Mr H.IT Limited
IT Business Consultants
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Report Writing – Why? |
“My application has loads of reports, why should I need more?” Most ERP systems (apart from the very expensive) come with some standard reports ‘out of the box’. These have been developed over the years from previous customers requirements. They aren’t your requirements. “The reports available seem quite close to what I need.” If you can use the standard reports, please do. They will always be kept up-to-date whenever changes are made to the underlying systems. “I have to print out two separate reports to get all the information I require.” This is where we can help, by locating the information within the databases and presenting it as a formatted report that can be previewed or printed out. Alternatively you may prefer to export this information to a spreadsheet. “The layout of the standard reports isn’t suitable for my presentations.” Re-designing a standard report is, usually, straight forward and allows you to change the selection criteria as well. “What can I do with the huge amount of paper we generate?” Consider only previewing reports or building an ‘extract’ report that presents the information you need in a form a spreadsheet can use.
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Report Writing – How? |
Standard reports take two forms; the first is a specific program (often COBOL) that understands where to find information and then processes it, finally building a fixed format report. These can sometimes be varied a little based on what (limited) options have been offered. The second style uses a report writer, such as Crystal Reports, in the same way as the programmed version, but with more flexibility. Syspro ARW – the Report Writing module for the Syspro ERP system. Has a full set of data dictionaries and links pre-programmed between a lot of the database tables. Originally for the C-ISAM (Indexed) data files, but now also SQLServer compliant. Crystal Reports XI – OBDC based third-party report writer. When Syspro Reporting Services (SRS) was launched, this was the preferred foundation. ODBC is Microsofts database access mechanism, provides data dictionary information but links between tables must be made manually. The request for data is formatted in Structured Query Language (SQL) Monarch – this isn’t a report writer, but a report processor. You have to program it to understand your standard reports layout. You then use the Print-to-Disk option on your system, supply the file created plus the layout information and treat Monarch as a database to supply information out of the report. Monarch is ODBC compliant. MS SQLServer – Powerful database engine supplied by Microsoft. Has full data administration options and can be programmed (via SQL) Has no presentation/reporting options. Can process and deliver data in any form likely to be required. Examples are; text-based, spreadsheet, view/table or XML.
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Report Writing – When? |
Daily/Weekly Commitment reports Exception reports – missed deadlines, outstanding quantities, faulty transactions Exporting data to a spreadsheet for further processing/reporting Exporting data to an EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) system Extract information for inclusion in documents/web-site – (Price Lists) Meetings/Presentations – (MS PowerPoint is ODBC compliant) Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) – Usually designed specifically Business Information (BI) – Pivot tables require uniform data to work well Period end reporting – Trial Balance, Profit and Loss Troubleshooting data |