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7 Define Custom Groups and Reports in Dell EMC OpenManage Enterprise
Each report definition uses a query to identify which output rows to include in the report, the output columns
for the report, and in which output rows are listed.
1.3 Query Builder in OpenManage Enterprise
The functional component in OpenManage Enterprise that provides support for defining custom query groups
and report definitions is referred to as the Query Builder. The Query Builder component is used for both
custom queries and report definitions.
The Query Builder in OpenManage Enterprise enables you to specify the following:
 Query selection criteria for the items to select. Custom query groups always select devices. Report
definitions may select devices, alerts, or other supported item type.
 A Query Category, indicating the type of items to select—applies to report definitions.
 Output columns—applies to report definitions.
Figure 1 shows the similarities and differences of queries used for Query Groups and Report Definitions. Note
that the query used for report definitions is an extension of the query that is used for Query Group definitions. The
query components shown below will be discussed in greater detail in the next section.
Queries used for Query Groups and Report Definitions in OpenManage Enterprise
SQL and
Query Builder
•SQL is a complex query language that is used to look up information in a database. Behind
the scenes, the OpenManage Enterprise Query Builder uses SQL to query the database.
However, no knowledge of SQL is required to use the Query Builder to define custom
groups or reports. In fact, the OpenManage Enterprise Query Builder is designed to make it
as easy as possible to define custom groups and reports. It does not imply that it provides
every functionality that a full SQL editor can support.