Getting Started in Cognos

Cognos is a reporting tool that utilises data from CUFS to provide users with additional reports and options. This master class is designed to get existing CUFS users going with the reporting tool. It covers everything from running a report successfully as well as a number of useful tips and shortcuts.

Note: What it does not do is go through in detail the outputs of each individual report. Less experienced users of the Grants and/or General Ledger modules in CUFS are recommended to attend instead one of the following courses:

• Grants Part 2: Grant reports in Cognos
• General Ledger Reporting

These two courses not only cover the mechanics of running the reports but also more advice on how to interpret and use the information as well as discussion about when to use which report.

Experienced users of the Grants and/or General Ledger modules in CUFS who would like to access the improved functionality in Cognos.

Your booking will remain 'provisional' until the following prerequisites have been completed and you have advised finance.training@admin.cam.ac.uk thereof:

• Complete the online Cognos Access Request form, URL: https://www.finance.admin.cam.ac.uk/cognos-access-request (Finance Division > Systems > Reporting > Cognos Access Request)

You will need to know whether you require access to the Grants/General Ledger folder or both for your department. Please liaise with your department key contact/line manager to ensure you complete the form correctly. If you require access to more than one department, all the departments within the school, or across schools, this must be clearly indicated on the form. You also need to know whether or not you will need to receive 'burst reports in your school/department. These are reports that are automatically generated and emailed to you regularly. If you are a PI, you will need your payroll number. The form also allows you to indicate whether you are a member or ROO or Central Finance.

Once you have Cognos access, please complete the following tasks 5 working days prior to your training to eliminate any problems logging into Cognos on the day.

• Log into Cognos by clicking on Cognos Login: http://www.admin-reporting.cam.ac.uk/
• Click on 'Log into Cognos'
• Enter your CRSID, raven password and click OK
• Public Folders page will display.
• Click on the folder called 'LIVE'
• Click on the folder for your School
• Click on the folder titled 'Departmental (Shared) Reports'
• Depending on what access has been requested, you should have a folder for Grants or General Ledger or both with reports listed in each folder.

If you cannot see these reports, it means your access has not been correctly set up or is still in progress. This requires time to resolve so please do not leave to the day before the course.

Your booking will not be approved until you have confirmed that you have completed these steps. If you experience any problems, then please email finance.training@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Number of sessions: 1

• Log in and run a report
• Navigate around the screen using the icons
• Set up various short cuts
• Schedule reports

To give you the confidence to run reports in Cognos.

Demonstrations and practical’s

1.5 Hours

Once every couple of months