Repeater List report based upon multiple filter criteria selection

[Danielbryanuk]

Hi guys

I'm fairly new to Report Studio 8.3, so would appreciate any advice offered on the following questions based upon the below report spec...I have looked through previous threads and found nothing of use

I have created a fairly simple list report, which uses filters based upon 5 parameters on an input page, as follows:

Header "Report for Param1/2/3/4/5"

Period 1 Period 2...
Group1 (grouped) £x £y
Area1 (grouped) £z £a
Item3 £b £c
Grand total £x+z+b

Param1/2/3/4/5 represent members of different levels in the organisation, with their inter-relationships optionally enforced via the cascading selection. All params are optional, but one must be selected to run the report.

Question 1:
How can I add a subtotal line, such as Group1 + Area 1? I have tried creating a query calculation, creating footer total, then deleting detail line, but the subtotal repeats when I only need it once, and the calculation seems to ignore the parameter selection. Any ideas?

Question 2:
I would like to repeat the list report for each parameter selection (after enabling multiselect), to be combined into one report. I have tried using repeater tables, both with crosstab and list, but have failed to find an answer? Any ideas?

Question 3:
Does anyone know of an online guide to report writing apart from the basic Cognos one? I find this a little basic and light on detail e.g. nothing on macros.

I know I've asked a lot, and therefore really appreciate any advice I can get!! Maybe oneday I'll be able to help others....

Thanks
Dan

 

[blom0344]

Q1:

Cognos adds totals based on the grouping level. So if you want subtotals for Group1 + Area1 then define a query-item that groups them.
Parameters are used in the main query to restrict data.

Q2:

Repeating a list for individual parameter values means setting a section on the dataitem that relates to the parameter. like:
[year] in ?par_year?

[year] can be used in the section.

Q3:

Apart from tek-tips there is cognoise.com that serves as a peer-to-peer exchange. The only published book I know of (and have )
is:

IBM Cognos8 Business Intelligence ; the official guide by Dan Volitich
ISBN: 978-0-07-149852-4

Ties Blom

 

[Danielbryanuk]

Thanks Ties, very helpful - seems you're the guru when it comes to Cognos!!

Some feedback if I may:

Q1 - I have a query item grouping group 1 and area 1, but still have the repeating issue...I'll keep thinking! The only option is to have two separate lists horizontally alligned.

Q2 - I have experimented with page sets, repeating based upon the sections (which in turn are based upon the parameters.) The only issue here is that as the parameters are optional, so when nothing is selected the list is still repeated despite not containing any data. I'm sure there's something I can do!

Q3 - bought a book, keenly awaiting it's arrival!!

Once again thanks for your help, and if you have any further comments I would be grateful!!

Dan

 

[blom0344]

Adding totals with the wizard on grouped items always adds a new subtotal for each distinct value of the group. If you only want a grand total then you can delete the subtotal rows from the report. I am not quite following what you want to achieve with adding Group1 to Area1 though..

Ties Blom