In working with IBM on the support ticket, it seems that the problematic behavior I've noted (that a user hitting the 'HTML' function on the prompt page triggers a set of Cognos default prompts to appear) may have something to do with the version of the report spec, or an upgrade issue with the report spec. I tried creating a brand new report in 11.2.4, and did not observe the issue. I have other reports (dozens created in Cognos10, a couple created in 11.[don't remember]) that
do display the issue. As an test, I found I could take one of those reports, copy to clipboard, paste into a new report, and lo & behold the 'HTML' / output to other formats button no longer triggers a default prompting selection to appear (so, no problem). I suppose I could do that for everyone of my reports (not great, but at least a path forward for me in 11.2.4).
I created a brief mp4 to show/record the issue for the IBM rep, who is working to replicate the issue, and it's probably best for me to pursue a solution in that channel. I was curious if anyone else has run across this (but it appears not.
I appreciate your suggestions, and will consider them as my org moves forward. Our set of reports is due for some refreshing.
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Mike Comiskey
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Original Message:
Sent: Fri January 13, 2023 02:10 AM
From: Paul Mendelson
Subject: Release 11.2.4 of Cognos Analytics Webinar
Can you set the default values of the prompt to match the user security? The queryValues macro may be very useful here. In general I always try to avoid prompt pages as I feel they are security risks.
Also, you can force Cognos to load a value prompt instead of a text prompt if the user tried to bypass the prompt page like that.
#prompt(
'param name'
, 'datatype'
, queryValue expression
, ''
, 'source for generated prompt' )#
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Paul Mendelson
Original Message:
Sent: Thu January 12, 2023 12:13 PM
From: Mike Comiskey
Subject: Release 11.2.4 of Cognos Analytics Webinar
Hi Paul, I note in the first screenshot you shared that the "HTML" still appears to the right of the blue triangle/play icon, and I'd guess that if a user clicks on that from a prompt page not having made prompt selections, Cognos prompts the user to enter prompt values in a default prompt interface? For me, that's the problem -- many of my reports have filters placed in prompt queries tying users' roles to available prompt selections; for example, depending on the user role, user X should only see 'Mountaineering Equipment' in the prompts and not see 'Personal Accessories.' If the user clicks on the HTML link on the prompt page right away, they could enter/select 'Personal Accessories' in the default prompt interface, and then get those results.
(I'm surprised the 'Select a format' option is active/selectable on the RS prompt page. The "Run" option isn't active, which is good IMO).
I have opened a support ticket with IBM, and I'll see what happens there. I think I could roll back to 11.2.3 but I'd been looking forward to the 11.2.4 release.
Thank you for your time and your reply, sincerely appreciated.
------------------------------
Mike Comiskey
Original Message:
Sent: Thu January 12, 2023 04:34 AM
From: Paul Mendelson
Subject: Release 11.2.4 of Cognos Analytics Webinar
CogBox has an "Export Report" control. You select it and it will create a button that you can use to export your report to any format. Stick it on the prompt page and you can set it to use the selected values of prompts on the page.
Clicking on the excel button will generate this output:
And then changing the prompt:
generates this:
Best thing is that it's one of the free controls. (Really not trying to sell here, just happy to have a solution for you.) https://pmsquare.com/cogbox
I've also attached the report xml from the screenshots above.
Important note though! When you run the report from report studio it will error out if you try to use the export button, you have to run it from the portal. This is because report studio doesn't pass the search path information of the report when it runs.
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Paul Mendelson
Original Message:
Sent: Tue January 10, 2023 10:57 AM
From: Mike Comiskey
Subject: Release 11.2.4 of Cognos Analytics Webinar
Hello,
With regards to Report Studio in 11.2.4, it appears that the function to export a report to a different format is now separate from the "Run As..." triangle icon. The ability to trigger output to another format is also active/selectable on report Prompt pages -- not sure I understand why that would be, but more importantly, if a user selects one of those report output options before making selections from the prompts on the prompt page, Cognos generates a default prompt page for the parameter values, and this gives the user the opportunity to enter ANY value(s), bypassing security (filters on the prompt queries) I've placed on the parameters on the prompt page.
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Mike Comiskey
Original Message:
Sent: Tue November 29, 2022 08:19 PM
From: RACHEL SU
Subject: Release 11.2.4 of Cognos Analytics Webinar
SummaryHello Everyone,
The latest release of Cognos Analytics 11.2.4 is coming soon! Rachel Su, along with the rest of the product management team are excited to show what's new!Here are the highlights of what's in the new release:- Natural language generation in dashboards
- Additional datasource connections
- Rendering Maps in PDF and Excel
- Improved PDF output in dashboards
- Report rendering in Microsoft Teams
Join our Cognos Release 11.2.4 technical overview webinar on Tuesday, January 10th at 11AM ET.
Register here. Looking forward to sharing the latest on Cognos!
Please join us on Tuesday, January 10th, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST. Share your questions below and register to join here.
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RACHEL SU
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#CognosAnalyticswithWatson