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+.. _whining:
+
+Whining
+#######
+
+Whining is a feature in Bugzilla that can regularly annoy users at
+specified times. Using this feature, users can execute saved searches
+at specific times (e.g. the 15th of the month at midnight) or at
+regular intervals (e.g. every 15 minutes on Sundays). The results of the
+searches are sent to the user, either as a single email or as one email
+per bug, along with some descriptive text.
+
+.. warning:: Throughout this section it will be assumed that all users are members
+ of the bz_canusewhines group, membership in which is required in order
+ to use the Whining system. You can easily make all users members of
+ the bz_canusewhines group by setting the User RegExp to ".*" (without
+ the quotes).
+
+ Also worth noting is the bz_canusewhineatothers group. Members of this
+ group can create whines for any user or group in Bugzilla using an
+ extended form of the whining interface. Features only available to
+ members of the bz_canusewhineatothers group will be noted in the
+ appropriate places.
+
+.. note:: For whining to work, a special Perl script must be executed at regular
+ intervals. More information on this is available in :ref:`installation-whining`.
+
+.. note:: This section does not cover the whineatnews.pl script.
+ See :ref:`installation-whining-cron` for more information on
+ The Whining Cron.
+
+.. _whining-overview:
+
+The Event
+=========
+
+The whining system defines an "Event" as one or more queries being
+executed at regular intervals, with the results of said queries (if
+there are any) being emailed to the user. Events are created by
+clicking on the "Add new event" button.
+
+Once a new event is created, the first thing to set is the "Email
+subject line". The contents of this field will be used in the subject
+line of every email generated by this event. In addition to setting a
+subject, space is provided to enter some descriptive text that will be
+included at the top of each message (to help you in understanding why
+you received the email in the first place).
+
+The next step is to specify when the Event is to be run (the Schedule)
+and what searches are to be performed (the Searches).
+
+.. _whining-schedule:
+
+Whining Schedule
+================
+
+Each whining event is associated with zero or more schedules. A
+schedule is used to specify when the search (specified below) is to be
+run. A new event starts out with no schedules (which means it will
+never run, as it is not scheduled to run). To add a schedule, press
+the "Add a new schedule" button.
+
+Each schedule includes an interval, which you use to tell Bugzilla
+when the event should be run. An event can be run on certain days of
+the week, certain days of the month, during weekdays (defined as
+Monday through Friday), or every day.
+
+.. warning:: Be careful if you set your event to run on the 29th, 30th, or 31st of
+ the month, as your event may not run exactly when expected. If you
+ want your event to run on the last day of the month, select "Last day
+ of the month" as the interval.
+
+Once you have specified the day(s) on which the event is to be run, you
+should now specify the time at which the event is to be run. You can
+have the event run at a certain hour on the specified day(s), or
+every hour, half-hour, or quarter-hour on the specified day(s).
+
+If a single schedule does not execute an event as many times as you
+would want, you can create another schedule for the same event. For
+example, if you want to run an event on days whose numbers are
+divisible by seven, you would need to add four schedules to the event,
+setting the schedules to run on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th (one day
+per schedule) at whatever time (or times) you choose.
+
+.. note:: If you are a member of the bz_canusewhineatothers group, then you
+ will be presented with another option: "Mail to". Using this you
+ can control who will receive the emails generated by this event. You
+ can choose to send the emails to a single user (identified by email
+ address) or a single group (identified by group name). To send to
+ multiple users or groups, create a new schedule for each additional
+ user/group.
+
+.. _whining-query:
+
+Whining Searches
+================
+
+Each whining event is associated with zero or more searches. A search
+is any saved search to be run as part of the specified schedule (see
+above). You start out without any searches associated with the event
+(which means that the event will not run, as there will never be any
+results to return). To add a search, press the "Add a search" button.
+
+The first field to examine in your newly added search is the Sort field.
+Searches are run, and results included, in the order specified by the
+Sort field. Searches with smaller Sort values will run before searches
+with bigger Sort values.
+
+The next field to examine is the Search field. This is where you
+choose the actual search that is to be run. Instead of defining search
+parameters here, you are asked to choose from the list of saved
+searches (the same list that appears at the bottom of every Bugzilla
+page). You are only allowed to choose from searches that you have
+saved yourself (the default saved search, "My Bugs", is not a valid
+choice). If you do not have any saved searches, you can take this
+opportunity to create one (see :ref:`list`).
+
+.. note:: When running searches, the whining system acts as if you are the user
+ executing the search. This means that the whining system will ignore
+ bugs that match your search but that you cannot access.
+
+Once you have chosen the saved search to be executed, give the search a
+descriptive title. This title will appear in the email, above the
+results of the search. If you choose "One message per bug", the search
+title will appear at the top of each email that contains a bug matching
+your search.
+
+Finally, decide if the results of the search should be sent in a single
+email, or if each bug should appear in its own email.
+
+.. warning:: Think carefully before checking the "One message per bug" box. If
+ you create a search that matches thousands of bugs, you will receive
+ thousands of emails!
+
+Saving Your Changes
+===================
+
+Once you have defined at least one schedule and created at least one
+search, go ahead and "Update/Commit". This will save your Event and make
+it available for immediate execution.
+
+.. note:: If you ever feel like deleting your event, you may do so using the
+ "Remove Event" button in the upper-right corner of each Event. You
+ can also modify an existing event, so long as you "Update/Commit"
+ after completing your modifications.