The Report function shows - according to the specified paramaters - a window with the table of transferred data volume. If the window is not open, the dialog for parameters settings is displayed:
- Set column's option
Basic parameters specifying table extent:
Number of columns — number of columns in a table
One column contains traffic sumary — time interval which shall be covered by one column
Combination of these two parameters determines the total extent of the table.
Example: We want to display a number of transferred data during one week in one-day intervals. We enter value 7 (week has usually 7 days) to the editbox Number of columns and 1 day(s) to the One column contains traffic sumary.
- Select report's start date
Select start time and date (from when the data shall be processed). From that date the time period set in the previous section is interpreted. Button Suggest start date sets the start time so the chosen time period ends with the current time.
Example: If we set the extent of a table according to the previous example, button Suggest start date sets the date and time seven days ago (i.e. the final table will display seven days).
Checkbox When suggesting, include the current interval governs whether the suggested start time includes the current interval (which is not finished yet).
Example: Today is Saturday 1st June, 2002, 12:00 p.m. We consider the same interval as in the previous example (i.e. the data for one week in one-day intervals). The Suggest start time button sets the last Saturday (i.e. 25th May, 2002). The table will then contain the data for time period from Saturday 25th May, 2002 to Friday 31st May, 2002. If we check the option When suggesting, include the current interval, the suggested date will be Sunday, 26th May, 2002 and the table will contain data for the period Sunday, 26th May, 2002 — Saturday, 1st June, 2002. The last column in the table will then contain the data for today (i.e. 0:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.). If we let the program create the table with the same parameters e.g. at 6:00 p.m., the data in the last column will be different.
- Select the service
The user can select a service whose data will be displayed in a table. The concrete service (e.g. HTTP, SMTP, FTP etc.) or all services (All services) can be selected.
- Choose the traffic direction
Chooses the direction of the traffic that should be captured: Incoming only (only incoming data), Outgoing only (only outgoing data) or Sum of both (the sum of outgoing and incoming data).
- Show percentages
Shows percentages instead of the transferred data for particular computers. If this option is checked, only the total volume of the transferred data for the relevant time period (item All computers) will be displayed in the table. The relevant volume of the transferred data will be displayed in percentages for each computer.
The OK button creates and shows the table according to the specified parameters.
The Accounting report window toolbar offers the following functions (from left to right):
- Change report parameters
Changes table parameters. This option shows a dialog for the table settings (see above). When the dialog is closed, a new table is displayed.
- Print the report
Prints the table. This option opens a standard system print dialog where a printer etc. can selected.
- Save the report
Saves the table as an HTML page or in a CSV format (Comma Separated Values). The CSV format is relatively common and it can be opened in a lot of programs (e.g. Microsoft Excel).
- Sort the table
Sorts the table according to the selected column. This option can be used repeatedly — a new table need not to be created.
- Transfer the table to MS Excel
If Microsoft Excel is installed on the host where the browser is running, you can use this button to transfer the table to the application. Microsoft Excel offers variety of other alternatives of how to process obtained data.