Quiz vs Impromptu

[Edis, Robert]

G'day Mark

Thanks for your response.

I saw the ReportNet tool in Orlando last year - it look pretty good but still doesn't address basic development issues such as documentation.  From the user perspective it's the best thing since sliced bread!

The alternate join strategy wouldn't work.  I have two sets of tables, one for a Gregorian year with 12 months and one for a fiscal year of 12 periods that is off-set with the Gregorian calendar by 6 months.  The table structures are the same but contain different summarised 'views' of the data.  The reports are virtually identical except for the data source (folder).

Regards,

Blue

-----Original Message-----
From: stewm@canada.com [mailto:stewm@canada.com]
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 11:37 AM
To: Edis, Robert
Cc: powerh-l@lists.swau.edu
Subject: RE:Quiz vs Impromptu



Blue, did you happen to see the launch of ReportNet
last week on the web?  I saw it at the Cognos offices
in Toronto.  Maybe that is the new tool that combines
the best of both.

Until Impromptu is replaced with ReportNet...Would your
example be a candidate for an alternate join in the
catalog?  You create a new alias table as a reference
and then change the joins on the two tables to
reference the new alias table.  Maybe this way you
could join table to table without have to duplicate
folders.  Also this could be handy to get away from
having the user digging down many levels.

Mark

Here's Quiz vs Impromptu issue for you all:

I have to produce a number of similar reports in
Impromptu.  The format is the same but the data source
is different.  One report is for a fiscal calendar and
the other for a Gregorian calendar.

In Quiz all I would have to do is change the filename
in the ACCESS statement as the columns are virtually
the same in both data sources.  Then I just change a
few of the headings.  All up about 10 minutes work.

In Impromptu I have to edit each item in the report
(30+) and repoint it to a different folder in the
catalog. To edit an item I have to select it, enter to
editor, clear the window contents, find the correct
item in the catalog folder (about 4 levels deep), bring
it into the editor, click OK, then save the change. 
Repeat for each item.  Plus the filter has to be
changed.  AND I have to make sure the "Automatically
Retrieve Data" isn't turned on or I'll get a cross
product error or worse - a run-away report.  About 60+
minutes work!

What can't Cognos come up with a tool that has the best
features of BOTH tools?

Blue


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