Veera: Frequently Asked Questions
General Introduction
What are the system requirements for hosting Veera?
What does Veera need to interact with my databases?
Can I merge spreadsheets, text files and database tables?
Is there a way to handle duplicates in Veera?
How many jobs can be open or running at the same time?
Can Veera's processes be automated or scheduled?
How much programming experience is required to use Veera?
Does Veera output formatted reports?
On average, how long does it take to make a Veera job?
Managing Data Connections
How do I tell Veera where to find my data?
Why can't I select the data files I see?
Why can't I see the data files I know are there?
Why can't I see the Excel files I know are there?
Why can't I see the Access files I know are there?
Why can't I save the text files I've selected as data sources?
How do I add a data connection to a job?
Can I delete a table or data connection?
Creating and Sharing Jobs
How do I share a job with others?
Keeping Jobs Organized
Can I create a folder within a folder?
How do I place jobs in a folder?
How do I save a job into a specific folder?
Can I move a folder into another folder?
Building Jobs in Veera
How many nodes can I add to a job?
How do I connect nodes together?
How do I delete a connection between nodes?
How do I relocate several nodes at once?
How do I copy an existing node?
Can I copy several nodes at once?
Why can’t my output create a database table?
How do I attach a note to a node?
Can I attach a note to the whole job?
Running Jobs in Veera
How do I run just one part of a job?
How do I view the data coming out of a specific node?
How do I schedule a job to run automatically?
Must Veera be open for a scheduled job to run?
Can Veera notify me when a scheduled job runs?
Miscellaneous
Where can I find my error log files?
General Introduction
What are the system requirements for hosting Veera?
Systems intending to host Veera must meet the following hardware requirements:
Minimum System Requirements
* Windows XP SP3, or later
* .NET Framework 4.0 and its requirements
* 2 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
* 1 GB of system memory
* 20 MB available hard drive space
* 32 MB of graphics memory
* Internet access
Recommended System Requirements
* Windows Vista x64 or Windows 7 x64
* .NET Framework 4.0 and its requirements
* 2.8 GHz 64-bit (x64) processor
* 4 GB of system memory
* 1 GB available hard drive space
* 512 MB of graphics memory
* Internet access
What does Veera need to interact with my databases?
Out-of-the-box Veera is ready to read from tables of all sorts. For SQL, Access, and other tables that require specific permissions, all that is needed is the database address and user information.
Can I merge spreadsheets, text files and database tables?
Yes. Once imported into Veera, all data is viewed and manipulated in the same way, and can be joined into a single output.
Is there a way to handle duplicates in Veera?
Veera has very powerful options for handling duplicate records. Using the Find Duplicates or De-Dup nodes, you can specify a column or group of columns to scan for duplicate values. Once found, the records can be selectively removed based on rules you define, or set aside for further manipulation.
How many jobs can be open or running at the same time?
There is no limit to the number of jobs that can be open or running at the same time.
Can Veera's processes be automated or scheduled?
Yes. While viewing the Job, from the main toolbar menu select Schedule > Job. Alternatively, while in the Jobs pane of the Workspace view right click on any job and select Schedule.
How much programming experience is required to use Veera?
Though there are powerful options in Veera for those with programming experience, no experience whatsoever is required to create and run jobs thanks to the highly intuitive graphical interface.
Does Veera output formatted reports?
Yes. A number of options are available for outputting data to a formatted HTML file, or adding new data to a pre-formatted Excel file.
On average, how long does it take to make a Veera job?
The amount of time it takes to build a job varies with the complexity of the task at hand, but an average job takes only ten to fifteen minutes to configure.
Managing Data Connections
How do I tell Veera where to find my data?
First, create a data connection to the data folder or database
* Right-click "Data Connections" and select "New Connection"
* Enter a unique Connection Name
* Select a Data Source type
* Enter the requested information for the selected Data Source type
* Save the connection settings
Then select specific database tables or data files using the "Select Tables" menu option
* Right-click the Data Connection and choose "Select Tables"
* Highlight and Select files, worksheets, and tables from selected connection location
* For Text file data connections, define the file properties (if not automatically determined) and save.
* Save the selected tables settings
Why can't I select the data files I see?
When creating a Data Connection, selecting individual files isn't possible. Connections to specific data files are made using the "Select Tables" menu option.
Why can't I see the data files I know are there?
The "Select Tables" screen will only show and select files that match the given Data Connection type (Excel, text, Access, etc).
Why can't I see the Excel files I know are there?
There are three types of Excel files (XLS, XLSX, XLSB). The Data Connection type must match the file type exactly for the files to display in the Select Tables menu.
Why can't I see the Access files I know are there?
There are two types of Access files (MDB, ACCDB). The Data Connection type must match the file type exactly for the files to display in the Select Tables menu.
Why can't I save the text files I've selected as data sources?
Text files must have their properties defined before they can be used as sources of data in Veera. To define the properties click the Properties button beside the file to be used.
How do I add a data connection to a job?
Right-click the Job's Connections section and choose the "Select Existing" menu item. An alphabetical list of existing Data Connections and their associated files/tables will be displayed, from which the desired connections can be chosen.
Can I delete a table or data connection?
Yes. Right-click on the file, table, or Data Connection and select "Delete" or "Remove." Note that this WILL NOT delete the data itself, though it will disable jobs that use the deleted connection.
Creating and Sharing Jobs
How do I start a new job?
Right-click on the ‘Jobs’ icon or a folder in the Jobs pane of the Workspace and select “New Job.” Alternatively, in the main toolbar menu select Job > New Job. A tab labeled “New Job” will open.
How do I save a job?
In the top right of the Job view, click the blue disk, or click the green checkmark to save and close the Job. Alternatively, in the main toolbar menu select Job > “Save” or “Save As.”
How do I rename a job?
In the Jobs pane of the Workspace right-click on a job icon and select “Rename.” Alternatively, with the job open you can save a renamed copy by selecting Job > Save As from the main toolbar menu.
How do I copy a job?
In the Jobs pane of the Workspace right-click on a job icon and select “Copy Job.” Alternatively, with the job open you can save a renamed copy by selecting Job > Save As in the main toolbar menu.
How do I share a job with others?
Jobs can be exported from Veera as .vjf files to be imported by other users.
? In the Jobs pane of the Workspace right-click on a job icon and select “Export.”
? Alternatively, while viewing a job select Job > Export from the main toolbar menu.
? A prompt will ask you where you would like to save the file.
How do I import a job that has been shared with me?
In the Jobs pane of the Workspace, right click on the ‘Jobs’ icon and select "Import Job."
?Alternatively, select Job > Import Job from the main toolbar menu.?A prompt will ask you where to find the .vjf file to be imported.
Why is my imported job not working?
Imported jobs often need to be reconnected to a data source in the new environment. You may either create new Data Connections and select files or tables with names that match those in the job, or remove the connection icons from the job and replace them with your own existing inputs.
Keeping Jobs Organized
How do I create a job folder?
In the jobs pane of the Workspace view, right-click on ‘Jobs’ and select “New Folder.”
Can I create a folder within a folder?
Yes- right-click on the existing folder and select “New Folder.”
How do I place jobs in a folder?
Using the mouse, click and drag the job onto the destination folder.
How do I save a job into a specific folder?
The specific folder will be selected during the normal job save process.
Can I move a folder into another folder?
Yes- using the mouse, click and drag the folder onto the destination folder.
Building Jobs in Veera
How do I add nodes to a job?
With the mouse, click and drag the desired node from the Tasks list in the right pane of the job window into the job.
How many nodes can I add to a job?
There is no limit to the number of nodes a user can add to a job.
How do I connect nodes together?
On the jobs toolbar, click the ‘Node Connect Mode’ button (two red squares with a connecting line.) Click first on a node providing input data, and then again on the node that will receive that data. Repeat this process with any nodes you would like to connect. When finished, click the ‘Node Connect Mode’ button again.
Alternatively, hold the Alt key and press the right mouse button down on a node providing data, dragging and releasing over the node to receive that data.
How do I delete a connection between nodes?
Right click on the line and select delete, OR click on the line and in the main toolbar select “Delete Selected Items” (red x), OR click on the line and from the main menu select Edit > Delete.
How do I relocate a node?
Click and drag the node to its new location. Node connections will snap to the new location.
How do I relocate several nodes at once?
With the mouse in a blank area of the job workspace, click and drag a selection rectangle around the desired nodes. Release the mouse, and use the keyboard arrow keys to nudge the group of nodes around the workspace.
How do I copy an existing node?
Ctrl+Click on the node you wish to copy and drag the copy to its desired location. Connections to source nodes will be replicated.
Can I copy several nodes at once?
Not yet…
Why can’t my output create a database table?
This is turned off by default, but may be activated. From the main menu select Tools > Options. In the General tab, check the box “Allow Create Table in Database” and click ‘Save.’
How do I attach a note to a node?
Right-click on the node and select ‘Edit Notes,’ OR in the jobs toolbar click the ‘Edit Notes’ button while the node is selected, OR from the main menu select Job > Edit Notes.
Can I attach a note to the whole job?
Yes- with NO node selected, select ‘Edit Notes’ from the main toolbar, or Job > Edit Notes from the main menu.
How do I delete a note?
Follow the steps to add a note to a node or job, and simply delete the contents of the note.
Running Jobs in Veera
How do I run a job?
While viewing a job click the green arrow in the job toolbar. Alternatively, in the jobs pane of the Workspace view, right-click on a job and select “Run.”
How do I run just one part of a job?
Right-click on a specific output node and select “Run This Output Only.”
How do I view the data coming out of a specific node?
Right-click the node and select “Preview Data.”
How do I schedule a job to run automatically?
While viewing the job, from the main menu select Schedule > Job. Alternatively, while in the Jobs pane of the Workspace view right-click on a job and select “Schedule.”
Must Veera be open for a scheduled job to run?
Yes.
Can Veera notify me when a scheduled job runs?
Yes- reports can be configured to email themselves automatically when created. To enable this feature select Tools > Options from the main menu. In the ‘SMTP Information’ tab enter local email service settings, and in the ‘Distribution Lists’ tab enter email recipients.
Miscellaneous
How do I update my program?
In the main toolbar menu select Help > Updates.
Where can I find my error log files?
From the main menu select Help > Log Files. Logs may be viewed and emailed to Rapid Insight from this window.
Where did my workspace tab go?
The Workspace tab may have been accidentally closed. From the main menu select Window > Workspace to reopen the tab.
My input files have lots of troublesome formatting characters that prevent my connections from being read properly. What can I do?
To remove erroneous or otherwise troublesome commas, carriage returns, double quotes, etc., select Tools > File Manipulation from the main toolbar menu. The menu that opens offers many options for cleaning files even before they are read into a Veera job.