Sage Intelligence Reporting

Version 7.3
Advanced Exercise Manual

Table of Contents
Welcome ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
How to Use the Curriculum ........................................................................................................................ 3
Document Conventions ............................................................................................................................. 3
Sample Company Information ................................................................................................................... 3
Lesson Exercise 1: Overview of Sage Intelligence Reporting ........................................................................ 4
Lesson Exercise 2: Navigating within the Connector ..................................................................................... 5
Lesson Exercise 4: Creating Data Connectivity to an Access Database ........................................................ 6
Lesson Exercise 5: Using Excel as a Data Source for Reports ...................................................................... 9
Lesson Exercise 6: Creating a Container From Multiple Tables ................................................................... 11
Lesson Exercise 7: Customizing Expressions.............................................................................................. 15
Lesson Exercise 8: Using Variables as Expressions.................................................................................... 16

Welcome
This book accompanies the Sage Intelligence Advanced Course manual and contains the exercises
required to provide hands-on practice of the topics discussed in the lessons.
How to Use the Curriculum
In addition to this course been completed, an online assessment will be required to be passed in order to
obtain your course certificate. The assessment can be found at www.sageintelligenceacademy.com.
Document Conventions
Sage Alchemex uses the Microsoft Manual of Style (MMOS), Third Edition, as its corporate authority for
technical terminology and references to user interface elements as well as terms approved by the Sage
Softwares Training Council or the CSC for references to specific training types, individual roles, certification
terms, and specific elements of the curriculum.
Sample Company Information
The exercises have been created based on the sample company RKL Trading provided with Sage
Intelligence Reporting software.

2014 Sage Intelligence Reporting

Sage Intelligence 7.3 Reporting Advanced Exercise Manual

Page 3 of 18

Lesson Exercise 1: Overview of Sage Intelligence Reporting

1.

The Sage Intelligence Report Manager

o
o
o
o

2.

The Sage Intelligence Connector

o
o
o
o

3.

controls the accessibility of Sage Intelligence Reporting reports by the various users.
maintains the licenses installed for Sage Intelligence Reporting.
maintains the connectivity between Sage Intelligence Reporting and the accounting (or other) data
sources.
provides an interface to create and modify reports.

The Sage Intelligence Security Manager

o
o
o
o

4.

maintains the licenses installed for Sage Intelligence Reporting.

provides an interface to create and modify reports.
maintains the connectivity between Sage Intelligence Reporting and the accounting (or other) data
sources.
controls the accessibility of Sage Intelligence Reporting reports by the various users.

controls the accessibility of Sage Intelligence Reporting reports by the various users.
maintains the licenses installed for Sage Intelligence Reporting.
provides an interface to create and modify reports.
maintains the connectivity between Sage Intelligence Reporting and the accounting (or other) data
sources.

The Sage Intelligence License Manager

o
o
o
o

controls the accessibility of Sage Intelligence Reporting reports by the various users.
provides an interface to create and modify reports.
maintains the connectivity between Sage Intelligence Reporting and the accounting (or other) data
sources.
maintains the licenses installed for Sage Intelligence Reporting.

Lesson Exercise 2: Navigating within the Connector

Objective: This exercise familiarizes you with navigating within the Connector.
Steps:
1.

Open the Connector.

2.

Double-click on the ODBC Driver for Access connection type.

3.

Select the RKL Trading Demo connection.

4.

In the Properties window, select Show Advanced.

5.

Determine if Consolidated Connection is selected.

Yes

6.

No

In the ribbon; on which tab is the System Variables option.

Home

7.

Help

Using the ribbon, launch the Help File. On the first page which appears, what is the last benefit listed
as a benefit of using Sage Intelligence Reporting?

8.

Tools

Consistent format
(Microsoft Excel) for
reporting across multiple
data sources

Extends Microsoft Excel

skills rather than
requiring learning of a
new set of software skills

Empowers you thereby

improving overall
productivity

Using the right-click menu on the Sales Details container, name the fourth option on the menu.
Add Expressions

Delete

Rename

Lesson Exercise 4: Creating Data Connectivity to an Access

Database
Objective: This exercise demonstrates creating a new data connection to an Access Database. You can
use the demo database in the Sage Intelligence Reporting installation folder for this exercise,
RKL Trading,mdb
Steps:
Connect to a Data Source:
1.

From the object window, double-click on Enterprise.

2.

Click on ODBC Driver for Access.

3.

Select Add Connection.

4.

In the Connection Name box, enter in the desired name, example ERP Database.

5.

Since we are working on an access database, the server field will not be available. In the Access
Database (mdb) field, select the ellipses ().

6.

Browse to the C:\Installfolder\RKL Trading.mdb database.

7.

Select Open.

8.

Select Add. The new connection is now available under the ODBC Driver for Access.

Add a Container:
From the object window, click on the ERP Database Connection.
9.

On the Home tab and select Add Data Containers.

10. Select the desired container type (Table, SQL Join, View, Graphical Join, Stored Procedure, SQL
Query). For the purpose of this exercise, select Table and click OK.
11. Select the Customers table.

The Source Container will appear as follows:

12. From the object window, click on the new container, Customers and select Check/Test on the Home
tab. You will receive confirmation that the check succeeded, click OK.
13. Select Sample Data on the Home tab. The sample data will appear in the properties window as per
the image.

Add an Expression:
1.

From the object window, in the ERP Database connection, click on the Customers container.

2.

Select Add Expressions.

3.

Select Data Field(s) for the Expression Type.

4.

Select OK.

5.

Select the following fields from the table:

6.

CreditLimit

Name

ID

CatID

Blocked

Address1

Address2

Address3

Address4

Select OK. The fields will now be added under the container.

From the object window, click on the Customers container, and select
Check/Test All Expressions, on the Home tab.

Lesson Exercise 5: Using Excel as a Data Source for Reports

Objective: This exercise familiarizes you with connecting to an Excel data source.
To add a new data connection to an Excel workbook, youll need to ensure that you have selected the
applicable data in Microsoft Excel, and have named the range prior to adding the connection within the
Connector.
Steps:
Preparing the Excel Workbook
1.

Open any excel workbook which has unformatted data, i.e. not formatted in a table or pivot table. If
your data is in a table, on the Design tab, in the Tools group, click Convert to Range.

2.

First, make sure that the data is stored with accurate headings because the expressions will be created
using the heading names and we need to know what data we will be referring to later. Select the data
required for report writing.

3.

Next, we need to create named ranges. First name the entire table. This will be the container name we
select in the connector.

4.

Select the entire data range. There are some shortcuts you can use to select the entire data range but
lets stick to basics.

5.

In the Formulas tab

6.

Select Define Name.

7.

Give the data a name and click OK.

8.

With the range still selected, click Create from Selection.

9.

Select only the Top Row and click OK. This will create a named range for each column using the
column heading. Well use those for our expressions.

10. Save the workbook and minimize it.

Connecting to the Excel Workbook

1.

Open the Connector.

2.

Double-click Enterprise.

3.

Select ODBC Driver for Excel.

4.

On the Home tab, select Add Connection.

5.

Under the Connection Name give the connection a name.

6.

In the Excel Workbook box, use the ellipses()to browse to the location of the Microsoft excel
workbook that youll be accessing.

7.

Click Add.

8.

Now add the data container: Open the Excel workbook.

9.

You need to have it the excel workbook open to add containers and expressions to the workbook.

10. In the Connector, click on the connection and select Add Data Containers.
11. Select the table that is the named range you specified for the entire table and click OK.

Now add the expressions.

12. Select the container.
13. Click Add Expressions.
14. Select Data Field(s) for the Expression Type.
15. Click Select All.
16. Click OK. You can now use this container to create reports in the Report Manager.
17. Dont forget to use Check/Test and Sample Data to ensure everything is working as expected.

Lesson Exercise 6: Creating a Container From Multiple Tables

Objective: This exercise guides you through understanding how to create a Graphical Join container.

Steps:
1.

From the object window, click on the RKL Trading Demo connection.

2.

Select Add Data Container.

3.

Select Graphical Join.

4.

Select OK.

5.

From the Specify a Name for the Container box, type Sales Data by Rep and select OK.

6.

Now select on the container, Sales Data by Rep.

7.

From the properties window, select the Graphical Join Tool button.

8.

Select the tables youd like use in the graphical join: Customers, DocumentHeader, Salespersons

9.

Select OK. The tables will now appear in the properties window.

Join the Tables:

1.

Identify the common join key in the tables.

2.

Drag the common join key from the one table to the next. Do the same for all additional tables you
have added to the join

3.

Select Apply.

4.

Right-click on the container and select check/test.

5.

The Join SQL syntax is displayed in the properties window.

6.

To sample the join container, right-click the Sales Data by Rep container.

7.

Select Sample Data.

Add Expressions:
1.

From the object window, click on the Sales Data by Rep

container.

2.

Select Add Expressions.

3.

Select Data Field(s).

4.

Select OK.

5.

Select all the tables in the Join.

6.

Select OK.

7.

Select all of the expressions required from the tables.

Table

Expression

Customers

Name

DocumentHeader

Date

DocumentHeader

DocType

DocumentHeader

DocNo

DocumentHeader

TotalCost

Salespersons

Name

8.

Select OK.

9.

The Expressions will now be added under the container. Test and then sample all of the Expressions
from the list.

Lesson Exercise 7: Customizing Expressions

Objective: When consolidating multiple databases we sometimes need to be able to see which accounts
belong to which Company dataset. We can do this by appending the Company name to the account
number to ensure that each account is unique. This exercise demonstrates the process to customize an
expression.

1.

From the object window, click on the RKL Trading Demo connection.

2.

Expand the Management Pack container.

3.

Select the AccountNo expression.

4.

On the Home tab, select Sample Data.

5.

Note the format of the account numbers.

Copy the expression:

6.

Select the AccountNo expression again.

7.

Select Copy.

8.

Select the Management Pack container.

9.

Select Paste.

10. Select the Copy of AccountNo expression.

11. Change the expression source add the company name as follows:
Company.Name + '-' + [ChartofAccounts].[Account]
12. Click Apply.
13. On the Home tab, select Sample Data.
14. Expand the column and notice the account numbers now include the company names.
The same can be applied to all Expressions in the Container. For Example should you wish to have 1 field
that displays CustomerName and CustSuppID. You can either use a SQL Expression or an Excel
Formula Expression to join the fields together.

See SQL Expression Below:

[DocumentLines].[CustSuppID]
+ '-' + RTRIM([Customers].[Name])

Lesson Exercise 8: Using Variables as Expressions

Objective: This exercise guides you through using a Pass Through Variable as a filter during run time.

Steps:
1.

From the object window, click on the RKL Trading Demo connection.

2.

In the Connector, select the Sales Details container.

Add a Pass Through Expression:

3.

Click Add Expressions.

4.

Select Pass Through Variable.

5.

Type a name for the expression: ProductNameVariable.

6.

Add the unique code: @ProdName@

7.

Click OK.

Were now going to use the Report Manager to copy the reports we are going to create in a union report,
and add the pass through variable expression as a parameter and a filter so that we are prompted for a
specific product name to report on.
1.

Open the Report Manager.

2.

Copy the Sales Details and the Stock Re-Order Levels report.

3.

Rename the Copy of Sales Details report to 2 Sales Details.

4.

Rename the Copy of Stock Re-Order Levels report to 1 Stock Re-Order Levels.

5.

If given the option for report template select Assign new name and leave the old template on the
disc even if it is used.

6.

Select the 1 Stock Re-Order Levels report. Rightclick and select Unlink Template. Confirm Un-Link
by clicking OK.

7.

Select the 2 Sales Details Report.

8.

Right-click and select Unlink Template.

9.

Confirm Un-Link by clicking OK.

Add a parameter to the 2 Sales Details report:

1.

Select the 2 Sales Details report.

2.

Select the Parameters tab in the properties window.

3.

Click Add.

4.

In the Choose Filter Fields window that appears, select ProductNameVariable.

5.

Confirm that you would like to work in this mode by clicking Yes.

6.

A window to enter an optional default for the parameter will appear. Type the following: Product Name
contains.

Add a filter to the 2 Sales Details report:

1.

Select the Filters tab.

2.

Select Add.

3.

Select ProductName.

4.

Click OK.

5.

Select Contains in the Choose Comparison Method window.

6.

In the Enter Comparison Value window, type the pass through variable: @ProdName@ and click OK.

Add the same filter to the 1 Stock Re-Order Levels report.

1.

Select the Filters tab.

2.

Select Add.

3.

Select ProductName.

4.

Click OK.

5.

Select Contains in the Choose Comparison Method window.

6.

In the Enter Comparison Value window, type the pass through variable: @ProdName@, and click OK.

Create a Union Report.

1.

Select the Demonstration folder.

2.

Select Add Report.

3.

Select Union Report and click OK.

4.

Name the report Stock and Sales and click OK.

5.

Select the 1 Stock Re-Order Levels report and the 2 Sales Details report.

6.

Select OK.

7.

Select the sub report: 2 Sales Details.

8.

Change the Output Sheet Number to 3.

9.

Right-click on the 2 Sales Details and select Properties

10. In the Output Sheet Number (Left to Right) box type 3 and click OK.

11. Make sure that the 2 Sales Details Report is the first of the sub reports to run as it has the report with
the parameters on it. These same parameters need to be passed through to the 1 Stock Re-Order
Levels sub report. With Union sub reports the rule is LIFO, (Last In First Out). Therefore the Sales
report needs to be Last In. See Diagram below.

Run the Union Report.

1.

Select the Stock and Sales Report.

2.

Select Run.

3.

In the Enter Report Parameters window, in the ProductNameVariable field, type Archies.

4.

Click OK.

5.

The report will open in Microsoft Excel. Note the report on Sheet1 and Sheet3 only reported on those
products that contained Archies in the name.