Cognos Reports

IBM Cognos Connection is a database reports system that runs alongside the Bridge system.

A selection of core reports have been provided, meeting the most common requirements. These reports can be exported, e-mailed, and even set to run on a schedule.

To access the Cognos system, log into Bridge normally, and click Reports in the main menu. The Cognos system will open in a new window. Login is automatic, using the same account used to login to Bridge.

Cognos Toolbars

Most of the actions available in the system are accessed through the toolbars and icons throughout the main screen. These toolbars are described below, section by section. Many options are for advanced features that are not detailed here, so the listing below focuses on options relevant to the core reports and general usage of the system.

Cognos Header Options

The header options are at the top of the page and includes options for the entire system.

Log On	Login and account validation is handled through Bridge. If you are timed out in Cognos, close the window and click the Reports menu item in Bridge to open a new Cognos window.
Refresh	- Reloads the screen to update information that may have changed.
Home	- The Home controls allow a specific page or view to be bookmarked, returning to that point with a single click.
• Home	The default option, this returns you to your default or selected home page.
• Set View as Home	This options sets the current page or view as your home page.
Return	- Only available when viewing a report, this option returns to the reports grid.
Help	- Provides additional Help resources for Cognos.

Cognos Tab Bar

Multiple tabs can be maintained to group related folders and reports.

Tab Menu	- Provides options for managing tabs to organize reports.
• Add tabs...	Opens the controls to convert folders into tabs for quick access.
• Remove this tab	Removes the currently selected tab.
• Modify the sequence of tabs...	Opens the controls to reorganize the order of the tabs.
Scroll Left/Right	- If there are more tabs than fit on the screen, these controls scroll left and right to access any additional tabs.

Cognos Main Toolbar

The main toolbar provides controls for navigation through the folders and tools for managing folders and reports.

Navigation Links	This line lists all parent folders leading to the current folder. Click on a link to jump to any previous folder.
List View	- This is the default view for the reports list, with columns displaying the report name, the date of the last change, and multiple options.
Details View	- This view shows multiple columns of reports, with each report displaying the report name, the report description (if provided), the date of the last change, and a link to the options.
New Folder	- Opens a brief dialogue box for the creation of a new folder.
Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete	- Standard options for editing text or items.

Cognos Grid Navigation

The grid navigation tools can be used to move through the grid one page at a time, jump to the beginning or end, or restrict the grid to a specific range of entries. The grid navigation bar appears above and below the grid.

Entries	These fields display the range of entries currently shown in the grid. These values can be entered manually, then click Go To , and the grid updates to show just the selected range.
Previous Page / Next Page	- Navigates to the previous or next page in the grid.
First Page / Last Page	- Navigates to the first or last page in the grid.

Cognos Grid Header

The grid header provides options for sorting and selecting data.

Selection Checkboxes	The checkboxes can be selected for individual items in the grid, or the checkbox in the header can be used to select or deselect all entries currently displayed in the grid.
Sorting	The grid can be sorted on either the Name or Modified columns. Click the sort icon to cycle between ascending order , descending order , and no sorting .

Cognos Report Toolbar

The report toolbar is available when viewing a report, and includes options for navigation, bookmarks, and export.

View in HTML Format	- Select a format for the report. In any format other than HTML, the report will generate with the current parameters and cannot be changed.
• View in HTML Format	- This is the default format, and can be selected to return to the normal system when viewing a report in another format.
• View in PDF Format	- Generates the report in a PDF file that can be saved from within the browser.
• View in XML Format	- Displays the report in XML code format.
• View in Excel Options	- Select a format for Excel. The report will be generated as a file that can be opened or saved.
o View in Excel 2007 Format	- Generate the report in Excel 2007 format.
o View in Excel 2002 Format	- Generate the report in Excel 2002 format.
o View in CSV Format	- Generate the report in Excel CSV format.