Stimulsoft BI Server is a product of Stimulsoft company that allows you to easily and effectively carry out a full circle of work with reports and dashboards, from design and automation of information processing tasks to preparation of results for convenient presentation to users. More detailed information with the description of the Stimulsoft BI Server product is on the appropriate page of our website.

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In this article, let's take a closer look at the issues concerning server administration. The topic is quite large, so some details will be provided as references to other articles or our documentation. However, we hope this article will become a guide for the administration of the Stimulsoft BI Server product for you. So, in this article, we will take a closer look at the following topics:

• Server installation;


• Server data storages customization;


• Stimulsoft BI Server update;


• Making a backup of the server data;


• Recovery from a backup.

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How to install the server

The installation of the product starts with looking at its system requirements. You can learn about them in the product documentation. If your technical and software capabilities meet the stated requirements, you should download a Stimulsoft Server installation file from our website.
The installation process is automated and occurs with minimal user involvement. Download the installation file and run it. After that, you should follow the instructions. You can read the step-by-step instructions for installing the product at the link in the documentation.
If this is the first run of the product, you should sign up. Detailed instructions on signing up are here. If you have already used the Stimulsoft BI Server product, you should log in to the server workspace using your login and password. Don’t forget that before signing up and exploring the features of the Stimulsoft Server, you should customize it.

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Server customization

This paragraph is not about workspace configuration and management, but rather about server administration. More precisely, about the server data storage settings. Administering is carried out in the server controller which after installation the product is run and minimized to tray on the taskbar or via a configuration file. Server storage is managed on the Storage tab. Here you can override the database, binary storage, task and message storage of the server.

First of all, let's answer the question, what is stored in a database at all? You may need file descriptions, including reports, user structure, element settings, and much more for the server to function. By default, the SQL CE database is used in the local storage along the path C:\ProgramData\Stimulsoft-Server\Databases\. However, you can specify MS SQL or MySQL databases to save the server data. We strongly recommend using MS SQL or MySQL databases for serious business purposes. These databases have several advantages over SQL CE, both in terms of commercial and system security.Note
We strongly recommend you use SQL CE for evaluation and product testing only. Files of reports and dashboards, as well as the files that you add to the workspace of the server, are saved in the binary storage. By default, the type of the binary storage is defined as a file system and located at C:\ProgramData\Stimulsoft-Server\Resources\. You can override a local place of the binary storage or change its type to the database (in cases where the server database is defined as MS SQL/MySQL) or Azure services.
When planning processes with reports and dashboards, the server generates a task. By default, these tasks are stored in the server database. You can override the server task storage location as an Azure service if needed. The same applies to the storage of server signal data.
Since many activities in the Stimulsoft BI Server involve the use of a mail server, accordingly, its parameters are also saved. The mail server settings are made on the SMTP tab in the server controller and are stored in the server configuration file server.config. This file is located in the local storage at the following path C:\ProgramData\Stimulsoft-Server\.

This way, it’s worth taking into account the issues of the Stimulsoft BI Server administration, understanding what data and where the server saves and making backups from time to time, but more about that below.Note
After redefining the settings, you should restart the Stimulsoft BI Server on the Service tab using the Restart command.

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Server update

There is no special tool for updating the Stimulsoft BI Server product at the moment of writing the article. The update process consists of downloading a Stimulsoft BI Server installation file of a new version and reinstalling the product. We strongly recommend making backups of the server data storage before the server update.Note
We recommend making backups of reports and dashboards templates, having saved them in a safe place as *.mrt files, regardless of the type of server data storage.So, to update (reinstall) the server you should:

• Stop the server first. You can do this from the controller server or by running the Stimulsoft.Server.ShutDown.exe file from the C:\ProgramData\Stimulsoft-Server\Install\ folder;


• After the server stop, you should uninstall the server product via the Windows Control Panel. For more information on this, follow the link.

After a successful uninstall, a new version of Stimulsoft BI Server should be installed as it is described above.
When installing a new version of the product most often it is simply enough to run an installation file of the new version without deleting the file of the old one.

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Backup copy creation

For the cases when settings of the Stimulsoft BI Server data storage are defined by default, you should just copy the server.config file, Databases and Resources folders to a safe place. If the resource storage was overridden, you should copy this folder to a safe place.
In the case of using MS SQL or MySQL databases, a backup of the database can be made by its administrator from the control manager of these databases or by a query. For example, here are links where you can read how to make a backup:

• In MS SQL database;


• In MySQL database.

In the cases when the binary storage type is defined as a database, all resources will be located in an MS SQL or MySQL database backup. If you use Azure services to store resources, accordingly, you should make a backup:

• For Azure Blob Storage;


• For Azure File Storage.

When using Azure services as storage of tasks and signals. We recommend reading the following article. Please note that there is a centralized cloud backup service Azure Backup that allows you to make backups easily.

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Data recovery

When uninstalling the server via the toolbar, the Databases and Resources folders are not deleted. In most cases, when reinstalling the Stimulsoft BI Server, data recovery is not required. However, situations may be different. Namely, it is in cases of emergencies that server storage backups may be needed. We hope you will heed our recommendations and make backups. In this case, you can restore the server data even if something goes wrong.
When using the server data storages by default, you should copy folders and files from backups instead of the product folders.
When using MS SQL or MySQL databases, the database administrator needs to restore from a backup. For example:

• MS SQL database recovery;


• MySQL database recovery.

In cases when the binary storage type is defined as a database, all resources will be located in an MS SQL or MySQL database backup. Accordingly, they will be restored when the database is restored. If you use Azure services to store resources, pay attention to the following links:

• Recovery for Azure Blob Storage;


• Recovery for Azure File Storage.

When using Azure services as a task and signal storage, we recommend you read this article. In addition, take into account that there is a centralized cloud backup service Azure Backup, which allows you to easily make backups and restore from them.Note
After restoring data storage, you should restart the Stimulsoft BI Server on the Service tab using the Restart command.

We are continuing the series of articles about two-dimensional barcodes. Last time we told you about the PDF417 barcode and showed the reports where it is used. Today we’re going to take a closer look at perhaps the most common and popular barcode in the world - the QR code.

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What is QR code

A QR code is a barcode developed in 1994 for the Japanese car industry, but it quickly became popular in everyday life around the world. There are three squares in a frame at the corners and a lot of scattered points in the center on its label. You can encrypt absolutely any numeric or text value in the QR code.

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The advantages of the QR code

The main advantage of this barcode is that scanners easily and quickly read it. Due to this, it can be used in logistics, production, trading, and many other spheres. In big cities in Japan, QR codes hang on buildings and advertise large companies. You can put an image inside the QR code matrix, which will not affect the readability. The probability of reading error is very small because of the Reed-Solomon algorithm, which allows you to read the information even if the barcode label is damaged. These advantages of the QR code over other two-dimensional barcodes have prompted large corporations around the world to use it everywhere.

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How to add and customize the QR code in a report

A QR code is added to a report as well as other two-dimensional barcodes, but its parameters are slightly different, namely the following tabs:

• Error Correction Level shows the type of error correction in the barcode;


• Matrix Size displays the size of a barcode;


• Module shows the proportions of a barcode;


• Image sets the image, which will be shown inside a QR code;


• Image Multiple Factor sets the size of an image;


• Body Brush allows you to select how dots are drawn in the center of a barcode;


• Body Shape sets the shape of the dots in the center of a barcode;


• Eye Ball Brush allows you to select the way the squares in the edges of a barcode are drawn;


• Eye Ball Shape sets the shape of the squares in the edges of a barcode;


• Eye Frame Brush allows you to select the way the frames around the squares in the edges of a barcode are drawn;


• Eye Frame Shape sets the shape of the frames around the squares in the edges of a barcode.

In the Business Card, the company’s website is encrypted in the QR code.

In the Shop Check With QR code report, the QR code encrypts the price of all products in the check is encrypted.

The Film Poster report is a poster for a famous film. In this barcode the link to the publisher of the film is encrypted.

The Web Designer Business Card report also presents a business card, but in the barcode the company’s email is encrypted.

In the Planetarium Ticket, the QR code encrypts the date until which the ticket is valid.

We are pleased to announce the release of a new version of Stimulsoft Reports and Dashboards 2022.4! In the latest version, we have added 3D charts, GS1 barcodes, the new component - Electronic signature, additional authorization options in our services and applications, optimized the UI of the report designer, and, in general, made your work with data more convenient and efficient.

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New GS1 Barcodes

In the new version of our products, we have added several new barcodes – GS1 DataMatrix and GS1 QR Code. The GS1 standard describes the proper usage of data and barcodes in business applications. As a carrier, standard barcodes are used. Using special barcode commands, information is recorded in them in a certain way. New barcodes allow you to record data in a simple and understandable way, and all the necessary commands are added automatically.

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PDF digital signature

We have added a new component - PDF digital signature. You may use it to add a digital signature to a report using Adobe PDF after converting it into a PDF document.

New authorization options

In this release, we have added the ability to log in to the Stimulsoft platform using web services such as GitHub and Facebook. Now you can use credentials of these services when logging into the report designer, company or personal account, or Stimulsoft Cloud.

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Formatting dates in the Text element

In version 2022.4.1, we added the ability to apply date formatting to the Text element in dashboards. In general, the element does not support the ability to use the Text Format tool, but it supports the Format function in an element expression that can be used to define a format mask for displaying dates. For example, use the expression ", Today)} or to display only the year from the current date.

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Interface improvements

We are constantly working on enhancements in our tools. And this does not always apply to issues with functionality - the speed of obtaining data, their processing, etc. In this release, improvements were felt in the appearance of the report designer and the usability of the tool. Changes were applied to the location of some menus, optimization of the components and elements editors, as well as the style settings of the application. For web components, a new Office 2022 design theme has been added. It is used by default. For this theme, you can use several color accents and several background colors such as white, gray, and black.

The new version of Stimulsoft products will be released very soon, but in the meantime we would like to introduce you to its main new features. So in the 2022.4 version you will find:

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Greetings to all readers of the Stimulsoft blog! We continue to tell you about the report designer and its components. In the previous article, you learned about the region map, its basic features, its use in dashboards, and the data analysis types it contains. This time, we’re going to tell you about the Image element.

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Image

In everyday life, an image is a visual way of conveying information, presented as photos, pictures, drawings, and other similar visual tools. In the Stimulsoft report designer, an image is a data visualization element that allows displaying of various graphic objects in a dashboard - photos, logos, images, icons, etc.

First of all, let’s take a closer look at the features of adding and customizing Image.

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Data analysis in dashboards using the Image element

Solar power is a modern and ecological way of producing electricity. Every year more and more countries master and develop this field by building powerful solar panels. Despite the fact that Germany is not as sunny as Italy or Spain, the Germans are still rapidly developing solar power. We created a dashboard that displayed a solar power factsheet in Germany and, using the Image element, added icons to the following metrics:

• the number of solar power systems;
• installed capacity in GW;
• investments made in the development of solar energy;
• percent of total energy generation;
• acceptance of solar farms in the neighborhood;
• feed-in tariffs.

Social networks have become an integral part of our life. Today it’s almost impossible to meet a person not registered in at least one of the most popular social networks. No wonder, every day, people from all over the world can communicate in real-time, share videos and funny memes, get information on various topics from public pages, read news and even promote their products. We displayed and analyzed the statistics of using social networks worldwide, creating an appropriate dashboard. Using the Image element, we showed logos of such mainstream social networks as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Every YouTube blogger analyzes the statistics of his channel. In analytics, he can observe the number of likes, dislikes, the common number of subscribers, views, etc. We created a dashboard that displays the statistics of a conditional YouTube channel. Using the Image element, we highlighted such analytics elements as:

• likes;
• dislikes;
• subscribers;
• comments;
• shares.

You can read about how to create a dashboard with the Image element in the documentation.