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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

How to schedule to SharePoint Document Library


Steps to Schedule reports to Sharepoint’s Directory using UNC path:

1) Make sure you can browse to the Sharepoint location using UNC path. So if your URL is http://Servername/SiteDirectory/Title, equivalent UNC path would be \\Servername\SiteDirectory\Title. We need the Webclient Service running on the box to access this UNC path.
2) If the URL is accessible you should be able to schedule the report to \\Servername\SiteDirectory\Title\SharedDocuments. The Shared Documents folder is created because we had used “Document Workspace” as a template. The folder structure will wary as per the template you select.
3) Go to the Business Objects Server running Crystal Reports / Web Intellignce / Desktop intelligence / Destination Job Servers (whichever report type is applicable).

4) Click on Start >> Run.
5) Type services.msc and hit ENTER. .
6) Enable and start the service Webclient.
7) Click on Start >> Control Panel >> Add or Remove Programs >> Add/Remove Windows Components.
8) Uncheck the box with the label Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration >> Click Next.
9) Logon to Business Objects Server computer using the service account which is being used to Authenticate against the Sharepoint Server.
10) Open Internet Explorer >> Tools >> Internet Options >> Security >> Local Intranet >> Sites >> Advanced.
11) Add the hostname and hostname.domain.com of the SharePoint Server to the Trusted Sites. Do NOT prefix the name with http(s) .
12) Open Internet Explorer >> Tools >> Internet Options >> Security >> Local Intranet >> Custom Level >> User Authentication >> Logon
13) Choose the radio button with the option Automatic logon with current username and password. >> Ok >> Ok.
14) Create a registry entry AuthForwardServerList of type Multi-String Value at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WebClient\Parameters\. Type the names of the computers hosting the SharePoint service as a list in the Value Data, one name on each line. Click OK.
15) Reboot the Business Objects Server.
16) Schedule Documents through Business Objects and browse to http://Servername/SiteDirectory/Title and click on Documents on the left pane to view it in Sharepoint site.


Please Note:- 
1) If you create a schedule with default name it will contain ‘~’ in the file name which is not allowed on the Sharepoint by default. You will get error:

“destination directory error.[CrystalEnterprise.DiskUnmanaged]: [The parameter is incorrect. ]” Or “destination directory error. [C rystalEnterprise.DiskUnmanaged]: [The file type being saved or retrieved has been blocked. ]” 

So make sure you configure the instance to you any valid name by adding the place holder in the schedule e.g. %SI_NAME% 
2) Webclient Service is not enabled by default on Windows Server 2008. Please follow the below steps for same.

a. Open Server Manager and click the Features node.
b. If "Desktop Experience" in not already listed under Features, click "Add Features".
c. Select the "Desktop Experience" item and then click Next followed by Install.
d. Reboot the PC as instructed.


Some usuful information:

BusinessObjects Server makes a simple ping request to the sharepoint server. If this succeeds and the sharepoint server replies back, then the Job Server tries to make a connection on port 445 (microsoft-ds) to the sharepoint server. If it does not get a reply back, it tries a couple times unsuccessfully and then tries to make a connection to the sharepoint server on port 139 (netbios-ssn). If it does not receive a reply after a few tries, if we get a response back from another IP (Not SharePoint) stating Destination Unreachable. It could be a firewall.

Port 445 is the new Microsoft file sharing port and port 139 is the older Microsoft sharing port. The Job Server tries to make connections on both and never receives any reply back. Typically ports 445 and 139 are used by virus/trojan/worms to spread viruses so these are common ports for a firewall to block.


References: SAP KB article # 1373496.

19 comments:

  1. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked your site to check out the new stuff you post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks a lot. Please share your view and let me know if you have any suggestions.

    BI Thinker

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post, I did configure BO 3.1 to post report to Sharepoint 2010 with same steps few months ago.
    Now I'm trying to distribute reports to HTTPS url location for webdav folder on Linux server, instead of using UNC path.
    Any ideas?

    Thank you,
    Alex

    Thak you,
    Alex

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Alex,

    SAP BO XI 3.1 will not be able to utilize Http(s) URL as File Destination. You can save the report to file destination and create a script to upload it to the URL.

    To get more clarification, create a ticket with SAP.

    BI Thinker

    ReplyDelete
  5. Is there any documents with scheduling a Business Objects Web/Crystal Reports to sharepoint 2003 from are Business Objects Enterprise that currently in a Windows 2008 server.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great stuff! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I wonder if you can answer one question.
    I have a SharePoint site with a "Document Library" as template. The UNC path is:
    \\Servername\SiteDirectory\Title\DocumentLibrary

    Do I still have to create a new folder inside the document library?

    I would rather not do so if it can be avoided. There are some workflows that will get impacted by the new folder.

    Thank you,

    C

    ReplyDelete
  8. What if there is an @SSL at the end of the server name?

    This has caused reports to fail with

    source file error. [Invalid argument]

    ReplyDelete
  9. BO server is Linux.. Please help me with the steps. I want to schedule reports to a sharepoint, the BO has been installed on Linux.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not sure if you already have found the answer to this. But, in order to be able to schedule to sharepoint, you should have at least one scheduling service on Windows.

      You may be able to use curl script as an alternative to installing Job Server on windows. This may include saving instance to a File Location mounted on the same box and use the script to upload the file to the Sharepoint server.

      I may be wrong though.

      Delete
    2. Hi BI thinker,

      I am having exactly same requirement like , publishing BO reports to Office 365 /shared path.
      I am new to this subject, can you please help me how to capture the UNC path.

      Delete
  10. Your guidance on scheduling and sharing SharePoint documents is invaluable. How Play Games Your methodical approach ensures efficient document management, enhancing collaboration and accessibility.

    ReplyDelete