Reports and graphs in IFP are very flexible in that they offer many options for which files, items, date types and levels of detail are included. This flexibility means that it is very useful to be able to save and reuse favourite options related to a specific report or graph.
Types of Favourites
IFP allows you to save any of the following information as favourites:
The above features offer a flexible and powerful means for generating routine reports with increased reliability and saving of resources. Many users create complete sets of routine daily and/or monthly management reports using this methodology.
Data Favourites
These include data file selections, report definitions and the reporting period. These are specific to each report/graph/editor type.
Data favourites are used to save options that are likely to be used on a regular basis in order to save time and avoid unnecessary errors. You may select a suitable favourite to be used when running a report instead of selecting options manually each time. They are commonly used in combination with Item Favourites to create Packages.
Data favourites may be modified to be used for a single occasion and modified options may be saved for reuse if required.
Naming of Favourites
It is important to name each data favourite carefully, so that the name reflects which options are included in that favourite. You should avoid using fixed text in names where the favourite is to be saved as a relative file, e.g. 2010 Actuals January-September Analysis by Customer is not a good choice. You should avoid including any reference to item selections in names of data favourites.
Example
Suppose the options below are included in a data favourite and the current year is 2010. A good name might be CY Actual Jan-Sep by Month Analysis by Customer.
Relative file selections
This indicates that years of files and selected months will change automatically as the current year/month moves through time.
You will not want to select this option if you want to fix years and periods for your report (e.g. if you always want your report to show 2010 Plan values).
Auto-refresh file labels
This indicates that file labels will automatically be set to the current default file label (as set in Data File Manager). You will not want to select this option if you want to fix file labels on your report to specific text such as 'Actual' rather than the default label (e.g. 2010 Actual).
Item Favourites
These include item selections (by table, code and/or classification variable) and any reporting options such as level of detail, currency, data type inclusions and report headings. They are shared amongst all types of reports and graphs.
Item favourites are used to save options that are likely to be used on a regular basis in order to save time and avoid unnecessary errors. You may select a suitable favourite to be used when running a report instead of selecting options manually each time.
Item favourites may be modified to be used for a single occasion and modified options may be saved for reuse if required. They are commonly used in combination with Data Favourites to create Packages.
Naming of Favourites
It is important to name each item favourite carefully, so that the name reflects which options are included in that favourite. You should avoid creating very long names by using suitable abbreviations. You should avoid including any reference to data file selections or periods in names of item favourites.
Example
Suppose the options below are included in an item favourite. A good name might be WH Sales by Product Group, USD '000.
For more information on creating Data and Item Favourites, please see the first part of [video] How to Create a Package.
Graph Favourites
These include selections for graph type and style/colours for each series in a graph.
Comments
2 comments
Where is the instructions on how to save a favorite?
Instructions on doing this can be found in How to Add a Favourite Package, Dashboard, Project, AutoTask to IFP Home.
Please sign in to leave a comment.