IBM Cognos 8 Controller: Develop Applications (V8.4)

Introduction to IBM Cognos 8 Controller 8.4

∙ Review the Cognos Performance Management (PM) solution and role of IBM Cognos 8 Controller in PM
∙ Examine IBM Cognos 8 Controller components
∙ Examine the structures used in a Controller application
∙ Examine the application setup workflow
∙ Log on to a Controller application and set personal options

Set Up Companies

∙ Examine the importance of company structures in the Controller application
∙ Enable the currencies and countries to be used in the Controller application
∙ Create and link companies
∙ Specify ownership relations between companies
∙ Verify the company structure

Set Up Accounts

∙ Examine the importance of account structures in a Controller application
∙ Create and link accounts
∙ Maintain an account structure
∙ Verify the account structure

Configure the Application

∙ Examine general configuration settings for a Controller application
∙ Examine actualities
∙ Identify the three types of actualities
∙ Configure a Controller application

Enable Data Entry and Data Transfer

∙ List different ways to enter data into Controller
∙ Examine forms
∙ Create forms and verify form structure
∙ Examine form sets
∙ Examine how to import data from an external system
∙ Create an import specification
∙ Import data from an external file

Set Up Accounts to Show Changes over Time

∙ Use movement accounts to track changes over time
∙ Examine the workflow process to create movement accounts
∙ Enable and create movement accounts
∙ Prepare movement accounts for data entry

Enhance Data Analysis

∙ Enhance data analysis by using extended dimensions
∙ Enable and define extended dimensions
∙ Generate reports for extended dimensions
∙ Prepare accounts for extended dimensions
∙ Add extended dimensions to forms
∙ Verify extended dimensions, accounts, and forms

Customize the Data Entry View

∙ Customize the data entry view
∙ Define and group the items you want to restrict  
∙ Generate reports for linked structures

Define and Schedule the Data Entry Process

∙ Examine the data entry process
∙ Enable and define report occasions for data entry
∙ Examine different ways of making periods read-only

Test the Application Setup

∙ Test structures
∙ Manually enter data into the Controller application
∙ Reconcile data
∙ Examine the status of data
∙ Track changes to metadata

Adjust Data Through Journal Entries

∙ Identify the workflow process to set up consolidation of reported values
∙ Identify how to make adjustments to data on a company level
∙ Define and connect a journal type and a closing version
∙ Enter data into company journals
∙ Copy company journals
∙ Run reports on company journals
∙ Enter data into group journals

Convert Foreign Currency

∙ Identify the workflow process for converting foreign currencies
∙ Examine foreign currency conversion
∙ Prepare the application with rules for currency conversion
∙ Define the base currency and activate currency codes
∙ Enter currency rates for a period  
∙ Convert foreign currency
∙ Run reports and analyze currency converted data

Enable Automatic Journal Entries

∙ Identify the workflow process for enabling automatic journal entries
∙ Plan the use of automatic journals
∙ Identify predefined automatic journal types
∙ Define a contribution version and connect automatic journal types
∙ Activate a predefined automatic journal
∙ Identify how to use control tables

Eliminate Intercompany Balances

∙ Identify the workflow process for reconciliation and elimination of intercompany balances
∙ Define intercompany accounts and enter period data
∙ Define rules to control reconciliation and elimination of intercompany balances
∙ Run and analyze reconciliation reports
∙ Eliminate intercompany balances and verify postings

Enter Shareholdings and Investments

∙ Identify the workflow process for entering shareholdings and investments
∙ Prepare the application with necessary settings for entering shareholdings and investments
∙ Enter shareholdings and investments data
∙ Reconcile shareholdings and investments data

Calculate Acquisition Values

∙ Identify the workflow process for calculating acquisition values
∙ Define control tables for automatic journals
∙ Configure a start period
∙ Eliminate acquisition values and verify postings

Consolidate Group Values

∙ Identify the workflow process for consolidating the group's reported values
∙ Prepare the application for consolidation
∙ Consolidate the group's values manually
∙ Run and analyze reports on consolidation
∙ Review the status of the group's data

Apply Security

∙ Examine the Cognos 8 security architecture
∙ Identify the workflow process for applying security
∙ Define security restrictions to different parts of the application
∙ Define security restrictions for users
∙ Run reports on applied security
∙ Track changes to metadata
∙ Examine options that can be personalized
∙ Configure local preferences

Eliminate Intercompany Profit

∙ Identify the workflow process for reconciliation and elimination of intercompany profit
∙ Define intercompany profit accounts and enter period data
∙ Define rules to control reconciliation and elimination of intercompany profit
∙ Run and analyze reconciliation reports
∙ Eliminate intercompany profit and verify postings

Introduction to Reporting with IBM Cognos 8 Controller

∙ Explore report types and the role of dimensions in reports
∙ Run a report based on a data entry form

Create Ad Hoc Reports

∙ Create simple ad hoc reports
∙ Compare the data for multiple sets of dimensions
∙ Export an ad hoc report to an external application

Verify and Analyze Data for Consolidation

∙ Examine the benefits of using standard reports in consolidation
∙ Select dimensions to run a simple trial balance
∙ Drill down on dimensions to view more details
∙ View the details behind a summary account using a ledger report

Create Custom Reports

∙ Create advanced reports using the Report Generator
∙ Determine which dimensions to use when running a report
∙ Examine reporting options available with different dimensions
∙ Use Controller functions to build reports

Report on Controller Data in Excel

∙ Connect Controller to Excel using the Excel Link
∙ Use the Report Generator to open and create reports in Excel
∙ Add Controller data to a spreadsheet
∙ Refresh workbooks to show the latest Controller data
∙ Examine exporting data from a workbook back to Controller
∙ Design efficient multi-page reports

Run Groups of Reports

∙ Examine the purpose of using report books
∙ Create a report book
∙ Examine input selection values
∙ Examine report output options
∙ Run a report book