IBM Cognos Report Studio: Author Professional Reports (V10.2)

Course Outline

Overview of IBM Cognos BI

• Describe IBM Cognos BI and Financial Performance Management
• Describe IBM Cognos BI components
• Describe IBM Cognos BI architecture at a high level
• Define IBM Cognos groups and roles
• Explain how to extend IBM Cognos  

Introduction to the Reporting Application

• Examine Report Studio and its interface
• Explore different report types
• Create a simple, sorted, and formatted report
• Explore how data items are added to queries  

Create List Reports

• Format, group, and sort list reports
• Describe options for aggregating data
• Create a multi-fact query
• Create a report with repeated data  

Focus Reports Using Filters

• Create filters to narrow the focus of reports
• Examine detail and summary filters
• Determine when to apply filters on aggregate data  

Create Crosstab Reports

• Format and sort crosstab reports
• Convert a list to a crosstab
• Create complex crosstabs using drag and drop functionality
• Create crosstabs using unrelated data items  

Present Data Graphically

• Create charts containing peer and nested items
• Add context to charts
• Create and reuse custom chart palettes
• Present key data in a single dashboard report  

Focus Reports Using Prompts

• Identify various prompt types
• Use parameters and prompts to focus data
• Search for prompt items
• Customize prompts to facilitate users' choices
• Navigate between pages
• Display users' prompt selections in the report  

Extend Reports Using Calculations

• Create calculations based on data in the data source
• Add run-time information to the reports
• Create expressions using functions  

Present Data Using Maps

• Present data using map reports
• Navigate to another level within a map  

Analyze Data Using Statistical Reports

• Discuss statistical report types
• Examine descriptive statistics
• Explore statistical charts  

Use Additional Report Building Techniques

• Reuse objects within the same report
• Share layout components among separate reports
• Discuss report templates
• Add pages to a report
• Choose options to handle reports with no available data  

Customize Reports with Conditional Formatting

• Create multi-lingual reports
• Highlight exceptional data
• Show and hide data
• Conditionally render objects in reports  

Drill-Through From One Report to Another

• Let users navigate from a specific report to a target report
• Pass parameter values to filter the data in drill-through targets  

Drill-through Definitions

• Enable users to navigate to related data in IBM Cognos BI
• Parameter-driven drill through vs. dynamic drill through
• Steps to enable drill-through access for a package
• Limit the items that users ca drill through from (set scope)
• Set a measure as the scope
• Drill Through Assistant  

Enhance Report Layout

• Force page breaks in reports
• Modify existing report structures
• Apply horizontal formatting
• Specify print options for PDF reports
• Combine data containers displaying data from different queries
• Format data and report objects  

Create Query Models

• Build query models and then connect them to the report layout
• Add filters and prompts to a report using the query model
• Edit an SQL statement to author custom queries  

Create Query Reports Based on Relationships

• Create reports by merging query results
• Create reports by joining queries
• Combine data containers based on relationships from different queries
• Create query containers containing a single data value  

Distribute Reports Through Bursting

• Distribute reports using bursting
• Create burst keys
• Identify report recipients and data items using burst tables
• Distribute reports using email and IBM Cognos Connection  

Create Advanced Dynamic Reports

• Filter reports on session parameter values
• Navigate a briefing book using a table of contents
• Create dynamic headers and title that reflect report data
• Let users navigate to specific locations in reports
• Create a customer invoice report  

Design Effective Prompts

• Control report displays using prompts
• Specify conditional formatting values using prompts
• Create a report that formats based on prompts selection
• Create a sorted and filtered report based on prompt selection

Enhance User Interaction with HTML

• Create tooltips that clarify report data
• Create a popup window that contains prompts
• Send emails using links in a report

 Create Additional Advanced Reports

• Create a report that displays summarized data before detailed data
• Highlight alternate rows in a list report
• Create a report using an external data file
• Use single data items to summarize report information
• Create a report using external data
• Save reports to server file system

 Examine the Report Specification

• Examine the report specification structure
• Save and edit reports locally
• Discuss considerations for modifying a report specification
• Discuss adding custom toolbox objects and custom template options

End-to-End Workshop

• Various managers have requested a number of reports to answer business questions pertaining to their areas of interest
• You have been provided with the requirements for each report

 Introduction to Event Studio (Optional)

• Examine the role of Event Studio in Performance Management
• List the benefits of Event Studio
• Add tasks to an agent
• Run an agent

 Build Agents with Event Studio (Optional)

• Create agents
• Use calculations and parameters in Event Studio
• Add tasks (email, report, database update, agent)
• Manage task execution rules
• Test an event through its lifecycle
• Schedule an agent