ReportCaster Troubleshooting Tips

ReportCaster relies on communications between the following components:

  • Web browser (for user interfaces)
  • ReportCaster Web components
  • ReportCaster Distribution Server
  • Database server
  • WebFOCUS Reporting Server
  • Mail server
  • FTP server (for FTP distribution)

If ReportCaster fails to perform properly, confirm that all components are installed, started, and listening on their expected ports. All components can run on one machine or components can be distributed across different machines running different operating systems. If components are distributed, ensure all machines are running and can communicate using the expected protocols.

The ReportCaster Distribution Server starts in Console mode if it cannot connect to the repository. The ReportCaster Distribution Server will also start in Console mode if it can connect to the repository but the tables are not created. The Scheduler log file indicates why the Distribution Server started in Console mode. If you need to change repository parameters, refer to ibi WebFOCUS Postinstallation TasksWebFOCUS ReportCaster Post-Installation Tasks.

Note: The ReportCaster web components, WebFOCUS Reporting Server, and ReportCaster Distribution Server must all be the same release number.

Distribution Server Traces

Normally, you should turn the Distribution Server traces on and off using the ReportCaster Server Configuration interface. However, if the interface is not available, you can execute the following utility:

/install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/ReportCaster/bin/traces

The trace files appear in /install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/ReportCaster/trc. In addition, check the log files in /install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/ReportCaster/log for more information.

Remember to turn traces off after solving problems.

Troubleshooting Web Browser Errors

To use the ReportCaster interface, end users must have Java 11 installed on their machines. The web browser of the user must be configured to use this Java VM to process applets.

Troubleshooting ReportCaster Servlet Errors

Review the installation and configuration instructions in Installing the ibi WebFOCUS Client and Configuring Web and Application Servers.

  • Ensure your web and application servers are running.
  • Ensure the WebFOCUS web application is installed and configured. The ReportCaster components are part of the WebFOCUS web application installed with the WebFOCUS Client.
    /install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/webapps/webfocus

Troubleshooting ReportCaster Distribution Server Errors

Review the installation and configuration instructions in Installing the ibi WebFOCUS Client, Postinstallation Verification and Configuration, and ibi WebFOCUS ReportCaster Postinstallation Tasks.

  • Ensure the ReportCaster Distribution Server is running.
  • Ensure the WebFOCUS web application knows where the Distribution Server is. The AGENT_NODE and AGENT_PORT parameters specify the host name and TCP Port for the Distribution Server in files installed with the WebFOCUS Client:
    /install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/client/wfc/etc/cgivars.wfs
    /install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/webapps/webfocus/WEB-INF/web.xml

    If the parameters are incorrect in these files, correct them. If you deployed the expanded webfocus directory, redeploy the directory. If you deployed the webfocus.war file, use the jar command to place this web.xml file into the WEB-INF directory inside the webfocus.war file, and then redeploy the webfocus.war file. See Using the jar Utility for more information.

  • Ensure that a supported version of Java is properly installed and configured.
  • Check the settings in the following file:
    /install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/ReportCaster/install.cfg

    This file records the information provided when you installed the Distribution Server. To change this information, use the ReportCaster Server Configuration interface or the scripts described in ibi WebFOCUS ReportCaster Configuration.

Troubleshooting Repository Errors

Review the installation and configuration instructions in Installing the ibi WebFOCUS Client and ibi WebFOCUS ReportCaster Postinstallation Tasks.

  • Ensure the database server is running.
  • Ensure the database and tables exist.
  • Ensure that the Distribution Server machine contains the correct information to connect to the database. You can set this information using the ReportCaster Server Configuration interface.
  • Ensure the JDBC driver is installed on the WebFOCUS Client and ReportCaster Distribution Server machines.
  • Ensure your application server has the correct CLASSPATH to the JDBC driver. You can also add the driver files to the WEB-INF/lib directory for the ReportCaster web application. To do this, copy the files into:
    /install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/webapps/webfocus/WEB-INF/lib

    If you deployed the expanded directory, redeploy it. If you deployed the webfocus.war file, use the jar command to insert the driver files or create a new web application as explained in Using the jar Utility. Then, redeploy the WAR file.

  • Ensure the Distribution Server has the correct CLASSPATH to the JDBC driver in:
    /install_directory/ibi/WebFOCUS93/ReportCaster/bin/classpath

Troubleshooting ReportCaster Context Root

Applications containing a hardcoded reference to rcaster or a ReportCaster specific context root will encounter an error. There is a war file for customers that will redirect to the new ibi_apps without having to change their code.

Redirecting Web Applications With the ReportCaster Context Root

The WebFOCUS and ReportCaster web applications have been combined into one web application. In prior releases, the two applications were deployed separately with unique context roots whose default values were ibi_apps and rcaster. In WebFOCUS, there is only one context root for WebFOCUS and ReportCaster with a default value of ibi_apps.

However, customers who have web applications that contain hardcoded references to rcaster in the URL or a ReportCaster specific context root will be affected. To resolve this, deploy the redirect.war file to redirect URLs that reference rcaster or a ReportCaster specific context root to the single context root.

Troubleshooting Reporting or Delivery Errors

Review the WebFOCUS and ReportCaster documentation and the documentation for your Mail or FTP server.

  • Ensure the WebFOCUS Reporting Server is running.
  • Ensure the report, file, or URL is valid.
  • Ensure the Mail or FTP server is running.
  • Check the settings in the ReportCaster Server Configuration interface.