Argos Report Writing Training
INTRODUCTION
Argos is a powerful reporting solution designed for everyone from novice users to the most seasoned
technical experts. Training sessions are designed to illustrate the features of the product, show how to
access the support resources and familiarize different types of users with their capabilities in Argos
through hands-on training.
A detailed agenda and description of the material covered in each training session are provided within
this document. Trainers are careful to cover all topics listed in the session descriptions, but opt not to
use an hour-by-hour schedule. This allows trainers to facilitate more dynamic sessions, with
opportunities for discussion and independent lab times determined by the attendees’ progression
through the material. It also allows for the report writers and the trainer to customize certain
segments of the training to accommodate specific attendees.
CONTENTS
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Agenda (March 25 - 27, 2014) ............................................................................................................... 2
Argos User Groups .................................................................................................................................. 3
Session Descriptions and Recommended Audience ............................................................................... 3
Argos Demonstration .......................................................................................................................... 3
Report Writer Training ........................................................................................................................ 4
Report Specification Workshop .......................................................................................................... 4
Report Writer Trainer Facilitated Lab ................................................................................................. 4
Maximize your Training Experience ........................................................................................................ 5
Familiarize yourself with Argos ........................................................................................................... 5
Create your department’s Argos DataBlocks ..................................................................................... 5
What’s the Next Step after Training? ..................................................................................................... 6
Argos Report Writing Training | Agenda for March 25-27, 2014
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Kettering University | Instructional, Administrative and Information Technology | 1700 University Ave, Flint MI 48504-6214 | (810) 237-8324 | helpdesk@kettering.edu | http://kettering.edu/it
AGENDA (MARCH 25 - 27, 2014)
Kettering University – Campus Center
Employee Computer Training Lab, Room 5-321, 5th floor Campus Center
Day 1
Tue, March 25
8am
9am
10am
11am
Noon
Day 2
Wed, March 26
Day 3
Thu, March 27
Flexible Time (General Q&A)
Flexible Time (General Q&A)
Argos Demonstration
th
Room A, 4 floor, Campus Center
(All User Groups)
Report Writer
Core Skill Training
Report Writer
Core Skill Training
(continued)
Report Writer
Core Skill Training
(continued)
Report Specification Workshop
(Report Viewers & DataBlock Designers)
Lunch Break
Lunch Break
Lunch Break
Report Writer
Core Skill Training
(continued)
Report Writer
Trainer Facilitated Lab
Report Writer
Trainer Facilitated Lab
Report Writer Q & A
Report Writer Q & A
Report Writer Q & A
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm
A Google Calendar meeting invitation will be sent to your Kettering email address. It’s important you
make every effort to attend training during this timeframe.
Argos Report Writing Training | Agenda for March 25-27, 2014
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Kettering University | Instructional, Administrative and Information Technology | 1700 University Ave, Flint MI 48504-6214 | (810) 237-8324 | helpdesk@kettering.edu | http://kettering.edu/it
ARGOS USER GROUPS
•
Report Viewers: Argos Report Viewers have the ability to run reports, save and distribute the
output in a variety of useful formats.
•
Report Writers: Argos Report Writers have the ability to run reports as well as design and
modify CSV reports and banded (fully formatted) reports. Writers will use pre-built DataBlocks
to build a variety of reports.
•
DataBlock Designers: Argos DataBlock Designers (IT Staff) build the DataBlocks that Report
Writers and Viewers utilize to get their data.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS AND RECOMMENDED AUDIENCE
Argos Demonstration
In this session we will demonstrate how to access the support resources available to the
University, give an overview of Argos functionality, show attendees how to navigate and run a
variety of reports and manipulate an OLAP (On-Line Analytic Processing) cube.
Audience: All User Groups and anyone who is interested in seeing the full capabilities of Argos.
Topics Covered:
•
Identify support resources
o Evisions website
o Training schedule
o Evisions Co-op
o Technical Documentation
•
Argos Folder Structure
o Purpose of folders
o Navigation in the folder structure
o Contents of Folders
•
Learn to execute a Dashboard and run Argos reports
•
Demo of the different advanced reporting modules of Argos (OLAP Cubes and Drill
through Charts)
Argos Report Writing Training | Agenda for March 25-27, 2014
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Kettering University | Instructional, Administrative and Information Technology | 1700 University Ave, Flint MI 48504-6214 | (810) 237-8324 | helpdesk@kettering.edu | http://kettering.edu/it
Report Writer Training
In this hands-on training we will show the audience how to build and modify a CSV, Extract and
Banded report.
Audience: Report Writers
Topics Covered:
•
Introduce the Support Forums
•
Discuss the difference between a shared and private report
•
Understand the different ways security can be applied to reports
•
Demonstrate the capabilities of each report type
•
Create all three report types:
o Add expressions to reports
o Add sorts to reports
o Add grouping to banded and extract reports
•
Introduce the Library of Objects
o Add and retrieve objects for the library
o Create and use a library template
•
Learn how using API (Application Programming Interface) can make your reports
accessible to more people.
Report Specification Workshop
This session provides an opportunity for IT Staff (DataBlock Designers) and Report Writers to
provide feedback regarding the DataBlocks, report specifications and the process by which they
were created and delivered in the previous sessions.
Audience: Report Writers and DataBlock Designers
Report Writer Trainer Facilitated Lab
In this workshop session the Report Writers will create reports based on the DataBlocks created
by the IT Staff. The attendees will work independently, or in small groups with the instructor
facilitating by answering questions and giving direction.
Audience: Report Writers
Requirements for Success: Complete DataBlocks with IT.
Argos Report Writing Training | Agenda for March 25-27, 2014
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Kettering University | Instructional, Administrative and Information Technology | 1700 University Ave, Flint MI 48504-6214 | (810) 237-8324 | helpdesk@kettering.edu | http://kettering.edu/it
MAXIMIZE YOUR TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Familiarize yourself with Argos
In preparation for Argos training, we strongly encourage you go online and watch the pre-training
videos to begin to familiarize yourself with Argos. During the week of March 3, you will receive a
separate email providing instructions on how to access your personal Evisions website account and
view the pre-training videos.
Create your department’s Argos DataBlocks
The IT staff is working aggressively to build the appropriate DataBlocks to enable your success in
creating department reports.
What is a DataBlock?
DataBlocks are much like Banner Views. Complicated Banner table joins are prewritten by IT staff
allowing University Report Writers to focus their time on creating timely, user-friendly reports.
How do I request my department’s DataBlock?
The Report Specification Workshop will cover in detail the process for requesting creation and
modification of DataBlocks to best meet your department’s reporting needs. During the Training
Facilitated Lab, you will have the opportunity to apply your new skills toward writing your first
Argos department report.
IT Staff will work diligently to create at least one DataBlock for you to use during training. If your
department has not been working with IT on building DataBlocks, it’s important to take action
now.
1. Begin by reviewing your department’s reports. Initially, select a couple of your easier
reports that can be used during lab time in creating your first Argos report.
2. Once you have identified a couple simplistic reports, create a PDF document of the first
page of your report (we don’t need the entire report at this point).
3. Send an email to helpdesk@kettering.edu and attach your reports. In the email subject line
include the following text: “Argos – DataBlock Request for [your department name]”
Someone in IT will be in touch to confirm your DataBlock request has been received. We thank
you in advance for your patience as we work to create DataBlocks for the numerous
departments within the University.
Argos Report Writing Training | Agenda for March 25-27, 2014
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Kettering University | Instructional, Administrative and Information Technology | 1700 University Ave, Flint MI 48504-6214 | (810) 237-8324 | helpdesk@kettering.edu | http://kettering.edu/it
WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP AFTER TRAINING?
New skill sets that are not applied are lost. With support from your Vice President, Information
Technology will set-up weekly open labs to help answer any questions and provide assistance as you
transition your existing department reports and create new reports in Argos.
The scheduling of working training labs will begin immediately following the week of core training. You
will receive a personal Google Calendar appointment inviting you to attend the lab. Please be sure to
“accept” your attendance at your earliest convenience as lab space is limited and we want to optimize
open lab time.
Argos Report Writing Training | Agenda for March 25-27, 2014
Page 6 of 6
Kettering University | Instructional, Administrative and Information Technology | 1700 University Ave, Flint MI 48504-6214 | (810) 237-8324 | helpdesk@kettering.edu | http://kettering.edu/it