End of support for PDF attachments in dashboard subscriptions

Support for sending dashboards as PDF attachments through Dashboard subscription (email) is discontinued in WATS server version 27.1. The subscription email now contains a link to the dashboard, which is viewed by signing in to WATS.

Why

The change is made for security reasons. Dashboard data may contain sensitive information, and a PDF sent as an email attachment can be forwarded and stored outside the access controls that govern the data in WATS. When a dashboard is viewed in WATS instead, access is governed by the same authentication and authorization used throughout the platform.

What is the impact for you as a customer?

• A Dashboard subscription (email) no longer includes the dashboard as a PDF attachment. The email is still sent, and contains a link to the dashboard instead.
• Recipients select the link and sign in to WATS to view the dashboard, so the dashboard content is no longer available directly in the email.
• Workflows that depend on the attached PDF, such as forwarding or archiving it, no longer receive a file.

What you need to do

A Dashboard subscription (email) is set up per user, and each user manages their own subscriptions. Existing subscriptions continue to be delivered, and no change to the subscription itself is required.

If you subscribe to a dashboard by email:

1. Continue to use the subscription as before. The email arrives on the same schedule, with a link in place of the PDF attachment.
2. Select the link in the email and sign in to WATS to view the dashboard.

If the PDF attachment has been forwarded to colleagues, note that opening the link requires a WATS user account, and that the dashboard must be public or shared with them. Make the dashboard public or share it with the users who need it, or send them a manually exported PDF instead.