Computing & Information Technology: Reporting Standard and Guidelines

ReportCreation Standards

This document definesthe standard template for creating Standard Reports in COGNOS. Using this template will ensure consistency across all reports and reporting modules. These standards are a starting point to create reports. The report standards can be changed to reflect the business needs of the report. Templates have been created for each business area to accommodate report writers and standardize formatting.

Getting Started

  1. When creating a report you need to ask yourself a few questions.
  1. Does this report already exist in the reporting environment?
  2. Is there a similar report that can have additional fields added to fit your reporting needs?
  3. Can your request be satisfied by an existing report?
  1. Where this report should be placed in the Folder Directory?
  1. Some report information you should consider:
  2. Report Location in the Folder Directory
  3. Report Title
  4. Report Description
  5. Report Owner
  6. Report Writer
  7. Module Used

Report Naming

  1. When naming a report use the following naming convention
  1. Use a descriptive report name that is closely related to the function of the report
  2. Each report should have a Report Identifier.
  3. Examples of Report Identifier’s
  4. FMS001
  5. ADV081
  6. STRR012
  7. Check with the Business and Intelligence Reporting Team (BIRT) for an available
  8. Report Identifier Number.
  9. Avoid long names when possible
  10. Do not include “Report” in the name
  11. Examples of Report Name’s
  12. HR017A - ATS Time Data Summary
  13. FMS001D - Chart Level Reference
  14. ADV081 - New Grad Membership Report
  15. STRR012 - Undergraduate Deans List Report

Report Page Heading

  1. Required Page Header
  1. The page header should contain the following attributes
  2. Font - Arial
  3. Font Color - Black
  4. Font Size -12 pt Bold
  5. Header Text - Mixed case
  6. Report Header Format
  7. Column 1
  8. Line1 -WayneStateUniversityword mark
  9. Line2 - Name of Module /Business area
  10. Financial Management System
  11. Student Management System
  12. Human Resource Management System
  13. Alumni Management System
  14. Column 2
  15. Line1 - Use for Report Title
  16. Line2 -
  17. Line3 -
  18. Column 3
  19. Line1 - As of Date
  20. Line2 -As of Time
  21. Line3 - Report ID

Page Header Template

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3

  1. When saving the report in Cognos
  2. Save as Report Identifier – Report name
  3. Example: FMS004A - GL Detail Transaction
  1. Report Parameters
  2. Reporting templates are set up to assist in creating reports
  3. The templates have place holders for information outlined in this Standards document.
  4. The heading of the Parameter page is the same as the Report page.
  5. There are certain wording needs to ensure that all reports are consistent.
  6. The Parameter information shows how to select the data. Word phrases to use are
  7. For mandatory parameters

aSelect one XXX

bSelect multiple XXX

cEnter one or more XXX

dEnter a Date

  1. For optional parameters

aSelect multiple or leave blank for all

bEnter multiple or leave blank for all

cSelect a date or leave blank for any date.

Parameter Page Template

Parameter Page Example with Student Information