Financial Setup: Lock Plan Structure Attribute

Lock Plan structure is attribute and it's part of  Financial setup.

If you enable this attribute, Group Attributes will become read only. 

Remove instance level access rights using XOG

Suppose you have xml for instance right to a user -
<NikuDataBus xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../xsd/nikuxog_user.xsd">
<Header action="write" externalSource="NIKU" objectType="user" version="12.0.2.5101"/>
<Users>
<User externalId=""
userName="aaaaa">
<PersonalInformation emailAddress="aaaa@bbb.com" firstName="xyz" lastName="cde"/>
<Resource resourceId="aaaaa" />
<InstanceRights>
<Right id="yyyyyyyyyyy" >
<InstanceObject id="A.xxxxx" type="SRM_PROJECTS" />
</Right>
</InstanceRights>
</User>
</Users>
</NikuDataBus>

So you just include the "tag" in the instance rights section -
<InstanceRights complete="true">

Including the above removes all the instances rights of the mentioned user(s) in the xml.

NJ

Clarity GEL Best Practices

1. Persist Session Id.

−It’s a waste of resources to login/execute/logout whenever you need XOG.

−Login at the beginning of your process (Start Step)

−Use to hold on to your SessionID during the entire process

−Execute whatever you need in the intermediate steps

−Logout at the end (Finish Step)

2. Read from Properties.XML

 It’s not good practice to hardcode URLs, folder paths, usernames and passwords, etc

- Use the ConfigurationManager class to read from properties.xml (parameters such as the entryURL or the Clarity home folder)

- Use to hold on to the variables you need during the entire process

3. Set and use Debugging

- Use to enter messages to the Process Manager Log Messages.

- Set up a “DebugLevel” variable and persist it for later use

DebugLevel 0 generates no message

DebugLevel 1 generates Simple messages

DebugLevel 2 generates Variable Content messages

DebugLevel 3 serializes XML Documents

4. Coding Level

1.All SQL and SOAP tags should be wrapped in gel exception handling.

2.All SQL tags should utilize bind parameters.

3.All debug statements should be controlled via a parameter that is optional when needed.

4.All complex sql statement need to be analyzed for performance implication. This can be done via EXPLAIN PLAN in a SQL tool.

5.IF the GEL script is performing XOG read/write actions in a loop, the XOG login and log out actions must be outside the loop.

6.SQL update statements should not be utilized against anything other than custom tables or ODF_CA_ tables.

7.SQL Insert/delete statements should only be used on custom tables.

Create the Project from a Template and Baseline, financial properties will not be copied

As a project manager, you can create the project from a template. Templates help enforce consistency and improve efficiency when creating projects.

You can create a project and save it as a template. Others can use this template to create a project.

When you create a project from a template, the following information is copied from the template to the new project:

• General project attributes and custom fields.
• Staff, participants, and participant groups.
• Work breakdown structure.
• Task assignments.
• Organizational Breakdown Structures (OBS) unit associations.
• Resource % Allocation and Allocation field values, so that the ETC lines up with these amounts.
• Cost and benefit plans.

Note: Start and finish dates, baseline information, and financial properties are not copied from templates to new projects. If hard-booked resources are defined in the project template, the resources are copied as soft-booked.

CA Clarity PPM 13.3: Foundations I 200 Bundle (33CLR2264B)

Creating Projects
CA Clarity PPM 13.3: Foundations I 200 Bundle (33CLR2264B)
Create Projects
 Create Projects



 Create Projects from Ideas and Other Sources

Clarity: XOG Invoke Failed with a Java SocketException

Clarity: XOG Invoke Failed with a Java SocketException

Description:

I am using a command line window to log into CA PPM XML Open Gateway (XOG) and it fails with an error message.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Download the CA PPM XOG Client from Administration, Client Downloads and install on your personal computer
2. Launch a Microsoft Windows 'cmd' window
3. Navigate to the XOG Client 'bin' directory
4. At the prompt, enter the appropriate login details
   > login user/pass@server:port

Expected Result: Login Successful
Actual Result: Error message appears

XOG Invoke Failed

java.net.SocketException: Unexpected end of file from server
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.parseHTTPHeader(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.parseHTTP(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.parseHTTPHeader(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.http.HttpClient.parseHTTP(Unknown Source)
at sun.net.www.protocol.http.HttpURLConnection.getInputStream(Unknown Source)
at java.net.HttpURLConnection.getResponseCode(Unknown Source)
at com.niku.union.xml.SimpleSOAPMessage.processRequest(SimpleSOAPMessage.java:261)

Solution:

This CA PPM Application Server is configured to use SSL. This error message will appear if the XOG client does not have SSL Enabled.

Before executing the 'login' command, enable the SSL for use with XOG as follows:

1. Launch a Microsoft Windows 'cmd' window
2. Navigate to the XOG Client 'bin' directory
3. At the prompt, enter the command to enable SSL
   > xog -sslenabled true
4. At the prompt, enter the appropriate login details
   > login user/pass@server:portc

"Input Type Code" Default value will not work if you use administrator to create the user.

Clarity: Default Input Type Code from Resource object not populating on newly created Resources.

Adding a default to Input Type Code on the attribute on the Resource Object. Create new Resource in Admin, check this resource in the app and the field is blank as opposed to being populated with the default value.

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Lo gin to Clarity as an administrator user
   
2. Admin Tool -> Studio: Objects -> Resource Object
   
3. Attributes -> Input Type Code -> select a Default Value and save
   
4. Views -> Resource Labor Properties [Fields]
   
5. Click 'properties' icon for Input Type Code field
   
6. Confirm there is a value in the 'Override Default' field
   
7. Admin Tool -> Resources -> Click 'New' button
   
   Create a new Resource in the Admin Tool
   
8. Main Application -> Resources: Search and open the Resource profile

Expected Result: Default values should be populated on the Resource profile
Actual Result: The default value was not populated for the Input Type Code

Solution:

The application is behaving as expected.

Setting default values on the Resource Object is for setting the defaults on new Resource profiles created from the Main Application -> Resources, not from creating a Clarity User from the Admin Tool -> Resources. The Admin Tool -> Resources functionality is for creating end-user profiles and for adding security access rights to the end-user profile. When creating a new Clarity User in the Admin Tool, the Create layout does not include the Input Type Code and therefore, the application cannot populate it with the configured default value. This applies to other attributes that may be configured with default values. If setting default values are important to your process for creating resources, implement a business rule to have your Clarity Administrator create the Resource profile in the Main

Application -> Resources first, then go into the Admin Tool and add the security access rights.

Project XOG Mandatory Fields for Clarity 13.3

Project id and Project name only two fields is enough to do xog .

Resource XOG Mandatory Fields in Clarity 13.3

<NikuDataBus xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../xsd/nikuxog_resource.xsd">
<Header action="write" externalSource="NIKU" objectType="resource" version="13.3.0.286"/>
<Resources>
<Resource  resourceId="CVB00194" externalId=" " username="test7">
<PersonalInformation emailAddress="@123" firstName="test1" lastName="2"/>
</Resource>
</Resources>

Mandatory fields 

1.Resource id
2.External id
3.Username
4.email address
5.first name
6.last name

You can't update resource id and user name via xog.

Note: If you are trying to update resource id via xog, you will get error in the XOG output, and trying to update user name , you will not receive the error but still you can't update.

Also note:

Resource id and user name still you can manually update in the application side.
But financial data must not enabled.

The only way of update for resource id and username via back end query.

Convert existing Project to Program

Which conditions need to be met to convert an existing project to a program? (Choose two)


A.The project contains no staff.

B. The project contains no tasks.

C. The project contains no schedule.

D. The project contains no milestones.


Answer is A and B

The reason behind this and in Clarity , We can't assign resources and tasks at the program level and only we can create milestone.

 

Creating Action as a Menu in Clarity 13.3

Step 1:

Create one custom action, it must linked with one of the type available in look up (Internal URL, External URL and Report)

In this sample will show you the external link

Go To Administrator --->Objects--> Project-->Action

Create one Custom action and include type as external link include URL.

Step2 :

Go to --> Administrator--> Menu Manager-->Create a menu and select "Action" as a option.---> Link the Action created as part of Project objects.


Step3: Log and login you will have new link created in the Menu.



Comparision view with 12.1 and 13.3

In 12.1 you will find only Link and section
where as in 13. 3

you can find

Page link
Action link
Section

Clarity 14+ Business Analyst Certification

Question 1

In CA PPM v14.x, which new feature has been added to improve the end-user experience?

A. Inline edits for lists

B. Object actions on menus

C. Configurable notifications

D. Collapsible Smart Sections


The answer is D


In CA Clarity PPM v13, which new features have been added to improve the end user experience? (Choose three)

A. Inline edits for lists

B. User-defined favorites

C. Object actions on menus

D. Configurable notifications

E. Multi-valued lookups in lists

The Answer is A,B,C 

Reporting Support for Clarity 14.2

Added support for Jaspersoft 5.6.1
No Support for CA Business Intelligence r3.3 sp2 (BOXI 3.1 Sp7) for new customers.


Jasper Supports only following operating system enabled.

perating System	Server version	Application Server/JDK	Database
Microsoft Windows	Windows Server 2008 R2; (64-bit) Windows Server 2012 R2	Tomcat 7.0.55; JDK 1.7.0_67	Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Oracle 11.2.0.3 and above

Red Hat Enterprise Server 5.5 and above (64-bit) Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 64-bit for x86 chipsets: any newer update release SUSE Enterprise Linux 10 Service Pack 4 64-bit for x86 chipsets: any newer service pack release SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 3 64-bit for x86 chipsets; any newer service pack release

Tomcat 7.0.55; JDK 1.7.0_67

Oracle 11.2.0.3 and above

Clarity Mobile Manager in 14.2

It supports
Mobile operating System 7.0 +
Google Android OS 4.0 or Higher.


 

CA PPM v14.1 & 14.2 Now Generally Available

The below new features are available in 14. 1 and 14.2

Studio Content Management
Partners and customers can use studio to package and migrate studio content, making deployment easier.

Microsoft Project Improvements

Microsoft Project integration has been re-architected for faster performance and increased usability.


Integration Adapter
On Demand customers can import third-party resource information in to CA PPM, Because our Integration adapter is provided with CA PPM, we maintain the integration and ensure it continues to work after upgrades.

VersionOne integration
CA Technologies and VersionOne have partnered to develop direct integration between CA PPM and the industry leading agile solution from VersionOne. With the integration, you can export project informaton to VersionOne and import VersionOne work items into CA PPM tasks. This integration ensures that you can track VersionOne work effort in CA PPM.

In addition

Please note that as of the 14.1 release, the product name CA Clarity PPM has begun changing to CA PPM.
The CA Clarity PPM name will continue to appear in areas of the product until the brand transition is complete in 2015.



 

SAP Connect PPM+ add on

There is also the option of connecting our CA Clarity PPM with SAP CO or FI using our SAP Connect PPM+ add-on.

Different Types of Portlet in Clarity 13.3

1. Grid Portlet
2. Chart Portlet
3. Interactive Portlet
4. Filter Portlet
5. HTML Portlet

Clarity 13.3 Questions

Object /Sub objects consists of

1. Attributes
2. Views
3. Subpages
4. object Action 

Questions Clarity 13.3

1.

What is the default Add-in Installed in the system ?

1.System: Clarity Content


2. Different types of Views in Clarity 13.3

   1. List Column views.
   2. Properties views.
   3. List Filter view.

Java Runtime Environment for Open Workbench - JRE Will download in end user System

Java Runtime Environment for Open Workbench

Starting with Release 13.3, CA Clarity PPM provides a specific Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for use by Open Workbench (OWB). The JRE is copied to the hard drive in the OWB installation directory on the end-user workstation. The JRE is used specifically for OWB and is independent of the JRE used for the Windows workstation.

OWB uses only the internal JRE version that is provided which we certify to be compatible. This approach eliminates issues that arise when the workstation Windows installation of the JRE is not the correct version or the JRE is missing. An IT department no longer has to update a JRE version when deploying OWB.

Clarity Certification Preparation (Installation)

How to set up CA Clarity PPM.

- Read the Prerequisites
- Set up the CA Clarity PPM Database
- Set up the Application Server
- Install CA Clarity PPM


1. Disable custom Trigger, anti virus scanners that can interfere with the installation scripts.
2. Spaces in the directory and it may cause difficulty on a Windows installation.
Example: C:\Program Files (X86)\ Can be changed to "C:\Program Files (X86)\" Now it will work


An installation checker runs automatically at the start of the installation. you can run this utility manually to verify that you are ready for the installation.

CheckInstall

CA Clarity PPM includes following Servers
1. Application Server
2. Database Server
3. Report Server

Pilot, Test, QA, Training and production.

CA Clarity PPM Services.
1. Application - You can use one more app services per cluster
2. BG - Run one more BG services for cluster
3. Beacon - You can use one Beacon service per server in the cluster.
4. DB - Per Cluster one
5. NSA - Per Cluster one

Improving Actuate Reporting Performance in Clarity

Improving Actuate Reporting Performance in Clarity

 

Reporting Performance issue is very common and an challenge to address it.I faced that and managed to overcome with the help of experts advice and some ground work.i worked and tested in throwly in Test server and then implemented in Production.This is specific to Actuate Reporting.

1. Tuning the Sql
In Most situations the poor performance of Reports is due to inefficient Sql.Pls extract the SQL queries to run them directly against the database to measure the Performance.Tuning your SQL is often the best way to increase overall Reporting performance.

2. Minimise the data
Minimise the data in your report at every opportunity. Only bring back records that are required.That will improve the reporting performance significantly.Less Data More speed.Optimize the Tables & Indexes.

3. Run acverify utility Monthly.
The acverify command-line utility validates an Encyclopedia volume and optionally attempts to repair problems found in the volume. Use acverify with an offline volume.It cannot be used with an online volume.
Command:- Run acverify check all repair

4. Archiving
Clear the Old Archival Files which will Free enough space and will boost the Reporting server performance.

A) Setting archive folder
Create a new environment variables in the actuate server called AC_ROOT_FOLDER and set the archive folder.

B) Setting the archive library
Login to Actuate Management Console System Administration, click at System Volumes -> General. Enter the archive library path into the archive library name. The archive.dll usually located in the Actuate9\iServer\Examples\Archive folder.You need to restart the server for this field to take effect.

C) Setting archive rules
Login to Actuate Management Console System Administration then go to the Files and Folder(where the roi files resides,usually /cus/) and right click properties and then select the file type to archive (Actuate Report Document - roi) and choose the Archive files before deletion Option.
This option will archive the files to the archive folder before the file is deleted. This is useful to recover the report at a later stage.However, this will add on additional disk space in the server as it will be keep as an archive file.So probably after some time you can delete the Files.

D)Setting archive schedule
Login to Actuate Management Console System Administration thenClick at Volume -> Archive Schedule then Select the start date and time to start the schedule. Advise to start the archive schedule during non peak hours and the time doesn’t clash with the backup schedule.

5. Increase the Buffer pool size
In Actuate Management Console System increase the Buffer pool size where the default is 10mb.Actuate iServer manages this information using a page buffer pool.Actuate recommends setting the buffer pool as large as possible to keep the buffer pool data in the Actuate iServer machine’s memory and not in the machine’s disk swap space.

6. Adding Factory processes (Important)
In both stand-alone and cluster configurations, the optimum number of Factory processes for Actuate iServer depends on the speed of the CPU that runs the Actuate iServer workload and the mix of reports in the workload.To begin, configure two Factory processes on a processor. Adding Factory
processes can enhance performance if the database that Actuate iServer uses to create reports is a performance-limiting resource.
Actuate iServer can use the multiple Factory processes to run multiple, simultaneous reports that use the database. When Actuate iServer runs multiple, simultaneous reports, some of the Factory processes access the database while other Factory processes perform report generation tasks that do not access the database.

7. Increase the View Server Performance.
The default value is 50, which means 50MB.You can increase the file size accordingly.The View process maintains caches for reports and report executable files. You can set Actuate iServer parameters to configure cache sizes, time-out values, and other View process parameters. In most cases, you do not have to change the values for these parameters from the default values.
The View process stores session information in a cache. Increasing cache size can improve View process performance when cache size is a limiting resource. The View process uses cache to store ROX files and view session information.

8. Improve report generation for long running reports
Improve report generation for long running reports by increasing the value of the environment variable.The default is 15 seconds, you can increase to 30 seconds.
AC_FACTORY_PAGE_COUNT_UPDATE_INTERVAL -- default is 15 seconds.

9. De fragmenting the Report Encyclopedia
To improve Report Encyclopedia performance, run the ACDEFRAG utility on a regular basis. Alternatively, back up and restore the Report Encyclopedia using the ACEXPORT AND ACIMPORT utilities on a regular basis.

10. Optimizing Memory
Actuate recommends a minimum of 1GB of RAM per CPU for Large Workloads.It is important not to use up all available memory.When CPU Requires more memory than available.There must be standards for each server like WebbLogic,Webshere and Tomcat,stick on that.

11.Run the Remove Job Logs and Report Library Entries
This job removes job log and Report Library entries from databases that are
older than a specified number of days.Schedule it weekly.

12.Schedule the Reports
During High Traffic Times Run large reports by scheduling rather running immediately and also if possible
schedule it on Non Peak Hours.

13. Seperate Server for Reporting
To provide for sufficient resources for both Application and Database servers, place the report server on a different CPU from the database or application server . Both report generation on the report server and database or application server tasks are CPU-intensive. If you cannot place the report server and database server on separate CPUs, plan for additional CPU, memory, and disk resources to support the report server.

14. Check All Resource Utilizing
Check the Operating System resources including I/O ,Network ,CPU and Memory.

15. Monitor the Reporting Performance
Monitor the Report performance via OS Utilities at regular Intervals which will help you to analyze Performance.

* For windows -- Windows Task Manager,Windows Performance Monitor.
* For Unix -- Top,Vmstat,iostat,netstat,sar

Set Environment Variable Java home

Please find the screen shot for the same.


Note: "bin" folder add only at the end of path.

Hidden knowledge about the Clarity Tables

I had a experience during installation of Clarity 13.3, though database available.
And not connected directly to the table level, due to right access.(Ref previous article Label:Clarity Install)

If you look at the clarity tables it starts with "Niku.ddd" ,
But from Clarity application, it will use only ddd. so in that case the user which going to create in database must have the right access and select query has work with out "niku".

You must enable the access and need to run query with out niku..

Happy installation by Bala

Clarity 13.3 with SQL SERVER 2008 R2

I have installed Clarity 13.3 with SQL SERVER 2008 R2 and faced issue
though followed all the steps in the installation document of Clarity 13.3.

I have configured the database in NSA, and it says available, also health check report is green for database. But the status of the installation "Database incomplete".

We tried many options and could not find the root cause, finally found there is an access issue.

After setting up the changes, finally in Clarity i could see database complete.

Clarity Installation With SQL SERVER 2008 R2

1. Configure Port 1433 using SQL Server Configuration.

Please make it Dynamic ports blank instead of 0

Clarity Installation Check

To view the IP Address for the server name/host name
Please use the below command for viewing the IP address

ping -a -4

Happy Coding
Bala

Clarity Installation Check

Using the below command in the command prompt will help us to see the list of port open for the server.
netstat -aon



Happy Coding
Bala

Maintain date format in Excel for Clarity Data migration

Function GetPhilipsWeekYear(getDate As String)
 Dim weeknumber As String
 Dim YYYear As String
 Dim mmmonth As String
 Dim strDate As String
 Dim dddate As String
If getDate <> "" Then
 ' Getting the Week Number and Any format will convert to "mm-dd-yyyy"

strDate = Format(getDate, "mm-dd-yyyy")
 weeknumber = Application.WorksheetFunction.WeekNum(strDate, 21)
 ' Getting the year from the date
 YYYear = Year(getDate)
 mmmonth = Month(getDate)
 dddate = Day(getDate)

 GetPhilipsWeekYear = YYYear & "-" & mmmonth & "-" & dddate & "Bala"
End If
End Function

User Configuration After upgrade loses verify in this table and take back up before upgrade Clarity 12.1.3 from 12.1.0

ODF_Filter_Expressions 

Custom objects deletion

Note :

we can delete the custom object and but it will delete only the tables in the database
relevant views, functions stored procedure will not be deleted.

Also note, if you create again same object and still can not be used existing stored procedure , function,
internal database might be changed lot.

What is stock Object in Clarity

Stock object nothing but a out of box objects which is available in Clarity.

Note: Stock object can not be deleted.

 

Clarity Exam Questions

Question 1

Which open standards does CA Clarity PPM support? (Choose three)

A. Web Ontology Language (OWL)

B. Java Database Connectivity (JDBC)

C. Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE)

D. Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP)

E. Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL)

Ans: B, C, D

Question 2

If you are configuring an Oracle database for CA Clarity PPM v13, which tasks do you need to perform? (Choose two)

A. Set the Oracle Net Manager port to 1521.

B. Configure at least one listener per server.  Yes

C. Run the setup.exe file in the disk1 directory.

D. Configure a Transparent Network Substrate (TNS) entry. Yes

Right answer: B,D

Question 3

Before you can run datamart jobs, which tasks do you need to perform? (Choose three)

A. Create partition rules.

B. Configure action items.

C. Define time slice ranges.

D. Select the datamart entity.

E. Select the datamart currency.

Ans: C, D, E

Question 4

Which Oracle database details do you need for the Clarity System Administration (CSA)? (Choose three)

A. Database server name

B. Database listener name

C. Location of tnsnames.ora file

D. Schema username and password

E. Oracle System ID (SID) and/or service name

Ans:A,D,E

Question 5

You have installed CA Business Intelligence (CABI). Next, under the Properties > Reporting tab of Clarity System Administration (CSA), which URLS do you need to set? (Choose two)

A. Web URL

B. Service URL

C. Proxy Host URL

D. Web Service Description Language (WSDL) URL

Ans: A, C

Right Answer : A,B

Question 6

Which file stores the details of Clarity System Administration (CSA) settings?

A. niku.ear – Used websepeer

B. properties.xml

C. clarity_home.xml

D. CA_Clarity_PBK.BIAR

Ans: B

Question 7

Which password expression metacharacter is used to denote a whitespace character?

A. \s

B. \S

C. \w

D. \W

Ans: A

Question 8

Because you are about to apply a Fix Pack, you want to make sure that you minimize the possibility of data and configuration loss. For this reason, you will use the admin backup command on the CA Clarity PPM application server. What does the admin backup command back up?

A. CA Clarity PPM folders only

B. CA Clarity PPM folders and database only

C. CA Clarity PPM folders, Apache Tomcat folders, and the database

D. CA Clarity PPM, Apache Tomcat, and CA Business Intelligence (CABI) folders and the database

Ans: A

Question 9

When you manage CA Clarity PPM services in Clarity System Administration (CSA), which action packages the service startup files?

A. Add

B. Start

C. Deploy

D. Refresh

Ans: C

Question 10

What is the correct syntax for validating a Generic Execution Language (GEL) script?

A. Validate gel .xml

B. Validate .xml gel

C. gel .xml –validate

D. .xml gel –validate

Ans :C

Question 11

In the test.properties file, the portnumber parameter is the non-Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) port number used on the server. What is the default value of this parameter?

A. 60

B. 70

C. 80

D. 90

Ans: 80

Question 12

After you install the XML Open Gateway (XOG) client, you need to verify the required folders and files are installed properly. Which folder contains the batch file to run the XOG client and .properties file to set the client parameter?

A. lib

B. bin

C. xml

D. xsd

Ans: B

Question 13

In the folder structure created by the XML Open Gateway (XOG) client install, what are the two main folders you will use?

A. \bin and \xml

B. \prj and \rsm

D. \xog and \biz

C. \cmn and \pac

Ans : A

Ans: b

Ans:  b

Ans: C

Ans: a

SOAP SONAR using Clarity Webservices

SOAP SONAR is the tool to validate the webservices which is created in Clarity PPIM

Gel Script Execution error in local machine - Client

Unspecified folder path error

better to install XOG Client folder with out space, so that we can avoid "unspecified error"


Install XOG client C:XOG not in

C:\Program Files (x86)\CA\Clarity\CA Clarity PPM XOG\bin