WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

This FAQ answers common questions about the Watchdog Report — the tool in Yellow Dog Inventory that scans your database for errors and inconsistencies that could affect inventory accuracy, flagging issues by severity so you can find and resolve them quickly. It's written for inventory managers, data administrators, and anyone responsible for maintaining item accuracy or preparing for a physical inventory.

General questions

What is the Watchdog Report?

The Watchdog Report scans your Yellow Dog database for errors and inconsistencies that could affect inventory accuracy, flagging issues by severity so you can identify and fix them quickly.

Where can I find the Watchdog Report?

You can access the Watchdog Report from three locations:

•     Home > Watchdog

•     Saved Reports > 201 – ALR – CHECK

•     Reporting > Standard Reports > Troubleshooting > Watchdog

Who should use the Watchdog Report?

Inventory managers, data administrators, and anyone responsible for maintaining item accuracy or preparing for a physical inventory should review Watchdog regularly.

When should the Watchdog Report be reviewed?

Always run the Watchdog Report before starting a physical inventory. It's also a good practice to run it weekly or before processing major data changes, such as bulk imports or new item setups.

Does Watchdog affect my inventory or sales data?

No. Watchdog is a reporting and diagnostic tool — it flags issues but doesn't change your data. You'll need to take action to correct any problems it identifies.

Who do I reach out to if I don't understand an issue or how to fix it?

Contact support with a screenshot and details of the issue. Email support@yellowdogsoftware.com or submit a ticket directly through the Customer Portal.

Functionality questions

What do the severity levels mean?

Watchdog offers three severity filters:

•     Normal: High-impact issues that can affect on-hand accuracy.

•     Low: Lower-risk issues that may still need attention.

•     Clutter: A comprehensive view of all issues, including minor and previously ignored ones.

Can I save the filters I applied to the Watchdog Report?

Yes, by creating a context filter — a saved view of the report after you've filtered or ignored issues, letting you return to a customized list relevant to your workflow. Select Save Context on the right side of the Watchdog report to set one up.

Does every issue need to be resolved?

No. Only issues relevant to your workflow need to be resolved — others can be ignored. For example, a Retail Prices Not Set issue on a Food & Beverage ingredient item usually doesn't apply if that item isn't sold at retail.

Can I ignore issues in the Watchdog Report?

Yes. If an issue isn't relevant to you — such as an ingredient item not yet used in a recipe — click Ignore Issue to hide it from future reports until you choose to include ignored issues again.

I accidentally ignored an issue. How do I see it again?

Select Include Ignored Issues to view any issues you've previously ignored.

How do I fix issues found in the report?

Click Edit or View Object next to a listed issue to open the related item, recipe, or record and correct it directly within Yellow Dog Inventory.

Can I schedule the Watchdog Report to run and email automatically?

Yes. Go to Reports > Send Saved Reports, select 201 – ALR – CHECK Watchdog, then choose Edit Send Saved Report to configure the schedule and click OK.

Still have questions?

Contact Yellow Dog Support with any additional questions about the Watchdog Report.

 RELATED ARTICLES

•     Feature Overview: Watchdog Report

•     How To: Use the Watchdog Report