How to Hide Microsoft Add-ons from Altiris Inventory Reports
Altiris Inventory Solution provides a comprehensive view of your IT infrastructure. It helps you track software, hardware, and other assets. However, sometimes you might find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer amount of data, particularly when it comes to Microsoft add-ons. These add-ons, while important, can clutter your reports and make it difficult to focus on the key information you need. This article will guide you on how to effectively hide Microsoft add-ons from your Altiris Inventory reports.
Understanding the Problem
Altiris Inventory reports often include a vast number of Microsoft add-ons. These are components that come bundled with various Microsoft products, such as Office, Windows, and others. While they might be essential for the functioning of these products, they can often create a lot of noise in your inventory data. This makes it difficult to identify critical information about your assets.
Why Hide Microsoft Add-ons?
There are several reasons why you might want to hide Microsoft add-ons from your Altiris Inventory reports:
- Clarity and Focus: A clean report with less clutter allows you to focus on the essential information related to your assets.
- Streamlined Reporting: Removing irrelevant data makes your reports easier to read and understand.
- Faster Analysis: Focusing on the key elements within your inventory allows for quicker and more efficient analysis.
Methods to Hide Microsoft Add-ons
Here are some common methods to hide Microsoft add-ons from your Altiris Inventory reports:
1. Filtering Reports
- Direct Filtering: Most reporting tools in Altiris allow you to filter data by specific criteria. You can filter out data related to Microsoft add-ons by using keywords like "Microsoft" or specific add-on names.
- Custom Filters: Create custom filters based on specific properties. You can define rules to exclude specific add-ons or software versions.
2. Using Exclusion Lists
- Inventory Exclusion Lists: Altiris Inventory allows you to create exclusion lists. You can add Microsoft add-ons or software versions to these lists, preventing them from appearing in your reports.
- Reporting Exclusion Lists: Some reporting tools might have built-in exclusion features. You can add Microsoft add-ons to these lists to exclude them from specific reports.
3. Modifying Inventory Settings
- Inventory Collection Rules: You can adjust the settings for your Altiris Inventory collection rules. Customize the collection rules to specifically exclude data about Microsoft add-ons.
- Inventory Data Mapping: Configure how data is mapped and categorized within the inventory. You can modify settings to group or exclude specific add-on information.
Example: Hiding Microsoft Office Add-ons
Let's consider an example of hiding Microsoft Office add-ons from your Altiris Inventory reports.
- Direct Filtering: In the Altiris report interface, use the filtering options to exclude software with the keyword "Microsoft Office".
- Exclusion Lists: Create a new exclusion list and add specific Microsoft Office add-ons like "Microsoft Office Word" or "Microsoft Office Excel" to it.
- Inventory Collection Rules: Adjust the collection rules to exclude specific software categories or specific software versions related to Microsoft Office add-ons.
Best Practices
- Identify Key Information: Clearly understand the essential data you need in your reports. This helps determine which add-ons to exclude.
- Use Multiple Methods: A combination of filtering, exclusion lists, and inventory settings often provides the best results.
- Test and Verify: Always test your changes thoroughly to ensure that the desired information is excluded without affecting essential data.
- Document Your Changes: Maintain documentation of any changes you make to your Altiris Inventory configuration for future reference.
Conclusion
Successfully hiding Microsoft add-ons from your Altiris Inventory reports can significantly improve the clarity and focus of your inventory data. By utilizing the techniques mentioned above, you can streamline your reporting process, making it easier to analyze your IT assets and make informed decisions. Remember to test and document your changes to ensure a smooth and effective implementation.