Reporting is integrated with Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, which allows an administrator to format reports and select various output formats. There are a number of canned reports that come as part of the application.
Institutions will only see those predefined reports that are associated to the solution they are running or any connectors they have activated. For example, if you are running just the collection solution, only collection solution predefined reports will display.
You can create an unlimited number of additional reports. Reports can be run on-demand, by anyone who has permission to run the report or can be scheduled to run at certain times. Reports can even be automatically emailed to specific people after they are generated.
New Reports can be created to view any sort of data about DQ or Current accounts, Cases, Promises, Payments and End-User performance.
Users are able to Create, Copy, Edit, Delete, Run and Show history of reports.
Create a Report
Define Tab
- Complete the following fields to define the type of Report being created.
Field
Description
Name Enter the Name that will appear on the report listing page. Description Describe of the purpose of the report. Report Type Select the Report Type from the dropdown to the left of the field list window to determine which fields will be available to build a report. Report Creation Type Under Report Creation Type, a predefined report allows a user to create his or her own template with Microsoft Visual Studio .RDL file. Upload Report Definition If Predefined Report is selected, then the Fields and Criteria steps are disabled and the Upload Report Definition field becomes enabled.
Fields Tab
- Select the fields that you want to see on the report by hitting the Add Field button.
- Similar fields are grouped together into folders which can be expanded by clicking on the > sign to the left of each group.
- Rearrange the order of the fields, set groupings for subtotaling and calculations for the report.
Criteria Tab
- Highlight the desired field from the list in the window by clicking on it.
- Use the operator to tell the system what type of function to perform. The options include:
Operator Functions
Description
Equal To Only the value entered will be displayed. Not Equal To All other values will display except for the one entered. Less Than or Equal To Usually used in conjunction with a numerical value, it is considered anything less than the select value, up to and including that value. Greater Than or Equal To Usually used in conjunction with a numerical value, any value beginning with the selected value and values greater. Is Blank Can be used for date fields, flags, text fields, number fields, anything were the value could be blank or null. Is Not Blank Again this can be used for date fields, flags, text fields, number fields, anything where the value is not blank, or null. Like If a specific value is not known, enter a value which is 'like' the value.
The system does not put the % on the beginning and end to provide more control over the search string allowing searches like 123%456 (Starts with 123 ends with 456) %456 (ends with 456) 123% (starts with 123) %123% (contains 123). Not Like Choose a value that is 'not like' the value being looking for. Range Set a scope or limits for the criteria. Use a range when looking for a specific group or time frame.
The not equal and not like operators individually include null records.
- Enter the value for the field selected. Depending on the type of field that is chosen, a text box, two text boxes (range operator) or checkboxes (lookup field) will appear under value.
- Once all of the information is loaded to the Value Screen, select Update.
- Repeat the process until all criteria appears under the Report Criteria list.
- Validate Criteria will verify the following conditions:
Same field using the same operator within a group - e.g. First criteria set as Account Number field is "100111". Using "And" a second criteria is set as Account Number is "100112". A warning will display indicating the criteria may be invalid. Same field, and using different operators or range within the same group - e.g. First criteria set as Account Balance > = 100. Using "And" a second criteria set as Account Balance < 12. A warning will display indicating the criteria may be invalid.
Schedule Tab
- Require the report to be run manually each time the user wants to view it by selecting On Demand radio button.
- Setup a report to be run automatically based on a defined schedule by selecting the Based on a Schedule radio button.
Schedules reports are stored within the Akcelerant Framework so users can review the specified information historically.
- Reports can be scheduled to run Hourly, Daily, Weekly or Monthly and can be set to start and stop on a specified date and time. The reports can also be defined to run during the normal nightly processing or set to run at a specified time during the day.
The Akcelerant Framework utilizes Microsoft Reporting Services for all of its reporting functionality. Accordingly, all scheduled report execution functionality is that which is inherent within the Microsoft Reporting Services product. The Microsoft Reporting Services Report Scheduler does not consider changes for Daylight Savings Time. The Report Scheduler uses Coordinated Universal Time or UTC when setting the time for reports. The UTC is an atomic time standard which uses uniform seconds to accommodate for discrepancies in time and is a standard in programming. The report time is therefore translated and fixed to UTC time in the scheduler. As a result, execution and delivery will vary with the use of Daylight Savings Time and Standard Time. As an example, if the time to run a report is set to 8:00 am EST, when Daylight Savings Time is invoked the report will run at 9:00 am EST. If it is imperative that reports are run at a specific time regardless of a time change due to regulatory or other organizational demands, Akcelerant suggests resetting the report’s start and end times to coordinate with the time changes.
Security Tab
- Determine which Users the report will be available for by selecting the Users in the Available Users box and moving them over to the Assigned Users box.
- Highlight one or more Users in the Available Users window and clicking the > button will move the Users to the next window.
- Clicking the >> will move all Users from the Available Users window to the Assigned Users window.
- Determine which Groups will also have access to the report.
Subscribe Tab
- This option is only available if Based on a Schedule was selected under the Schedule Tab. When reports are run according to the defined schedule, emails are sent to the specified emails on the screen.
Categories Tab
- Choose which Categories to assign to this report by moving Available Categories to Assigned Categories.
- Highlight one or more Categories in the Available Categories window and clicking the > button will move the Categories to the next window.
- Clicking the >> will move all Categories from the Available Categories window to the Assigned Categories window.
Areas Tab
- Choose which Areas to assign to this report. The report will appear under the reports menu in the selected areas.
- Highlight one or more Areas in the Available Areas window and clicking the > button will move the Areas to the next window.
- Clicking the >> will move all Areas from the Available Areas window to the Assigned Areas window.
When finished creating the new report, click Save or Save and Close to save the new report and return to the Reports list. Users also have the ability to click the Save dropdown and select Save and Edit Design or Save and Reset Design.
- Clicking Save and Edit Design saves the report and opens the Report Designer application. If editing an existing report, this does not overwrite the existing design.
- Clicking Save and Reset Design saves the report and opens the Report Designer Application. If editing an existing report, this resets the design within the application and allows users to design a new report.
Report Building - Advanced Reporting
The Report Builder functionality provides extensive capabilities for report creation with the use of Microsoft Reporting Services Report Builder. Using Report Builder gives the system administrator the ability to modify the appearance of results from the Framework basic report functionality. This provides Framework customers the transparency and visibility to present a visually appealing snapshot of data that supports and emphasizes key data points:
- Summarization of data.
- Graphs and Charts for data visualization.
- Calculations and expressions of data within or across accounts that may not be available.
- Incorporate sub-reports to demonstrate a chart and table within the same report.
- Join tables that are not currently related to one another.
- Expandable and Collapsible columns (this functionality is not compatible in emailed reports).
Prior to using the Report Designer functionality, please review the Reports section in the System Administrator guide to get a basic understanding of the Frameworks Report feature. The Report Builder can be used in variety ways such as:
- Start with a Standard Report and build the report in the Framework as it is normally done. Add in desired fields and necessary criteria. From there, use the Report Builder to modify how the results look.
- Start from scratch and create a new report and specify that it should be an Advanced Report.
- Copy a predefined report and with the report builder you will be able to modify the canned reports.
The Report Builder can be launched from the Report Window by selecting Design.
