Blank Reports

[stewm]

I just took over some Impromptu reports that do not generate a .pdf if the report is blanks. This logic is in Cognos script. Is there an easier way to tell Impromptu not to generate a .pdf if there is no data returned. So that blanks graphs and all that stuff does not show up. Thanks.

Mark Stewart
Senior Analyst
Consultants Club Corp.
Windsor, Ontario
Canada

http://www.consultantsclub.biz

 

[rcaesar]

Hi Mark

I don't think there is a way not to show the blank pdf. What I have done is to use conditional formatting that displays a message "no records listed ..." when the report is blank. This works fine, as the user can specify (if using prompts) some other conditions.

If you are interested, let me know, I can send you the details.

Ram

 

[stewm]

Sure I'd like more details on this. Thanks. If anyone else has found a way to totally keep the .pdf from coming please let me know. Thanks. Mark

Mark Stewart
Senior Analyst
Consultants Club Corp.
Windsor, Ontario
Canada

http://www.consultantsclub.biz

 

[rcaesar]

Hi Mark:

This is directly from the COGNOS Support Link. Hope this helps. Also is it possible for you to share the Cognos script. Just would like to see how it was dealt with.
Thanks,

Ram

******* From Cognos Support Link

Here’s a technique that you can use to you to automatically display a custom message to your users if no data is available for their selection. Follow these steps:
1. Create a report with all of the columns you would like to display. Click on the background of the report to select the List Frame – notice that all of the columns will be selected. Click the top-center of the List Frame and drag it down to reduce the height of the frame by the width of about three fingers. This will clear a space for the hidden message that will only be displayed when there is no data available.
2. From the menu bar, select Insert -> Text Frame. Insert the text in the center of the report body and type in an appropriate message. For this example, our message will be: “Sorry, No Data available for your selection”.
3. Click the new text frame and change the font size and color so that the message will stand out from the rest of the content in the report. Right-click on the text frame and select Conditional Formats. Click Conditions, and then click Add Custom Condition. Select one of the report columns that is not always null, add the condition “is not missing” by double-clicking it in the Available Components list. Click OK and then click Close to exit the Conditions dialog box.
4. Select Hidden from the “Change style to” list box and click OK.
5. Select all of the report columns from the report, right-click and select Conditional Formats. Click Conditions and then click on Add Custom Condition. Select one of the report columns that is not always null, add the condition “is missing” by double-clicking it in the Available Components list. Click OK and then click Close to exit the Conditions dialog box.
6. Select Hidden from the “Change style to” list box and click OK.
7. Click on the List Frame, right-click and from the menu select Properties. Click the Size tab and then use the drop-down menu to change the height setting to Snap to Parent.
8. Save and run the report.
Now, in cases where there is no data for a user’s selection, Impromptu will display the message “Sorry, No Data available for your selection”.