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May 3, 2008  -  ABUG is May 5th at UCA in Conway, Arkansas.  Evisions' Mike Boote will be presenting an Argos Reporting session.

April 30, 2008  -  The code I used to create many of our Banner Table Current Record (Oracle) Views is available in my scripts Repository (see April 21st below for access instructions).  We find these to be very useful in providing Ad Hoc Functional users a way to create their own Queries without having to learn Sub-Queries or the many ways to select Current Records in Banner.  Just JOIN the Current Record Views and the Query is done.  Most Ad Hoc users will be reporting current records only.  Usually, I find that Ad Hoc Functional users will need help creating more complex multi-Table Queries that vary by date.  These Queries are rather difficult for most programmers.

April 22, 2008  -  The ppts for all the Argos Pre-Summit sessions have already been made available for download.  These are well worth your time and include some ideas I am sure you have not seen before.  From my session I have uploaded the Bonus Materials as a DataBlock and Report in the Argos COOP.  You can find it by searching for the Table DUAL.  It has not been reviewed yet, so expand your usual search to include all objects.  The exported object is also available here.

The Report includes my idea of Standard Format and Content for Banded Reports.  This includes logo, Date and Time, page numbering plus identifying and locating information for the report objects.  It uses Argos functions to dynamically correct for any moved or renamed DataBlock/Report.  This reduces maintenance, saves time, and insures correctly labeled reports.  Correctly identifying a report can be a great aid in debugging when someone requests a change or correction to a report you wrote long ago.

While Templates are planned for a future Argos release, it isn't too hard to Copy and Paste the three blocks of content to create a new report.  Copying and Pasting all objects at one time for a single block will retain the original formatting.  This is especially useful for the Path name positioning as it can become very long (that is why the Database Instance is displaced with very short paths).

April 21, 2008  -  Back from Summit and a very good Argos Pre-Summit.  We missed a few of the planned sessions due to the Airline Cancelations, but as expected the Argos folks filled in very well with some great new information.

Argos 3.1 is now officially released.  We already have several reports being called by the new optional Report API.  It works very well for us and one of our programmers is already calling his Argos Reports from an Oracle Application Express (APEX) generated application.  This API will be key to using Argos Reports seamlessly with Luminis.

There are many new Argos enhancements planned for later this year.  They are significant enough for an Argos 4.0 release in my opinion.  Wish I could share the details, but we were asked to keep them private (because the details may change significantly between now and the release).  We did see the current Alpha version and I was impressed.

If you attended my Argos presentation at the pre-Summit, I have some notes in the ppt that would expand upon my presentation and you might find useful.  Thanks to the great group attending and to John Tong for his song and dance routine (really, you should see it).

The ppt is available in my scripts Folder.  If you need the scripts password, just ask (bknox @t uaex.edu).  That Folder also contains my presentations from Summit 2007 and the Charter Argos Pre-Summit.

I will be presenting my 2008 talk at A(rkansas)BUG early next month.  ABUG 2008 will be Monday, May 5, 2008  at UCA in Conway, Arkansas.

April 3, 2008 - Very near release (I bet), the new (just updated Argos and MAPS) are looking good.  I really like the inserted comment code that identifies the Report name and the DataBlock name.  Well done!

March 31, 2008 - Added a Bonus section to my Argos Conference Presentation (Bonus is for tips on dynamically labeling Banded Reports).

March 17, 2008 - Testing Argos 3.1 Beta  (screens updated to April 3 versions)

Within the API, there are buttons to generate the html code you will need for connecting an Argos Report object with the Calling Web page.  An this works well for me.  The Report Unique Identifier "key" below, is used to uniquely ID the object.  One does need a bit of html knowledge to use this feature, but really that should be expected.  This is a Designers Tool.

Sample GET

Sample POST

If no UserName is supplied to the Report API, then it cannot run the report.  Clear enough.

March 15, 2008 - Testing Argos 3.1 Beta

First thing you notice is the new Trash Bin!  And it works!  Only an Administrator can undelete an Object.

I like the new look and feel.  (But, this is a Beta.  They may change the final design.)

March 14, 2008 - Testing Argos 3.1 Beta.  It installs very easily using the same MAPS_ADMIN_INSTALLATION_ Guide.pdf as used for 2.5.  There are a few minor differences at some steps, but nothing to be concerned about.

Argos 3.1 has a little different look.  I like the new version's look and feel.  First thing you notice is a Trash Bin has been added.  I have not tried the Restore yet, but I have no doubt that it will be useful.  Only an Administrator can do a Restore.  But, I bet a non-Administrator can copy and paste?

The DataBlock and Report object (expanded) shows Report Viewer/Report Writer/DataBlock Designer sections.

What is really special about 3.1?  The new API support to allow external apps to run Argos reports.

Just Beta tested the Beta's HowTo with Evisions (John Tong and Sal Yu).  We walked through the new interface and we tested running a report from a new external web page in about an hour start to finish.  It would have taken less time but we could not connect our PCs giving them access to my install (because I am connecting to our Banner Server through a Windows VPN and between that and the Firewalls, no go).  Plus, my office is very noisy with my very old PC running as a test "Server".  It sounds like a vacuum cleaner running in here.  Keying in verbal instructions given over a conference call is really error prone, but we did very well in spite the handicaps.  John and Sal are Argos "old timers" and we have worked together on several occasions.

Oh yes, the new API works great.  It will require someone a little familiar with html code to set up a new calling web page, but that was anticipated with the nature of what is being done.  (Maybe a Wizard some day?)  I had no problem cutting and pasting the required code snippet generated by the API.

There is a new Chart Wizard too.  Maybe I will start doing Charts now!

The Argos Pre-Summit: http://www.evisions.com/summit/  signup is closed.  A Full House!

Argos Pre-Summit Session Presentation (Ready for Summit at Last!)

Summit 2008 - Let me know if have an Argos related class and I will post it here:

Argos 3.0 has been released! 
 

There is an upgrade document available at http://evisions.com/support/Argos/
see: MAPS/Argos Upgrade Guide to 3.0 (New for 3.0!)

There are also Release Guides for MAPS and Argos.

Archived Argos 2.5 information

So, I am testing 3.0 on a Desktop machine.  Much faster than the one I used to test 2.5.  This one is a GB RAM and 2.66MHz. 

  visits
 

February 15, 2008

Got the word today that my Argos Pre-Summit session has officially been accepted.

And also, that the beta API that will allow users to 'call' Argos reports without having to log in and go through the standard client interface is nearly available for me to test. 
Why would anyone want to run outside of Argos?  Well, it makes Argos look like an extension of the other application in a very transparent way for the user.  You might even want to make a report available to non-Argos users.  And, there is always the impending move to Luminis (yes, this API is a big part of integrating Argos with Luminis).

February 01, 2008

Many things happening concurrently.  I have been brought into a non-Banner Oracle application under development with the idea of providing the project's reporting using Argos. 

So, I jumped in.  A new database connection (well, it does have a few links to Banner).  That is quick to add.  Then, I decided to look into a "standard" design or "template" for the Banded Reports.  I found that access to the Argos variables made displaying report names, the current database, the path including the Folder nesting, and of course a page number simple.  With this, I when a report object is moved, the displayed info is automatically adjusted.  Why does it matter?  Well, just try to figure out which object created a paper report that a user is questioning.  A few hints are better than a great memory.

OK, Upgrading to MAPS/Argos 3.0: 

Schedule a time for Users to be off Argos, then:

On the MAPS box, make a backup copy:

Then, you can do the rest over the Internet:

Argos was downloaded at 9/14/2007 10:31:06 AM

Argos was updated at 9/14/2007 10:31:56 AM

Configuration was downloaded at 9/14/2007 10:32:19 AM

Configuration was updated at 9/14/2007 10:32:39 AM

MAPS Service was downloaded at 9/14/2007 10:33:36 AM

MAPS Service was updated at 9/14/2007 10:34:36 AM

You do want to Logout and end all your MAPS IE windows at this point.

If you are not using 1024x768, you will need to scroll down to see the restJ

Me wait? :))

Argos was downloaded at 9/14/2007 10:48:54 AM

Argos was updated at 9/14/2007 10:49:42 AM

MAPS Service was downloaded at 9/14/2007 10:50:29 AM

MAPS Service was updated at 9/14/2007 10:51:53 AM

Hmm, again?

It forgets your Password.  I don’t like it, but the auditors will love it.

 Looks like we are done!

Now for Argos:

 

Hmm, still did not remember the new address.

 

There has to be an easy way to get this.  This is Evisions' software.

Hmm, my Banner Password had been changed since my last logon to Argos.

Key in the new one and Argos is happy again.

 Having a problem with the server name or IP disappearing between logins?

 Change it in the new Universal Launcher.  (hint: click on default to show the values)

 Hmm, back to MAPS to delete it or make it inactive.

Check for Updates finds nothing for this.  Hmm, maybe:

 Yes, that did it.  Just click on “Read From Web”!

Now, check a few Queries to see if it still works.  And of course, it works:)

So, under an hour from start to finish!  Live on Argos 3.0!

July 31, 2007  -  Will APEX and Argos work together?  Well, why not?

This is just a quick test of reporting from the APEX Demo, but it make the point.  (This is Argos 2.5, BTW.)

Of course it works! 

APEX + Argos = Rapid Development + Great Reports!

Check Back Soon! 

http://www.uaex.edu/bknox/BannerArgos.htm is a personal site maintained by Bruce Knox ( bknox at uaex.edu )
This page is an attempt to comply with the current uaex.edu webpage standards, but it currently does not fully comply.