard Objects (pg. 101). Step 1 of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears.

Step 1 - Select Information Source and Presentation Style

b. In Step 1 – Select Information Source and Presentation Style:

1) Enter the chart-DO name and description in the appropriate textboxes.

2) Click the Category dropdown-arrow, and select where to put the chart in the dashboard-object catalog.






3) Click the Information Source dropdown-arrow, and select the

relevant information source (e.g., AAE_View). The Select View menu activates.

4) Click the Select View dropdown-arrow, and select a view the chart will be based. (In this case, it will be the system view that you created in step 2 [pg. 121] of this example.)

5) Click the Presentation Style dropdown-arrow, and select a presentation style (e.g., Column).

NOTE: If you wish, you can also choose the Bar, Stacked Bar, or Stacked Column style—and you can change the presentation style once the DO is placed on the dashboard.

6) To make the chart three-dimensional (e.g., cylinder style), click the

Show Column as Cylinder checkbox.

c. Click the Next button and on Step 2 – Chart Object Properties:

Step 2 - Chart Object Properties

1) In the Chart Title textbox, enter a title for the chart.

2) If you checked the Show Column as Cylinder checkbox (in step 4.b.6, above): Click the desired Chart Style radio button (e.g., 2D, 3D).





BUILD A MULTI-SERIES CHART, WITH VIEWS (CONT.)

3) Click the Is this Multi Series checkbox. (There will be three columns

[the sum of Projected, Planned, and Completed respectively] for each region or market area.)

4) (Leave Is this Last Group by ColumnSeries checkbox unchecked.)26

5) Set the X-axis data type to String.

6) Click the Show Series Legend checkbox if you want to show the legend. (You can add or remove the legend at a later time when editing dashboard-object properties within the dashboard view.)

7) (Ignore the Drill through Launch field dropdown menu. There will be no drill -through for this example.)

d. Click the Next button and on Step 3 – Chart X-Axis Properties.

1) Specify what the X-axis series is (e.g., Date, Int [for integer or whole number], String [text]). Is String, for this example).

2) Specify an x-axis label (optional).

e. Proceed to Step 6 – Complete, and click the Finish button to save the information and exit the Dashboard Object Wizard.


_____________________________

26 This checkbox lets you specify if the last Group By will be the series for the chart for a multi-series chart. In this

example, it is unchecked because the series will be the three summation columns.





5. To add the multi-series/-group chart to the dashboard:

a. Click the Edit Dashboard link on the Dashboard tab.27

Dashboard tab

b. In the catalog, locate the multi-series chart you created.

c. Select a zone to drop it in; then click the Add link.

_____________________________

27 To reach the dashboard, click the yellow Dashboard button at the top right corner of the application, then click the

Dashboard tab.



Change a Chart’s Presentation Style

To change a chart’s presentation style:

1. Right-click the dropdown-arrow at the top right corner of the chart, and select Properties.

Currently, this is a Bar chart

The Editor Zone dialog box appears.

Editor Zone dialog box




Change a Chart’s Presentation Style (Cont.)

2. Select the chart type you wish to change to (e.g., Stacked Column).

3. Scroll down and click the OK button.

4. Back on the Dashboard tab (pg. 127), click the View Dashboard link. The chart’s presentation style is now the one you selected (i.e., Stacked Column).

Stacked-column chart



Create a Dashboard Object with a URL

Dashboard objects can contain URLs and can act as a browser within your browser!

To create a dashboard object with a URL:


2. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 101): Click the Add link under Present – Dashboard Objects. Step 1 of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears (pg. 101).

3. In Step 1 – Select Information Source and Presentation Style:

a. Enter a name for the new dashboard object.

b. Select a category in which to put the dashboard object.

c. Click the Information Source dropdown-arrow, and select URL.

d. In the URL textbox, enter a URL Web site address, beginning with http://.

Create Inter-

Connecting Dashboard Objects

NOTE: Connections between dashboard objects are limited to connecting between:

■ Grid to screen

■ Chart to screen

■ Chart to grid, and vice versa

■ Chart to chart

■ Grid to grid

To create dashboard objects that inter-connect, you must:

■ Add a system/public view (Provider). (pg. 131).

■ Add a system/public view (Consumer). (pg. 132).

■ Create the inter-connected dashboard objects (pg. 134).

■ Add the inter-connected dashboard objects to the dashboard (pg. 136).




Create Inter- Connecting Dashboard Objects (Cont.)

1. To add the Provider system/public view for the inter-connecting dashboard objects:


b. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the Add link under Prepare - AAE System and Public Views (pg. 68). Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (View) appears (pg. 69).

1) Give your view an appropriate name.

2) Select the type of view.

c. Click the Next button, and on Step 2 – Set View Properties:

1) Select a data locator for your view.

2) Select a template. (You can use the auto-generated template created when you created the data locator; or you can create another template [see “Build an AAE Template“ on pg. 39.])

d. Click the Next button, and on Step 3 – Create Field List:





Create Inter- Connecting Dashboard

1) Edit the primary-key field (e.g., ProductID).

Objects (Cont.) NOTE: Make sure the primary key (PK) for the table is a displayed field. The primary key is usually the object, or item, ID (e.g., ProjectID, AssetID, StoreID, WorkOrderID, etc.).

2) Click the Return Value checkbox.

3) Click the Update link to save the information and exit the pane.

e. Click the Next button until you reach Step 6 – Complete (pg. 80); then click the Finish to save all information and exit the AAE Create System View Wizard.

2. To add the Consumer system/public view for the inter-connecting dashboard objects):


b. In the Information Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 68): Click the Add link under Prepare - AAE System and Public Views. Step 1 of the AAE Create System View Wizard appears (pg. 69).

c. In Step 1 - Create New or Copy Existing (View): Create a system/public view that will be the “consumer”.

d. Click the Next button, and on Step 2 - Set View Properties: Use the same data locator and AAE template as the Provider AAE view that you created in step 1 on pg. 131.

e. Click the Next button, and on Step 3 – Create Field List: Be sure to have at least the primary-key field in the Display Name textbox.





f. Click the Next button, and on the Step 4: Create Filter List (pg. 76):

1) Select the field that is the primary key (e.g., ProjectID), then click the Edit link. The pane refreshes to display the field’s properties.

2) Click the Mandatory checkbox.





3) Click the Update link to save the information and exit the pane.

g. Proceed to Step 6 - Complete (pg. 80) and click the Finish button to save all information and exit the AAE Create System View Wizard.

3. To create the inter-connecting dashboard objects:

a. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 101): Click the Add link under Present – Dashboard Objects. Step 1 of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears.

b. On Step 1 – Select Information Source and Presentation Style: Create a dashboard object that is the grid (which will be the Provider), based on the view that you created as the provider.


c. Proceed through the wizard, and on Step 6 – Complete, click the Finish button to save all information and exit the Dashboard Object Wizard.





d. Click the Add link under Present – Dashboard Objects (pg. 101) again. Step 1 of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears.

e. On Step 1 – Select Information Source and Presentation Style: Create a dashboard object that is a screen presentation style, based on the consumer view you created. (This will be the Consumer.)


f. Click the Next button, and on Step 2b – Screen:

Step 2b - Screen

1) To customize the screen: In the Field List textbox: Select the fields

on the right side of the screen, and click the Insert Field link to insert them into the screen.

2) Manually enter any other information into the screen, as you wish.





4. To add the inter-connected dashboard objects to the dashboard:

a. Follow the same instructions as stated in steps 5.a. through 5.c. on pg. 127.

Dashboard tab

b. Make the connection between the dashboard objects.

c. Navigate through the grid, and the screen should update based on the grid.

Build a Circular Gauge

To build a circular gauge:

1. Create template and system views. (See “Build an AAE Template” on pg. 39 and “Add System/Public AAE Views” on pg. 67, respectively.)




Build a Circular Gauge (Cont.) CAUTION!

When creating and setting up template views for a gauge, ensure that the field that is going to be the scale field and marker field is a Decimal or Integer type in your template view.

THEN…


3. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 101): Click the Add link under Present - Dashboard Objects. Step 1 of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears.

4. On Step 1 - Select Information Source and Presentation Style:

Dashboard Object Wizard: Step 1 – Select Information Source and Presentation Style pane

a. Enter the required information (in red), being sure to:

■ Click the Information Source dropdown-arrow, and select AAE View.

■ Click the Presentation Style dropdown-arrow, and select Gauge.




Build a Circular Gauge (Cont.)

5. Click the Next button, and on Step 2a – Pointer:

Step 2a - Pointer

a. Enter the gauge title (e.g., Sales Per Sq Ft)

b. Click the Needle Field dropdown-arrow, and select a Needle field. (This field determines where your needle will point to in your gauge.)

NOTE: This field, as well as the Marker Field, should be a Decimal or Integer “data type” in the template view.

(To see what each of the fields indicates, click the Sample Gauge link [in the upper-right corner]). The following graphic appears.)





6. Click the Next button, and on Step 2b – Scale:

Step 2b - Scale

a. Set the parameters, such as: (This step is optional. There are no required fields in this step.)

■ The starting (Min) and ending (Max) values for the scale of the gauge

■ Major interval

■ Show Scale in (This is the unit that you want the scale to be displayed in.)

■ Scale-bar thickness

■ Bar color

■ Start angle (This is the starting point of the gauge that determines the gauge’s shape.)

■ Sweep Angle (The sweep angle is relative to the starting angle and determines the overall shape of your gauge.)






7. Click the Next button, and on Step 2c – Range:

Step 2c - Range





a. Set the parameters for the range indicator of the gauge (you can have multiple ranges in your gauge). (Not a required feature of your gauge.)

b. To add more ranges, click the icon. (To add more ranges, you must enter Start and End values.)

c. To remove a range that you have entered, click the icon.






8. Click the Next button, and on Step 2d – Indicator:

a. Set the parameters for the range indicator of the gauge (not a required feature of your gauge.)

b. You can have multiple ranges in your gauge. To add more ranges, click the icon. (To add more ranges, you must enter Start and End values

for each one.)

c. To remove a range that you have entered, click the icon.

9. Click the Next button, and on Step 2d – Indicator:





…set whether or not you want the numeric indicator (or counter) to be displayed; and also specify if you want to show the polarity and decimal.


Create a Video-URL Dashboard Object

To create a video-URL dashboard object:


2. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 101): Click the Add link under Present - Dashboard Objects. Step 1 of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears (see next page).




Create a Video-URL Dashboard Object (Cont.)

3. On Step 1 - Select Information Source and Presentation Style:


a. In the Name textbox: Enter a name for the video-URL dashboard object.

b. Click the Category dropdown-arrow, and select where (e.g., General) to put the video-URL DO in the dashboard-object catalog.

c. Click the Information Source dropdown-arrow, and select Video URL





d. In the Video URL textbox, enter the URL address.28

e. Enter the width and height in the appropriate textboxes (e.g., 200); and indicate whether to show the controls, status bar, display; or have auto-start.

• Width – Sets the width of the DO window, in pixels.

• Height - Sets the height of the DO window, in pixels.

• Show Controls – Displays the Play and Stop buttons, as well as the Volume button.

• Auto Start – Lets the video start playing automatically once the it has been buffered.

• Show Status Bar – Shows the status of the video, such as playing, stopped, or buffering. (See image below.)

• Show Display – Enables a display of the information. This display provides information on the source, such as source and/or video.

• Preview– Lets you see a preview of the ??


_____________________________

28 This is a required field (although not indicated in red).




4. Click the Next button, and on Step 5 – Add Security: Set security on the DO.

5. Click the Next button, and on Step 6 – Complete: Click the Finish button to save all information and exit the Dashboard Object Wizard.

Connect a Web-Cam Dashboard Object with a Grid

A Webcam dashboard object (DO) can be connected to a grid and consume URL information from a column within a grid. To do so:

1. Create a grid (template and system view). (See “Build an AAE Template” on pg. 39 and “Add System/Public AAE Views” on pg. 67, respectively. In the template view for the grid, mark the column that you want to feed—with a Webcam with an URL—as a Return Value.)

2. Create the Webcam DO (as you did as you did in the “Create a Video-URL Dashboard Object” on pg. 143).

3. Add the Webcam DO and grid to the dashboard. (See “Add a Dashboard Object” in the Accruent User Guide: User Interface/Navigation, Home Page, Workflow Inbox, and Dashboard.)

4. Connect the Webcam DO to the grid, as a Consumer. (For instructions, see “Connect a Dashboard Object” in the Accruent User Guide: User Interface/Navigation, Home Page, Workflow Inbox, and Dashboard.)




Connect a Web-Cam Dashboard Object with a Grid (Cont.)

5. In the Webcam properties, ensure that the Video URL Field name (e.g., Project Name) matches that of your Return Value column in your grid…

…OR you can create the column in your grid and label the column Video URL Field. This way, you do not need to edit the properties of the grid.

The screen shot above shows a Webcam DO, a grid, and the properties of the Webcam DO—in edit mode. The Webcam is connected to the shown grid, as a Consumer. Notice that the Video URL Field Name (i.e., Project Name) is the same as the column name in the grid, from where the Webcam will be getting its information.

The Video URL Field Name field is set when you create the Webcam DO by using the wizard via the Dashboard Administration pane. However, when you connect the Webcam DO to a grid, this field is overridden and blanked out. Once you disconnect the Webcam DO, this field is replaced with the field or URL that was set up originally in the wizard.



Create a Combination Chart

To create a combination chart:

1. Set up appropriate template and system views. (See “Build an AAE Template” on pg. 39 and “Add System/Public AAE Views “ on pg. 67.

NOTE: Be sure that when you are creating your template view, that it is a summary view (i.e., check the Is Summary view checkbox in Step 2 – Set View Properties of the AAE Create Template View Wizard [pg. 42].)

2. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the Add link under

Present - Dashboard Objects (pg. 101). Step 1 of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears.



a. Click the Information Source dropdown-arrow, and select a summary view.

NOTE: You will be prompted with an error if you do not select a summary view.




Create a Combination Chart (Cont/)

b. Click the Presentation Style dropdown-arrow, and select Combination.

Step 2 – Chart General Properties appears.

Step 2 – Chart General Properties

4. Set the chart properties.

■ These properties are similar to those set in Step 2 – Chart General Properties on pg. 116 (in the “Build a Chart” procedure).

■ Set the chart type for the different overlays you want displayed; and select their respective fields.

NOTE: In setting up the combination chart in the wizard, you cannot set the transparency of each chart overlay. However, you can set the transparency as a personalization item in the chart properties on the dashboard.




Create a Combination Chart (Cont/)

5. Click the Next button(s), proceeding through the wizard. (The settings are similar to charts described “Build a Chart” on pg. 107.)

6. Add the combination chart to the dashboard (see “Add a Dashboard Object to the Dashboard” on pg. 152).

Create a Dashboard Object That Contains Microsoft Outlook

Before creating a dashboard object that contains Microsoft Outlook components, your network administrator must create an .htm file and place it in a location in the server. This file embeds the user’s Outlook into a URL dashboard-object component on the dashboard. There is no specific requirement for the location of this file, since it will be referenced as an URL when creating the dashboard object.

(See “Appendix D: Outlook .htm File Contents” on pg. 194.)

NOTE: Microsoft Office Web Components is a requirement to use the Outlook Inbox dashboard object and, if it doesn’t exist, it will prompt the user to install an ActiveX control.

To create a dashboard object that contains Microsoft Outlook:


2. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard (pg. 101): Click the Add link under Present – Dashboard Objects. Step 1 of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears (pg. 101).


a. Enter a name (e.g., Mail) for the new dashboard object, in the Name textbox.

b. Click the Category dropdown-arrow, and select where (e.g., General) to put the dashboard object in the dashboard-object catalog.




Create a Dashboard Object That Contains Microsoft Outlook (Cont.)

c. Click the Information Source dropdown-arrow, and select URL

(The next textbox on the Step 2. pane, Presentation Style, changes to URL.)

d. In the URL field, enter the URL for the local mail server containing the .htm file, beginning with the prefix http://.

Example:

http://preview.accruent.com/CustomDashboardObjects/ OutlookView.htm

…where OutlookView.htm is the .htm file containing the information mentioned above.

Create a Grid for a Virtual Earth (Map) Dashboard Object

The Virtual Earth (VE) DO is always connected to a grid as a Consumer; therefore, the grid must provide relevant information to the VE DO, such as longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates.

To create a grid for a VE dashboard object:

1. In the system view (for a grid), create the following fields exactly as shown (are case sensitive; see “Add an AAE-View Field” on pg. 83.29

■ pin_Lat – This field should map to a column (in the database) that contains latitudinal information. Set the property of this field as Return Value.

■ pin_Description – This is/are the pin mouse-over descriptions.

■ pin_Lng – This should map to a column (in the database) that contains longitudinal information. Set the property of this field as Return Value.


_____________________________

29 This procedure is part of “Add or Edit an AAE-View Field” on pg. 82.



Create a Grid for a Virtual Earth (Map) Dashboard Object (Cont.)

2. Add the VE DO to the dashboard .

NOTE: The dashboard supports only one map DO. Therefore, you cannot add more than one map DO to the dashboard.

If you have a map DO connected to a grid DO, then you delete the grid DO—via the dashboard or the Dashboard Object Wizard, you must disconnect the map from the grid after you have deleted the grid. This will ensure that the map reverts back to its default state.

Add a Dashboard Object to the Dashboard

1. Click the Dashboard button at the top-right corner of the system-administrator dashboard (pg. 4).

2. Click the Edit Dashboard link.

3. Locate the dashboard object you created in the catalog.

4. Select a zone to drop it in; then click the Add link.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration Changing “Out-of-the-Box” Shared DOs


Changing “Out-of-the-Box” Shared Dashboard Objects Question: How do I change the “out-of-the-box” dashboards, so that the default dashboard is unique to the customer?

Solution: By default, there is a set of dashboards that come with the application. Each dashboard is assigned to a specific user class. When a user logs in for the first time, he/she is presented with the dashboard that is associated with his/her user class, along with a default layout of dashboard objects. The default layout is called the “shared mode” of the dashboard. It basically acts as the default template to use when a user first logs into the system.

The shared mode has been pre-configured by Products to provide the most common configuration for each major role (e.g., Executive, Real Estate, Construction, Facilities, Lease, and Default) within the store lifecycle.

A list of dashboard-layout configurations applied to the Director user class.

To configure the default (shared) layout and dashboard objects, users must be given application permission. This can only be set by the application configuration file (web.config) hosted by the IIS application server.

In root folder of the Foundation website (typically c:\inetpub\wwwroot\ Foundation), you’ll find a file called web.config. Search for the section called <webparts>. In this section, you’ll find a key called “enterSharedScope”. This key lists all valid logins that can enter “shared scope” of the dashboard and modify its contents. Here is what the key would look like to admin-access the “shared mode” for all dashboards:

<allow users="ferry, admin" verbs="enterSharedScope"/>

Changing “Out-of-the-Box” Shared DOs Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


When either user logs in, he/she will now see an additional link, Shared Mode, in which to enter and modify the public dashboard:

A link to enter “Shared Mode” of a dashboard, in which you can change the default layout for all users.

To clarify: If the Shared Mode link displays, a user is currently in shared mode. (If the person clicks the link, he or she will proceed to User Mode.) If a user logs in and goes to Shared Mode, that person is updating the default dashboard of his/her user class. For example, if a user has the REM user class with a Real Estate default dashboard, then when he or she logs in and enters Shared Mode, that person is editing the Real Estate dashboard. To edit a different dashboard (e.g., Executive), that person would have to:

■ Change the default dashboard associated with his/her user class (i.e., from REM to Executive); or

■ Change his/her user class (e.g., REM) to one that has the Executive dashboard (e.g., Vice President).

To remove this feature, set the entereSharedScope to:

<allow users="?" verbs="enterSharedScope"/>

In addition, to change the maximum number of allowed DOs, you must change the following parameter in the web.config file:

<add key="MAXNUMBEROFDISPLAYOBJECTS" value="8"/>

Accepted values are positive integers. Recommended range limits are 5-16, with potential performance problems being greater the higher the number.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration Advanced Dashboard Objects


Advanced Dashboard Objects

General Information Stated herein are of several popular techniques for building more advanced dashboard objects (DOs). Beforehand, you should familiarize yourself with the concepts described in the following documents:

■ The Accruent Administrator’s Guide – Dashboard Administration states how to:

■ Register and add a data locator

■ Create a system or public view

■ Create a dashboard object, then add it to the dashboard.

■ The Dashboards section of the Accruent User Guide: User Interface/Navigation, Home Page, Workflow Inbox, and Dashboards states how to:

■ Add, re-position, filter, and connect dashboard objects on a dashboard.

To build more advanced functionality into DOs, you should have a good understanding of: dashboard objects, basic SQL and HTML, and the Accruent Application Explorer. With this knowledge, you will then be able to:

■ Have links from a grid row launch to other areas of the application.

■ In grid column headers: Embed images and display dynamic years.

■ Based on data ranges, change the color of grid data.

■ Display items tied to rolling dates (e.g., items due in the next 30 days).

Additional information in this section includes an explanation of DO dynamics and components; and how to dynamically generate SQL statements, use basic HTML with DOs, and use filters to display specific DO information. Also, Appendix E (pg. 196) is a reference sheet with simple problems/solutions complete with code that can be cut and pasted into the application. With a few slight modifications (which you should be able to do once you read this guide) will let you deliver great-looking, feature-rich DOs.


■ Review DO dynamics and components (pg. 156).

■ See how to dynamically generate SQL statements (pg. 157).

■ See how to use basic HTML with DOs (pg. 161).

■ See how to use HTML for advanced functionality (pg. 164).

■ See how to use filters to display DO information (pg. 175).

■ View “Appendix E: Reference Sheet” (pg. 196).

■ View “Appendix F: Common, Basic SQL Statements and Commands” (pg. 199).

■ View “Appendix G: Absolute and Relative URLs” (pg. 201).

Advanced Dashboard Objects Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


Dynamics and Components of a DO

What happens when a DO is shown?

A series of events occurs every time a DO is shown, starting with a user’s request for the dashboard or a request to refresh a DO. Each DO in a dashboard will refresh itself in the exact same manner (as described in the sequence graphic shown below), unless the DO retrieves information from the cache.

DO events

How does information get from the source database into a grid DO?

Ultimately, every DO is retrieved from database record information via a dynamically generated and executed SQL statement. The generated SQL is created by combining the “metadata” information in a data locator and its affiliated AAE views.

What are the components involved in creating a dashboard object and how do they inter-relate within the information layer of the Accruent Application Explorer (AAE)?

The various DO components (and how they inter-relate) are:

■ An SQL view, which provides SQL fields and returns results to one (and only one) data locator.

■ A data locator, which connects to one (and only one) SQL view and provides raw SQL field information to one or more templates.

■ A template view, which connects to one (and only one) data locator and provides fields and filters to one or more system, public, and/or private views.

■ A system view, which connects to one (and only one) template (and to one or more DOs). It also provides mandatory, read-only, and other, fields and filter rules to one or more public and/or private views.



■ A public—or private—view, which connects to one (and only one) system view. Named view visible in DO dropdown list, where system view is connected

DO-component inter-relationships

Dynamically Generated SQL To build the SQL view in the information layer, you need SQL skills, as well as an understanding of the schema of the database from which you want to extract and display information in a DO. (If you do not have the required SQL skills, get assistance from a database expert, as tuning, optimization and other factors become very important.)

The generated SQL is created by combining the metadata information defined in the data locator (DL) and AAE views. All portions of the dynamically generated SQL are controlled by properties managed by the DL and AAE wizards and the sample SQL statements shown below will show you where these are set.



Sample:

SELECT [field1],[field2],[field..n] FROM [SQL view registered as Data Locator] WHERE [filter1 = value] AND [filter..n > value] ORDER BY [field1 ASC], [field..n DESC]

■ The SELECT statement selects the fields FROM a table or view within a database and generates a result set based on the parameters you define. (The fields are columns in tables in a database.)

■ Constraints can be applied to the SELECT statements. In the above sample, a WHERE clause specifies fields that equal a certain value and fields that are greater than a certain value. The ORDER BY clause states to sort field1 in ascending order, and then—from that result—sort field...n in descending order.

Example: If we have a table in our database, called “persons”, that contains the following information:

...then a simple query on the table is done:

SELECT Lastname,FirstName,Year FROM persons WHERE Year > 1970 ORDER BY Year ASC

SQL Statement Explanation

SELECT Lastname,FirstName,Year

In the template view, when you select which fields you want displayed, those fields are those in the SQL SELECT statement.




SQL Statement (Cont.) Explanation (Cont.)

FROM Persons Persons is the data locator that points to a view

WHERE Year > 1970 This is the filter condition you set in your system, public, or private view.

ORDER BY Year ASC

Sort ordering done in your system, public, or private view.

The resulting output of that SQL statement would be:

In addition to simple queries that can be performed on a database, you can specify case statements.

Below are some SQL case statements with ranges:

SIMPLE USE AdventureWorks; GO SELECT ProductNumber, Category =

CASE ProductLine WHEN 'R' THEN 'Road' WHEN 'M' THEN 'Mountain' WHEN 'T' THEN 'Touring' WHEN 'S' THEN 'Other sale items' ELSE 'Not for sale'

END, Name FROM Production.Product ORDER BY ProductNumber; GO



Below is an example of how the case statements would fit into building a DO. They are inserted into the Calculation field of the template view (as shown below).

.

NOTE: The Case tool in the Toolbox provides a template for the format of a case statement. (You can either click the Case entry in the Toolbox [in which case the Calculation textbox auto-populates with the relevant calculation]—OR you can copy-paste the Case text into the application’s Calculation textbox.)

Below is another example of an SQL case statement with ranges:

SIMPLE AND SEARCHED USE AdventureWorks; GO SELECT ProductNumber, Name, 'Price Range' =

CASE WHEN ListPrice = 0 THEN 'Mfg item - not for resale' WHEN ListPrice < 50 THEN 'Under $50' WHEN ListPrice >= 50 and ListPrice < 250 THEN 'Under $250' WHEN ListPrice >= 250 and ListPrice < 1000 THEN 'Under $1000' ELSE 'Over $1000'

END FROM Production.Product ORDER BY ProductNumber ; GO

■ Use dollar ranges – Links < 10000, normal link; > 10000, VP escalation link

■ Use date ranges – Links within 10 days of today, yellow; within 2 days, green; overdue, red



HyperText Mark-Up Language (HTML)


■ View information about hyperlinks, some basic attributes (i.e., Target and Title), and query strings (see below).

■ Learn how to use HTML for advanced DO functionality (pg. 164).

Hyperlinks

You can use the <a> (i.e., anchor) tag to create a link to a document or Web source (e.g., HTML page, image, sound file, a movie, etc.). The syntax of creating an anchor is: <a href="url">Text to be displayed</a>.

The basic elements of an anchor tag are:

■ href – The href attribute is used to address what the document will link to (i.e., the URL [which must be enclosed in double quotes]). 30The words between the open and close anchor tags will display as the actual hyperlink.31 Query-string parameters may also be part of the link, which control many aspects of what is shown. (See more information in “The HREF Attribute” below.)

■ Target – The Target attribute identifies where the linked document will be opened (see pg. 162).

■ Title – The Title attribute displays the defined text when a user moves the mouse over the link (see pg. 163).

(For more details see: w3 schools.)

THE HREF ATTRIBUTE

The href attribute describes the URL of the document you want to display. It can contain additional parameters (i.e., query string) hat will be passed to the document, to control certain aspects of the document.

As an example, you can create a link to launch email:

URL = http://www.Company.com

...with query-string parameters = http://www.Company.com?docID=12&view=full

_____________________________

30 For information about absolute and relative URLs, see Appendix G on pg. 202.

31 Notice that the close tag must be preceded by a forward slash (/).

http://www.w3schools.com/tags/tag_a.asp

http://www.company.com/

http://www.company.com/?docID=12&view=full



Mail to (using query-string parameters) =

mailto:[email protected][email protected]&[email protected]&subject=Summer%20Party&body=You%20are%20invited%20to%20a%20big%20summer%20party!%20

(The mail is going to Debora A., with a cc: to Pam W, and a bcc: to Laurie D. Summer Party is the subject, and the body is You are invited to a summer party!)

The mailto: launches the local email program and displays:

THE TARGET ATTRIBUTE

With the Target attribute, you can define where a linked document will open. For instance, the line below will open the document in a new browser window (i.e., when you click Visit the Company!, target=”_blank” will open the Company.com Web site in a separate window).

<a href=”http://www.Company.com target=”_blank”>Visit the Company!</a>

Other Target attributes are:

Target Description

“_blank” The target is a new, un-named window.

“_top” The target is the topmost browser frame (LX, not dashboard frame)

“{name]” The target is a named window. If the named window doesn’t exist, a new window will be created.







Target Description

_self The target will be the same frame as the element.

_parent The target will be the parent of the current frame. This value is equal to _self if the current frame has no parent.

THE TITLE ATTRIBUTE

A Title attribute is a kind of “tool tip” for a link. For instance:

<a href=”http://www.accruent.com ” target=”_blank” title=”The Leader in Real Estate Performance Management”> Visit Accruent!</a>

...displays:

QUERY STRINGS

One of the methods to pass information between pages is to pass it in a query string on the end of the address of the page you are calling. To do so, you need to:

■ You need to add the information (to be passed) to the end of the link.

■ The information needs to be processed.

Only concern yourself with the first part, since developers have already defined the allowable named parameters that will be processed.



Rules to remember regarding query strings are:

http://www.Company.com?docID=12&view=full

■ The query string (containing the values to be passed) has to be separated from the address of the page (passing the parameters to) by a question mark (?).

■ Each parameter being passed (which consists of name/value pairs) has to be separated from the next by an ampersand (&).

■ The name of each field is separated from the value of the field by an equals sign (=).

■ Any non-alphanumeric characters in the field values are encoded (i.e., spaces are replaced by %20; see the mailto: example at the top of pg. 162 ). (A utility to encode them is now included in the application. )

(There are several programmatic ways to encode these values. See “Appendix F: Common, Basic SQL Statements and Commands” on pg. 199.)

Using HTML for Advanced DO Functionality There are some HTML basics you can use to add more advanced functionality to DOs, which include:

■ Adding a (hyper)link to a grid row to link to other areas of the application (see below).

■ Adding color to a field in a row (pg. 170).

■ Displaying a dynamic date (pg. 171).

■ Adding an image/icon to a column header or a row of information (pg. 173).

■ Adding conditional formatting (pg. 174).

CREATE A HYPERLINK WITHIN A GRID

When creating hyperlinks within a grid, HTML is combined with SQL. That is, when HTML (as static text) is entered for the link, it is combined with SQL to perform a dynamic insert of data, and the net result is rendered in the grid by the browser.

http://www.company.com/?docID=12&view=full



For instance, to create a hyperlink in a grid in a DO, the hyperlink would appear as the Project Name (e.g., San Antonio)—in a Project grid (e.g., D Project)...

...and would launch a detailed Project view in a separate window:



The URL address to this Project: San Antonio page is:

The project entity ID for San Antonio is 13816. For the hyperlink, this ID is passed through a query string (since it will be a dynamic value based on different project links).

Although—to create the DO—a data locator has to be registered, then a template view and system view have to be created, then the dashboard object has to be created and added to the dashboard, the URL address is used to build the DO.32

_____________________________

32 To register a data locator, create the template/system views, then create the grid DO and add it to the dashboard, see

“Add a Grid View” on pg. 100.



In the following example (in which the Project data locator is used), when creating the field list for the template view, edit ProjectName and add the following HTML to the Calculation textbox:

'<a href="http://prod-demo:90/en/project/EntityInfo.jsp?projectEntityID=' + cast([ProjectEntityID] as varchar) + '" target="_blank">' + [ProjectName] + '</a>'

HTML Explanation

'<a href = http://prod-demo:90/en/project/EntityInfo.jsp?projectEntityID='

This is the address of the page being called, starting with the anchor tag (<a>), and the href attribute is used to address the document to link to.

(There is a single quote at the beginning of the <a> tag [instead of a double quote, as required for HTML], which the SQL engine requires.)




HTML (Cont.) Explanation (Cont.)

+ cast([ProjectEntityID]) as varchar) +

Since the above link is in text format, and it is concatenated with the project entity ID (which is an integer), the ID needs to be converted to a string or text as well. This is what varchar does. (The + is used to join the strings of text together.)

'" target="_blank">' Opens the link in a separate blank window.

(There is a single quote at the end of the <a> tag [instead of a double quote, as required for HTML], which the SQL engine requires.)

+ [ProjectName] + Used to display the project name as the link.

(SQL concatenates the + sign, and inserts ProjectName as a displayed item.)

'</a>' (There is a single quote at the end of the </a> tag [instead of a double quote, as required for HTML], which the SQL engine requires.)

NOTE: You can use the AAE Link Generator (included in the application) to generate this HTML.

USING THE AAE LINK GENERATOR TO ADD A LINK TO A GRID33



3. Click the EDIT link of the relevant template. Step 1 – Create New or Copy Existing (Template) appears (pg. 40).


5. On Step 3: Create a Field List: Highlight the relevant field name in the Field List pane, then click the Edit link. The pane refreshes to display the field’s name and properties (pg. 56).


_____________________________

33 Note: Ensure that pop-up blockers are disabled.



NOTE: (Cont.)

6. Click the Edit link next to Calculation. Two textboxes appear.

7. Click the Toolbox link. The textbox refreshes to display three tools you may use: Link, Case, Image.

8. Click Link in the toolbox. The AAE Link Generator tool appears.

AAE Link Generator

9. Follow the instructions to generate your AAE link.



ADD COLOR TO GRID TEXT

Although grid text is displayed in a certain color, depending on the text or the range of data displayed, you can also add color to the text in the grid. In the following example, all project-type instances of New Pad will display in green.

All New Pad project types display in green

This was done by clicking the Edit link for the Project Type field (on Step 3 – Create Field List (pg. 45) of the AAE Template View Wizard) and adding the following SQL text…

case [projecttype] when 'New Pad' then '<font color="green">' + [projecttype] + '</font>' else [projecttype] end



…to the Calculation textbox:

The SQL text in the Calculation textbox displays all New Pad project-type fields in green.

Thereby, when the DO is added to the dashboard, any New Pad project-type text displays in green.

PUTTING A DYNAMIC DATE IN THE GRID HEADER

CAUTION! At present, the following information only works for grids, not charts.

You can add dynamic information, such as dates, to grid headers (as shown on the next page). To do so, you can add the script to the template’s Display Name textbox (on Step 3 – Create Field List [pg. 45]. of the AAE Template View Wizard) or to the system view.



Date grid headers

To display the current year as the column header, the script is as follows:

<SCRIPT>document.write(new Date().getYear());</SCRIPT>

Another way to produce this result is to:

1. Click the relevant field name (e.g., CurrentYear) on the Step 3 – Create Field List pane of the AAE Template View Wizard (pg. 45). (The Step 3 pane refreshes [as shown below].)



2. Click the Edit link next to the Display Name textbox (Two textboxes appear.)

3. In the Toolbox textbox, click the Current Year tool. The SQL syntax is automatically generated in the Display Name field.

To show upcoming years, you can add a numerical value to the current year:

<SCRIPT>document.write(new Date().getYear()+1);</SCRIPT>

NOTE: This script takes the date from your local computer. Therefore, if the date is incorrect on your computer, then the date displayed in the DO will also be incorrect. Ensure that the date settings on your computer are set to the correct date, time, and year.

PUT AN ICON OR IMAGE IN THE GRID HEADER, WITH DYNAMIC DATE



Similar to changing the display name of a column and adding dynamic information such as dates (pg. xx), you can also add images or icons. Just make sure that the image is loaded on the server and you know the complete URL (relative or absolute; see “Appendix G: Relative and Absolute URLs” on pg. 201).

The syntax for adding an image/icon is added to the end of the script (as shown below): (The script shown below is the same as in the previous example.):

<SCRIPT>document.write(new Date().getYear());</SCRIPT> <IMG SRC="/foundation/images/Kohls/bullet_ball_glass_green.png" WIDTH="24" HEIGHT="24" BORDER="0" ALT="Green">

HTML Explanation

<SCRIPT>document.write(new Date().getYear());</SCRIPT>

The portion of the HTML that gets the date information for your local computer.

This is a no-break space tag’ inserts a space between the date and the image that proceeds the date.

<IMG SRC="/foundation/images/ Kohls/bullet_ball_glass_green.png" WIDTH="24" HEIGHT= "24" BORDER="0" ALT=" Green">

Specifies to embed an image from the source (SRC) directory and file.

Width/height size and border (i.e., thickness) can be specified in pixel units.

ALT indicates the alternative text to use for the link if the browser does not display the image.

ADD CONDITIONAL FORMATTING

(Please supply procedure and screen shots.)



Filters General Information

Filters specify conditions on what information you want displayed. When you filter information, you are specifying what range, or details, of data you want to display. Mostly, filtering is specified when creating system, public, or private views.

There are many operands ,such as greater than, greater than or equal to, less than, less than or equal to, equals, contains, etc that you can use to filter information.

Those filters revert back to the WHERE clause in the SQL statement.. For instance, in the SQL example shown below:

SELECT Lastname,FirstName,Year FROM persons WHERE Year > 1970 ORDER BY Year ASC

...this is filtering on information that has the condition of the Year column being greater than 1970. Furthermore, you can use a continuous running-date filter. That is, you can filter on items dated from today up to “x” number of days to come or ”x” number of days passed.

A common usage of this tool is to filter on tasks that are due in the next 30 days. This is done by using the NOW or the TODAY token. First, you register data locator and create a template view as you normally would. Then, you create a system view, called My Tasks Due in 30 Days, for example. When you reach Step 4: Create Filter List (pg. 76), this is where you use the NOW or TODAY token.



■ NOW is a token used to filter items by blocks of dates and includes the time parameter. If a query was done at 11/10/2004 16:00, then it would include all results up until mm/dd/yyyy 16:00.

■ TODAY is the same as the NOW token, but it does not include the time parameter. If a query was done at 11/10/2004 16:00, then it would include all results up until mm/dd/yyyy 11:59.59.

To use these tokens, choose the filter value that contains the Due Date, and set the condition to greater than or equal to.

IMPORTANT! Tokens must be typed in uppercase with no spaces in between the token keyword (i.e., NOW or TODAY), the mathematical operator (+, -), and the number of days (fractional days are allowed).

Example: A DO That Shows What Stores Opened on Time

One way of showing which stores opened on time is to calculate the difference between the estimated open date and the actual open date, not taking into account the time. If the result is zero, then those stores opened on time.

■ Estimated (Planned) Open Date – Actual Open date = 0 <- (Is on time)

■ Estimated (Planned) Open Date – Actual Open date ≠ 0 <- (Is not on time)

An SQL command for calculating the difference is:

SELECT DATEDIFF(dy, estimatedenddate, actualenddate) FROM stores_table

...where dy is the day of the year.



To implement this statement:

1. Add a new display field in your template view called Date Difference (for example).

2. Click the Edit link next to Calculation field, and add the SQL DATEDIFF command:

3. Change the data type to integer.

4. Add the DO to the dashboard.

This DO will have an added column, Date Difference; and based on this column you will be able to see which ones opened on time (i.e.,. equals zero) and which ones were late (i.e., the ones that do not equal to zero).

Example: A DO That Only Displays Tasks Assigned to a Currently Logged-In User

Let’s say you assign a task to yourself, and the task appears in the DO as expected. However, if you change the task assignee from yourself to another user, the task still appears in your view. Similarly, if you log in as that user, you see the exact same tasks listed in your view even though only one task is assigned to that user.

[[USERCODE]] is a special token that dynamically substitutes the logged-in user’s code and can’t be used in the calculation.



To create the DO:

1. Edit the default template that was auto-generated. (The field list should be fine unless you want to remove some fields).

2. Go to Create a Filter step, and:

a. Remove UserName from the list of fields to filter on, since you will be replacing it with your own dynamic filter showing only the task for the logged-in user

b. Add a new filter entitled LoggedInUser. (The property for LoggedInUser is: Calculation field: [UserName]='[[USERCODE]]'.)

CAUTION! USERCODE is case sensitive and must be in caps.

The resulting field is shown as follows:

4. Leave everything else as is.



5. Add a system view via the AAE System View Wizard; and upon advancing to the Create a Field List step, only add the fields you want to show. :

NOTE: Be sure to add the Assignee Name (which is the user’s full name). Do not show the Username; it is the login name).

6. To filter:

a. Select LoggedInUser from the dropdown, and click the Edit link on the Step 4: Create Filter List pane of the AAE System View Wizard.

b. Click the Mandatory button, to prevent users from being able to remove the filter.



c. Click the Update link. The filter looks like:

7. Finish up the system view with the defaults.

8. Now, create the DO and add it to the dashboard.

The My In Process Tasks DO added to the dashboard

This is the underlying SQL that is generated from this view:

SELECT TaskName as 'TaskName',row_id as 'row_id',DueDate as 'DueDate',ProjectName as 'ProjectName',Status as 'Status',AssigneeName as 'AssigneeName' FROM vw_AAE_SLM_Wawa_InProcessTaskView_2 \ WHERE ([UserName]='FERRY') ORDER BY row_id ASC

You can see that ‘FERRY’ was dynamically substituted where the [[USERCODE]] was. For each logged-in user, this DO will show his/her tasks.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration Managing Security


Managing Security Security in the application is intended to give users control over application accessibility. System administrators and varying levels of managers can customize permissions for users—as members of specified roles—to have access to specific aspects of the application.

There are two types of security: item security and role-based security—and there are two ways of managing. The first way is by selecting a user class (i.e., role) and managing the securable items available to that role. The second way is selecting a securable Item and managing the roles that have access to that securable Item.

Login Screen Existing Screen

Administration Home Page Existing Screen

Member Management Existing Screen

User-Class Management Existing Screen

Member Relationship with User-Class Management

Existing Screen

Managing Security Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


Manage Security by User Class (i.e., Role) Managing security lets administrators, and varying levels of management, permit or restrict users to/from access to specific aspects of the application, by use of a “role”. For example, a group of users can be placed within a role where that role has only read-only access to projects but add/modify privileges to invoices.

There are two types of role securities: permissive and restrictive.

■ In permissive roles: By default, the role has access to the application feature unless explicitly denied. A permissive role with no relation to any securable item has full control to all application features. A benefit of this type of role is when new features are added, a user who has this role would automatically gain permission to the new features.

■ In restrictive roles: By default, the role has no access to the application feature unless explicitly granted access. A restrictive role with no relation to any securable item would have no access to any features of the application. A benefit of this type of role is: When new features are added, a user with this role has no access to these new features unless they were explicitly added to the role by the administrator.


■ Manage security by user class (see below).

■ Manage security by item (see pg. 185).

Manage Security by User Class (Roles)

1. In the Dashboard Administration section of the system-administrator dashboard click the Dashboard-Object Administration link (pg. 7). The Dashboard-Object Administration pane appears (pg. 7).




Manage Security by User Class (Roles) (Cont.)

2. In the Security pane of the dashboard: Click the Manage Security by User Class (Roles) link.

Security pane of the Dashboard-Object Administration pane

A user-role (i.e., -class) list appears, displaying:

■ The available roles currently in the system

■ The type of role (permissive or restrictive)

■ A brief description

■ A count of the number of users within that role.





3. To edit a user role’s (e.g., Architects) permissions, click its Select link.

A tree directory appears at the bottom of the user-role list.

Tree directory of securable items

4. Navigate through the tree to make changes to permission(s).

AEPortal permissions





AAEExplorers permissions

Dashbord Objects permissions

5. Click the Save button to save the changes (or Close, to exit and close the

window without saving).

Manage Security by Item

Another method of managing role securities is by item. From a directory tree of securable items, you (or a manager) can view securable items and make changes to role permissions associated to that item, appropriately.





Manage Security by Item (Cont.)

2. In the Security pane of the dashboard: Click the Manage Security by Item link (pg. 183).

Security pane Dashboard-Object Administration pane

A pop-up appears, where you manage security, by item.

A tree or all securable items




Manage Security by Item (Cont.)

3. Navigate through the tree, and select the item you want to edit (e.g., Construction CAM). A user-role grid appears.

Editing user roles via security item (e.g., Construction CAM)

4. Make changes to permissions; then click the Save button to save the changes

(or Close, to exit and close the window without saving).

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration App. A: AAE Filter and Column TOKENS


Appendix A: AAE Filter and Column TOKENS

■ AAE Column SQL segment session token: [[SESSIONTOKEN]]

This token is used when creating AAE columns that have hyperlinks to other AEPortal pages. All AEPortal pages require a query-string argument: ST=[[SESSIONTOKEN]]

SQL segment (Calculation) Example: ./aae_panels/AEPExplorerPNL.aspx?ST=[[SESSIONTOKEN]]

The session token carries forward the user's session state information.

■ AAE Column SQL segment User Code: [[USERCODE]]

This token is used to create AAE columns, with SQL segments, that need to reference the logged-on user's user code. This is necessary when filtering records to only show records belonging to the user.

■ AAE column SQL segment LX host URL: [[LXHOST]]

Used to create AAE columns that have hyperlinks to LX application pages. The [[LXHOST]] value is specified in the Control Properties table.

Example: http:\\localhost\LX:8080

■ AAE column SQL segment Default Time Zone: [[DEFAULTTIMEZONE]]

Indicates user’s time-zone code. Examples would be, EST, PST, CST.

■ AAE Filter SQL segment User Code: [[USERCODE]]

This token is used to create AAE filters, with SQL segments, that need to reference the logged-on user's user code. This is necessary when filtering records to only show records belonging to the user.


App. A: AAE Filter and Column TOKENS Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


AAE Filter and Column TOKENS (Cont./)

■ AAE Filter SQL segment Filter Value: [[VALUE]]

This token is used to create a special class of AAE columns, where the value entered by the end user in the AAE filter control must be injected into the SQL_SEGMENT.

For example:

Filter: Min Project Profitability

Description: This filter would let users enter the minimum profit in dollars.

This is extremely useful when the user input must be passed to a user-defined function (UDF) or used in a complex SQL expression:

Calculation (SQL Segment):

project_revenue – project_expenses > [[VALUE]]

Use Value = true Use Operand = false

■ AAE-Filter, SQL-segment Summary Query-String Arguments: [SUMMARYQUERYSTRINGARGS]]

This token is used for drill-through columns on summary AAE views. (Drill-throughs, also known as drill-downs, are links embedded within dashboard objects that reveal more information about a particular item.)

34

Drill-through columns have URLs (i.e., links) to an AAE-Explorer panel that displays the detail view of the information associated with summary (GROUP_BY) information presented by SUMMARY AAE views. This token is replaced with a series of query-string arguments that correspond to the selected Group By columns, along with a query-string argument called WHERECLAUSE that has the filter (WHERE CLAUSE) criteria used to select information for the summary view.

The generated query-string arguments must match, by name, to the AAE filters defined for the drill-down AAE view.

Example: ?ST=[[SESSIONTOKEN]]&[[SUMMARYQUERYSTRINGARGS]]

Becomes: ?jgelrner…&REGION=ONT&CITY=TORONTO&WHERECLAUSE=gsekrvmSRGeRERGGRee GRVWETYTF


_____________________________

34 As an example of a drill-down, the bars on a bar graph can contain drill-down links. The dashboard object containing

the bar graph can be set up such that, when you click on a bar, a pop-up appears. The pop-up can display further information pertaining to that item, such as store information, store location, a map, the weather, a video stream, etc.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration App. A: AAE Filter and Column TOKENS


AAE Filter and Column TOKENS (Cont/)

■ WhereClause Filter Name: WHERECLAUSE

The WHERECLAUSE filter name is automatically generated and inserted into the filter list when the user selects the option of using the detail view (based on the template) to have the ability to be connected to a summary view.

The WHERECLAUSE acts as a place-holder for filter items in drill-downs. When the user clicks on an item in a grid or chart, the system needs to filter on certain criteria that are dynamic. This WHERECLAUSE acts a place-holder for the drill-down view, to handle the dynamic properties of the filter criteria.

■ Filter Date Token Now: NOW

A token that can be used to filter items by blocks of dates, that includes the time parameter.

The example shown in the figure will display all actual end dates that occur from five days ago, up until the instant of time the search is done.

NOW – Must be typed in uppercase with no spaces between NOW, the mathematical operator, and the number (fractional days are allowed).

NOW – Includes time parameter. If the query was done at 11/10/2004 16:00, it would, therefore, include everything up until 11/05/2004 16:00.

■ Filter Date Token Today: TODAY

A token that can be used to filter items by blocks of dates.

The example shown in the figure will display all actual end dates that occur from five days ago, up until today's date.

TODAY – Must be typed in uppercase with no spaces between TODAY, the mathematical operator, and number (fractional days are allowed).

TODAY – Does not include time parameter. If the query was done at 11/10/2004 16:00, it would, therefore, include everything up until 11/05/2004 00:00.


App. A: AAE Filter and Column TOKENS Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


AAE Filter and Column TOKENS (Cont.)

■ Null Filter Name Postfix: ISNULL

ISNULL is used for drill-down columns where we cannot express the difference between a column value of blank and a NULL setting. The argument to STORENUMBER=NULL cannot be differentiated from a string value containing the letters NULL.

In drill-down columns of summary views, if one of the query-string parameters is, for example, STORENUMBER, then the following three scenarios would be valid:

Store number is 23423

http://mypage.aspx?ST=35345234lkrj2ln23r2l2l&STORENUMBER=23423

Store number is blank “ ”

http://mypage.aspx?ST=35345234lkrj2ln23r2l2l&STORENUMBER=

Store number is NULL

http://mypage.aspx?ST=35345234lkrj2ln23r2l2l&STORENUMBERISNULL=

true

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration App. B: ”Toolbox” Tools (Link, Case, Image)


Appendix B: “Toolbox” Tools (Link, Case, Image) (Information to be provided)

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration App. C: Additional Information About Building Filters


Appendix C: Additional Information About Building Filters

When building filters that represent a complex constraint such as a business rule, which requires SQL expressions, the following is the recommended approach.

■ Do not put SQL in the FilterValue field of a FILTER. SQL statements should always go in the SQLSegment column.

■ Use the[[VALUE]] token to define complex (SQL Expression-based) filters.

■ DATE and STRING filters that are visible and NOT Read Only must always have the Is Literal Value option checked so users are prevented from entering SQL

Example of how to use the[[VALUE]] token to build a complex filter:

Template Filter

Name “Min Days In Arrears” SQLSegment (Calculation) “[[VALUE]] – DateDiff(DUEDATE – COMPLETIONDATE) < 0” DUEDATE and COMPLETIONDATE are fictional SQL column names Use Operand False Use Value True Operand NULL Default Value 30 (Default value 30 days) Data type Integer

This filter can be mandatory or optional. The user does not need to see the calculation. He/she just sees the label.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration ` App. D: Outlook .htm File Contents


Appendix D: Outlook.htm File Contents Below are the .htm file contents you need to create a dashboard object that contains Microsoft Outlook. (See “Create a Dashboard Object that Contains Outlook “ on pg. 150).

<html> <head> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> 

App. D: Outlook .htm File Contents Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration `


</SCRIPT>

</head>

<body>

<OBJECT classid=CLSID:0006F063-0000-0000-C000-000000000046

id=viewCtl1

width="100%"

height="430"

codebase="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/controls/office/outlctlx.CAB#ver=9,0,0,3203">

</OBJECT> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">  </SCRIPT> </body> </html>

Dashboard objects can contain URLs and can act as a browser within your browser!

1. Click the Dashboard-Object Administration link (pg. 7) in the Dashboard Administration section of the dashboard. The Dashboard-Object Administration pane appears (pg. 7).

2. In the Presentation Layer pane of the dashboard: Click the Add link under Present – Dashboard Objects (pg. 101). The Step 1 – Select Information Source and Presentation Style pane of the Dashboard Object Wizard appears (pg. 101).

3. Enter a name for the new dashboard object.

4. Select a category in which to put the dashboard object.

5. In the Information Source dropdown, select URL.

6. In the URL field, enter the URL for the local mail server containing the .htm file beginning with the prefix, http://.

Example:

http://preview.accruent.com/CustomDashboardObjects/OutlookView.htm

…where OutlookView.htm is the .htm file containing the information mentioned above.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration ` App. E: Reference Sheet


Appendix E: Reference Sheet

The following is a quick-reference table for building DOs. You can copy-paste the syntax that is provided in this table when you are building your DO.

What do you want to do? Code to Insert Reference in Guide

I want to show an image in a grid header

Change the template’s Display Name field, and add the following HTML:

“Put an Icon or Image in a Grid Header, With Dynamic Date” on pg. 173.

<IMG SRC="path/image_file.png" WIDTH="xx"

HEIGHT="xx" BORDER="xx" ALT="reference_name">

I want to display a dynamic date in the grid header.

Change the template’s Display Name field, and add the following HTML:

“Put a Dynamic Date in a Grid Header” on pg. xx.

Current year: <SCRIPT>document.write(new Date().getYear());</SCRIPT>

Next year: <SCRIPT>document.write(new Date().getYear()+1);</SCRIPT>

2 years: <SCRIPT>document.write(new Date().getYear()+2);</SCRIPT>

n years: <SCRIPT>document.write(new Date().getYear()+n);</SCRIPT>

I want to change the color of the grid data, based on data ranges.

Change the template’s Display Name field, as follows:

“Add Color to Grid Text” on pg. 170.

CASE

WHEN [ListPrice_Field] = 0 THEN '<font color="black">' +

[ListPrice_Field] + '</font>'

WHEN [ListPrice_Field] < 50 THEN '<font color="green">' +

[ListPrice_Field] + '</font>'

WHEN [ListPrice_Field] >= 50 and ListPrice < 250 THEN '<font

color="yellow">' + [ListPrice_Field] + '</font>'

WHEN [ListPrice_Field] >= 250 and ListPrice < 1000 THEN '<font

color="Orange">' + [ListPrice_Field] + '</font>'

ELSE '<font color="Red">' + [ListPrice_Field] + '</font>'

END


App. E: Reference Sheet Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration `



I want to add a link to Projects, from a grid row.

Change the template’s Calculation field, as follows:

“Create a Hyperlink Within a Grid” on pg. 164.

'<a href="http://prod-demo:90/en/project/EntityInfo.jsp? projectEntityID=' +

cast ([ProjectEntityID] as varchar) + [ProjectName] + '</a>'

I want to launch the link in a new pop-up.

Change the template’s Calculation field, as follows:

“The Target Attribute” on pg. 162.

'<a href="http://prod-demo:90/en/project/EntityInfo.jsp? projectEntityID=' +

cast([ProjectEntityID] as varchar) + '" target="_blank">' + [ProjectName] +

'</a>'

I want to sort on a different field than the one(s) I see.

Creating a hyperlink on a project name in the grid can cause sorting problems. The likely cause is that sorting is done on the project ID, not the displayed project name. To fix this problem, add the following HTML to the template’s Calculation field:

(None)

'<a style="display:none">' + [ProjectName] + '</a>

Using the example of creating a hyperlink in the project name, the complete html would look like this:

'<a style="display:none">' + [ProjectName] + '</a><a href="http://prod-

demo:90/en/project/EntityInfo.jsp?projectEntityID=' + cast([ProjectEntityID]

as varchar) + '" target="_blank">' + [ProjectName] + '</a>'


Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration App. E: Reference Sheet



I want to restrict access items visible to the authenticated user.

Edit the template view by adding a new filter, LoggedInUser; and in the Calculation field for this filter, enter the following:

“Example: A DO That Only Displays Tasks Assigned to the Currently Logged-In User” on pg. 177.

[UserName]= '[[USERCODE]]'

Also, when creating the system view, click the Mandatory checkbox for this filter

I want to see items tied to a rolling date; for instance, a lease expiring in the next 30 days.

Edit the system-view filters by selecting the Date filter, then setting the condition to greater than or equal to. Also, enter:

“Filters” on pg. 175.

NOW+30 or TODAY+30

Note: NOW includes a time parameter; TODAY does not.

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration ` App. F: SQL Statements and Commands


Appendix F: Common Basic SQL Statements and Commands

SQL Chart

SQL Description Syntax

SELECT The SELECT statement is used to select data from a table. The tabular result is stored in a result table (called the result-set).

SELECT column FROM table

WHERE To conditionally select data from a table, a WHERE clause can be added to the SELECT statement.

SELECT column FROM table WHERE column

operator value

ORDER BY The ORDER BY clause is used to sort the rows.


operator value

ORDER BY column

AND and OR AND and OR join two or more conditions in a WHERE clause.

The AND operator displays a row if ALL conditions listed are true. The OR operator displays a row if ANY of the conditions listed are true.


operator value AND column_2 operator value

ORDER BY column

Aliases With SQL, aliases can be used for column names and table names.

SELECT column AS column_alias FROM table

Join


App. F: SQL Statements and Commands Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration `


SQL (Cont.) Description (Cont.) Syntax (Cont.)

GROUP BY Used because aggregate functions (like SUM) return the aggregate of all column values every time they are called; and without the GROUP BY function, it was impossible to find the sum for each individual group of column values.

SELECT column, SUM(column)

FROM table GROUP BY column

Aggregate Functions Aggregate functions operate against a collection of values, but return a single value.

NOTE: If used among many other expressions in the item list of a SELECT statement, the SELECT must have a GROUP BY clause.

SQL Function Description

AVG(column) Returns the average value of a column

COUNT(column) Returns the number of rows (without a NULL value) of a column

COUNT(*) Returns the number of selected rows

COUNT(DISTINCT column) Returns the number of distinct results

MAX(column) Returns the highest value of a column

MIN(column) Returns the lowest value of a column

SUM(column) Returns the total sum of a column

Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration App. G: Absolute and Relative URLs


Appendix G: Absolute and Relative URLs

Absolute URL An absolute URL is independent of, or free from, any relationship. When you use an absolute URL, you point directly to the file. Hence, an absolute URL determines the exact location of a file/directory on the Internet. Also, each absolute URL is unique, which means that if two are identical, they point to the same file.

For example, http://www.general.com/images/email.gif is an image file. email.gif is located in the images directory, under the www.general.com domain name.

Relative URL A relative URL points to a file/directory in relation to a “presen” file/directory.

In considering the example from above, there are two ways you can access and display the image (email.gif). You can refer to it via an absolute URL or use a relative URL.

The <IMG> tag for the image display is as follows:

■ Using an absolute URL in an <IMG> tag:

<IMG SRC=http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/images/email.gif WIDTH="..." HEIGHT="...">

■ Using a relative URL in an <IMG> tag:

<IMG SRC="../images/email.gif" WIDTH="..." HEIGHT="...">

Notice that the image is referred to with ../images/email.gif, which is a valid relative URL.

The two periods (..) instruct the server to move up one directory (which is the root directory), then enter the images directory; and finally, point at the email.gif.

App. G: Absolute and Relative URLs Accruent Administrator’s Guide (V8.0) – Dashboard Administration


From the diagram below, let’s say that, in a Web page you are browsing, you are currently in the design directory folder.

So, if you are currently on a Web page that addresses the relative URL:

<IMG SRC="../images/email.gif" WIDTH="..." HEIGHT="...">

...this means that the Web page is instructing the server to move up one directory to the root directory, then into the images directory and get the email.gif file.

Which One Should I Use? Absolute or Relative? If you are linking to a site that is controlled by Accruent, Inc., you should use relative URLs. If you are linking to an external site, such as Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, etc., you must always use absolute URLs.

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