Create a Watch Rule for Different Condition Status Indicators

You can set up a watch rule that sends alerts depending on a metric-like change in the performance status of a condition (good, average, or poor).

In this case, you set up thresholds to map a range of numeric values to performance status (good, average, and poor). You define the threshold boundaries, and the association between boundary values and status.

For example, you could set up a watch rule that sends different alerts to a sales team depending on the sales figures for a product. If sales fall below 50 (the minimum threshold), the performance is poor. The alert for poor performance may be to send an urgent notification to the sales manager to review the figures. When sales exceed 100 (the maximum threshold), the performance is good. The alert for good performance may be to distribute the sales figures to the team.

To set up the watch rule, use thresholds to map a range of numeric values to performance status. When setting up your threshold boundaries, you must decide whether low, medium, or high values are favorable for the condition. For example, if you are setting up a condition to monitor sales figures for a product, you would indicate that high values are favorable. This is known as the performance pattern.

You can only create watch rules in saved HTML reports.

Before you begin

You must have read and traverse permissions to the report output to create watch rules.

Procedure

  1. In the IBM® Cognos® Connection portal, open the saved HTML report in IBM Cognos Viewer.
  2. In the report, right-click a numeric data item, and then click Alert Using New Watch Rule.
  3. In the Specify the rule - Alert Using New Watch Rule page, select Send an alert based on thresholds.
  4. In the Performance pattern box, select the range of values to associate with "good performance" status.
  5. In the Threshold boundaries box, specify the boundary values for the condition.

    Tip: For each boundary value, click the arrow attached to the numeric value box to adjust them as follows:

    • To include the specified boundary value in the higher threshold, click the up arrow.
    • To include the specified boundary value in the lower threshold, click the down arrow.
  6. Under For the selected context, select the report items to which the rule applies.
  7. Click Next.

Results

You must now set up the alert details for the watch rule. For more information, see Define the Alert Details for the Watch Rule.
Parent topic: Watch Rules in Saved Reports