Creating a query to the monitoring server

You can create a new query to the monitoring server. Use this method to create a query only if you know what symbols the are required by the query.

Before you begin

Although you can follow this method to add a new query to the monitoring server, use Create Another Query to ensure the query has the required symbol expression to reference the managed systems to include. Otherwise, no data is retrieved. Exception: When your product is upgraded to a new release with new attributes or attribute groups, the new attributes are not shown in the queries for that attribute group. And no new queries are shown for new attribute groups. If this exception applies, use this procedure to create a new query.

Your user ID must have permission for Modify Query and for Workspace Author Mode. If you do not see the Queries tool, your user ID does not have View or Modify Query permissions. If you can see the tool but it is disabled, your user ID does not have Workspace Author Mode permission. If you can open the Query editor but the tools are disabled, your user ID does not have Modify Query permission.

Procedure

  1. Complete one of the following steps to open the Query editor:
    • Click Queries.
    • In the title bar of the table or chart view where you would like to apply a new query, click Properties editor - viewProperties > Query Click here to assign a query.
  2. Click create query Create New Query.
  3. In the Name field, type a name of up to 32 letters, numbers, underscores ( _ ), and spaces; in the Description field, type a description to help users identify what the query does or what it is for, up to 256 characters and spaces.
    The Select attribute window opens.
  4. Select the Tivoli product name from the Category List box list, and click OK.
  5. Select the attribute group from the Group list, select the attributes to include from the Item list, and click OK.
    After selecting one attribute, you can use Ctrl+click to select multiple attributes or Shift+click to select all attributes from the first selection to this one, or click Select All.
  6. Add the same symbol expressions to the specification as those used in the predefined query for this attribute group.
    Usually, this symbol is the $NODE$ symbol in the column that identifies the computer: System Name, Server Name, Originnode or something similar. If you are not sure what the expressions are, click Apply, open a predefined query for the attribute group that includes a symbol expression. Make note of the column name and any symbol expressions used in the specification, return to your new query, and add the symbol expression to the appropriate column.
  7. Edit the specification for any changes you want to make:
    • Add an attribute to the query by clicking Add Attributes and selecting the attributes you want to include. The attributes available are from the group used in the original query.
    • Remove an attribute by right-clicking the column heading and clicking Delete. (You can also right-click a row and delete it.)
    • Include an attribute in the filter, but do not retrieve it by clearing Disabled check box that column.
    • Clear the filter criteria by right-clicking the cell, column, or row, and clicking Clear Contents.
    • Insert a row by right-clicking the row and clicking Insert.
    • Cut, copy, or paste by right-clicking the cell or row and clicking Cut, Copy, or Paste. When you paste, the contents of the clipboard overwrites the cell or row.
    • Add filter criteria by clicking in a cell and writing the expression.
    • Add a column function by clicking in the column heading and selecting a function from the list; then click Advanced and select the column to Group By.
    • Specify a sort order by clicking Advanced, and selecting the column to Sort By. Note that if you selected a Group By column, you cannot also specify a sort order.
    • Adjust column order by dragging a column heading and dropping at the insertion point.
    • Restrict the rows (data series) that show in the table view or bar chart to a specific number. Restrict the first rows retrieved from the monitoring agent or the most recent (last rows) by clicking Advanced, selecting First or Last, and specifying the the number or rows to retrieve.
  8. Optional. If you opened the Query editor from the view properties, you can change the list of managed systems the query will extract data from.
    1. Click the Query Results Source tab.
    2. Select Let user assign explicitly, then remove managed systems from the Assigned list and add them from the Available list.
    Regardless of the managed systems assigned to a query, a gauge chart can show data from only one managed system. If you are using the query in a workspace where multiple systems are applicable, such as at the Enterprise- or Platform level of the Navigator Physical view, the data shown is from the first managed system in the Assigned list.
  9. When you are finished, click Apply to save the query and keep the window open or click OK to save the query and close the window.
    If you opened the Query editor from the Properties window, clicking OK also selects the query for the current view.

What to do next

Be aware of these limitations:
  1. The attributes in a query can be from one group only; you cannot mix attributes from different groups in the same query.
  2. Even if data collection has been started, you cannot use the time span feature if the query for the chart or table includes any column functions. If this is the case, you can select or create another query to enable time span Time Span.
  3. The Sort by advanced query function is incompatible with the historical reporting feature. The view will not be sorted even if you have specified a sort order in the query. Nonetheless, while a table view that specifies a time span is displayed in a workspace, you can still sort it by clicking a column heading.

    Similarly, the Sort by and Group by advanced query functions are unavailable for views that specify a time span within the last 24 hours, that is, views that draw from short-term history. (The first 24-hour retrieval from short-term history can be reduced or eliminated by adjusting the KFW_REPORT_TERM_BREAK_POINT value in the Tivoli Enterprise Portal Server environment file.)