Learn to Effectively Script in
ACL – The Keys To Getting
Started and Fully Automating
Your Testing
AuditNet and AuditSoftware.Net
Collaboration
Brought to you by AuditSoftware.net and
AuditNet®, working together to provide
 Practical audit software training
 Resource links
 Independent analysis
 Tools to improve audit software usage
Today focused on providing practical data
analysis training
Page 1
About Jim Kaplan, CIA, CFE
 President and Founder of AuditNet®,




the global resource for auditors (now
available on Apple and Android
devices)
Auditor, Web Site Guru,
Internet for Auditors Pioneer
Recipient of the IIA’s 2007 Bradford
Cadmus Memorial Award.
Author of “The Auditor’s Guide to
Internet Resources” 2nd Edition
Page 2
Introductions
About AuditNet® LLC
• AuditNet®, the global resource for auditors, is available on the
Web, iPad, iPhone and Android devices and features:
• Over 2,000 Reusable Templates, Audit Programs,
Questionnaires, and Control Matrices
• Training without Travel Webinars focusing on fraud, audit
software (ACL, IDEA, Excel), IT audit, and internal audit
• Audit guides, manuals, and books on audit basics and using
audit technology
• LinkedIn Networking Groups
• Monthly Newsletters with Expert Guest Columnists
• Book Reviews
• Surveys on timely topics for internal auditors
Page 3
Webinar Housekeeping
This webinar and its material are the
property of Auditnet LLC Cash Recovery
Partners LLC. Unauthorized usage or
recording of this webinar or any of its
material is strictly forbidden. We are
recording the webinar and you will be
provided with a link to that recording as
detailed below. Downloading or otherwise
duplicating the webinar recording is
expressly prohibited.
The CPE certificates and link to the recording
will be sent to the email address you
registered with in GTW. We are not
responsible for delivery problems due to
spam filters, attachment restrictions or other
controls in place for your email client.
Webinar recording link will be sent via email
within 5-7 business days.
After the Webinar is over you will have an
opportunity to provide feedback. Please
complete the feedback questionnaire to help
us continuously improve our Webinars
Submit questions via the chat box on your
screen and we will answer them either
during or at the conclusion.
NASBA rules require us to ask polling
questions during the Webinar and CPE
certificates will be sent via email to those
who answer ALL the polling questions
If GTW stops working you may need to close
and restart. You can always dial in and listen
and follow along with the handout.
Page 4
Disclaimers
The views expressed by the presenters do not necessarily represent the
views, positions, or opinions of AuditNet® or the presenters’ respective
organizations. These materials, and the oral presentation accompanying them,
are for educational purposes only and do not constitute accounting or legal
advice or create an accountant-client relationship.
While AuditNet® makes every effort to ensure information is accurate and
complete, AuditNet® makes no representations, guarantees, or warranties as
to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided via this
presentation. AuditNet® specifically disclaims all liability for any claims or
damages that may result from the information contained in this presentation,
including any websites maintained by third parties and linked to the AuditNet®
website
Any mention of commercial products is for information only; it does not imply
recommendation or endorsement by AuditNet®
5
Richard B. Lanza, CPA, CFE, CGMA
•
•
•
•
•
Over two decades of ACL and Excel software usage
Wrote the first practical ACL publication on how to use the
product in 101 ways (101 ACL Applications)
Has written and spoken on the use of audit data analytics for
over 20 years.
Received the Outstanding Achievement in Business Award by
the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners for developing
the publication Proactively Detecting Fraud Using Computer
Audit Reports as a research project for the IIA
Recently was a contributing author of:
•
•
•
Global Technology Audit Guide (GTAG #13) Fraud in an
Automated World – Institute of Internal Auditors.
Data Analytics – A Practical Approach - research whitepaper
for the Information System Accountability Control
Association.
Cost Recovery – Turning Your Accounts Payable Department
into a Profit Center – Wiley and Sons.
Please see full bio at www.richlanza.com
Learning Objectives
Understand the value of automating data work and how ACL scripts can be your link to continuous
monitoring.
See how to build an ACL script in two minutes (with no prior experience) and the various approaches to
writing scripts.
Walkthrough a variety of different built scripts (provided to attendees) to understand the range of ACL
in pre-developed applications.
Learn how to maximize the new ACL script editor (version 9.3 and forward) to make script writing that
much easier.
Understand how to create all types of ACL dialogs and menus for rolling out interactive scripts.
Learn how to manage and move scripts across various ACL documents, as well as, making desktop
icons to run entire ACL programs with one click on your desktop. This includes working with ACL
folders within the ACL document and scripts.
Walkthrough intermediate techniques including a Monthly Stratification script, using Loops and Groups,
as well as, the difference between Sorting and Pre-Sorting data.
See how to complete a key word search using a subroutine script.
Learn and document best practices for script development to ensure knowledge transfer to others
within the organization.
Page 7
Making an ACL Script in Two Minutes
Page 8
Value of ACL Scripting
Useful for routine tasks
 Can be for periodic audit steps
 Also can assist in importing similar data
• For example, OPEN FILE 1, EXTRACT RECORD,
OPEN FILE 2, EXTRACT RECORD, etc.
Build the quality in once
 “Set it and forget it”
Learn how ACL works behind the scenes
 Value of learning ACL for DOS
Page 9
Quick Process to Running
Data
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Know your audit objectives
Align reports to the objectives
Use past reports to model /refine reports
Set data requirements based on reports
Obtain, validate, and normalize data
Edit scripts for data needs
Run reports and document results
Page 10
Two Top Methods to Script
Add a new session to the ACL log file
 Save work to a script
Use the Script Recorder
 Turn it on (Tools menu)
 Turn it on again to save work
Page 11
Making a Script In Two Minutes
Open payables table
Statistics on all values
Stratify check amount value
Extract invoices above average (AVERAGE1)
Safety, Delete All, Pause, and Comments
Page 12
Polling Question #1
What comes first – identifying data sources,
requesting data, building scripts, or listing
report ideas?
 Getting data sources
 Listing report ideas
 Requesting data
 Building scripts
Page 13
Hardcoded and Introducing Dialogs
Page 14
101 ACL Applications
Over 100 reports including all scripts, audit
objectives, comments to scripts and
suggested audit steps to take with the results
Page 15
101 ACL Applications
Sample Script Review
GL #6 – Entries Not Equal to Zero
GL #2 – Flattening Journal Entries
VEN_INTR_101 - Weighted DPO Calculation
Page 16
101 ACL Applications
Approach of Scripts
Rename file names to equal script tables
Rename field names to equal script fields
Adjust all variables in the script
Page 17
VEN_INTR_PTS
Payables Test Version
Same functionality
Can be universally applied
Uses dialog boxes to:
 Select a data
 Select fields
 Set an interest rate
Page 18
Polling Question #2
What is put at the beginning of a script to
have it overwrite existing tables?
 Set Overwrite On
 Set Overwrite OK
 Set Safety Off
 Set Safety On
Page 19
Developing Each Dialog Box
Page 20
Project Item Dropdown
Most Versatile
Project Item
 Tables
 Fields – Can set type
 Variables
 Scripts
Page 21
Other Dialogs
Dropdown Numbers and Characters
Radio IF RADIO1=1
Checkbox IF PAYABLEREP=T DO SCRIPT ABC
Text Entry Numbers and Characters
Page 22
Script Editor Changes
in One Picture
Page 23
Setting Folders
ACL folders can be established to manage
script work.
Script command to set folder:
SET FOLDER /_CRP_SCRIPTS_AND_FILES/Report_Output_Final_Files
Page 24
Polling Question #3
What is one feature not available in the script
editors enhancements in ACL 9.3 & 10?
 Word wrap
 Line numbering
 Spell check
 Font style customizations
Page 25
Monthly Stratification Script &
Working With Variables / Defined Fields
Page 26
Monthly Stratification Script
Learning Objectives
Building Complex Conditional Fields
Ensuring Date Variables are Used Properly
Using Variables in Dialog Boxes
Using Variables in File Names
Adjusting Variables in Field Names
Export fields AS Another Field Name
Maximizing the Stratify Command Using KEY
and the Crosstab function
Page 27
Polling Question #4
What word is used in the STRATIFY
command to break at a key field?
 BREAK
 PARSE
 KEY
 PRIMARY KEY
Page 28
Group and Else
Page 29
Simple Yet Effective Group/Else
Reduces Processing Time / Passes Through
Table Once
Allows Multiple IF Statements
GROUP IF
GROUP ELSE / ELSE IF / ELSE / END
Page 30
Key Words Search and Vendor to
Employee Name Search
Page 31
The Main Statement
JOIN PKEY Blank_Field_ON FIELDS
RECORD_NUMBER_ON
Search_ON_Field_CONV SKEY
Blank_Field_Through WITH
RECORD_NUMBER_THROUGH
Search_THROUGH_Field_CONV IF
FIND(ALLTRIM(Search_ON_Field_CONV),I
nput_Search_Through_EXT.Search_THRO
UGH_Field_CONV) TO "SEARCH_FILE_1"
OPEN MANY
Page 32
Script Best Practices
Page 33
Script Best Practices
Set Safety On / Off
Set field/file variables up front in the script
Code in a text editor (i.e., Edit Pad Pro)
Comment throughout the code (you will
forget what you did otherwise)
Page 34
Script Best Practices
PAUSE statements
Delete All OK
Delete temporary files at the end:
 Delete sorted.fil OK
 Delete format sorted OK
Master script to DO SCRIPTS
Page 35
Script Best Practices
Number Your Scripts
 A01, A02, etc.
SORT vs. PRESORT
Dialog Titles & Set Sizing of Dialog Boxes
SET FOLDER to Include Tables in Folders of
Choice
Page 36
Polling Question #5
What function allows you to search
THROUGH a certain field in ACL?
 FIND ()
 LOOK()
 RIGHT()
 MID()
Page 37
Questions?
Any Questions?
Don’t be Shy!
Page 38
In the Queue
Excel Pivot Tables and Graphing for
Auditors – June 25
Building Simple Continuous Monitoring in
ACL – July 2
AuditSoftwareVideos.com
Videos accessible for FREE subscriptions
Repeat video and text instruction as much as
you need
Sample files, scripts, and macros in ACL™,
Excel™, etc. available for purchase
Bite-size video format (3 to 20 minutes)
>> Professionally
produced videos by
instructors with over 20
years experience in
ACL™, Excel™ , and
more
Page 40
Free Files for Today
AuditSoftwareVideos.com
June 7, 2012 – Introduction to Scripting
June 19, 2012 – Intermediate Scripting
October 9, 2012 – Advanced Scripting
Page 41
Thank You!
Jim Kaplan
AuditNet LLC®
1-800-385-1625
Email:info@auditnet.org
http://www.auditnet.org
Richard B. Lanza, CPA, CFE, CGMA
Cash Recovery Partners, LLC
Phone: 973-729-3944
Cell: 201-650-4150
Fax: 973-270-2428
Email: rich@richlanza.com
http://www.richlanza.com
Page 42