Reports and Saved Searches Flashcards
T/F: It is generally considered a best practice to create new reports from a blank slate using the report builder?
False - The three most important words in the creation of new reports using Report Builder are plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize! Best practice is to identify the closest possible matching existing report and use it as the basis for the new report.
How do you secure a WebQuery to share live NetSuite data with non NetSuite users?
While WebQueries can provide a non NetSuite user with the ability to access NetSuite data via Excel there is no security beyond a prompt for the email address of the individual who published the query. Further it is not possible to audit access. The only thing one can do is disable the WebQuery to prevent further access.
What is SuiteAnalytics Connect?
SuiteAnalytics Connect is an add-on service that provides read-only access to third party applications using standards compliant methods including ODBC, JDBC and ADO.NET in conjunction with SQL.
How can you create a report that provides period-over-period comparison functionality?
SuiteAnalytics Report Builder allows the designer to add a column to a report multiple times specifying alternate dates for each column. These alternate dates can be configured relative to the selected report dates.
What SuiteAnalytics Report Builder feature increases report flexibility and reusability?
Filters can be added to a report to allow users to tailor at run time thus promoting reuse and reducing the number of custom reports needed.
When would you choose to use a Report over a Saved Search?
Reports are the better choice when you need to:* present data in hierarchical groupings* include sub-totals and totals in the result* access calculated fields or dimensions not available in saved searches* provide a more polished presentation* access data as-of a specific point-in-time
What steps would you take to add an additional field to an existing report?
1.) Execute the existing report.2.) Select the Customize option.3.) Navigate to the Edit columns tab.4a.) Navigate the report field folders to access fields (standard and custom) for the record a report is based on or related records.4b.) Use the “Add Formula Field” button to add a basic formula using a predefined structure.5.) Move the column to the appropriate location in the report.6.) Revise field options such as label, grouping, aggregation and formatting.
What steps would you take to make an existing report more flexible?
1.) Execute the existing report.2.) Select the Customize option.3.) Navigate to the Filters tab.4.) Add appropriate fields from the folders to the report.5.) Select a default value for the added filter - mandatory.6.) Enable the Show in Filter Region option so users can make selections at runtime.
What is a limitation of adding additional filters to a report in order to increase flexibility?
Because default values have to be specified for each filter a report that often needs to be run for “all” values on a dimension could require extra effort to run and maintain.
What steps would you take to order the results returned in a report?
1.) Execute the existing report.2.) Select the Customize option.3.) Navigate to the Sorting tab.4.) Add appropriate fields from the folders to the sort.5.) Optionally select the option to order descending.6.) Make sure sort fields are positioned in the order of desired sort.
Where do you specify the detail drill down option for a summary report?
1.) Execute the existing report.2.) Select the Customize option.3.) Navigate to the More options tab.4.) Drill down report.Note: User must have access to the detail report.
What is the difference in functionality provided by the report builders Audience and Access sub-tabs found on the more options tab?
The audience sub-tab enables sharing a report by publishing it to the saved reports list of other users, roles, departments and groups. However this does not mean a user can run a report. In order to run the shared report users must have appropriate permissions to the underlying data. By using the access tab an administrator is able to override the default permissions and extend the ability to execute the report to additional roles, departments, groups, partners and users.
How do you make a report available as a WebQuery?
1.) Execute the existing report.2.) Select the Customize option.3.) Navigate to the More options tab.4.) Enable the Allow WebQuery Option.Note: Some reports such as financial cannot be shared as WebQueries. Further this capability should be used with caution as once a WebQuery is in the wild little control over distribution is available.
How can the Administrator manage custom reports?
Navigate to Reports -> Saved Reports -> All Saved Reports to access the list of all saved reports from all users. Here it is possible to manage the reports as required. Note that inline editing is available and could be used to apply a naming convention that is adopted after the fact.
Where can you find the history of revisions to a report?
The history of a reports revisions is visible on the Audit Trail sub-tab of the more options tab in report builder.
How many columns can be added to a report in Report Builder?
A report is only allowed to have 30 columns defined. However the resulting report may display more than 30 columns when matrix statements are applied that display the columns repeatedly across different dimensions such as subsidiary.
What restrictions does NetSuite enforce on reporting to ensure performance?
1.) Report definitions are limited to 30 columns2.) A user can only run two reports at a time.3.) A user can only run a single instance of the same report at a time.4.) Only 100K rows are retrieved for a report executed on demand.5.) Only 500K rows are retrieved for scheduled reports.
How can one work around the row retrieval restriction of 100K for reports executed on demand?
1.) Schedule the report to get 500K records retrieved.2.) Set additional filters to return a needed subset.3.) Create a saved search.4.) Use SuiteAnalytics Connect
Why would you use the Report Builders limited formula capability rather than adding a custom non-stored formula based field to the record which could provide a consistent result across multiple use cases?
The formula capability can provide some unique functionality with regards to alternate dates. If columns have been added to show values in a period-over-period style for example report formulas can be used to show differences and ratios between the periods - this could not be accomplished using a record level custom field.
You have just created a new report for a user but the users indicates they are unable to find the report. Why?
You likely forgot to add an appropriate role, group, department or user to the “Audience” defined on the More Options tab of the report builder. This effectively means that the report has not been shared with the user.
You have created a report summarizing information by a classification but when you execute it you notice several classifications are missing from the report. After some research you realize that the missing classification have a zero result. How would you add the missing classifications to the report?
In report builder navigate to the more options tab and select “Show Zeros”
How would you configure a report to display on a cash basis rather than on an accrual basis?
In the report builder navigate to the more options tab and select “Cash Basis”
The Report Builder -> More Options tab allows the administrator to configure a report to display on the report overview and menu by selecting “Show on Reports Page”. If this option is not selected and therefor the report is not available on the menu or report dashboard how can you access the report?
Reports -> Saved Reports -> All Saved Reports
