KB9877: How to use Execution Control Documents to add the current day's date to the File Name in a service using the File ITM with MicroStrategy Narrowcast Server 9.x

The Execution Control Document is a plain text document containing specific information to be used by the Information Transmitter. In this case, users include an Execution Control Document that indicates to Strategy Narrowcast Server how to append the current date to the name of the report.
 
To achieve this, perform the following steps:
 

• Follow the steps outlined in the Strategy Knowledge Base document KB6200-7XX-0693 - "What is the control document syntax for changing the names of files that are saved using the Save to File ITM in Strategy Narrowcast Server?" to obtain the correct syntax for changing the names of files using Execution Control Documents.
• Use one of the three methods to append the current day's date. One would be to use the string %%Date%%, the second way is to use the System Information Object “Service Execution Date”, and the third way is to check the option “Append timestamp to file name” in the Advanced properties of the File Device, as shown on the third bullet point.
  
• To use the string “%%Date%%”, open the control document and add the string %%Date%%. This string appends the system date in the format of ‘YYYY-MM-DD’ to the name of the report, as shown in the example below:
  

• To use the System Information Object “Service Execution Date”, go to the Insert Menu > System Information and select "Service Execution Date", as shown below:
  

• Note:
  The date format is modified in the service locale (System_Name/Administration/Locales). In addition, since a Microsoft Windows’ filename cannot contain the characters {\ , / , : , * , ? , “ , < , > , }, the locale must be adjusted to contain proper filename characters. For example, the date 02/25/2004 is invalid in Microsoft Windows because the name of the file name cannot be Service_Name 02/25/2004.xls:
  
  

• Select the third check box, “Append timestamp to the file name”. This option appends the system date in the format of ‘YYYY-MM-DD hh.mm.ss.ms’ to the name of the report, as shown below: