Technology Help Desk 412 624-HELP [4357]

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Viewing Automatically Generated Reports in Cognos

Overview

This document explains how to view automatically generated, General Ledger reports using the new Cognos tool. Standard General Ledger-level reporting is now available through the University Information Portal community at my.pitt.edu.

What is Cognos?

Cognos Business Intelligence is an integrated business intelligence suite that provides a wide range of functionality to help you access and analyze the University’s data. You can currently use Cognos to view reports that have been automatically generated. In the future, you will also be able to develop your own queries and reports.

Viewing Automatically Generated Reports

Complete the following steps to view a Cognos-generated General Ledger (G/L) report.

1 Log in to the my.pitt.edu Web portal using your University Computing Account username and password.

2 Click the ”Learn More” link item that is located beneath the Cognos Login link item (or select the My Resources menu item, and then select University Information Portal).

3 Click the Cognos Login link item on the right side of the main page.

4 Click the folder link for your department. The folders that display in this window are based on your user security settings.

5 Click the name of the sub-folder indicating the types of reports that you would like to view.

6 Click any active report link to view that report.

7 The report you have selected will display in a new browser window in Portable Document Format (PDF). This PDF file can be printed, saved, or emailed as an attachment.

Note: Inactive links designate report data that is currently unavailable.

Other Settings and Preferences

Cognos displays a More link next to folders and reports. You can modify certain properties of individual folders and reports by clicking the More link next to the folder or report whose properties you wish to change.

Folder Options:

• Set properties: During the first phase of the Cognos implementation the properties for reports are predefined and cannot be changed.

• View folder contents: This link provides another way to open the folder and view the sub-folders or reports contained within it.

• View report output versions: Reports are currently generated only as PDF files. No additional output versions are available.

• Create a shortcut to this entry…: This option allows you to create a link to this folder from another location.

• Add to bookmarks: This option allows you to add this folder to the Favorites list in your Web browser.

Report Options:

• Set properties: During the first phase of the Cognos implementation the properties for reports are predefined and cannot be changed.

• View most recent report in PDF: This link provides another way to view the report in PDF format.

• View report output versions: Reports are currently generated only as PDF files. No additional output versions are available.

• View run history: Click this link to view details about when this folder was originally created

• Alert me about new versions: Click this option to receive an email alert whenever a new version of the report becomes available.

• Copy…: Click this option to copy the report to another location.

• Create a shortcut to this entry…: Click this option to create a link to this report from another location.

• Add to bookmarks: This option allows you to add this report to the Favorites list in your Web browser

Get Help

The Technology Help Desk at 412 624-HELP [4357] is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your technology-related questions. Questions can also be submitted via the Web at technology.pitt.edu.