Manage Shared Topics

Shared topics are values that the SOTI XSight Agent retrieves from apps running on one or more groups of devices. When starting a Live View session, you see a full window of data. For example, you see a 72 hour window of data when you configure a 72 hour window for the devices the shared topic bundle applies to. A shared topic bundle can target a specific device group, or a set of device groups.
Note: Shared topics are different from custom topics in that the topics in a bundle are always monitored on a device. The SOTI XSight Agent continuously monitors the shared topic and maintains a window of values for it.

Creating a Shared Topic Bundle

To create a shared topic bundle:

  1. From the main menu, select Manage Shared Topics.
    Select Managed Shared Topics from the main menu
  2. In the Manage Shared Topics Sets panel, select the Add Shared Topics/Events icon.
    Select the Add Shared Topics/Events icon
  3. In the Add Shared Topics/Events panel, enter a descriptive name, select a SOTI MobiControl instance and the platform.
    Select a name, instance and platform
  4. Continuing in the Add Shared Topics/Events panel, select the Group Filter Edit icon.
    Select the Group Filter Edit icon

    The Configure Device Group panel displays.

    The Configure Device Group panel displays
  5. Select one or more device groups and select Save.
    Select the device group
  6. Continuing in the Add Shared Topics/Events panel, select the Topics to Monitor Add Shared Topic/Event icon.
    Select the Add Shared Topic/Event icon

    The Add Shared Topic/Event Wizard panel displays.

    The Add Shared Topic/Event Wizard panel
  7. Select Next.
  8. Select the type of value to retrieve from the third party apps.
    Select the value type to retrieve from the application

    Select the value of the data collected from the third-party applications.

    Refer to the following table:

    Value Description
    Integer (arbitrary values) Numerical value.
    Integer (suitable for mapping to colors on icons) Numerical value for display on the map.
    String (arbitrary value) Sequence of characters.
    String (suitable for mapping to colors on icons) Sequence of characters for display on the map.
    Event Uses XT Sock to capture events from third-party applications.
  9. Select Next.
  10. Select the collection frequency, significant change and units for the custom topic.
    Select the collection frequency, significant change and units
    Note: Collection Frequency sets how often the device sends topic data. Significant Change tells the device to send data when this condition occurs, regardless of the collection frequency.
  11. Select Next. The Add Shared Topic/Event Wizard displays.
    Select the method to use to retrieve topic values from the apps
  12. Select the method to retrieve topic values from applications on the devices.

    Refer to the following table:

    Data Source Option Description
    Retrieve data from SOTI Snap App (Android only) Specify parameters to retrieve data using the SOTI XT Sock for SOTI Snap.

    Custom Topic Wizard SOTI Snap app integration screen

    See the SOTI Snap online help: XSight Topics

    • Display Prompt Text: Enter the topic name to display in Live View.
    • Topic Identifier: Enter a topic exported by SOTI Snap.
    Note: This option is only available for Android.
    Use XT Sock Interface Specify the parameters to retrieve data using the SOTI XT Sock interface, a mechanism developed by SOTI to talk directly to business apps.

    Custom Topic Wizard XT Sock screen
    • Display Prompt Text: Enter the topic name to display in Live View.
    • Package/Prog Id: The application you want to get data from.
    • Signature: The value for signature comes from your XT Sock signature. If you have the signature, you can enter it manually in the text box. Otherwise, select Get app signature to browse for your XT Sock *.apk or *.exe. By selecting your XT Sock you can extract the app signature automatically.
      Note: The Signature field is available in SOTI XSight 2024.0.3 and later.
    • XT Sock Field Key: Enter the name of the field you want to extract data from.
    Retrieve data from JSON file Specify the parameters to retrieve data from a JSON file on the device.

    Custom Topic Wizard JSON file integration screen
    • Display Prompt Text: Enter the topic name to display in Live View.
    • File Path: Enter the location of the JSON file on the device.
    • JSONPath: Enter the specific subsection of the JSON document you want to extract. Use the format: $.store.book[0].title
    Note: There are two styles of notation:
      • Dot Notation: Uses a dot (.) to separate nodes. For example: $.tool.jsonpath.creator.location[2].
      • The dollar sign ($) represents the root member object.
      • Use operators like @ (current node) and * (wildcard) in expressions.
      • You can apply functions like min(), max(), and length() at the end of a path
  13. Select Finish.

Editing and Deleting Shared Topics

After creating a shared topic, you can edit it or delete it:

  1. From the main menu, select Manage Shared Topics.
    Select Managed Shared Topics from the main menu

    The Manage Shared Topic Sets panel displays.

    The Manage Shared Topic Sets panel displays
  2. Select the Edit or Delete icon next the shared topic you want to edit or delete.