Configuring asset actions

Depending on where the actions are run, actions are categorized into the following types: 

When you configure a client-side URL/URI action for the Asset view, out-of-the-box and generic customized fields are displayed in the accelerator list. The type-specific customized fields are not displayed in the accelerator list because the client-side URL/URI action is a generic action, and not specific to any asset type or asset class. 

If the URL consists of %20, for security reasons, the system replaces it with +. For example:

http://<Mid tier server name>:<port number>/arsys/forms/<ITSM server name>/SHR%3ALandingConsole/Default%20Administrator%20View 
is encoded and placed as: 
http://<Mid tier server name>:<port number>/arsys/forms/<ITSM server name>/SHR:LandingConsole/Default+Administrator+View

URLs with + as the first character in the form name are not supported in BMC Helix ITSM, and therefore, they are not loaded. However, forms that have + within the URL, are properly loaded. When adding URLs, you must validate the URL to avoid security flaws. It is recommended that you follow OWASP Enterprise Security API (ESAPI) standards to validate URLs.

You can configure asset actions with various combinations of asset type and subtype, and the necessary type of asset action. 

• You can select multiple asset subtypes from a single asset type or multiple asset types.
• When you select an asset type, all subtypes in it are automatically selected.
• You can configure one, two, or all three types of asset actions at the same time.
• Under Select Fields to Update, you can select from predefined fields to update information in the asset profile. These fields are common to all asset types.

• The Update Asset option adds the CMDB fields and AST:Attribute fields to the asset profile.

  CMDB fields and AST:Attribute fields

  
  

  CMDB fields	AST:Attribute fields
  CI Name	Status
  Manufacturer	Status Reason
  Company	Part Number
  Product Name	Supplier
  Model	Installation Date
  Tier 1 Categorization	Floor
  Tier 2 Categorization	NA
  Tier 3 Categorization	NA
  Site	NA
  Room	NA
  Primary Capability	NA

Before you begin

• Verify that you have Asset Administrator and System Administrator permissions.
• Determine a common action. Considering that the asset action you configure is run on the assets selected in Asset Console, you must select specific asset type and subtype. 
  For example, you can update only those fields you selected when configuring asset action in all selected assets. For some assets, if you want to update additional fields that are listed under Update Asset, you must configure another asset action.
• Check for custom fields. 
  You cannot update custom fields by using an asset action; however, you can add custom fields in asset profile by using field customization. 
• Verify whether BMC Helix ITSM: Asset Management supports the languages to which you want to localize asset actions.

To configure an asset action

1. In classic Smart IT, from the Configuration menu, select Screen Configuration.
2. In the Configuration window, click Add/Remove Actions to the right of the Asset view.
3. In the Add/Remove Actions pane, select Custom Order to specify the order of actions listed in the Asset Action and the More menus.
4. To configure actions, click Add Action.
5. Under Action Type, click Asset Action.
6. To enable access to the action through desktop and mobile platforms, select the Desktop Web (UC) and Mobile Platforms (iOS, Android) check boxes.
7. Under Apply to Asset Types, select an asset type.
8. Depending on the type of action you want to configure, under Collect User Input, select one or more of the check boxes.

9. (Optional) If you selected the Update Asset check box in step 8, select fields that you want to update in the asset profile.

   Important

   • The Primary Capability field is specific only to the Computer System asset type.
   • When you want to update categorization fields, ensure that you select their dependent fields: Tier 1 Categorization, Tier 2 Categorization, and Tier 3 Categorization. 
   • To update the Site field, you must also select the Company field because the menu for the Site field is dependent on value of the selected company.

10. Under Localized Labels to Show, type a label for the action.
11. Click Save.

To edit or delete an asset action

At any time, you can edit or delete asset actions, but only from the UC platform.

• To edit an asset action, click the Add/Remove Actions option for the Asset view, open the asset action that you want to edit, make the necessary changes, and save the asset action.
• To delete an asset action, click the Delete option of the specific asset action, and confirm your deletion

Example of configuring an asset action

The following scenario is based on a fictional company, Apex Global. To upgrade the server cluster of the R&D Perforce servers, the Apex Global R&D Cloud Management team submitted a procurement request to its IT Infrastructure team to purchase three servers, one rack, and one chassis. After receiving the consignment, the IT Infrastructure team added the assets to the inventory and placed them in the ground floor inventory room. Allen Allbrook, the manager of the IT Infrastructure team, wants to perform the following routine actions on the assets.

• 
  
  1. Update details to move the assets to the in-house R&D Cloud Data Center located on the seventh floor.
  2. Transfer the ownership of assets from the IT Infrastructure team to the manager of the R&D Cloud Management team.
  3. Relate the assets to the Perforce Business Service assets because any downtime will impact the Perforce business service.

Steps to configure the asset action

1. From the Configuration menu, Allen selects Screen Configuration.
2. In the Configuration window, he clicks Add/Remove Actions to the right of the Asset view.
3. In the Add/Remove Actions pane, he selects Custom Order to specify the order of actions listed in the Asset Action and the More menu.
4. To configure actions, he clicks Add Action.
5. Under Action Type, he clicks Asset Action.
6. To access the action through desktop and mobile platforms, Allen selects the Desktop Web (UC) and Mobile Platforms (iOS, Android) check boxes.
7. To apply the action to all the asset subtypes under computer system, and rack and chassis under Hardware asset type, Allen does the following actions:
   1. 
      
      1. Under Apply to Asset Types, Allen opens the list of assets.
      2. He clears the Select All check box.
      3. To select all the asset subtypes listed under computer system, he selects the Computer System check box.
      4. To select asset subtypes under Hardware, he clicks Hardware, and then selects the Rack and Chassis check boxes.
8. To specify actions, Allen selects the Create Asset Relationships, Create People Relationships, and Update Asset check boxes available under Collect User Input.
   When Allen selects the Update Asset check box, fields that can be updated in any asset profile using asset actions are displayed.
9. To update the location and status of the received assets, Allen selects the following check boxes:
   1. 
      
      1. Company
      2. Status
      3. Site
      4. Room
      5. Floor
10. Under Localized Labels to Show, Allen types R&D Cloud Setup as the label.
11. He clicks Save.