Mr20 enus 06-Report Design in Management Reporter 2.0 for Microsoft Dynamics® ERP

Chapter 6: Review Plus
6-1
CHAPTER 6: REVIEW PLUS
Objectives
The objectives are:
• Review the demonstration report definitions
• Explore the use of wildcards and ranges in row, column, and tree
definitions
• Examine the export and import functions in the building block
groups
Introduction
This Report Design in Management Reporter 2.0 for Microsoft Dynamics® ERP
training supplies many predefined report definitions in the Fabrikam, Inc. (FW)
and Fabrikam Europe, Inc. (FEW) companies.
These report definitions include sample row, column, and reporting tree
definitions, ranging from basic to complex. Within the sample definitions, users
can find valuable report design tips and tricks.
Some design concepts explored in this part of training are as follows:
• Spreading column headers over multiple reporting columns
• Assigning a base row reporting code
• Adding the correct codes for variance reports that display favorable
or unfavorable amounts based on the normal balance of data being
reported
• Using ranges and wildcards in the row definition
• Using wildcards as dimension filters in the column definition
• Using wildcards in the reporting tree definition
Microsoft Official Training Materials for Microsoft Dynamics®
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Report Design in Management Reporter 2.0 for Microsoft Dynamics®
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6-2
• Sizing a report to a single page width
• Defining a calculated column and related formula
• Exporting and importing building blocks
FIGURE 6.1 SAMPLE REPORT DEFINITIONS

6-3
View the Demo Report Definitions
This part of the training revisits the "Rolling Quarter Income Statement"
demonstration from the "Management Reporter Introduction and Demonstration"
course, and then reviews the building blocks used in its design.
FIGURE 6.2 ROLLING QUARTER INCOME STATEMENT
Access the Default Building Block Group
In the following steps, return to the Demo Reports building block group to
access the sample reports and related building blocks.
1. On the File menu, click Close All to verify that all building blocks
are closed.
2. On the Company menu, click the Companies menu item.
3. Verify that the FW company is selected and then click the Modify
button.
4. Click the Building block group drop-down arrow and select Demo
Reports.
5. Click OK.
6. Click Close.
7. In the navigation pane, double-click the IS_RollQtr report
definition.

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8. Click the Generated on icon on the Management Reporter toolbar
(to the left of the Generate Report button) to open the previously
generated version of the report in the Report Viewer. If the
Generated on icon is inactive, the report has not been generated or
the output file name was updated.
FIGURE 6.3 DEMO REPORTS BUILDING BLOCK GROUP
Rolling Quarter Income Statement
Previously generated reports are stored in the report library, which you can
access for viewing with the following steps.
1. Expand the Library.
2. Click the Income Statement folder. Notice that three reports
display: the demo Rolling Quarter Income Statement, and the two
Income Statements created earlier in the training.
3. Click the IS_ROLLING_QTR report, and then right-click; click
Show Versions. One report version is available for viewing unless
students have generated the report on multiple occasions.
4. Click Open. The summary unit from the reporting tree definition,
Fabrikam Works, displays in the view pane.
NOTE: Versions can be moved, renamed, or deleted from the list.
Each building block used in this report design, in addition to the headers assigned
in the report definition, is reviewed in the "Headers and Footers" topic.

6-5
Headers and Footers
The four rows of header text, in addition to the Fabrikam logo, are defined on the
Headers and Footers tab of the report definition.
1. Return to Report Designer by clicking Management Reporter in the
task bar.
2. Click the Headers and Footers tab.
The center section displays a total of six rows, while the right side section
displays the Fabrikam logo. Each code displayed is defined in the table. Notice
hard-coded text is also valid. AutoText codes can also be capitalized to display
an uppercase presentation.
Code Displays
@blank A blank row in the header or footer
@CompDes
c
The company description
@UnitName The unit name (column B) from the reporting tree
@PeriodCov
erage
The period description text as defined for the entity
in relationship with the report date
@DateLong The long date as defined under regional and
language settings of the generating computer
Reporting Tree Definition
The FbrkmWrkA reporting tree is associated with the Rolling Quarter report.
1. Click the Report tab.
2. Click the Open Reporting Tree Definition icon.
The structure of the reporting tree is identical to the Location/Division with
Department details tree created earlier. Where the two trees differ is in the unit
name and unit description text. Either of these columns is available for display in
the report header or footer through use of an AutoText code. As previously
shown, @UnitName displays column B text, while @UnitDesc displays text
entered in column C. Unit name text displayed in column B is also shown in the
hierarchical display of the reporting tree definition, while unit description text
displayed in column C is also shown in the report data display of the Report
Viewer.
NOTE: @UnitDesc is included by default in the center section of the report header in
new report definitions.

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6-6
Column Definition
The key to the rolling quarter aspect of the "Income Statement" demonstration,
comes from the column definition.
1. Click the Open Report Definition icon or close the tree definition to
return to the report definition screen.
2. Click the Open Column Definition icon. The column is divided into
two sections: headers and column types.
3. Double-click the column A, header 1 row to open the Column
Header dialog box. The hard-coded text Current Month is spread
from column A to column C and the format option is set to box.
This results in the display shown in the "Rolling Quarter Income
Statement" image.
4. Click Cancel to close the column header window. Notice that the
Column Shade style selected on the Formatting toolbar results in the
gray fill with blue, bold, italic text.
NOTE: On the Format menu, click the Styles and Formatting menu option to review or
change the style definition.
5. Double-click column E, header 1 row.
The YTD column header displays formatting similar to that for the Current
Month columns; however, its spread is only to a single column. Notice that the
left, center, or right justification options are available when the column text is
not spread across multiple columns.
Header row 3 displays the AutoText codes @CalMonthLong in the Current
Month columns and @FiscalYear in the YTD column. These columns work in
combination with the Fiscal Year and Period fields in financial data (FD) type
columns.
1. Click the Period drop-down box to display the options available.
The rolling quarter design is achieved by defining BASE-2, BASE-1,
and BASE for the period in the three periodic time range columns.
These three FD type columns make up the Current Month part of the
report. The year-to-date column is defined on the BASE period with
YTD as the time range. All four FD type columns are related to the
BASE fiscal year. Both the fiscal year and the period displayed in
the generated report are defined in the report definition.
2. Close the column definition. Click No, if you are prompted to save
changes.

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Row Definition
The revenue and expense accounts included in the Rolling Quarter Income
Statement are defined in the row definition.
1. If it is necessary, click the Open Report Definition icon.
2. Click the Open Row Definition icon.
The design of the IncStmt_Dtl row definition is similar to the IS_Dtl row
definition created earlier. Additional design concepts include the following:
• CBR - The format code is used to define one or more base rows in
relational reporting. The row code defined in column D becomes the
denominator when you are performing divide by CBR calculations in
the column definition. Relational reporting is covered in greater
detail in the "Relational Reporting" course.
• C on TOT rows - A "C" is placed in the normal balance (column F)
to flip the sign of data pulled from the financial data source. When
you are reporting favorable/(unfavorable) variances in an associated
column definition, such as actual versus budget or this year versus
last year reports, C is also placed on TOT or CAL rows relating to
flipped accounts.
Placing a C on a TOT or CAL row does not affect the presentation of the
financial results for the row, as it is only activated when matched with
the XCR print control in variance columns of the column definition.
Notice that Net Sales, Gross Margin, and the various Income related
rows display C, while Total Expenses does not. Variance column
calculations are discussed in greater detail in the "Variance Reporting"
course.
Wildcards and Ranges
The question mark (?) is considered a wildcard within Management Reporter's
definitions. Using wildcards enables the user to define building blocks that
summarize data in a row, column, or reporting unit.
Defining dimension ranges in the row, column, or reporting tree definition is an
alternative method for returning summary results in a report. Both ranges and
wildcards are used in the Summary Trial Balance sample report.

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Summary Trial Balance
The sample reports include a summary trial balance that also contains a row
reporting net income. To open and generate the report, follow these steps:
1. Double-click TB_Sum in the report definitions navigation pane.
Notice that the building blocks active in the report include the row,
TB_Sum_NI, and the column Cur_YTD. A tree is currently not
defined in the design. Also notice that the detail level reads Financial
& Account.
2. Click the Output and Distribution tab. The report library location is
set to Library.
3. Click the ellipsis button (...) to open the Select Report Library
Location dialog box.
4. Expand the Library folder, and then click Trial Balances. The
detailed trial balance (TB_Dtl) created earlier displays in the folder
contents.
5. Click OK.
6. Click Save.
7. Click Generate Report.
8. Expand the Trial Balances folder and open the Summary Trial
Balance.
FIGURE 6.4 LIBRARY/TRIAL BALANCES LOCATION
Notice that the report displays summarized data by account category, Assets,
Liabilities, Equity, Revenues, Expenses, and Other. A Balance Check row
displays zero, so the report is in balance. However, the results displayed on the
Net Income row are overstated. The cause of this error is found in the row
definition, which is reviewed next.

6-9
In this summarized style of reporting, users drill-down to the account detail level.
Transaction details are not available in the sample report because of the report
definition settings.
1. Close the Summary Trial Balance and return to Report Designer.
FIGURE 6.5 SUMMARY TRIAL BALANCE AND REVENUE ACCOUNTS
Row Definition
In the following steps, you will correct and review the row definition net income
calculation and the overall design.
1. In the TB_Sum report definition, click the Report tab.
2. Click the Open Row Definition icon; the TB_Sum_NI definition
appears.
3. Double-click row code 100, column J, link to financial dimension.
Notice the display shows 1 plus three wildcards (???) in the natural
dimension. Any natural dimension beginning in 1 is reported on the
Assets row.
NOTE: The dimensions that display are defined in the source system. Any dimension or
combination of dimensions can be used in the link to the financial dimension column.

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4. Click Cancel to close the Dimensions dialog box.
5. Double-click row code 250, column J. Double-click inside the
natural dimension cell that contains data. Notice that the From field
displays 7000 and the To field displays 9999. Any dimensions in the
range are reported on the Other row.
6. Click Cancel.
The next step corrects the net income calculation formula.
1. Click row code 460, column D, related formulas, and change the
formula to read -190-220-250. This correction takes the negative
value of the credit Revenues row (therefore creating a positive
number), deducts the value of the Expenses row, and deducts the
credit value of the Other row. Notice that no rows display a C in the
normal balance, so the formula flips the sign of the Revenues and
Other rows.
2. Click Save, and then Close the row definition to return to the report
definition.
FIGURE 6.6 TB_SUM_NI ROW DEFINITION
Regenerate the Report
The report is generated to display the corrected net income.

6-11
2. Expand the Trial Balances folder and open the Summary Trial
Balance. The corrected net income row is shown in the "Summary
Trial Balance with Corrected Net Income" image.
3. Close the report and return to Report Designer.
FIGURE 6.7 SUMMARY TRIAL BALANCE WITH CORRECTED NET INCOME
Consolidated Reporting Tree
Reporting trees can also use blank dimensions or wildcards to create summarized
reporting units. Leaving a dimension blank pulls all of the values for that
dimension into a reporting unit, which is the same effect as using all wildcards
for that dimension.
1. In the TB_Sum report definition, click the Tree type drop-down,
and then select reporting tree.
2. In the Tree drop-down, click Consol.
3. Click the Open Reporting Tree Definition icon.
Notice that both the FW and FWE companies are shown in the "Consol Tree
Definition" image, alongside the consolidated @ANY reporting unit. The
dimensions for each company displays wildcards in all dimensions. This
dimension structure returns companywide summarized data for each company.
1. Close the tree definition. If you are prompted, click No to save the
changes.
2. Save the report definition.

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4. Click Select All and then click OK.
FIGURE 6.8 CONSOL TREE DEFINITION
Consolidated Trial Balance
To review the consolidated trial balance report, follow these steps.
1. In Report Viewer, expand the Trial Balances folder and open the
Summary Trial Balance. Notice that a total of three reporting units
are available for display, Consolidated, Fabrikam USA, and
Fabrikam Europe.
FIGURE 6.9 CONSOLIDATED TRIAL BALANCE
Side by Side Reporting
The side by side income statement uses wildcards in the column definition. The
following steps review its design.
1. Double-click IS_SidebySide in the report definitions navigation
pane. Notice that the building blocks active in the report include the
row, IncStmt_Dtl (the same row definition used in the rolling quarter
income statement), and the column definition SLS_SVC.

6-13
2. Click the Open Column Definition icon.
The column design introduces the following concepts:
o Print Control - WT wraps the text displayed in the column; RP
repeats the column on each page.
o Dimension Filter - in columns works exactly as the link to
financial dimensions does in the row. As in the row and tree
definitions, wildcards are valid in any dimension, alone or in
combination with a dimension code.
o CALC Column Type - calculated columns refer to the column
letter in the Formula field.
o Page Column Type - page columns create a vertical page break
in the report display.
3. Close the column definition, clicking No if you are prompted to save
the changes to SLS_SVC.
The side by side income statement is generated, and then fine-tuned in the
following steps.
1. Verify that the IS_SidebySide report definition is active.
2. Click the Output and Distribution tab and then click the ellipsis
button (...).
3. Expand the Library folder, and then click Income Statements. The
folder contents include the income statements generated to this point
in this training.
4. Click OK to accept the location.
5. Save the report definition.
7. Notice that the Service Total column is presented on a second page.
9. Click the Settings tab, and then click the Other button.
10. On the Page Setup tab, click the scaling option, Shrink to page
width, and then click OK.

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11. Click Save.
FIGURE 6.10 SETTINGS > OTHER... SHRINK TO PAGE WIDTH
Single Page Display
After modifying the scaling option, the Divisional Income Statement displays on
a single page.

6-15
NOTE: Use the Page column type to control the specific position of a vertical page
break. Use the RP print control in conjunction to repeat description or other columns on
each page.
FIGURE 6.11 SIDE BY SIDE DIVISIONAL INCOME STATEMENT
Export and Import Building Blocks
Use the export and import functions to move row, column, tree, and report
definitions quickly and effortlessly between building block groups.

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Export functions include the following:
• Selecting a report definition also selects the associated row, column,
reporting tree, and dimension set (if defined)
• Select multiple definitions by pressing the Ctrl or Shift keys
FIGURE 6.12 BUILDING BLOCK GROUPS
Exporting
The following steps show how to export the side by side income statement report
definition and its associated building blocks.
1. On the File menu, click Close All.
2. Click Yes, if prompted to save changes to the IS_SidebySide report
definition.
3. On the Company menu, click the Building Block Groups menu
item. The Demo Reports group is selected because it is currently
assigned to the FW company.
4. Click Export. The export window displays all definitions contained
in the sample reports.
5. Scroll down and then click the IS_SidebySide report definition.
6. Click the Row Definitions tab. Scroll down to verify that the
associated row IncStmt_Dtl is also selected.
7. Click the Column Definitions tab. Scroll down to verify that the
associated column SLS_SVC is also selected.
8. Click Export.
9. Type the file name "IS_SbS" and then click Save.

6-17
NOTE: Export files are saved in the Building Block Groups folder in the Management
Reporter installation location, with a .tdbx extension. This same default location is used
for the import; however, files can be stored in any location.
FIGURE 6.13 EXPORT
Importing
As soon as exported, definitions can be imported into other building block
groups.
1. Click the Training building block group, and then click Import.
2. Select the IS_SbS.tdbx file and then click Open. The import
window opens automatically and displays the definitions contained
in the file.
3. Select the IS_SidebySide report definition. Notice that the
associated row and column are automatically included.
4. Click Import.

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5. With Training still highlighted, click Export. Notice that the
IS_SidebySide report definition now appears with the reports
previously created.
6. Click Cancel and Close to exit the building block groups.
FIGURE 6.14 IMPORT
Set the Active Building Block Group
The following steps relate the FW company with the training building block
group.
1. On the Company menu, click the Companies menu item.
2. Verify that FW is selected and then click the Modify button.
3. Click the Building block group drop-down arrow and select
Training.

6-19
4. Click OK.
5. Click Close.
FIGURE 6.15 FW WITH TRAINING BUILDING BLOCK GROUP
Summary
This part of training allowed students to review the demonstration Rolling
Quarter Income Statement and its building blocks. In addition, the Summary
Trial Balance and side-by-side Divisional Income Statement sample reports were
reviewed.
Students also examined design concepts such as wildcards and ranges and how to
use them in row, column, and reporting tree definitions. The base row concept
and how it relates the row definition to the column definition was also
introduced.
Knowing how to access the sample reports included in the FW and FWE
companies can help users with reviewing essential report design concepts.

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6-20
Test Your Knowledge
Test your knowledge with the following questions.
1. Wildcards (??) are valid in which building block definitions? (Select all that
apply)
( ) Report definition
( ) Row definition
( ) Column definition
( ) Reporting Tree definition
2. An FD column type in a column definition reads BASE-1 in the Period field.
The associated report definition has a report date of 2/28/2011. What date is
the data that is reported in the column?
( ) February 2011
( ) February 2010
( ) January 2011
( ) January 2010
3. Which of the following are true statements about calculated columns? (Select
all that apply)
( ) Calculation formulas are defined with FD column types
( ) Calculation formulas are defined with CALC column types
( ) Calculation formulas are based on column letters
( ) A calculated column is required in a column definition

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Quick Interaction: Lessons Learned
Take a moment and write down three key points you have learned from this
chapter
1.
2.
3.

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6-22
Solutions
Test Your Knowledge
1. Wildcards (??) are valid in which building block definitions? (Select all that
apply)
( ) Report definition
(√) Row definition
(√) Column definition
(√) Reporting Tree definition
2. An FD column type in a column definition reads BASE-1 in the Period field.
The associated report definition has a report date of 2/28/2011. What date is
the data that is reported in the column?
( ) February 2011
( ) February 2010
(•) January 2011
( ) January 2010
3. Which of the following are true statements about calculated columns? (Select
all that apply)
( ) Calculation formulas are defined with FD column types
(√) Calculation formulas are defined with CALC column types
(√) Calculation formulas are based on column letters
( ) A calculated column is required in a column definition

Mr20 enus 06-Report Design in Management Reporter 2.0 for Microsoft Dynamics® ERP

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