Q210167: INFO: Customizing Dynamic Collections

Article: Q210167
Product(s): Microsoft Systems Management Server
Version(s): winnt:2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbAdvertisement kbCollections kbQuery
Last Modified: 11-APR-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Systems Management Server version 2.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

Dynamic collections can be created using an existing Systems Management Server
query or by creating new query-based membership rules. In addition, when an
existing Systems Management Server query is used, Systems Management Server
copies the query and stores it with other information about the collection. If
the Systems Management Server query is modified or deleted after the collection
has been created, the collection itself is not affected.

To configure a dynamic collection, first open the Systems Management Server
Administrator and browse to Site Database <site code - site name>
Collections. Then complete the following steps:

1. Right-click the Details pane and select New Collection.

2. Enter a collection name and optional comments.

3. Click the Membership Rules tab and double-click the Query icon (icon with
  yellow cylinder).

4. Browse and select an existing Systems Management Server query, or enter a
  query name.

NOTE: If you use an existing Systems Management Server query, proceed to step 13
below.

5. Select a Resource class, bearing in mind what you wish to query for.

6. Click the Edit Query statement.

NOTE: Unlike creating a Systems Management Server query, here you cannot specify
the query display format (General tab) and joins (Join tab).

7. Select the Criteria tab, and double-click the New icon (icon with yellow
  asterisk) to define a new criterion.

8. Select your criterion type (usually Simple value), click Select and choose
  Attribute.

9. Specify an Attribute class and an Attribute.

NOTE: You may chose to alias the Attribute class if you will be at some point
editing the WQL statement directly.

10. Click OK to close the Select Attribute dialog box.

11. Select an operator which most closely evaluates the query, and specify a
  value. Click Values to display the list of possible values.

12. Click OK to close the Criterion Properties dialog box.

NOTE: In the Query Statement Properties, you can create additional criteria or
click OK to close out. In addition, you can limit the query to an existing
collection for security purposes.

13. Click OK to close out of Query Rule Properties.

14. In the Collection Properties check box, select Update this collection on a
  schedule and create an update interval.

NOTE: Updating a collection can be helpful if the collection contains dynamic
data like members of a user group.

15. Click OK to complete the collection creation process.

When the newly created collection shows up in the preview pane of the
Administrator console, right-click All Tasks and double-click Update Collection
Membership. This will run the specified query to update the collection
membership.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Subcollections allow you to perform an operation on containing a collection, and
have that same operation automatically performed on its subcollections.
Subcollections can be created by completing the following steps:

1. Create a collection under an existing collection.

2. Select the collection you want to contain the collection, right-click and
  select point to New and click Link to Collection, then select the collection
  you want to be the subcollection.

Linking a subcollection this way actually creates a new instance of the
collection. It is important to note that subcollections are not members of the
containing collection, and therefore, do not inherit its attributes. The
membership rules of collections and subcollections are completely separate.

Additional query words: prodsms collections query

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Keywords          : kbAdvertisement kbCollections kbQuery 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMS200
Version           : winnt:2.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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