Purpose
This document describes how to use database views within SQL Server database queries to generate custom reports for Shavlik Protect.
When you install Shavlik Protect it creates a number of defined views in the Protect SQL Server database. You can reference these views within custom queries that you write to extract exactly the information you want. By executing the custom queries and exporting the results to the format of your choice you effectively create your own customized reports for Shavlik Protect.
The benefits of writing your own database queries are:
• You can mine the Protect database for the exact information you want.
You can go beyond the predefined reports provided within Shavlik Protect. While the predefined reports are sufficient for many organizations, you may have the need to produce one or more custom reports that provide more specific information about the status of your machines.
• You can export the query results and present the information in the format of your choosing.
You can, of course, opt to write custom queries without using the Protect views. When you add the use of Protect views to your custom queries, however, you gain a number of other benefits:
• The view schemas will not change in future versions of Shavlik Protect.
Future versions of Shavlik Protect may modify the tables in the database. By referencing Protect views in your queries rather than the tables, you will be guaranteed that your custom queries will not break when upgrading to future versions.
• The queries are not as complex and are easier to write.
The views do some of the work for you. Your custom queries will not need to reference as many Protect database tables. The views join multiple tables to gather relevant information and they pull different columns from multiple tables.
• Shavlik will continue to build out the Protect views in future versions, providing greater capabilities.
• Custom queries can be shared by trusted members of the Shavlik community.
The process for creating a custom report is as follows:
1. Familiarize yourself with the SQL Server database views that are provided with Shavlik Protect.
2. Write a database query that references the Shavlik Protect views and that generates the information you want.
3. Export the query results into the user-friendly format of your choosing.
Affected Products
Protect Version 9.1 and later