Need to Be Able to Format Parameter

Question

Post Author: Daveless
CA Forum: General Feedback
I recently started using XI with a new company.  I have created several reports and everything is going smooth.  The forum has helped a bunch also, but the biggest problem I have is the lack of formatting when you create a new parameter field.
My 7 digit account numbers look like: 123,456 but should be formatted for 123456.  The employees that use these reports always are confused and as you can see in the forum that there is a big complaint about the format of dates: YYYY/MM/DD.  Along with other smaller complaints about new parameter fields (Color, style).
Overall this is a great tool, easy to use/learn, and helpful people, but it lacks what I would call important formatting - because the people who create the reports understand, but the people we create them for don't (and I am tired of getting those calls).
Thanks Dave

Answer 1

Post Author: jsanzone
CA Forum: General Feedback
Dave,
Your observations about default formatting and the inability to control this (at least as best I know it can't be controlled) is valid.  Your statement about "people who create ... understand, but the people we create them for don't..." sounds like a customer education problem.  In my current deployment situation (I'm in maintenance mode/steady state) we have an ongoing education program for all users.  Before users are granted an account they are given training on how to use the system.  Fortunately, most users understand the data (though we are not adverse to discussing the data with them during training on an as-required-basis), but our biggest emphasis is on getting a rudimentary knowledge of how to use the tool.  We spend about 4-5 hours taking users from Infoview (read-only mode), to running pre-canned reports in WebI, to the build-your-own capability.  There are some capabilities that we gloss over as "advanced, we'll save for another day of training", but we try to hit hard the "must haves" in order to help folks survive using the tool.  I've been in BI for six years now and I say almost daily to my boss "if you find the perfect BI tool stay away from it, otherwise it will not remain perfect for much longer".  I've personally experienced three tools (all web-based) in the past six years and must admit that BO XI R2 is the most powerful but also demands that users are given orientation, otherwise I would be getting those tiring phone calls.  I'm always happy to assist users with their needs but I look at the time spent in training as time well spent.  Well, I've rambled along enough, but I think the bottom line is to consider some type of training vehicle for your users, if not face-to-face, then maybe some PowerPoint slides or a CBT, but something with helpful hints and direction.  Good luck!