Hi Listers,
My company is considering to implement Web intelligence, I would like to know what you think of the product
Is it user-friendly?
have many bugs?
What’s the installation like?
If you anyone can give some info then it will be appreciated
Thanks
Elana
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
I want to piggy back on this message - in install, has anyone else had the problem (leading to blue screen o’ death) where Webi (2.0x and up) cant set the virtual directories up?
I find this happens pretty consistently under NT 4.0 / SP4, and I know some folks have seen it - but did a lot of you?
Brent
Hi Listers,
My company is considering to implement Web intelligence, I would like to
know what you think of the product
Is it user-friendly?
have many bugs?
What’s the installation like?
If you anyone can give some info then it will be appreciated
Thanks
Elana
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
I’ve installed WEBI 2.0.X several times because on installation it does not map the virtual directories, or maps some but not all the virtual directories, this has been on NT 4.0 / SP5 using IE5. I’ve bounced this off BO tech support, but the only answer I got was, “We’ve installed WEBI on the same environment and it’s installed and mapped the virtual directories without any problem”.
That really helps me a lot.
I feel like I’m beating my head against the wall ever time I speak to tech support. At least we have this BO discussion list, where would we all be without it.
But, as to the problem above, I’ve not found a solution to this problem except install/de-install several times until it works. Once it’s successfully installed it runs fine.
Minal 
I want to piggy back on this message - in install, has anyone else had the
problem (leading to blue screen o’ death) where Webi (2.0x and up) cant set
the virtual directories up?
I find this happens pretty consistently under NT 4.0 / SP4, and I know some
folks have seen it - but did a lot of you?
Brent
Hi Listers,
My company is considering to implement Web intelligence, I would
like to
know what you think of the product
Is it user-friendly?
have many bugs?
What’s the installation like?
If you anyone can give some info then it will be appreciated
Thanks
Elana
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
The workaround I found was to create the directory structure in advance, which usually takes at least one failed install / de-install… if you have a working box, copy the http-server folder and below to the server to be set up next - that helps…
If you don’t have a working copy, the event log will tell you the failed folders… if you create them from that log, you may get thru the issue…
It just surprised me to see in in the 2.5x version, especially after the visibility it got here under 2.0x… I just wondered who else had seen it, since it never failed to occur here…
Brent
I’ve installed WEBI 2.0.X several times because on installation it does not
map the virtual directories, or maps some but not all the virtual directories, this has been on NT 4.0 / SP5 using IE5. I’ve bounced this off
BO tech support, but the only answer I got was, “We’ve installed WEBI on the same environment and it’s installed and mapped
the virtual directories without any problem”.
That really helps me a lot.
I feel like I’m beating my head against the wall ever time I speak to tech
support. At least we have this BO discussion list, where would we all be
without it.
But, as to the problem above, I’ve not found a solution to this problem
except install/de-install several times until it works. Once it’s successfully installed it runs fine.
Minal
I want to piggy back on this message - in install, has anyone else
had the
problem (leading to blue screen o’ death) where Webi (2.0x and up)
cant set
the virtual directories up?
I find this happens pretty consistently under NT 4.0 / SP4, and I
know some
folks have seen it - but did a lot of you?
Brent
Hi Listers,
My company is considering to implement Web
intelligence, I
would
like to
know what you think of the product
Is it user-friendly?
have many bugs?
What’s the installation like?
If you anyone can give some info then it will be
appreciated
Thanks
Elana
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
At my final attemp of installing WEBI was to select the Manual Server Configuration during installation, and then map the Virtual Directories manually after installation was complete. This is probably the process I would use again if I had to install WEBI for another client.
Minal
The workaround I found was to create the directory structure in advance,
which usually takes at least one failed install / de-install… if you have
a working box, copy the http-server folder and below to the server to be set
up next - that helps…
If you don’t have a working copy, the event log will tell you the failed
folders… if you create them from that log, you may get thru the issue…
It just surprised me to see in in the 2.5x version, especially after the
visibility it got here under 2.0x… I just wondered who else had seen it,
since it never failed to occur here…
Brent
I’ve installed WEBI 2.0.X several times because on installation it
does not
map the virtual directories, or maps some but not all the virtual
directories, this has been on NT 4.0 / SP5 using IE5. I’ve bounced
this off
BO tech support, but the only answer I got was, “We’ve installed WEBI on the same environment and it’s installed and
mapped
the virtual directories without any problem”.
That really helps me a lot.
I feel like I’m beating my head against the wall ever time I speak
to tech
support. At least we have this BO discussion list, where would we
all be
without it.
But, as to the problem above, I’ve not found a solution to this
problem
except install/de-install several times until it works. Once it’s
successfully installed it runs fine.
Minal
I want to piggy back on this message - in install,
has
anyone else
had the
problem (leading to blue screen o’ death) where Webi
(2.0x
and up)
cant set
the virtual directories up?
I find this happens pretty consistently under NT 4.0
/ SP4,
and I
know some
folks have seen it - but did a lot of you?
Brent
Hi Listers,
My company is considering to implement Web
intelligence, I
would
like to
know what you think of the product
Is it user-friendly?
have many bugs?
What’s the installation like?
If you anyone can give some info then it
will be
appreciated
Thanks
Elana
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Hi Elana,
We are currently using WebIntelligence 2.5.1 It has some very strong points for the end user. However the Installation can be a little tricky. I have found several “Bugs” that have work arounds. As an example Makes sure that IIS is up and running Before you start your installation. I have yet to see WebIntelligence properly register all of the variables required for it and Broadcast Agent to run. After installing Webi goto the Control Panel open System/Environment and check for the following Variables. BusinessObjectsPath
ORBELLINE
WIORB
Also check the Path statement and make sure that the following variables have been included. %BusinessObjectsPath%;%WI%;%WIJDK%;%WIORBB%;%WISYS%;%WISTORAGE%;%WIWEBI%
As I said Webi does have some great features. As a Thin client and Corporate document distribution system it has many good qualities. You just have to get through the start up pains.
Hope this helps
Jim Lafferty
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
I don’t know what you are doing but I never had the problems you are.
Is this machines OS been configured correctly? How about the user you are using for installation. Is it the administrator of the box?
How much memory and disk space does it have? There something else going on besides the installation.
I would have the machines OS reimaged. I have seen many installs go bad due to a bad OS installation.
Sincerely,
Tom Nather
Data Warehouse Group
Penske Logistics
email:tom.nather@penske.com
Phone: 216-765-5787
Fax: 216-765-5666
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
It happens in about every imaginable scenario we could come up with… New boxes, old boxes that were being upgraded from earlier versions of BO, old boxes that we then recloned…
In this environment I would say it’s happened on a total of 12 installs, no successes (eg, no installs that would work w/out the games I had to play)…
This was also partly done w/ on-site BO support - my workaround of setting up the directories was the only thing that ever worked.
NT 4, SP4 with IIS… Done as a local admin to the box, FULL priveleges … Ran from a CD, ran from copies of the CD on the server, ran via PCAnywhere, ran locally. All with the same result. Must have the directories set up before the install.
I only went fishing for other’s responses since I have 6 boxes to upgrade this weekend, and I guess I was feeling salty.
Brent
I don’t know what you are doing but I never had the problems you are.
Is this machines OS been configured correctly? How about the user you are
using for installation. Is it the administrator of the box?
How much memory and disk space does it have? There something else going on
besides the installation.
I would have the machines OS reimaged. I have seen many installs go bad due
to a bad OS installation.
Sincerely,
Tom Nather
Data Warehouse Group
Penske Logistics
email:tom.nather@penske.com
Phone: 216-765-5787
Fax: 216-765-5666
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Did you have the Windows Scripting Host option installed from the NT Option Pack? This is required for the IIS virtual directories to be configured.
I have completed over a hundred Webi 2 and 2.5 installs and haven’t seen these issues. When NT and/or user rights were not setup properly then I have seen issues.
Kumar
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
I went back and checked the option pack install, and yes, scripting host was installed… I swear, BO and I went over this for several weeks, and I don’t think there was ever a resolution besides mine…
We did all the standard stuff, removed the incomplete installations, cleaned the registries, burnt incense, the whole nine yards. I am only in the double digit installs category, but literally we have 100% failure.
Anyone else?
Brent
Did you have the Windows Scripting Host option installed from the NT Option
Pack? This is required for the IIS virtual directories to be configured.
I have completed over a hundred Webi 2 and 2.5 installs and haven’t seen
these issues. When NT and/or user rights were not setup properly then I
have seen issues.
Kumar
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
I agree. I’ve done over a hundred WebI installs and have never had a problem unless IIS was installed incorrectly.
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
What I don’t get is this- what settings could I have wrong? Why can no one say what is not right, especially BO support and consulting? Why does it work?
We are talking about a production environment, 6 boxes in the middle of 600 boxes. Set up by a staff of very good NT people. We had NT folks check these boxes before and after the install - nothing wrong that any of these folks or BO could find.
I don’t want to go off on a rant, but I am obviously not the first one to have this problem… the person that started this said he had to install this web services manually, after the install - then it worked ok… I cant believe IIS under NT 4 is an odd configuration. The readme in the install set for 5.01 mentions this error - but they say you can ignore it… I can’t ignore a blue screen and reinstalling. Maybe something is happening AFTER this, but that is the last entry in the logs, and that is the only thing that has ever made this work.
we had 4 consultants from BO here on site over a period of 2 weeks, and none of them (backed by their off site consultants) could give a concrete answer as to a) what was happening and b) how to fix it. literally, we part’d and formatted these drives, reloaded NT and the SPs, reloaded BO - same problem, same spot. And it still occurs, upgrade to 2.51 on a 2.02 box, fresh install of 2.51 on a clean, new box.
Different machines, too. Dual pentiums, quad pentiums, single processor desktop box running NT 4… No commonality except the outcome. A minimum of a gig of ram on these boxes, most are 2. 2 * 9 gig drives, running raid 0+1, after the install left with upwards of 6 and 7 gig free…
And like I say, once they are up, they work.
Any other feedback?
Brent
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
To comfort you in your time of frustration (if nothing else), I have had the same problem every time on my one machine. Just wanted to let you know that you are not the only one. Simon
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
but literally we have 100% failure.
Ayone else?
Nope - only when not having fully removed previous installs or the scripting host not installed. Provided the prerequisites (ie documented privs etc) are all done then my installs have been fine.
Regards
Jonathan
Project Leader
Group Medical, Regulatory and Product Strategy IS.
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Kumar,
I’m so sorry to disturb you in your wonderful land of WEBI Installations. But I didn’t want to say anything but I can’t believe a word of an hundreds installationS of Webi 2.0.x without any issue. I did a couple of them like 50 and I’m not counting the double, triple, quadruple installations of WEBIs 2.0.x that didn’t work. And the most funny one was here in Sydney for one of our large worldwide customer with all the possible versions of Webi 1.0 first then Webi 2.0.x plus all the guys of BusinessObjects Australia and we couldn’t make that blood… boxes to run and we tried hard by changing the box, reformatting the hard drive, reinstalling the OS a couple of time and everytime it failed.
I remember installing Webi 2.0.x having to map the virtual directories in MIIS every single time.
It’s true that Webi 2.5.x is a big step in term of reliability of the installation process and as well in term of product stability. BUT, BUT not later that this afternoon I had the problem on Webi 2.5.2, on a brand new NT 4.0 box.
I installed MIIS myself and I spent 6 blood. hours trying to make that box up and running, no chance.
I installed the Scripting Host stuff or may be only half of it as webi did half of the mapping and stopped in the middle but no error message of course !!
I choose the installation with MIIS and it did install anyway the Netscape stuff.
I noticed that it spent too much time with the NSConfig.exe on the screen (2-3 minutes and not a single move), and when I checked in the setup.log, it’s just before the installation process creates the bin directory, finally checked in MIIS, the “bin” virtual directory was created but with only the “script” right, that gave me of cause an error when I tried to log in, I changed that to “execute” and then I could log in. But on this box it’s very unstable, it reminds me the glorious period of Webi 2.0.x.
This configuration is :
Pentium II 550MHz with 512Mb of memory and 30Gb of hard drive.
I need to check if there is anything wrong in term of software conflicts with :
ArcServe of Cheyenne
SQL Server of Microsoft (as before some conflicts has been raised by BusinessObjects, but I thought that it was over now)
I took the result of winmsd so that I will be able to check all the configuration.
Pascal
From: Kumar Kannankutty
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 5:25 AM
I have completed over a hundred Webi 2 and 2.5 installs and haven’t seen these issues. When NT and/or user rights were not setup properly then I have seen issues.
Kumar
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
I have done these installations from scratch. By taking a brand new machine out of a box, NT guy does his installs and WebI goes right on.
Sometimes there is some messing around going on that is not being mentioned in the list just much of this slamming. NT is not the most stable OS in the world. You need to make sure service packs are installed correctly and the OS has not been messed with by some NT geek.
Yes they need to do something about the length of time spent in NSConfig.exe and the custom install does have some flaws. A problem has been logged concerning the messing around with the registry, that is the softwares responsibility. But if you have messed and tweeked the registry don’t blame BO or WebI…
Take the Express set up, answer the questions (no second guessing), and go have a cup of coffee (or whatever you would like) and the install takes care of its self.
If the guy wants to fly me from Ohio to Austrailia I will be happy to do his install…
Tough crowd…
Sincerely,
Tom Nather
Data Warehouse Group
Penske Logistics
email:tom.nather@penske.com
Phone: 216-765-5787
Fax: 216-765-5666
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Hello,
can someone please tell me were can I find documentation on Web Intelligence 2.5 ?
I would like WhitePapers, Overviews, anything like that.
Thanks, best regards
Rui Oliveira
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Hope that helps.
Paul
Rui Oliveira wrote:
Hello,
can someone please tell me were can I find documentation on Web Intelligence 2.5 ?
I would like WhitePapers, Overviews, anything like that.
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Hi Everyone,
I have strange thing happening. Take a look at this code and let me know why this would not work.
Set WebIContext = WebISession.CreateContext() Set WebIDocument = WebIContext.OpenDocument(“test”, “Inbox”)
Dim DocumentName
DocumentName = WebIDocument.Name
If DocumentName = “” then
Response.Write “Error”
Else
DocumentName = WebIDocument.Name
Response.Write DocumentName
Response.Write “
”
End If
Incidently the report exists. Just to confirm is inbox a type of repository as mentioned in the SDK guide. If anyone can solve the problem then I would be glad. Basically I want to open an existing report and play with the prompts on them can anyone who has done let me know how to.
Thanks in advance
anand
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)
Hi,
This code may not work if document test is created in Desktop version of Business Objects.
You cannot manipulate fat client reports using Webi SDK.
Regards,
Rajesh
Incidently the report exists. Just to confirm is inbox a type of repository as mentioned in the SDK guide. If anyone can solve the problem then I would be glad. Basically I want to open an existing report and play with the prompts on them can anyone who has done let me know how to.
Thanks in advance
anand
Listserv Archives (BOB member since 2002-06-25)