A bursting definition is a component of Publisher data model. After you define the datasets for the data model, you can set up one or more bursting definitions.

When you set up a bursting definition, you define the following:

• The Split By element governs how the data is split. For example, to split a batch of invoices by each invoice, you may use an element called CUSTOMER_ID. The dataset must be sorted or grouped by this element.

• The Deliver By governs how formatting and delivery options are applied. In the invoice example, it's likely that each invoice has delivery criteria determined by customer; therefore, the Deliver By element would also be CUSTOMER_ID.

• The Delivery Query is a SQL query that you define to construct the delivery XML data file. The query must return the formatting and delivery details.

The bursting query timeout value is the same as the SQL query timeout value of 3600 seconds for scheduled reports (memory guard property timeout value). The bursting query timeout value doesn't consider the value of the data model query timeout. See Tune SQL Query.

Before you define a bursting query, see Define the Query for Delivery XML and Sample Bursting Query.