atrieveERP Report Writer

The Report Writer programs allow users to select fields from folders pre-defined in the software and can display, select or sort on the selected fields. The user will be able to create, save and edit reports. The report selection criteria can be changed dynamically at run time.

Features that are found in all Report Writers:

• Unlimited number of fields to display, select or sort.
• Fields are easily selected, removed or re-ordered.
• Report output in PDF, HTML, CSV, HCSV or Dashboard. The CSV export opens in MS Excel immediately with no file transfers required and no header row. The HCSV export opens in MS Excel immediately with no file transfers required but does include the header row.
• Reports can be emailed.
• Display columns and header/footer titles can be renamed and resized.
• Selection of data allows for include and exclude lists.
• Font size, font type (e.g., normal, bold, italic, underline, bold italic, strikethrough) cell spacing, background colour and paper sizes are definable.
• Numeric fields can be subtotaled.
• Literal number and literal text fields are available.
• Charts and graphs can be created.
• Intuitive interface designed for our customers.
• Custom fields created by data to being manipulated within program.
• Formula fields simple to build.
• Hyperlinks to reports can be placed within any other web portal program.
• Reports can be uploaded or downloaded for easy distribution and sharing with other districts.

 Before you begin it is recommended that you ask yourself the following questions…

• Determine your audience, who will be viewing this report?
• What information or fields are required? What will the layout look like?
• Will the report be summarized, detailed or hyperlinked?
• How will the information be sorted and grouped?
• Where will the headers and footers (subtotals) appear?
• Will the report need to be secured? By employee number, location, role or a GL security template?
• How do you plan to use the report, what output option will be used?
• Will it be assigned to a dashboard?

To access the report writer, log into the district's web portal and type in the provided username and password. Depending on which Report Writer is being used, click on the appropriate Product Area (HR, Payroll, Finance, then choose Reporting, then choose the product specific Report Writer.

Once you have launched the report writer, there are two sections: The Report List and the Report Processing.

Report List:

The Report List is a listing of reports that have been created and saved, which will facilitate the user to be able to run the report again later. 
 
Report Processing:

Under the Report Processing section, there are two sections:

• Create New Report: This is where a new report can be created. This will display all options and screens available for generating a new report.
• Existing Reports: Here, a report can be selected from the Report List and one of the following functions can be used:
  • Run
  • Edit
  • Copy
  • Rename
  • "Save as" (functionality allows for the selection of the destination folder, thus also acting as a Move)
  • Delete a report

 Selecting Create New Report or Editing an existing report:

• The user will be directed to the Field Selection screen where the report can be modified by adding/deleting/sorting the Display, Selection and/or Sort fields.
• The Field Characteristic Definition screen is where the user can tailor each aspect of the report to confirm to requirements and preferences. From there, the Selection screen is where all the fields defined to be prompted for at run time are accessible for any final modifications prior to running the report. Finally, the Other Information and Save Report screens are where the report titles and layout are finalized.

 
Run – will allow you to view a report that is already created > select the report > then click on run > and it will skip past all of the editing details, except for the items identified during the report as "select at run time." 

Edit – this option is used when you want to change any of the features of the report that you are running that were not selected "at run time".

Copy – select this option when someone, other than yourself, has a report that works well and you want to use it, you can make a copy into your folder.

Rename – used when you have made your copy of the report and have tweaked it, or want the report to have its' own new label. You can also rename a report to a more appropriate or meaningful name.

Save As – this is the option used to save a copy in another folder, or even move the entire report to another folder.

Delete – Permanently deletes a report.

Other Functions:

Find Report: 

• Search for reports by name (keyword search). Display results show folder name/location and report name. The search field can be wildcarded with an asterisk ( * ). For example, Entering the keyword Assignment will display all report titles starting with the word Assignment. Entering the keyword *Assignment will display all report titles containing the word Assignment.

Report Usage:

When hovering over a report, usage statistics are displayed.

Select a report from the Report List and click on the "Report Usage" button to view a high-level history of what was done to the report and by whom. Each time a report is CREATED, RUN, EDITED, RENAMED, MOVED or COPIED, a history record is created.

The Web Report Writer Usage table has been added to provide the ability to write audit reports. 

Note that while this table globally reports on data, the report must be generated in HRW.

Short Cut Keys

Report Writer Table Structure Rules

• The first section of data tables pulls data from the Employee Demographics Screens. Some of these tables are not compatible with other tables due to the background structure and how they can or cannot relate to each other. Essentially, historical information (year to date, which is as historical as the last pay period) cannot be combined with static information, such as function lines and deductions on the employee demographics screens. When you are building a report, and information from one folder is selected and then information from an incompatible folder is selected, the system will warn you right away that you cannot do what you are trying to do, but will show you that in a few minutes.