Getting started

Xtraction is a visualization software that simplifies, yet enhances, your ability to report on various IT application databases. Use Xtraction to extract, manipulate, and aggregate data from any number of connected data sources into interactive, real-time dashboards, multi-page documents, and custom reports—all from a single web-based interface.

Xtraction has three tools for doing this; access to them is governed by your user role, which the administrator assigns. The tools are as follows:

•Dashboard Designer: Use this tool to create real-time, interactive dashboards of your target data sources' data. A dashboard can consist of one or more panes, each showing a specific data component. As you build a dashboard, you're provided with instant feedback and can immediately interact with the viewable data. This is the tool you'll use most often, so it's important to understand how to use it first.

•Document Designer: Use this tool to present a large amount of data as a report when the screen limitations of a dashboard aren't sufficient. For example, a document works better than a dashboard if you're creating a weekly or monthly report containing dozens of charts, graphs, or lists that run to multiple pages. You can export and then email these reports to key stakeholders.

•Report Designer: If you're an advanced user, you can use this tool to create custom reports using standard SQL statements that run outside of the Xtraction component framework.

Xtraction also has tools for:

•Scheduled exports: Schedule regular exports of dashboards, documents, and reports in a variety of formats to be delivered via email to key stakeholders. Manage those exports as tasks from the Scheduled tasks page.

•Alerts: Set up alerts to monitor status updates to data when you're unable to be at your computer screen. When breached, alerts can notify you via email when those changes occur. Two types of alerts are available (dashboard and threshold), and you can set either type to run periodically. Manage alerts from the Alerts list page.

To access the Xtraction web client, open a web browser (Chrome is recommended) and enter the URL provided by the administrator. Typically, the default URL is http://[SERVER]/Xtraction/ (where [SERVER] is the name of your Xtraction server).

•For Windows authentication: If you're already authenticated to the domain, you shouldn't have to re-enter your credentials. If prompted, enter your Windows user ID and password.

•Later on, you should be able to log back in to Xtraction automatically by clicking the Click here to login again link on the login page, though your browser type and configuration will determine if this works:

•If your browser is configured to automatically pass the current credentials back to the Xtraction web server, you’re not prompted for anything and login is automatic. Internet Explorer usually works this way in corporate environments.

•If your browser is configured to not automatically pass the current credentials back to the Xtraction web server, you’re given a chance to use different credentials. You'll be prompted by the browser—not by Xtraction—for your Windows username and password, which are then passed to the web server. Firefox and Chrome often work this way in corporate environments.

•For Local authentication: Enter the username and password provided by the administrator. Once you're authenticated, Xtraction will open in your browser.

Logged-in users have a session timeout period that is set by the administrator. This ensures that if your Xtraction session is inactive for a certain amount of time, an automatic timeout will occur and release your license for someone else to use. Directly before the timeout occurs, a pop-up dialog will display with a countdown enabling you to cancel it before the session ends.

The best way to log out is to use the Logout option at the bottom of the page, which immediately releases your Xtraction license for others to use. Logging out by closing your web browser isn't recommended, since your license may not be immediately released.

On the Xtraction logout page, there’s an option to reset your locally stored authentication settings. If you do so from this page, all stored authentication items will be cleared, and you must log in again.

When this option is used, two things are cleared locally:

1.Your login data is cleared from an authentication cookie—data such as user ID, session ID, time zone, and so on.

2.If multiple authentication providers are configured, this action clears the provider that you last selected on your device.