Actuate Programming Journal

I’ve just noticed that WordPress has implemented Polldaddy polls in posts.  I’ll try to restrain myself, but I’m generally interested in the readers that end up here at the Actuate Journal.  Please share:

Polldaddy polls don’t look so great with long answers.  I have truncated the options in the poll to make it readable.  Below are the more descriptive versions:

• Specifically trained in and working primarily as an Actuate Developer
• Using OEM version of Actuate; primarily I develop in the tool Actuate is embedded in
• Incidentally using or associated with Actuate; I’m primarily a java|.NET|C++ developer
• I’m a recruiter that found your articles on Interviewer|Interviewee Questions
• Not an Actuate developer

Feel free to expand on your answer in the comments.

For whatever reason I’ve just spent the last 2 hours trying to type the name of my variable into the Value box noted above. Doing so crashes the crap out of Actuate.

Also, it makes you want to beat your head on your desk for the crash and for the part where you can’t figure out why you’re not using the Name box.

As my Mom might say, “Fiddlesticks!”

A reader reminded me of an upcoming Actuate and Maximo Webinar that I thought I would elevate from the comments to a full on post.  A full disclosure-esque reminder, I use Actuate and am employed by IBM.

When: Monday, November 24th, 11:00 EST

Free Registration: http://snipurl.com/actuatemaximowebinar

Blurb I ganked from the registration site:

This webcast will provide attendees with valuable insights into their future reporting options with Maximo, including:

• How to continue leveraging existing investments in Actuate Reports
• How to integrate new BIRT Reports with existing Actuate reporting infrastructure
• How to extend the value of Actuate and BIRT to other applications beyond Maximo

Lately I’ve been amused by Google Trends–graphs showing the trending of popular searches.  I think maybe this one goes a long way to making an argument for getting in touch with your inner BIRT.

Continuing from my recent announcement that I was coming up to speed on eSpreadsheets, I’ve also been poking around free BIRT and now, today, I am headed out to LA to get some formal training on how to write Actuate reports for Maximo.

I really really really hope that the focus is on Maximo and not Actuate.  I’ve heard that most folks that know Maximo don’t really know Actuate.  I guess that generally the OTB reports get tweaked but not significantly modified.  Maybe very few new reports get created.  For all I know this is because no new ones are needed.  I look forward to ending the guesswork this week.

Just thought I would toss this title out there as a buoy for anyone hoping I’d write about something other than the core Actuate IDE: eRDPro.

Maybe.

I’ve not had cause (or time) to come up to speed with the eSpreadsheet tool despite having been mildly aware of it’s existence all the way back to when it was Formula One’s.

From what I can tell this is fine since version 9 takes a firm grip of the design metaphor and steers it in a solidly ‘drag and drop you moron’ sort of way from what I can tell.  I am definitely a moron regarding these things and look forward to delving into the ports that challenge my moronityness.

Anything you’d like to know?