TUG Statistics and Reports Group

February 2004 Update to Steering Committee

The TUG Statistics and Reports Group has been extremely active over the past year and has accomplished most of the tasks originally projected for June 2004 completion. The technical infrastructure and staff training needed for coordinated TUG statistics and reports delivery has been largely put in place. Major accomplishments include:

A shared TUG web server for Cognos reports has been put into production, at http://tugrprts.lib.uwaterloo.ca/cognos/. A number of hardware, operating system, and Cognos software upgrades and patches have been installed to make it functional and allow backups. Documents outlining Cognos server support and backup and restore procedures are available on the Group’s web page at http://staff.tug-libraries.on.ca/trellis_reports/.
The effect of this web server work is that staff can now view and run Cognos reports from the web server with a user friendly web interface, and without needing Cognos software installed on their local PC.
Existing reports and PowerPlay cubes have been upgraded and moved to the new web server environment, and report documentation has been put in place for most reports.
With input from managers, potential report creators and users have been identified, login accounts created, and appropriate security levels identified
A Training Team has been created with two representatives from each institution: Alan Gale and Scott Gilles ( Guelph); Linda Cracknell and Vera Fesnak (Wilfrid Laurier); Susan Arruda and Baiba Turner ( Waterloo). The team was trained in summer 2003, then developed training sessions on viewing and running reports from the Cognos web server which were given to staff at all institutions in December and January. Second stage training for more detailed reports creation is being planned.
Members of the Training Team will act as resource persons for local questions about running or developing reports. However, more difficult reports will still need to be created by Gail Sperling and Bill Halahan. A process for requesting, getting authorization for, and prioritizing reports is nearing completion.
A listserv to inform reports users of new reports or cubes has been created. All TUG managers will be subscribed initially, and will get an introductory message soon.
A policy and schedule for archiving PowerPlay cubes has been developed with input from TUG managers, and is available at http://staff.tug-libraries.on.ca/trellis_reports/powerplay.htm.
Gail Sperling will be giving a presentation and a poster session on TUG Cognos use at EndUser in April. The presentation is aimed at managers and explains what Cognos can do and what kinds of reports are possible. The poster session has a more technical audience and demonstrates report writing using Impromptu.

Much of the Group’s 2003/2004 budget was spent on training in two major categories:

Gail Sperling’s attendance at Cognos Tech Forum in Florida, June 2003. This conference improved Gail’s knowledge of Cognos server administration. As a result, she has made many improvements to our Cognos servers, including queue priorities and enhanced security measures. In addition, she learned how to add html code to reports to create direct links to documentation web pages, and how to implement drill-through capabilities in reports. Both greatly enhance usability and functionality for reports users. Gail was also able to learn about upcoming software enhancements create useful contacts.
Train-the-trainer workshop in Cognos Powerplay for the TUG Training Team. Our external trainers, Thoughtcorp, did an outstanding job and also provided documentation that was reused by the TUG Training Team. Based on their training, the Training Team developed a training plan, and delivered training sessions to TUG staff. Evaluations from their training sessions so far are positive, and the TSR Group has already noticed improved staff knowledge and use of Cognos reporting tools.

In the upcoming year, the Statistics and Reports Group plans to assist the Training Team in completing staff training and to finish work on the web reports infrastructure. We are also looking at the feasibility of integrating data from other sources (e.g. VDX) into the Cognos web infrastructure. An exciting new Cognos development, Cognos ReportNet, is now in production and will allow greater functionality and integration (see http://www.cognos.com/products/businessintelligence/reporting/ for more information). Conversion is not yet feasible, but the Group will be tracking progress and implications.

Joanne Oud
Chair, TUG Statistics and Reports Group
Feb 20, 2004

Last updated: May 20, 2004