IBM Cognos 8 BI Report Studio: Author Professional Reports Fundamentals (V8.4) is a three-day, instructor-led course. It is designed for report authors to learn report building techniques using relational data models, and ways of enhancing, customizing, and managing professional reports. Attendees will participate in hands-on demos and workshops that illustrate key concepts while learning how to use the product. Training Paths that reference this course are:

• Metrics Engineer or Report Author (Rational Insight)
• IBM Cognos 8 BI – Professional Author Role

Audience

This is an intermediate course for Professional Report Authors.

Prerequisites

• Knowledge of your business requirements
• Experience using the Windows operating system
• Experience using a web browser

Skills taught

Please refer to Course Overview for description information.

Course outline

• Overview of IBM Cognos 8 BI
  • discuss IBM Cognos 8 and Performance Management
  • describe IBM Cognos 8 BI components
  • describe IBM Cognos 8 architecture at a high level
  • define IBM Cognos 8 groups and roles
  • explain how to extend IBM Cognos 8
  • Introduction to the Reporting Application
    • discuss different modes of reporting
    • examine Report Studio and its interface
    • explore different report types
    • create a simple, sorted, and formatted report
    • explore how data items are added to queries
  • Create List Reports
    • group, format, and sort list reports
    • describe options for aggregating data
    • create a multi-fact query
    • create a report with repeated data
  • Focus Reports Using Filters
    • create filters to narrow the focus of reports
    • examine detail and summary filters
    • determine when to apply filters on aggregate data
  • Create Crosstab Reports
    • format and sort crosstab reports
    • create complex crosstabs using drag and drop functionality
    • create crosstabs using unrelated data items
  • Present Data Graphically
    • create charts containing peer and nested columns
    • present data using new chart type options
    • add context to charts
    • create and reuse custom chart palettes
    • present key data in a single dashboard report
  • Focus Reports Using Prompts
    • identify various prompt types
    • use parameters and prompts to focus data
    • search for prompt types
    • navigate between pages
  • Extend Reports Using Calculations
    • create calculations based on data in the data source
    • add run-time information to the reports
    • create expressions using functions
  • Present Data Using Maps
    • present data using map reports
    • navigate to another level within a map
  .
  • Design Effective Reports
    • enhance report design with report objects
    • reuse objects within the same report
    • share layout components among separate reports
    • discuss report templates
    • choose options to handle reports with no available data
  • Customize Reports with Conditional Formatting
    • create multi-lingual reports
    • highlight exceptional data
    • show and hide data
    • conditionally render objects in reports
    • conditionally format one crosstab measure based on another
  • Drill-Through from One Report to Another
    • let users navigate from a specific report to a target report
    • pass parameter values to filter the data in drill-through targets
    • navigate through multiple reports