OSR Report Designer and OSR Player User...

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OneStop Reporting AS www.onestopreporting.com

OSR Report Designer and OSR Player 3.7

User Guide

Updated: 2013-01-31

OSR Report Designer and OSR Player User Guide

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Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1

Who should read this manual ................................................................................................................... 1

What’s included in this manual................................................................................................................. 1

Symbols and conventions ......................................................................................................................... 1

Installation ................................................................................................................................................ 2

OSR Report Designer Overview .................................................................................................................... 3

The OSR Report Designer Interface .......................................................................................................... 3

OneStop Reporting Excel Ribbon .......................................................................................................... 3

Layout Editor ......................................................................................................................................... 7

Designer Menu ...................................................................................................................................... 9

Logging in ................................................................................................................................................ 10

Creating a Connection to a Database ..................................................................................................... 12

Creating Reports Using OSR Report Designer ............................................................................................. 16

Report building options .......................................................................................................................... 16

Modules .................................................................................................................................................. 16

Data items ............................................................................................................................................... 17

Functions ................................................................................................................................................. 17

Expression Trees ..................................................................................................................................... 18

Manage Trees...................................................................................................................................... 18

Expression Tree Editor ........................................................................................................................ 19

Node/Branch Properties ..................................................................................................................... 20

Drill-To Definitions .................................................................................................................................. 23

Report Parameters .................................................................................................................................. 24

Report Parameter Wizard ................................................................................................................... 25

Layout Editor ........................................................................................................................................... 29

Filters ................................................................................................................................................... 29

Grouping/Sorting ................................................................................................................................ 33

Functions ............................................................................................................................................. 36

Expanding Groups ............................................................................................................................... 37

Property Hierarchy .................................................................................................................................. 40

Executing a Report .................................................................................................................................. 41


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Dynamic Reporting .............................................................................................................................. 41

Static Reporting ................................................................................................................................... 42

Run a Report According to a Dimension Tree Structure ..................................................................... 43

Linking Sheets ......................................................................................................................................... 45

Copy and Paste ........................................................................................................................................ 47

Drilldown ................................................................................................................................................. 48

Drill-To ..................................................................................................................................................... 49

How to configure a simple Drill-To Definition .................................................................................... 52

Macros .................................................................................................................................................... 55

Built-in Excel Security .............................................................................................................................. 56

Formatting data with leading zeros in Excel ....................................................................................... 57

OSR Player ................................................................................................................................................... 59

Excel Ribbon ............................................................................................................................................ 59

Options ................................................................................................................................................ 60

Login tab.................................................................................................................................................. 61

Report tab ............................................................................................................................................... 62

Appendix A: Glossary .................................................................................................................................. 64

Appendix B: Expand Types .......................................................................................................................... 66


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Introduction OSR Report Designer is the reporting application in the OneStop Reporting product suite. It is a full-

blown Excel-based report writer enabling the user to report directly on top of their ERP database, OSR

Data Warehouse, or any other data source where an integration package has been or will be set up. In

very short time, business users with basic Microsoft Excel experience will be able to create

presentation-quality financial statements, operational reports and KPI reports with charts and

graphical indicators.

OSR Report Designer provides complete financial and operational report writing based on the familiar

Microsoft Excel user interface. As long as an integration (either existing or custom built) exists, users

can use OSR Report Designer to report on all of the following data sources:

The organization's ERP system (GL, sub-ledgers, and custom tables)

Other SQL-based transactional databases

SQL-based data warehouses (i.e. OSR Data Warehouse)

OSR Player can be described as the "read-only version" of OSR Report Designer. In other words, the

user can execute reports with the ability to apply simple modifications to reports.

Who should read this manual This manual is designed for OSR administrators and power users who are responsible for designing budget and report templates.

What’s included in this manual This manual is designed to give an in-depth understanding of how to use the features of OSR Report Designer/OSR Player. When navigating in this user guide, the following information about the three main sections of the user guide may be helpful:

OSR Report Designer Overview: this section gives an introduction to OSR Report Designer and includes information about menus and toolbars as well as information about logging in and creating a connection to a database.

Creating Reports Using OSR Report Designer: this section explains the functions available in OSR Report Designer for designing and executing reports, including expanding groups, summation, and drill down.

OSR Player: This section describes the functionality of OSR Report Player.

Symbols and conventions This manual uses the special symbols to make specific types of information stand out:

Symbol Description

The sunlight symbol indicates helpful tips, shortcuts, and suggestions.

The warning symbol indicates situations we recommend to be aware of when completing tasks. Typically, this includes cautions about completing steps in their proper order or important reminders about how other information in OSR may be affected.


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Installation Please consult the OSR installation guide for details on installing the OneStop Reporting application.

Manuals can be downloaded from the Downloads area on www.onestopreporting.com.

The first time you go to Downloads you must register an account. You can then immediately log in

using the user name and password you registered.

Prior to running any of the OneStop Reporting applications administrators must create a repository and assign access to the users through the OSR Administration application. See the user guide for OSR Administration for more information.

http://www.onestopreporting.com/


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OSR Report Designer Overview Using OSR Report Designer, users can create formatted Excel-based reports that any Designer or

Player user can run live from their own desktop. OSR Report Designer uses the familiar Microsoft Excel

user interface and an easy to learn drag-and-drop functionality for creating high quality reports.

Furthermore, Excel formatting, calculations, and charts can be applied to the reports. With each

execution of the report, users can group and filter information based on report parameters, making

the reports dynamic.

The OSR Report Designer Interface Prior to designing a report, users should have a good understanding of the OSR Report Designer

interface. The next sections cover the three most important components of OSR Report Designer: the

OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon, the Layout Editor window and the Designer Menu.

OneStop Reporting Excel Ribbon

The OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon can be found at the top of the Excel window and provides easy

navigation and access to the key functions in OSR Report Designer.

OneStop Reporting

Excel Ribbon

Designer Menu

Layout Editor


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Excel Ribbon Button Function

Creates a new report in a new workbook.

Uses the current workbook as the foundation for a new report.

Allows users to change user accounts by opening the login window.

Opens the Report Configuration window, which allows the user to configure the source database and company. Generally, the user is prompted to perform report configuration when creating a new report.

Allows users to input optional additional information such as the report title and description. Also allows users to enter the password for protected worksheets.

Provides access to report behavior settings, details on the version of OSR Report Designer, and miscellaneous options. The Report Designer Options will be described in more detail later in this user guide.

Opens and closes the Report Designer menu bar on the left side of the screen, where users may find the integrated fields from the database as well as pre-defined period functions, trees, and more.

Opens and closes the Layout Editor window, where users can apply filters, sorting, and grouping for the report.

Enables and disables layout comments that display the filters, groupings, and functions used on the sheet, row, column, or cell level of the report.

Opens and closes the Report Parameters window, where users can manage the properties for the parameters that have been applied to the report definition.

Enables and disables automatic creation of parameters. When disabled, report parameters will not be created unless the user explicitly creates one using the Report Parameters window.


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Options

Choosing the Options button opens the Report Designer Options window. This window contains three

tabs.

1. Designer tab

a. Always open Designer in Run-mode: if the box is checked and a saved report is

opened, Designer will always open the OSR Report Designer Menu in the Run tab.

b. Insert field title above cell on drop: if the box is checked, when a data field is dragged

into Excel sheet, OSR Report Designer will automatically create a title one cell above

the data field. The title can be modified or deleted in the cell.

c. Show ‘Create new group’ button in Layout Editor window: if the box is checked, the

Layout Editor window will display a new button, which allows the user to manually

create a group from the Layout Editor.


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d. Create Group Dialog: The vertical slider has three settings (Always, Conditionally, and

On CTRL). Dependent on the position, OSR Report Designer will always, conditionally,

or never prompt the user to create a new group when a data field is dragged into the

report definition. If the slider is set to On CTRL, OSR Report Designer will never prompt

the user and the user must manually create a group by holding the CTRL key while

dragging the field.

e. Application: The dropdown list allows the user to select the application language.

f. Integration Dictionary: The dropdown list allows the user to select the integration

language.

2. Application tab

a. Sign in automatically: if the box is checked, OSR Report Designer will automatically

sign-in with the previously logged-on user.

b. License (Licensed to/Company): displays the license information.

c. About…: clicking this button opens a new window with information about the OSR

Report Designer version and build number, and the license information.


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3. Misc tab

a. Report query timeout: users can setup the duration of time a report should be allowed

to query the database before it times out (the default is 300 seconds).

b. Show RQL output & Show SQL output: if this box is checked, a new window will open

that displays the query during the report definition. Generally, this option is used for

technical analysis or troubleshooting.

c. Export definition file on save: if this box is checked, an ‘.OSR’ formatted file will be

created in the same file path as the saved file.

Layout Editor

The Layout Editor allows users to create, edit, and delete business rules. The Layout Editor window

can be accessed through the Layout Editor button in the OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon.

The Layout Editor window contains several areas:

2

3

5

1

2

4


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1. Report Level (Sheet filters): selects the entire report so that rules (parameter) can be applied

to the entire Excel report.

2. Column/ Row Level (Column selections/Row selections): users can select a column or row to

create, edit, or delete business rules at the column or row level.

3. Data display settings: users may specify the settings for displaying the data in the report.

a. Expanding: if checked, the report will list the details of dimension and create what is

known as an expanding group (i.e. list each account rather than grouping the

accounts together and displaying a total). Only available at row or column level.

b. Display blank records: if checked, the report will display dimensions with blank

records in the report (i.e. if unchecked, empty datasets will not be displayed). Only

available at row or column level.

c. Limit: the value in the text box will be the number of records displayed in the

expanding group. The ‘0’ value corresponds to an unlimited number of results. Only

available at row or column level.

4. Business rule settings: Users can specify settings for the business rule in this area.

5. Tabs: The tabs allow users to configure different rules for the selected level.

For details on business rules, see Appendix A: Glossary.


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Designer Menu

The Designer Menu contains two tabs. The Design tab generates the modules and dimensions based

on the integration of the database that the user is connected to. The other tab is a Run tab that allows

the user to select parameters and execute reports. Each tab contains unique interfaces as explained

below.

The Designer Menu contains several areas:

1. Tabs: the user can switch between the Design tab and the Run tab.

Dependent on which tab is active, certain functions within OSR Report Designer will be deactivated.

2. Design tab

a. Data items: a list of data items in the database. Data items are dragged into the Excel

sheet to create a report template. When you hold the cursor over a data item name,

you can see the system name of the data item.

b. Modules: a of modules integrated from the ERP system using the metadata. The

modules contain the dimensions and measures that can be used to create a report. In

addition, functions, expression trees, and report parameters are included below the

list of modules. When you hold the cursor over a module name, you can see the

system name of the module.

1

2a

2b

3a

3b


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3. Run tab

a. Parameters: parameters defined in the report design will be listed. Users have the

option to specify a parameter by using the Lookup button.

b. Run button: in order to execute the report, the Run button must be used. Users have

the option of running the report in OSR Report Designer or it can be published to a

regular Excel worksheet by clicking the drop-down arrow.

Logging in OSR Report Designer utilizes the access management configuration created through OSR

Administration to create a secure environment for the organization. Therefore, the user will be

prompted for authentication each time OSR Report Designer is opened unless the Sign me in

automatically option is activated.

Users may login using the OneStop or Windows User Authentication in the login window as shown

below.

Depending on the authentication, users will have access to data as described.

OneStop Admin: the built-in administrator has access to all modules and dimensions in the

connected database.

Windows User: the Windows user will have restricted access as configured in the Access

Management in the OSR Administration (see the user guide for OSR Administration for details on

configuration).


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As mentioned above, users may activate the Sign me in automatically option to automatically sign-in

to OSR Report Designer as the previously logged in user. Users may activate this option in one of two

ways.

1. The first method is to check the box next to Sign me in automatically in the login window.

2. The second method is by accessing the Options menu in the OneStop Reporting ribbon,

selecting the Application tab, and checking the box next to Sign in automatically.

1 2

3

4


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The second method can also be used to deactivate the Sign me in automatically option.

Users may change login authentication after the initial start-up of OSR Report Designer by selecting

the Change Login button in the OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon.

Note that if the Auto-login with Windows User option is flagged in the OSR Administration all users will be automatically logged-in with their Windows user when opening OSR Report Designer for the first time. However, after the initial access, the Sign me in automatically option specified in OSR Report Designer will override the Auto-login with Windows User option specified in OSR Administration.

The best practice is to never log in with the built-in Administrator for the purpose of accessing data in a reporting module. Instead, an admin level role should be created in OSR Administration so that all end-users are using Windows Authentication as their login, thus preventing any security breaches.

This is the safest way to use the login structure because if an admin-level user accidentally clicks on sign-in automatically for OSR Report Designer on a terminal server, the next user will be automatically logged in with their AD user. On the other hand, if a user logs in with the built-in Administrator and checks the Sign-in automatically box, the next user will be automatically logged in as the built-in Administrator, thus giving access to all data.

Creating a Connection to a Database Each time a new report is created OSR Report Designer will prompt the user to connect to a database

through the Report Configuration window. In addition, users may manually open this window by

clicking the Report Configuration button in the OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon.

Database connections that have already been configured, will be displayed in the drop-down list.


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However, if no connection has been configured, the connection must be created as described below:

1. In the Report Configuration window, select Data Connection and then click the Setup button.


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2. A login window will be displayed. Only the built-in Administrator may configure connection

settings.

3. Click New to add a new connection.


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4. In the new window, enter the information required to create a new connection and click Test

to confirm access to the database. (See example below.) A new window will display the result

of the test.

User and Password is only required if an SQL Authentication was created. If the User and Password fields are left blank, Windows Authentication will be used.

If the connection test is unsuccessful, consult the organization’s IT department for the correct server and database information.

After the new connection has been created, click OK to close the window. In the Report Configuration

window, the newly created connection will be displayed in the drop-down list and can be selected for

the report.

If the database contains multiple companies, the correct company can be selected under the Company

tab, as shown in the example below.


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Creating Reports Using OSR Report Designer

Report building options Through the use of OSR Report Designer, users have several different ways of building a report:

1. Copy an existing report definition and modifying the report.

2. Import a report definition from a partner or someone outside of the organization.

3. Use OSR Composer to design the basis for the report and transfer the report to OSR Report

Designer.

4. Paste an Excel export from another report writer into the OSR Report Designer Excel window

(then add OSR Report Designer properties to the report).

5. Open an Excel report from another Excel report writer (for example FRx, XL Reporter, SQL

Reporting Services, Crystal Reports) and use the New Current option.

6. Build a report from scratch in OSR Report Designer and use a pre-defined Excel template

(which could contain company logo, header styles, etc.).

7. Build a report from scratch in OSR Report Designer starting with an empty Excel sheet by using

the New Blank option.

Modules Modules can be found in the Designer tab in the Designer Menu area of the screen as shown in the

illustration below. Modules represent the first layer of organization in the database and contain

attributes and dimensions, which can be dragged into the report definition. They can be managed in

the organization’s ERP system or the OSR Data Warehouse. See the section on Designer Menu for

more details.


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Data items Data items can be found in the Designer tab in the Designer Menu area of the screen. Data items are

considered to be sub-groups and contain information pertaining to the specific module. While

designing a report template, users will drag different types of data items into the Excel worksheet.

The three types of data items are explained below.

Dimension

Dimensions represent a table in the connected database. If the dimension is expanded by clicking the button to the left of the dimension name, all attributes of the dimension will be displayed. All attributes and the dimension can be used as filters or displayed in the report view.

Light dimension

Represents a descriptive field in the transaction table of the connected database. Light dimensions can be used as a filter or displayed in the report view.

Measure

Represents a value field in the transaction table of the connected database. Measures can be used as a filter or displayed in the report view.

It is important to note that the different types of data items will trigger certain features such as

grouping or filters.

Functions Currently, all functions are period based and allow the designer to control the group’s displayed data

by period. Functions may be dragged into the report definition or the Layout Editor.

Data items


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Expression Trees Expression trees can be created and managed through the Designer Menu under Expression Trees.

Manage Trees

After accessing the Expression Trees module, users will be able to see a list of existing trees and the

link to Manage Trees. Clicking on the link to Manage Trees will open a new window as shown below.


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From the Expression Trees window, users will have access to the following options to manage the

Expression Trees:

Button Function

Click to create a brand new expression tree in the Expression Tree Editor.

Click to open the Expression Tree Editor and edit the currently selected tree.

Click to delete the selected tree. It is recommended to export the tree before deleting it because deleted trees will not be recoverable.

Click to create a copy of the selected tree. The newly created tree may be modified with the Change… function.

Click to open a network browser window and import a tree. Valid files are other OSR expression trees with the *.xml format.

Click to open a network browser window and export a tree to the location. The newly exported tree will be in the *.xml format.

Expression Tree Editor

The Expression Tree Editor may be accessed when creating a new expression tree or modifying an

existing tree. From the Expression Tree Editor, the user is able to create new nodes and branches and

has the ability to modify their properties.


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The table below explains the options available in the Expression Tree Editor.

Button Function

Allows users to enter a name for the expression tree.

An optional field that allows users to enter additional information regarding the expression tree.

Adds a new node or branch to the expression tree.

Deletes the highlighted node or branch.

Moves the highlighted branch up one level on the expression tree.

Moves the highlighted branch down one level on the expression tree.

When right-clicking on a node or branch, the user will have the option to rename the node or branch.

When right-clicking on a node or branch, the user may display the combined filters in a new window.

Node/Branch Properties

From the Expression Tree Editor, users will be able to configure the property for each node or branch

on the right side of the window.


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Each property and their functions will be explained in detail in the below.

Common

Code: Displays the name entered on the node/branch in the tree.

The Code property is an important property the report uses to create the link to the node. It is recommended not to change the Code property manually. Instead, users should rename the node or branch using the Rename function in the tree view. In addition, users should avoid using the same name for different nodes or branches.

Description: An optional field that allows users to enter additional information regarding the

node or branch.

Filters: Users may define the selection to be included in the report. This is similar to

configuring a filter in the Layout Editor window. For more details, refer to the Filters section

on page 29.

The Filter field is only active when Expand Type is set to None, Group, or Expanding Group.

Composer

Reverse Sign: only applies when the tree is used in OSR Composer. Setting this option to True

will reverse the sign (+ or -) for the ad-hoc report.

This option is available because GL accounts are posted with opposite signs (negative for revenue and positive for expenses). For OSR Report Designer signs may be reversed by manually entering a formula, such as (=OSRGet(“Amount”)*-1), into the report definition.


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Designer

Expand Type: Users are able to select the expand type from the drop-down menu. This is one

of the most important properties of nodes and branches and will dictate exactly how rows are

grouped and expanded in the report definition and the generated report. The table below

shows a summary matrix of the each expand type available for the user. For more details of

each expand type and their functionality, refer to Appendix B: Expand Types.

Expand Type Functionality

Node None Text Group Expanding

Group Row Group created

Expanding flag checked

Filter capability

(aggregate accounts)


(list accounts)

Automatic Update

If Add/delete BRANCHES?

If Add/delete FILTERS? n/a n/a

Display

Branch displays in Tree Design

Branch displays in Report Design (when tree dragged out)

Branch displays in finished report (when report is run)

(only displays accounts

from children)

(one aggregate

row of filtered

accounts

(placeholder description or result of associated formula)

(one aggregate

row of filtered

accounts)

(list with each

account in filter on its own row)

Expanding Field: This field is only active if Expand Type is set to Expanding Group. Users can

specify which dimension or attribute the expansion will group on and be displayed in the

report definition and generated report.

o The process to choose the dimension or attribute is similar to using the Designer

Menu. Simply select the desired module and browse for the dimension or attribute.


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If Expand Type is set to Node, the Expanding Field will automatically be filled as Node Name and may not be changed by the user.

Style: Configures the row with the selected Excel formatting style. Customized styles can be

created by the user in Excel and used here as well. The illustration below displays the pre-set

styles offered in Excel.

Drill-To Definitions Drill-to definitions created in the report definition will be displayed in the Drill-To Definitions pane.

Furthermore, drill-to definitions created in the Layout Editor can be reused throughout various

Styles

20% - Accent 1 1000 60% - Accent 4 1000 Currency [0] 1,000$

20% - Accent 2 1000 60% - Accent 5 1000 Explanatory Text 1000

20% - Accent 3 1000 60% - Accent 6 1000 Good 1000

20% - Accent 4 1000 Accent 1 1000 Heading 1 100020% - Accent 5 1000 Accent 2 1000 Heading 2 1000

20% - Accent 6 1000 Accent 3 1000 Heading 3 1000

40% - Accent 1 1000 Accent4 1000 Heading 4 1000

40% - Accent 2 1000 Accent5 1000 Input 1000

40% - Accent 3 1000 Accent6 1000 Linked Cell 1000

40% - Accent 4 1000 Bad 1000 Neutral 1000

40% - Accent 5 1000 Calculation 1000 Normal 1000

40% - Accent 6 1000 Check Cell 1000 Note 1000

60% - Accent 1 1000 Comma 1,000.00 Output 1000

60% - Accent 2 1000 Comma [0] 1,000 Percent 100000%

60% - Accent 3 1000 Currency 1,000.00$ Title 1000Total 1000 Warning Text 1000


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sections of the report design by dragging drill-to definitions from the Drill-To Definitions pane into the

Drill-To tab of the Layout Editor.

In the Drill-To Definitions pane, users can Edit and Delete definitions by highlighting the desired

definition and clicking on the appropriate option presented near the bottom of the pane.

New Drill-To Definitions must be created from the Layout Editor.

More details on how to use the drill-to feature to drilldown from one module to another will be

explained later in this document.

Report Parameters The parameters created in the report are displayed in the Report Parameters pane. These parameters

can be dragged into the report definition so that the reader can identify which parameters were used

to generate the report.

It is important to note that the Report Parameters pane is different than the Report Parameters

Window which can be accessed through the OneStop Reporting ribbon.


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Report Parameter Wizard

Report parameters allow designers to create a dynamic report so that the same report template can

be used for multiple reports with minimal adjustments. For instance, a departmental budget report

can be created for multiple departments by changing the Department parameter at the time of

execution.

Parameters can be managed through two methods.

1. The first is to access the Report Parameters button in the OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon. The

new window will allow users to create, modify, and delete parameters.

To create a parameter, drag a data item from the Designer Menu into the Report Parameter

window. In order to modify or delete a parameter, click and respectively. Parameters

can be reordered by using the arrow buttons, which in turn affects the display order of

parameters in the Run tab.

Whether users are creating or modifying a parameter, they will access the Report Parameter

Wizard. The wizard is composed of three pages that are explained below.

i. On the first page, users can specify the name of the parameter and the prompt text

that should be displayed in the Run tab.


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The parameter name cannot be changed after the initial creation of the parameter.

ii. The next page allows users to select the parameter prompt style. By default, Lookup

Edit is selected, but this can be modified to fit the requirements of the report.


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iii. On the last page of the Wizard, users can modify several options:

a. Default value: The value or values entered into the text box or those

selected through the Lookup button will automatically be inserted for the

parameter when the Run tab is accessed. However, the value can be

changed at run time.

b. Lookup filter: power-users can manage the data users are able to view in the

Lookup window for the particular parameter. For instance, this feature may

be useful when reports are supposed to be run only for the last two periods.

Keep in mind that this feature does not override restrictions set in Access

Management. If a value is excluded in Access Management, it will never be

displayed in the Lookup window for the particular user.

c. Hidden: enabling this feature will hide the parameter in the Run tab. This

feature is useful when the parameter is required for testing, but in actual

deployment, the parameter will always be the same value.

If the Hidden feature is enabled, users are required to choose a default value.

d. Allow empty (=All): if the box is checked, the report may be executed even if

this parameter is left empty. If the parameter is left empty, the report will

contain all values in the parameter.


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e. Allow multi-selection: if the box is checked, multiple values can be selected

in the parameter prompt (i.e. multiple accounts vs. one account)

f. Create sheet per value: if this box is checked, OSR Report Designer will

create a new Excel sheet in the same workbook for each of the unique

values chosen for the parameter (i.e. selection of multiple departments will

result in a sheet for each selected department).

Note! This feature cannot be used with OSR Planning templates, as it will

prevent the templates from working correctly.

g. Sheet name field: if the Create sheet per value is active, users can specify

the name for the new sheets by using the Lookup option.

2. The second method for managing parameters is through the Layout Editor. When filters are

created on sheet, column, or row level, users can specify parameters by using the Lookup

button and accessing the Parameters tab.

Users may create a parameter by assigning a parameter to the filter or selecting Create a new

Parameter which will open the Report Parameter Wizard.


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Existing parameters can be found by selecting the Report Parameters button in the OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon or by selecting the Report Parameters module in the Designer Menu.

Layout Editor The Layout Editor is primarily used for managing filters, grouping/sorting and functions for cell, row,

column, and sheet level business rules. The Layout Editor can be accessed by clicking the Layout Editor

button in the OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon. The various functions in the Layout Editor are explained

in thenext sections.

Filters

Filters maybe applied to groups created on sheet, row, column, or cell level. In order to create filters,

the user may drag an item from the Designer Menu into the appropriate area in the Layout Editor

(area below the text Drag fields into area below to create filters). An example is shown in the

illustration below.


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Creating and managing filters is a key feature in designing a report definition. The next sections will

cover the basics of configuring filters. Existing filters can be accessed by clicking on the boxes on the

respective row or column as shown in the illustration below. Also, filters can be modified or deleted

from the Layout Editor window.

Operators

Using operators is one way that designers can create a customized filter for their need. Similar to

operators in mathematics or programming languages, the operators dictate an action or procedure

taken by OSR Report Designer.


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In the first drop-down box, two options are available:

Blank: this selection will include all data inside the specified filter.

Note: this selection will include all data outside the specified filter.

If there are multiple filters in the same group, the following options will be available in the first drop-

down box:

And: will filter the first condition AND the second condition.

Or: will filter the first condition OR the second condition.

And Not: will filter the first condition AND NOT the second condition.

Or Not: will filter the first condition OR NOT the second condition.

The filter operators contained in the second drop-down box are explained below:

In: dimension is In… (the selected parameters)

<>: dimension is Not equal to…

<: dimension is Less than… (for numerical values)

>: dimension is Greater than… (for numerical values)

<=: dimension is Less than or equal to… (for numerical values)

>=: dimension is Greater than or equal to… (for numerical values)

Begins with: dimension Begins with… (for any phrase contained in the dimension)

Ends with: dimension Ends with… (for any phrase contained in the dimension)

Contains: dimension Contains… (any part of the phrase contained in the dimension)

Like: OSR Report Designer will retrieve any data using “LIKE …” in SQL. For more information

on the LIKE operator, consult a SQL server guide.

The Like operator is for advanced users and requires knowledge of SQL.


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Dimension Lookup

Filters can further be configured by using the dimension lookup function. The attributes available to

filter for the specific dimension will be displayed when the designer clicks on the dimension lookup

button ( ).

From the Lookup window, the user may specify the dimension to remain static or dynamic depending

on the report requirements.

To create a static filter, select the List tab in the Lookup window. Select the desired account,

department, entity, etc. and click OK.

o Use ranges: If this box is checked and multiple data items are selected, the selected

data will be displayed as a range in the text box at the bottom of the window. If this

box is not checked, all selected data will be displayed individually in the bottom text

box.


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o Include empty: If this box is checked, the filter will include data associated with the

NULL data set.

To create a dynamic filter, select the Parameter tab in the Lookup window. See Report

Parameters on page 24 for information on how to set up a parameter.

In order to manually create a parameter, designers can type “{@Dimension_Name}”.

For Period dimensions, users can specify the value current period +/- for single period parameters. This allows OSR Report Designer to select the correct period based on the computer date; therefore, report parameters do not need to be updated manually prior to running a scheduled report.

Grouping/Sorting

Grouping and sorting can be accessed by clicking the Grouping/Sorting tab near the bottom of the

Layout Editor window.

Note: The Grouping/Sorting tab is unavailable if the report level is selected. In addition, grouping will

not occur if the Expanding box is unchecked.


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Icons available in the Grouping/Sorting tab are explained in the table below:

Icon Function

Increase or decrease the precedence of the data item in the sorting order.

The drop-down menu allows users to select the display option of the row, column, or cell. Options available are None, Group, Sum, Min, Max, and Count.

If this icon is displayed, the sorting will be in ascending order for the group. Click on this icon to cycle through sorting options.

If this icon is displayed, the sorting will not exist for the group. Click on this icon to cycle through sorting options.

If this icon is displayed, the sorting will be in descending order for the group. Click on this icon to cycle through sorting options.

Delete the data item from the Grouping/Sorting tab.

Grouping

OSR Report Designer will automatically display data items on row or column level if a dimension or

light dimension has been dragged into a cell and a group already exists on row or column level. An

example is shown in the illustration below.


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In essence, grouping the account dimension displays results at the account level even if there are

detailed sub-accounts. If the account data field is not grouped, the report will display all sub-accounts

at the time of execution.

For more details on grouping, see Expanding Groups on page 37.

Sorting

On column and row level, dimensions can be reordered to create a hierarchy of sorting by clicking the

arrow buttons next the dimension name. For instance in the settings shown in the illustration above,

the generated report will be presented in numerical order of account number (as shown in the

illustration to the left below). However, if the Description dimension is moved to take precedence over

Account, the generated report will be presented in alphabetical order of the account description (as

shown in the illustration to the right below).

In addition, OSR Report Designer will automatically display data items in the Layout Editor on cell level

if a measure has been dragged into a cell and a group already exists on row or column level. The same

options are available for cell level grouping and sorting. The illustration below shows an example.


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Functions

Functions can be accessed by clicking the Functions tab at the bottom of the Layout Editor window.

The Functions tab generates a list of functions applied to the selected column or row.

In order to insert functions, which are found under Functions in the Designer Menu, users have two

options. The first is to drag the function into a cell of a report. Dragging a function into a report will

automatically create a function for the column. The other method is to drag the function into the

Layout Editor window under the Functions tab. Both methods are shown in the illustrations below.

Method 1:

Method 2:


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Currently, all functions are period based and allow the user to control the group’s displayed data by

period.

Expanding Groups

Expanding groups are an essential part of OSR Report Designer and will be explained in more detail in

this section.

As explained in a previous section, checking the Expanding box in the Layout Editor window will create

expanding groups in the specified row or column for data items that have been set to Group in the

Grouping/Sorting tab. The quickest way of creating an expanding group is by dragging a data item,

such as Sales Person into the report definition and select Create a new selection group on the Row or

Create a new selection group on the Column. By default, OSR Report Designer will create an expanding

group show the group in the Grouping/Sorting tab in the Layout Editor window.


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The process is illustrated below:

If the row/column is an expanding group, it will be indicated by a small green plus sign in the box ( ) of the respective row or column.

When the report is generated and an expanding group is not created, the report will result in

consolidation of all data in the account, as shown in the illustration below.


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On the other hand, if an expanding group is created, the details of the account will be given, as shown

in the illustration below).

Expanding Groups in expanding groups

In order to create more flexible reporting, expanding groups can be created inside other expanding

groups (nested expanding groups).

An expanding group inside another expanding group can be thought of as a hierarchy. Imagine there

are two data sets, one alphabetical and the other numerical (A, B, C… & 1, 2, 3…), and one is an

attribute of the other. In order to create a nested expanding group, follow the steps below:

1. Drag the relevant data items into the report definition and when prompted, choose Create a

new selection group on the Row.

a. The two data items must be placed on consecutive rows.


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2. By default, OSR Report Designer has created two separate expanding groups. However, in

order to create a nested expanding group, go to the Layout Editor window and drag the

expanding group box so that it extends over multiple rows.

The reports for separate expanding groups (left) and a nested expanding group (right) are shown

below.

Property Hierarchy Before designing a report with OSR Report Designer, it is important to understand how OSR Report

Designer applies dimensions so that reports can be created efficiently.

Essentially, OSR Report Designer asserts more control over the workbook than traditional Excel add-

ins that only apply business rules on cell level. OSR Report Designer allows users to insert business

rules at four levels:

Report level: applies to the entire report

Column level: applies to all cells in the applicable column

Row level: applies to all cells on the applicable row

Cell level: applies only to the applicable cell

A very typical example would be a financial statement with the following location for business rules:

Period and department/company parameters (filters): report level


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Account selections: row level

Period selections (Current Period, Year-to-Date, etc.): column level

Sum and variance formulas: cell level

Users can see business rules in the Layout Editor window by clicking on the boxes displayed for the

sheet level and the row or column level as shown below. To see the cell level business rule, users

simply need to click in the particular cell in the Excel worksheet.

Executing a Report After a report definition is completed, it can be run dynamically in two different ways; through the use

of OSR Report Designer or OSR Player. In addition, the report can be published statically for individuals

without a Designer or Player license.

If the Run tab is selected in OSR Report Designer users will be unable to save any changes made to the document. Report definitions may only be saved while in the Design tab.

Dynamic Reporting

1. From OSR Report Designer the report definition can be executed from the Run tab in the

Designer Menu as shown in the illustration below.


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2. Depending on the report definition, there may be multiple parameters. For each parameter,

the viewer can use the Lookup button to select the desired parameter. (See Report

Parameters on page 24 for more details.)

3. After the parameters are chosen, the report can be executed by clicking the Run button.

Static Reporting

Static reports are normal Excel reports that can be e-mailed to non-licensed users. The user follows

the same steps as dynamic reporting, except on the last step where they must click the drop-down

arrow in the Run button and select Publish. After clicking the Publish button, the Designer Menu will

disappear and the static report may now be saved as a regular Excel file and shared with non-licensed

users.

1

2

1

3

1


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If the connection to the database is stopped or disconnected at any point, the report will not be generated correctly. This will occur even if the connection is reestablished.

Run a Report According to a Dimension Tree Structure

Some integration packages support tree structures on dimensions. For users running on these

integration packages it is possible to run a report according to a tree structure.

The example below shows how to use the Tree parameter selection. In this example we want to be

able to select one Entity node in a tree and would like all sub-entities for the selected Entity to have

their results distributed per sheet in the report. It is also possible to consolidate all the nodes in one

sheet.


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How to run a report according to a BI360 tree

1. Design your report according to your requirements.

2. If you want one sheet per node in your report, select the Sheet filters level in the Layout Editor.

Then drag the Entity attribute out to the filter selection area.

3. The Parameter Wizard will appear.

4. The integration knows that there is a tree structure associated with the Entity dimension and it

will offer you to choose a Tree-selector as the parameter type:

5. Select the Tree parameter type and select the option Create sheet per value since you want to

have one sheet per entity in the report.


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6. You can now run the report. Simply select the node representing the parent of all nodes in the

tree structure you want to generate the report for:

The result will be a report with a sheet per node (in this case Entity) including the parent node:

Linking Sheets Linking sheets in OSR Report Designer cannot be done in the same manner as in a regular workbook.

To link sheets in OSR Report Designer formulas are required because of the complexities of expanding

groups and references between worksheets. This section will explain the steps of setting up a simple

linked sheet. The concept can be applied to design more complex reports.

In this example, two identical sheets will be created, but the second sheet will reference cells from the

first sheet.

1. First, create a simple report by accessing the General Ledger folder and inserting department,

account, description (under the account dimension), and amount into cells B8 through E8. In

addition, drag the Period dimension into cell E6 and the Year to date function from the

Functions module into cell E3. The report should look like the illustration shown below.


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o Make sure that a group is created on row 8 and column E.

2. Create a copy of the worksheet by right-clicking on the sheet tab, then selecting OneStop

Reporting >> Copy. Next, right-click on a new sheet tab, then select OneStop Reporting >>

Paste as new.


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3. Now, reference names must be created on the first sheet. Access the first sheet (Sheet 1) and

highlight cells E6 and F6. In the name box, rename this set of cells as Period2.

The reason for selecting an extra cell to the right is because the group in column E contains an expanding group that will result in an unknown number of columns. Selecting the extra cell ensures that all columns created by the expansion is included in the reference. The same would apply if an expanding group existed in the row group. However, for an expanding group on a row, the extra cell selected should be one cell below.

4. Next, access the copied version of the report in Sheet1(1). Erase the contents of cell E6 and

link the period from the original sheet by inserting the formula =INDIRECT(“Sheet1!Period2”).

5. The report may now be executed and the sheets will look identical because the Period

dimension in the second sheet is referencing the Period dimension in the original sheet.

Copy and Paste In a report definition created through OSR Report Designer, copying and pasting can be different than

in a regular workbook in Excel. This traces back to the fact that business rules are applied not only on

cell level, but also on report, row, and column level. This section will explain the rules of copy and

paste for various business rule levels.


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Cell level: the copy and paste rules in OSR Report Designer are the same as for a regular

workbook. By default, formulas and groupings are preserved.

Row/Column level: the copy and paste rules in OSR Report Designer are the same as for a

regular workbook when working in a single worksheet. By default formulas and groupings are

preserved. However, if rows/columns are pasted into a different tab than the original source,

groupings will not be preserved.

Report level: the copy and paste rules in OSR Report Designer for an entire new tab requires

designers to use a special copy button. By using this button, all formulas, groupings, and

parameters will be preserved.

i. The button can be found by right-clicking the desired tab to copy, then selecting

OneStop Reporting->Copy.

ii. Next, right click on a blank tab, then select OneStop Reporting ->Paste as new.

Pasting the tab will overwrite all information on the tab that was selected when taking the second step. It is very important to create a blank worksheet so that no data will be lost.

Drilldown The simple Drilldown option allows users to see the underlying detail of the value presented in the

report. To enable this feature, users can select a measure field in the report definition, click on the

Drill-To tab in the Layout Editor, and select the Use Default Drilldown feature.


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To drill-down on any number to see the underlying journal entry level detail from the same module,

simply right-click any number in the executed report. In the pop-up menu, choose OneStop Reporting

and then Drilldown. The result of the drill-down will appear on a new tab (new worksheet) in Excel

called #DrillDown and each resulting column will automatically be given filters.

Drill-To Drill-To is an advanced drilldown feature that will allow users to drill down across multiple modules.

For example, users can begin with a report showing values from the General Ledger, and can then drill

down to see the underlying values from the Accounts Receivable sub-ledger.


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In order to use the Drill-To feature, users must configure the Drill-To Definition in the report template.

Drill-To Definitions must be created on the cell level selecting a cell that will be the common

dimension between the two different modules. For instance, the shared dimension could be the

Account number or the Voucher number. When the Drill-To feature is used, OSR Report Designer will

use the specified dimension to retrieve entries from the sub-ledger.

The illustration below shows the interfaces involved in configuring the Drill-To feature.

Button Function

Drill-To tab This tab is only available when the user has selected a cell.

Create This button will create a new Drill-To definition and open the Drill-To Builder.

Drill-To item A list of Drill-To definitions applied to the specific cell is generated. Users may edit or delete the definition by clicking on the appropriate buttons.

Users will configure the Drill-To Definition through the Drill-To builder. Configuration is required so

that OSR Report Designer is able to filter through to the proper sub-ledger using parameters or drill

source dimensions.


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Interface Name Function

Name Users are able to create a descriptive name so they are able to easily identify the Drill-To Definition.

Module list In this section, the selection of Modules is displayed. From the list of Modules, users can drag dimensions into the Drill-To details and filters section to configure the Drill-To Definition.

Drill-To details Data items can be drag into this section to create column headers in the resulting Drill-To worksheet. The column headers can be reordered by dragging the header title. Moreover, the data item can be removed by clicking on the header title once.

Drill-To filters Data items can be dragged into the filters section so that the Drill-To Definition can be configured to filter to the correct detailed transactions.

When using the Lookup button in the Drill-To filters, users will have the following options:

2

3

1

4


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Tab Description

List In this pane a filter based on a constant value can be selected.

Parameter In this pane a filter based on a parameter from the report definition can be selected.

Drill-To In this pane a filter based on the attribute context of the Drill-To originating cell can be selected. The availability of fields in this pane is based on the dimensions and attributes that are used on the particular row or column in the report definition.

How to configure a simple Drill-To Definition

In this section, a simple Drill-To Definition will be created that allows users to run a simple P&L

statement using the OSR Data Warehouse integration and drill to the HR sub-ledger. In the HR sub-

ledger, there are details of the employee salaries. However, in the simple P&L statement, only a

summary value exists.

Begin with a simple P&L statement as shown in the illustration below. The Drill-To Definition will be

created on cell E12 and will be configured to drill to the HR sub-ledger.


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To create the P&L statement above, refer to the OSR Planning User Guide and follow the steps in the

Exercise section.

Now, the Drill-To Definition will be configured.

1. The Drill-To configuration can be accessed in the Layout Editor. Click on the cell that

corresponds to the Amount field for the Expenses section and access the Drill-To tab.

2. Create a new definition by clicking on the Create button.

3. The Drill-To builder window is displayed. In the Name section, enter GL to HR Drill.

4. In the Module List, open the Payroll sub-ledger. From the Payroll sub-ledger, drag dimensions

into the Drill-To details area that the user wants to display in the Drill-To report. An example is

shown in the illustration below. Note that this is very similar to creating column headers in

OSR Composer.


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5. Next, configure the filters used to drill to the values in the sub-ledger. These filters are crucial

for setting up the correct Drill-To Definition. Dimensions used in the original report template

can be used so that data from unrelated dimension codes can be filtered out.

For this particular example, the Account and Period filters reference the drill source account

and periods. This means that OSR Report Designer will reference the dimension code found in

the particular row or column when the Drill-To feature is used.

The Category dimension uses a static filter, whereas the Department, Entity, and Scenario

filters are using the parameters from the report definition.

The Drill-To Definition has now been configured and the report is ready to be run. The illustrations

below show the generated report and the Drill-To sheet.

Drill-To cell E15 by right-clicking the cell and selecting the Drill-To feature from the OneStop Reporting

option.


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The Drill-To result will create a new tab and will display values based on the Drill-To details and filters

that were configured in the above steps.

Macros Excel allows users to program custom Macros through the user of VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).

OSR Report Designer allows users to configure a report definition so that a macro will be called after

the report is generated.

In order to set a macro to run automatically, follow these simple steps:

1. Press Alt+F11 to open the VBA window.

2. Double-click This Workbook to open the coding window.

3. Create a macro in VBA under This Workbook.


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4. Name the macro OSR_ReportComplete().

5. Generate the report and the macro will be triggered automatically.

See the illustration below for specific details.

Built-in Excel Security Excel has two different built-in security features. The first is security on the Excel file level. Users may

protect the entire file by requiring a password to open and modify the workbook. This type of security

does not interact with OSR Report Designer and purely restricts who can access the report definition.

For more information on security on the file level, refer to the appropriate Microsoft Excel

documentation.

The second type of built-in security for Excel is the protect worksheet or protect workbook feature. By

using either of these features, users can lock the worksheet cells so that users may not modify the

contents of locked cells unless the worksheet or workbook is unprotected. If this feature is used, there

is a direct interaction with OSR Report Designer reading the protected report definition. Therefore,

report designers must provide the password used to lock the worksheet/workbook in the Report

Properties -> Protection tab (see illustration below). Otherwise, the report will not be generated and

an error message will be shown.


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Formatting data with leading zeros in Excel

If data generated in the report contains leading zeros (i.e. Department numbered 000), Excel will only

display a single 0. However, users can properly display leading zeros by simply adding parenthesis

before and after the OSR function in the formula bar.


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OSR Player OSR Player can be described as the "read-only version" of OSR Report Designer. Users with access to

OSR Player will be able to run reports and specify parameters similar to the features in the Run tab in

OSR Report Designer. The OSR Player interface includes a OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon, the Login

tab, and the Report tab. These features will be explained below.

Excel Ribbon OSR Player features a OneStop Reporting Excel ribbon similar to the one in OSR Report Designer.

However, functionality is limited to three buttons for OSR Player.

Button Function

Opens the Report Configuration window, which allows the user to configure the source database and company.

Provides access to report behavior settings, details on the version of OSR Player, and miscellaneous options. See more details regarding Options below.

Opens and closes the OSR Player menu bar on the right side of the screen, where users may find the Login and Report tab.


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Options

The Report Player Options window contains the following options:

1. Player tab

a. Application: Allows the user to select language for the OSR application using a

dropdown list.

b. Integration Dictionary: Allows the user to select language for the integration package

using a dropdown list.

2. Application tab

a. Sign in automatically: If the box is checked, OSR Player will automatically sign-in with

the previously logged-on user.

b. Licensed to/Company: Displays the license information.

c. About…: Clicking this button will display a new window with information about the

OSR Player version number, build, and the license.


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3. Misc tab

a. Report query timeout: Users can setup the duration of time a report should be

allowed to query the database before it times out (the default is 300 seconds).

b. Show RQL output/Show SQL output: If one or both of these boxes are checked, a new

window will open, which displays the code that is executed during the report

definition. Generally, this option is used for technical analysis or troubleshooting.

Login tab When OSR Player is opened, the application will prompt the user for authentication. As opposed to

the OSR Report Designer interface where a separate login window is displayed, OSR Player prompts

the user for login through the Login tab to the right in the Excel window.


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The Login tab features three options:

1. Use Windows Authentication: by default, OSR Player uses OneStop Reporting authentication.

However, Windows User authentication can be used by checking the box next to Use Windows

Authentication. If this option is used, the user name and password fields will be completed

automatically.

2. Remember my credentials: if this box is checked, OSR Player will automatically insert the user

name of the previously logged-in user.

3. Sign me in automatically: if this box is checked, the previous user will be logged in

automatically at the start of the application. Configuration of this feature is also available

under the Application tab in the Options menu.

Report tab After entering the proper credentials, the user can access the Report tab.

The Report tab has three functions as shown in the illustration above.

1. Parameters: The parameters are presented in the Report tab, allowing the user to execute

dynamic reports.

a. Depending on the report definition, there may be multiple parameters. For each

parameter, the user can use the Lookup button to select the desired parameter.

1

2

1

3

1


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b. After the parameters are chosen, the report can be executed by clicking the

Run/Publish button.

2. Run/Publish: Clicking this button will execute the report in dynamic or static reporting mode

dependent on the user’s preference. Modes can be switched by pressing the drop-down

arrow on the button.

a. In order to run a dynamic report, execute the report in Run mode.

b. In order to run a static report, execute the report in Publish mode.

Dynamic reports are only accessible for Designer and Player users. Static reports are normal Excel reports that can be shared with non-licensed users.

3. Options: The Options button in the Report tab allows users to gain access to more features of

OSR Player.

a. Refresh Parameters: this selection resets all parameters in the parameter selection of

the Report tab.

b. Restore Report Template: this selection resets the report to the report definition even

if the report had been generated.

c. Preserve Report Template: this selection allows the user to save the format, layout,

and formulas to be used the next time the report is run.

d. Screenshot: this selection saves the specified screenshot to the local hard drive.

Screenshots can be the entire Excel window, the used range, or the selected cell.


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Appendix A: Glossary

Active Directory: A special-purpose database designed to handle a large number of read and search

operations and a significantly smaller number of changes and updates. Most often, it stores user data

and system configuration data.

Ad-hoc reporting: Ad-hoc reporting is created through the OSR Composer application. As opposed to

template-based reporting, ad-hoc reporting means that the report is created specifically for one

purpose.

Application: An application refers to a product within the OneStop Reporting product suite. The term

is used because some of the products are stand-alone programs (OSR Data Warehouse, OSR

Composer, OSR Publisher, OSR Administration), whereas others are add-ins to already-existing

programs (OSR Planning, OSR Report Designer, OSR Player).

Assignment: Users are assigned access to different applications in the OneStop Reporting product

suite. If the user is assigned an application, they will be granted access.

Built-in Administrator: The built-in Administrator is automatically installed. The initial password is established automatically, but administrators should change the password in OSR Administration as soon as possible to ensure security.

Business rules: Any filter, grouping, or functions applied at report, row, column, or cell level. OSR

Report Designer allows users to apply business rules at four different levels.

Composer View: OSR Composer creates an ad-hoc report on page called a view. It is possible to create

multiple views. This is similar to the concept of multiple worksheets in Microsoft Excel.

Data item: Data item refers to any item that can be dragged from the Designer Menu or Composer

Menu into the report definition or composer view. This includes dimensions, light dimensions, and

measures.

Design mode: When a user selects the Design tab in OSR Report Designer, the user is in the design

mode of the application.

Domain: A set of computers running Windows operating system that share the same Active Directory.

Dynamic reporting: Dynamic reports are created when Designer or Player users run multiple reports

with different parameters from the same report definition.

ERP database: The ERP (enterprise resource planning) database contains information for the entire

organization. Microsoft Dynamics AX, GP, NAV, and SL are all considered to be ERP software.


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Integration packages: Integration packages include the logic to integrate OSR with the ERP system and

are required for communication between the SQL server and OSR applications.

License: A unique code that is provided to the user under a software license agreement. The key

grants access to a limited number of users for the specified OSR application.

Metadata: The metadata in data warehousing defines the elements in the Data Warehouse and how

they work together. It may contain information ranging from data types and indexes to license keys

and integration packages.

Module: A component of the database, which is organized by financial modeling such as General

Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, etc.

OSR Publisher: The OSR application which allows users to automatically schedule, run and distribute

reports and other documents.

Reporting Client: A reporting client is a client computer where OSR is installed and which utilizes a

network to access a specified server and database.

Report Definition: The report definition is the report template created in OSR Report Designer that

users see prior to running the report.

Repository: A database that holds metadata information so that the reporting clients will have

references to the organization’s ERP database. The metadata may contain information on license keys

and integration packages.

Roles: Roles are used for managing access to data in the database for users in the Active Directory.

Run mode: When a user selects the Run tab in OSR Report Designer or OSR Player, the user is in the

run-mode of the reporting application.

Static reporting: Static reports are created when the Designer or Player user executes the report using

the Publish button. The generated report is disconnected from the database.

Subscriber: A feature in OSR Publisher that registers a network location or a user’s contact

information. Then, OSR Publisher can distribute reports to subscribers.

Template based: Reports created in OSR Designer are considered to be template based because many

reports can be run on the same report design with adjustments to the parameters.

Windows User Authentication: Confirms the identity of the user trying to access the domain by

prompting for a user name and password. The users must be registered in the Active Directory before

they are authorized to access the domain.


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Appendix B: Expand Types

Expand Type Functionality

Node None Text Group Expanding

Group Row Group created

Expanding flag checked

Filter capability



(list accounts)

Automatic Update

If Add/delete BRANCHES?

If Add/delete FILTERS? n/a n/a

Display

Branch displays in Tree Design

Branch displays in Report Design (when tree dragged out)

Branch displays in finished report (when report is run)

(only displays accounts

from children)

(one aggregate

row of filtered

accounts

(placeholder description or result of associated formula)

(one aggregate

row of filtered

accounts)

(list with each

account in filter on its own row)

Before going into the details of expanding types, the user should be familiar with the terms used in

this section.

Row Group: If an expand type creates a row group, data will be pulled from the database. In

addition, a row group will be displayed inside a cell on the report definition and a group on the

row will be created in the Layout Editor.

The illustration below contains two nodes. The first is an expand type that creates a row group

and the second does not create a row group.


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Expanding: If the box next to Expanding is checked for the particular expand type, the row will

create an expanding group when the report is generated. In other words, individual accounts

will be displayed in their own rows. For more details on expanding groups, see the section on

Expanding Groups.

Filter capability: The filter capability simply determines if the expand type allows users to

create a filter similar to those seen in OSR Report Designer. When a filter is created, those

dimension/attribute values will be the only ones pulled from the database.

Dependent on the expanding setting, the filtered data will be consolidated or expanded on each row.

Automatic Update: Expression trees may be used in multiple reports and their capability to

automatically update makes them extremely useful. However, there are specific restrictions

on when the trees will automatically update.

o If filters are modified: Changes to filters in any expand type will automatically update

in any existing report using the specific tree.

o If nodes/branches are modified: Trees will not be automatically updated unless they

use a combination of Node and None types.

If the layout of the report definition will be changed due to the modification of the tree, the tree will not automatically update to avoid unwanted changes to the report definition.

Each expanding types have specific purposes in the expression tree and have restrictions on when they

can be used. The next paragraphs will explain each expand type and special characteristics associated

with each one.

A group is created

on the row


Page | 68

Node

By default, the top-level of any tree will have its Expand Type set to Node. However, users may freely

change the expand type. Most often, the Node type is used with the combination of the None type so

that trees may be automatically updated.

A row group will be created, but the user will not be able to set a filter for the expand type. Rather,

the filter of the node is determined by the child branches and their filters. For any child branch, the

Node type will create an expanding group.

None

The None expand type cannot be used at a parent level or the summary level of an expression tree. In

addition, if the child branch/node is the None type, then the parent must be a Node type.

A row group will not be created. In fact, the node or branch with the None expand type will not be

displayed on the report definition. However, generating the report will cause the Node type to expand

and display the None types.

Not displayed

on report

definition


Page | 69

Also, the user may set a filter, which will be referenced by the parent node and retrieve data from the

database.

Since the parent branch of the None expand types must be Node types and Node types will expand the group, each child branch will be displayed in the generated report. However, filters set on multiple accounts for the None expand type will consolidate the data onto one row.


Page | 70

In summary, the None type must follow these rules:

1. Cannot be used for parent level node or branch.

2. Must be a child node or branch of a Node parent.

3. The Expression Tree cannot be composed of all None types.

4. Filters on children of the None type cannot overlap.

Text

The simplest Expand Type which creates a row on the report definition with the name of the node or

branch. The most common use is to create a placeholder for a subtotal or grand total. However, the

summations must be created in the report definition and not in the Expression Tree.

The Text type will not create a row group nor allow the user to set filters. The illustration below shows

how a Text Expand Type works between the tree editor and report definition.

Group

The Group Expand Type is used for creating an aggregation, or a summary, of several accounts onto a

single row in a generated report. A simpler way of looking at the Group type is that it functions the

same way as having the Expanding box unchecked in the Layout Editor when creating a report

definition.

A row group will be created and the user may set a filter. All values associated with the set filter will

be consolidated onto a row. For instance, if a node is created with the Group type and the filter is set

to five accounts (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500), the generated report will display one unique row

summarizing the data from all five accounts.

For more details on the difference between Groups and Expanding Groups, refer to the section on

Expanding Groups.

Expanding Group

The Expanding Group Expand Type is the only type that creates an expanding group dependent on the

filter set by the user. Therefore, the Expanding Group type will be used when creating a report that

requires a row for every unique account set in the filter. For instance, a detailed P&L statement would

utilize the Expanding Group type. Users will be able to specify the field that the group will expand on

by accessing the Expanding Field option.


Page | 71

A row group will be created and the user may set a filter. All values associated with the set filter will

be displayed on a unique row. For instance, if a node is created with the Expand Group type and the

filter is set to five accounts (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500), the generated report will display five unique

rows for each account.

For more details on the difference between Groups and Expanding Groups, refer to the section on

Expanding Groups.

Date post:	17-May-2018
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