Reports and Statistics
NEWS
05/01/09 - After working with the BIRT software we ran into a few performance problems. We are now looking at using Oracle's APEX report writing sofware. We will support the existing BIRT reports until we can replace them in APEX.
10/7/08 - First BIRT reports released for BETA testing: We are ready for some BETA testing of four Acquisitions ARROW reports created on the new BIRT software. As most of you are aware, we are in the process of switching our ARROW reports from the old Net.data software to the new BIRT software. BIRT is a reporting system built on the Eclipse open source community platform. BIRT allows us to create customized, visually appealing reports that are easy to export and print, and to dynamically compile parameters, such as sublibrary codes before you make your selections. This first step may take a few extra seconds.
About this test:
- The first reports to test were released to members of the Acqclient list since they are acquisitions oriented reports
- We have moved existing Arrow reports to BIRT with minor modifications, you can run both reports and compare the results
- As part of the test we will be tuning the new BIRT server, please report any problems via the Acqclient list.
- The interface you see to choose your parameters, launch your request and view your results will look different, since its being done with the BIRT software.
- View our BIRT Report Viewer Tutorial for help with using BIRT for the first time.
- We will replace the exiting Arrow reports with the new BIRT-based ones after 2 weeks (assuming there are no major problems)
- BIRT allows us to dynamically compile parameters, such as sublibrary codes before you make your selections. This first step may take a few extra seconds.
REPORTS Overview: Getting reports based on your Aleph data
Current options:
There are multiple sources for getting reports out of your Aleph data:
- Aleph Reports: ExLibris provided Aleph reports are available through the staff clients.
- What reports are available?: See our Combined List of ExLibris provided Aleph reports and FCLA provided Arrow reports. ExLibris documentation is available on the ExLibris Documentation portal. Most are listed under "Staff User Information" which is under the v.18 tab.
- How I get help for these?: submit a ticket via FCLA's Request Tracker (RT) Use the queue appropriate to your topic, i.e. Acquisitions, Cataloging, Circulation, etc. If your question doesn't fit in any of these use the Printing-Report queue.
- FCLA Generated Usage Reports - statistics and other usage data.
- Arrow Reports, provided by FCLA that you can run yourself as needed. These reports are built in response to SUL staff requests. The majority reports are generated using net.data software which runs sql against Oracle tables. There are some reports which are generated from a special program written by FCLA. Either way the data comes from either the Aleph Oracle tables on the REPT server or Data Warehouse Oracle tables. Reports are being added to this page frequently, from both FCLA and SUL staff. This page was recently redesigned to help you find the right report.
- Special Request Reports: sometimes staff request a report that is specific to their one need, or can’t be handled via net.data, FCLA will generate this report and send it to the requestor directly.
- What reports are available?: Examples of Special Request Reports. This page has some examples, you do not have choose one of these. Submit a request and we'll let you know if we can produce the report with existing tools.
- Report Requests: if you don't see the report you need in the above resources library staff can submit a request via FCLA's Request Tracker (RT) Use the "Printing-Reports Helpdesk".
- SFX reports: SFX Arrow reports are also available.
Data Warehouse and Reporting Project:
FCLA is working on reconfiguring the Aleph data to a more standard format in our Data Warehouse. ExLibris's design of the Aleph Oracle data tables used by Circulation, OPAC, Cataloging, etc. is not efficient for use with standard query language (sql), especially when the data needed for a report is stored in multiple tables. FCLA is working on reconfiguring the Aleph data into formats that can better be used for Report writing. Some of the reports you see on the Aleph Arrow page have a "dw" after them, that means we are using the re-configured tables in the Data Warehouse to generate the report. The Data Warehouse is not just for Aleph data, sfx statistics are also included. Future plans include licensed database access statistics. For more information:
Report Writing Tools:
In addition to getting the data into a better format for reports we are looking at implementing a more flexible Report Writing tool to generate reports. FCLA reviewed available tools such as Cognos and BIRT. We are currently working on implementing BIRT, evaluating its capabilities as we go along. We are working on converting existing ARROW reports from the net.data software to BIRT. Ultimately we hope to have a tool that appropriate SUL members can use to create their own reports.
FCLA's Analysis of the List of Available LINCC Reports
CSUL asked FCLA to review the reports that CCLA makes available to their libraries staff. We documented our assessment of the CCLA list of reports and how it compares to what FCLA provides as of the beginning of September 2008.
ARC (Aleph Reporting Center):
ExLibris has a product to produce reports from Aleph. The TSPC has a group reviewing this product. ARC is a complete package with its own Data Warehouse, programs to move the Aleph data to the Data Warehouse and a report writing tool. ExLibris has preconfigured Cognos, a 3rd party reporting writing tool, with their product.
For more information contact Jean Phillips (jeanp@ufl.edu) or Donna Alsbury (dalsbury@ufl.edu).
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