2. COGNOS - Impromptu User1 The Cognos Product Architecture Business data Transformer Impromptu Portfolio PowerPlay Scenario Path 1 Non- Impromptu query tool Path 2 Impromptu as query tool Path 1 – The use of another querying tool to produce a “flat” file (. asc,.csv,.xls,.dbf). Path 2 – The use of Impromptu as a querying tool to produce IQDs. Power Cube.IQD Files

3. Module 1 Just the Basics. Organizing Data. Customizing Data. Handling Functions. Formatting Reports. Advanced Filtering. Snapshots. Click on the Links to travel

4. Just the Basics

5. COGNOS - Impromptu User4 1. A Windows based Powerful and Interactive Query and reporting tool. 2. Query Data from Databases present in Desktop, LAN. 3. User isolated from the complexities of the underlying Database. Impromptu - An Introduction

6. COGNOS - Impromptu User5 The Impromptu User Interface Menu Bar Title Bar Status Bar Scroll Bars Standard Toolbar Format Toolbar

7. COGNOS - Impromptu User6 Catalog-.CAT Files. Report-.IMR Files. Template-.IMT Files. Impromptu Terminology's

8. COGNOS - Impromptu User7 The Catalog Catalog CorporateData The gate way to the Data is the Information catalog.

9. COGNOS - Impromptu User8 Data Reports Catalog Each Report Can be associated to only one Catalog. Catalog doesn’t Hold the Data but contains Pointer to Data.(i.e)Catalog acts as Meta Data) The Catalog...

10. COGNOS - Impromptu User9 A Catalog Contains... Folders Columns Eg: Product Details. Eg : Product Name Product Number

11. COGNOS - Impromptu User10 … A Catalog Contains … Calculations Conditions Prompts ? Eg : Profit Margin Eg:Sale Closed on time Eg: Country. Sales Rep Name. */+-*/+-

12. COGNOS - Impromptu User11 Report( *.IMR) Reports are the End point of the COGNOS - Impromptu. This Report is obtained from the Catalog created by the Administrator. During the generation of the Report the user need not have any knowledge about the Database Structures.

13. COGNOS - Impromptu User12 Standard Reports Vs. Ad Hoc Queries t Ad Hoc Queries “Did we meet the target last month for selling off the discontinued product line?” Standard Reports Monthly Sales Mailing Labels Employee Timesheets Profit Margin by Product A standard report is any report that has been created for regularly executed standard queries. An ad hoc query is a simple report or one-time query of the database that is outside the set of standard reports you may have available to you.

14. COGNOS - Impromptu User13 Screen Reports Vs Printed Reports Well-designed reports are consistent and professional. You can design a report specifically for viewing on screen, or for use as a printed report. Impromptu provides different views of your report: –Screen Layout –Page Layout

15. COGNOS - Impromptu User14 Simple List. Grouped List. Cross Tab. Grouped Cross Tab. Mailing Labels. Form Letter. Free Style(Blank) and Templates are the predefined Structures designed to vies the Reports.Impromptu delivers some Basic Templates for the Reports, Templates

16. COGNOS - Impromptu User15 The Impromptu Report Wizard Provides a fast and easy way to query data and produce simple, ad hoc reports.

17. COGNOS - Impromptu User16 Query Dialog Box The Query Dialog box acts as the main interface between the Catalog and the Report. We can add the columns required in the Report from the Catalog to the Query Data.The columns appear in the same order supplied by us. The Calculations and Conditions required in the Report can be added from the Query dialog box The query dialog box helps in the organizing Data.

18. COGNOS - Impromptu User17 Query Dialog Box …

19. Organizing Data

20. COGNOS - Impromptu User19 Filter Data. Sort Data. Group Data. Group and Associate Columns. Define Headers and Footers. Organizing Data.

21. COGNOS - Impromptu User20 The Filter Button Reports can contain a great amount of detail which makes it difficult to see the information you need right away. You can filter the report to focus on critical information. To quickly filter data in a report: –select one or more values –click the Filter button on the toolbar.

22. COGNOS - Impromptu User21 Filter Selection - The ‘In’ Statement If you select data items from the same column, your report shows rows that contain either of these items. Product Line in (‘Tents’, ‘Back Packs’)

23. COGNOS - Impromptu User22 Filter Selection - The ‘And’ Statement If you select data items from different columns, your report only shows rows that contain both of these items. Customer Type = ‘Camping Chain’ and Country = ‘Canada’

24. COGNOS - Impromptu User23 The Filter Drop-Down Button The Filter button includes a drop-down menu. The Filter Drop-Down button extends the options available when filtering from the report display. The contents of the drop-down menu will vary depending on what has been selected in the report.

25. COGNOS - Impromptu User24 The Sort Buttons Sorting is a method of organizing the order in which data appears in the report.

26. COGNOS - Impromptu User25 The Sort Tab The Sort tab in the Query dialog box can be used to determine the sort order. By specifying the sort order prior to executing the query, you will only access the database once. This is a more efficient way of retrieving data.

27. COGNOS - Impromptu User26 The Group Button Data in a report can be organized so that like data items are grouped together and repeating values are removed. A control break occurs with every new data item in the grouped column. Control Breaks

28. COGNOS - Impromptu User27 The Group Tab The Group tab in the Query dialog box can be used to determine the group order. If you specify the group order prior to executing the query, you will avoid accessing the database more than once. The black bar across the top of the column icon indicates it is a grouped column.

29. COGNOS - Impromptu User28 Headers and Footers You can add headers and footers to a report to make it more readable. Headers and footers organize information in the report logically which improves usability. The easiest way to create a header or footer is to use the toolbar button. Header (Country) Footer (Total)

30. COGNOS - Impromptu User29 Grouped and Associated Columns An associated column displays a data item once, at the beginning of the associated control break. Grouped Column Associated Column

31. COGNOS - Impromptu User30 Use the Group tab in the Query dialog box to associate columns. An associated column has half a black bar across the top of the column icon. Associating Columns

32. Customizing Data

33. COGNOS - Impromptu User32 Customizing the Report data involves, # Including Calculated Columns. # Including Conditions. # Including Summarize Data.. Customizing Data

34. COGNOS - Impromptu User33 Calculations –A calculation computes a new data item based on existing data items. –Calculations can contain: Report columns Catalog columns Summaries Functions Values IF…THEN…ELSE statements Operators.

35. COGNOS - Impromptu User34 The Calculation Definition Dialog Box

36. COGNOS - Impromptu User35 Conditional Statements Conditional statements are often used in calculated columns to highlight general categories of data. You use the IF...THEN...ELSE construct to create the conditional statement. IF (Product Price > 50) THEN (‘Higher’) ELSE (‘Lower’).

37. COGNOS - Impromptu User36 Summarizing Data Reports frequently require you to summarize data. A summary is a type of calculation. The calculation will include the type of summary you want to perform and the name of the data item that you want to summarize. For example: –Total (Sale Amount) –Average (Product Margin)

38. COGNOS - Impromptu User37 There are two places you can include summarized data in your report: in a new column in a header / footer. Placing Summaries in a Report in the footer in a new column

39. COGNOS - Impromptu User38 The Summary Toolbar Buttons –To quickly add a summary to a list report: select the data item, or column, you want to summarize click a Summary button on the Standard toolbar. –If there is no grouping in the report, the summary will be inserted in a list footer. –If there is grouping, the summary will be inserted into a footer at every level of grouping within the report.

40. COGNOS - Impromptu User39 Complex Summaries –You can use the Calculation Definition dialog box to create complex summaries. –All summaries are available in the Summaries folder. –Two ways to access this list: select Calculation from the Insert menu click the Calculate button in the Query dialog box.

41. COGNOS - Impromptu User40 Summary Formats Working with summarized data can mean working with currency or percentage figures. Data will be more meaningful if you format such values accordingly. The Currency button on the Format toolbar will convert your data to the default currency format. You can use the Format menu to display the data as a percentage.

42. COGNOS - Impromptu User41 Summary Reports A summary report: –contains only summary information –does not contain any details. When you include only summary data items, summarization takes place on the server/database.

43. COGNOS - Impromptu User42 The Summary Dialog Box –You can use the Summary dialog box to quickly create a summary report. –To open the Summary dialog box: click the Summary button in the Query dialog box –The summary will be inserted into the report as a column.

44. COGNOS - Impromptu User43 Auto-Group –The Auto-group check box is located in the Group tab of the Query dialog box. –By default, this check box is selected whenever you create a new report.

45. COGNOS - Impromptu User44 Auto-Group and Summaries Auto-group has no effect until a summary data item is included in the query data. If your report does not include grouped data, and you add a summary, Impromptu will automatically group all data items in the report. Data items are grouped in the order in which they appear in the Group order list. The summary is automatically associated with the lowest level of grouping. Use Auto-group to quickly create a summary report.

46. COGNOS - Impromptu User45 Turning Auto-Group Off To turn Auto-group off: The Auto-group check box is automatically cleared if you manually select and group a data item. Click the Auto-group option to clear it. Click the Group button on the Standard toolbar with nothing in the report selected.

47. COGNOS - Impromptu User46 Types of Summary Associations –There are two types of summary associations: Position Dependent (Automatic) Non-Position Dependent (Fixed) –A summary with an automatic association changes value, depending on its position in the report. As you move it to different locations in your report, the summary changes. –A summary with a fixed association has a value that does not change when you move it from one place to another in the report. –All Impromptu summaries have an automatic association by default.

48. COGNOS - Impromptu User47 Grouping and Associated Summaries Summaries are always associated with groups of data. These summ`aries are non-position dependent. They will always reflect a total for Branch Code.

49. Handling Functions

50. COGNOS - Impromptu User49 Functions Functions are commands that take one or more values, perform an operation, and return a result. Functions can be included in calculations to perform data manipulation that would otherwise be impossible to do. Functions act on and return data of a specific type.

51. COGNOS - Impromptu User50 Numeric Functions. String Functions. Date Functions. Data Types. * Numeric* Datetime * Character* Time * Date* Interval. Functions…

52. COGNOS - Impromptu User51 Numeric Functions Numeric functions perform mathematical or statistical calculations on numeric input values. For example: ceiling (numeric_exp) returns a number rounded to the next highest integer ceiling (Sale Amount) would round $151.77 up to $152

53. COGNOS - Impromptu User52 String Functions String functions perform operations on string input values. For example: substring (string_exp, integer_exp1, integer_exp2) returns a portion of the designated string value substring (‘FOUR’, 2, 2) returns OU

54. COGNOS - Impromptu User53 Date Functions –Date functions perform operations on date, datetime, or date interval values. For example: –month (date_exp) returns an integer between 1 and 12 from a date or datetime value –month (10-DEC-1997) returns the number 12

55. COGNOS - Impromptu User54 Calculating Date Intervals Using Functions There are two sources of date data: –date fields in the database –the system date. Impromptu includes several functions to assist you in calculating the elapsed time between two dates. Example: –months-between(Order Date, today()) returns the number of months since the Order Date.

56. Formatting Reports

57. COGNOS - Impromptu User56 Formatting –Once the content has been determined, apply formatting to create a sleek, professional report. –Formatting enhances the appearance of the report. –You can: assign and customize data formats change font attributes manipulate report objects.

58. COGNOS - Impromptu User57 Styles. Conditional Formats. Staking Report Objects. Grouping Report Objects. Borders and Patterns. Page Breaks. Formatting…

59. COGNOS - Impromptu User58 Styles A style is a defined set of formatting characteristics applied to report objects. Create a style to make your data more visually meaningful. Apply the style to a report object.

60. COGNOS - Impromptu User59 Conditional Formats Conditional formatting is applied to data that meets a pre-defined condition. Conditional formatting is an efficient way to highlight exceptional data in a report. Total Sales > 50000 Total Sales < 5000

61. COGNOS - Impromptu User60 Creating a Conditional Format Decide whether to add a custom or catalog condition. Assign a style to the condition.

62. COGNOS - Impromptu User61 Stacking Report Objects Objects in a report can be layered. Stacking is the option that allows you to control how these objects are displayed when they overlap. You can: –send to back –bring to front –send back –bring forward.

63. COGNOS - Impromptu User62 Aligning Report Objects Align report objects to improve a report’s overall appearance. Use alignment properties to change an object’s position relative to: –borders of the parent frame –other report objects.

64. COGNOS - Impromptu User63 Grouping Report Objects –Grouped objects are treated as a single report object. –The advantages are: spacing and alignment is maintained when objects are moved as a single unit formatting is applied to all objects within the group.

65. COGNOS - Impromptu User64 Borders and Patterns –Borders and patterns added to report objects: emphasize report objects create structure in the report improve the overall appearance of the report.

66. COGNOS - Impromptu User65 Headers and Footers Page Header List Header Group Header Group Footer List Footer Page Footer A Header or a Footer can contain text, pictures, report variables and other report objects.

67. COGNOS - Impromptu User66 Report Variables –A report variable is a dynamic item, such as: date or time page number or page count column or calculation. –Report variables are continually updated in the report by Impromptu. –The addition of report variables can make existing data in the report more meaningful.

68. COGNOS - Impromptu User67 Working with Columns –You can manipulate report columns in the following ways: attributes of each column heading can be altered use the sizing handles to resize it repeat column titles when printing a report.

69. COGNOS - Impromptu User68 Page Breaks A page break is inserted into a list report before or after groups of data. Starting a new page for each new group of data makes it easier to distinguish between the breaks in the information.

70. COGNOS - Impromptu User69 Page Setup Margins are the outer perimeters of the report. By adjusting margin settings, you control how much white space is on the top, bottom, right, and left of the report. If you are printing a list frame, you can check the Fit to page option.

71. Advanced Filtering

72. COGNOS - Impromptu User71 The Expression Editor

73. COGNOS - Impromptu User72 Components in the Expression Editor The Available components list provides the building blocks for creating a filter definition. Double-clicking a component adds it to the Filter definition box. Only those components that create a logical expression will be available in the Available components list.

74. COGNOS - Impromptu User73 Predefined Conditions –Predefined conditions are created by the Impromptu Administrator and stored in the catalog. –You can use these predefined conditions to: create a filter containing only the predefined condition create a more complex filter expression by combining the predefined condition with other conditions. Example: Country in (‘Canada’, ‘Mexico’, ‘United States’) and Sale Closed Late

75. COGNOS - Impromptu User74 Report Filter Options –The expression editor gives you two list report filter options: Detail Summary Detail Filter :Product Type = ‘GO Sport Line’ and Sales Channel = ‘Mail Sales’ Summary Filter :Total Sale Amount > 100000

76. COGNOS - Impromptu User75 Crosstab Report Filter Options –The expression editor gives you two additional crosstab filter options: Crosstab Detail Filter Summary Detail Filter Crosstab Detail Filter : Mail Sales > 100000 Crosstab Summary Filter : Total > 500000

77. COGNOS - Impromptu User76 Prompt Filters A prompt dialog box filters your report data. Type In prompt Picklist prompt

78. COGNOS - Impromptu User77 The Prompt Manager The Prompt Manager allows you to easily manage prompts. You can access the Prompt Manager from either: –the Report menu, or –the Filter tab in the Query dialog box.

79. COGNOS - Impromptu User78 The Prompt Definition Dialog Box The Prompt Definition dialog box is used to: –create new prompts –edit existing prompts.

80. COGNOS - Impromptu User79 Catalog Prompts Catalog prompts are created by the Impromptu Administrator. These prompts are available to any report that accesses the same catalog.

81. COGNOS - Impromptu User80 Type In Prompt The Type In prompt filter requires knowledge of the database because a specific value must be entered. –Type In prompts are often used to enter start and end points for: date filters value ranges.

82. COGNOS - Impromptu User81 Picklist Prompts A picklist prompt allows users to select one or more values from a list of data items. When the report is opened, the Prompts dialog box displays the available data items.

83. COGNOS - Impromptu User82 Picklist Prompt Types –There are three picklist prompt types: Catalog Picklist: pick from any catalog column File Picklist: pick from a local ASCII file Report Picklist: pick from a report value. –Select the prompt type in the Prompt Definition dialog box.

84. COGNOS - Impromptu User83 Picklist Values - Using and Displaying

85. COGNOS - Impromptu User84 Cascading Picklists

86. COGNOS - Impromptu User85 Creating Cascading Prompts 1. Report 2. Report and First Prompt 3. Final Report and Second Prompt

87. Snapshots

88. COGNOS - Impromptu User87 What is a Snapshot? A snapshot is a permanent local copy of the data in a report. Like a photograph, it captures the data as it existed when you created the report. Product Sales

89. COGNOS - Impromptu User88 Creating a Snapshot Report When you create a snapshot report, you are changing the data source for the report. Instead of retrieving data from the database, you will be retrieving the data locally. Databas e

90. COGNOS - Impromptu User89 Snapshot Indicators Status Bar The Open Dialog Box

91. COGNOS - Impromptu User90 Updating a Snapshot A snapshot can be updated to reflect changes in the database. The data within the snapshot is replaced with new data from the database.

92. COGNOS - Impromptu User91 Adding Data to a Snapshot You do have the option of adding new data to a snapshot. Report Remove Snapshot Add Data Re-apply Snapshot