Financial Reporting Comparison Matrix
Epicor Financial Management
Financial Reporting
Comparison Matrix
(Epicor Product Lines)
Overview
Accurate financial reporting is of vital importance to all businesses
and Epicor currently offers a range of financial reporting options.
Microsoft FRx has been the standard in financial reporting for
many years, but in light of Microsoft’s decision to retire FRx and its
replacement Management Reporter, businesses are now reviewing
their options with regards to their go forward financial reporting
strategy. In response to this Epicor released two new products in
the form of, Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) and XL Connect.
Each offers a unique set of features, functions and user
experience.
The Purpose of this document is to enable a quick and easy
comparison between the various financial reporting tools currently
available to Epicor customers and the legacy financial reporting
tools they are used to in order that they can make the right
decisions on their go forward financial reporting products.
The Financial Reporting tools being evaluated here are:
GL Financial Report Writer (FRW)—The Embedded standard
report writer that ships with General Ledger
Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR)—Multi-company, multinational advanced reporting. Replacement for FRx and MMR.
Designed, and developed by Epicor.
Microsoft FRx—Long term standard for financial reporting. Now
in maintenance mode. Limited support.
Microsoft Management Reporter (MMR)—Designed to replace
FRx. Now in maintenance mode. Limited support.
XL Connect—Add-in to Microsoft Excel. Supports financial
functions within worksheets.
About Epicor
Epicor is a global leader delivering
business software solutions to the
manufacturing, distribution, retail, and
services industries. Founded in 1972, Epicor
serves 33,000 customers in more than 150
countries, providing solutions in more than
30 languages. Financial Reporting Comparison Matrix
Epicor Financial Management
Product Availability
GL Financial
Report
Writer (FRW)
Advanced
Financial
Reporting
(AFR)
Microsoft
FRx
Microsoft
Management
Reporter
XL Connect
Epicor ERP 9.05.XXX
X
X
X
X
X
Epicor ERP 9.04.XXX
Vantage 8.03.4XX
X
X
2011
X
X
X
iScala 2.2 SR2
X
iScala 2.3 SRX
2011
X
Enterprise 7.X
2011
X
iSolutions (ManFact X.X &
DataFlo X.X)
2011
Supported Functions
2012
GL Financial
Report
Writer (FRW)
Multiple Company
Advanced
Financial
Reporting
(AFR)
X
X
2011
X
Microsoft
FRx
Microsoft
Management
Reporter
XL Connect
X
X
X
X
X
You can display the financial results
from multiple companies together on
the same report
Multiple Books
X
X
You can display the financial results
from multiple books (Epicor9 feature)
together on the same report
Consolidate companies from
multiple databases
Direct Data reporting with
inherited security
Direct Data reporting security
defined in the application
X
High Performance (Server
based generation, client
publication)
Automatic creation of
PivotTables for detailed
analysis
Multi-dimensional drill-down
X
X
Replicated Data reporting
support with full security
Replicated Data reporting
security defined in the
application
Integrated security
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X (Enterprise
7)
2011 (Epicor
ERP)
X
X
X
X
X
X
Financial Reporting Comparison Matrix
Epicor Financial Management
Supported Functions
(Continued)
GL Financial
Report
Writer (FRW)
Advanced
Financial
Reporting
(AFR)
Via 3rd Party
Microsoft
FRx
X
X
34
Languages;
Arabic,
Chinese
Simplified,
Chinese
Traditional,
Czech,
Danish,
Dutch,
English,
Estonian,
Finnish,
French
(Canada),
French
(France),
German,
Greek,
Hungarian,
Italian,
Japanese,
Korean,
Latvian,
Lithuanian,
Norwegian,
Polish,
Portuguese
(Brazil),
Romanian,
Russian,
Slovak,
Spanish (LA),
Spanish
(Spain),
Swedish,
Thai,
Vietnamese,
Bulgarian,
Slovenian,
Turkish,
Ukrainian
34
Languages;
Arabic,
Chinese
Simplified,
Chinese
Traditional,
Czech,
Danish,
Dutch,
English,
Estonian,
Finnish,
French
(Canada),
French
(France),
German,
Greek,
Hungarian,
Italian,
Japanese,
Korean,
Latvian,
Lithuanian,
Norwegian,
Polish,
Portuguese
(Brazil),
Romanian,
Russian,
Slovak,
Spanish (LA),
Spanish
(Spain),
Swedish,
Thai,
Vietnamese,
Bulgarian,
Slovenian,
Turkish,
Ukrainian
XBRL Reporting
Report Preview
Language Globalization
The Report Designer interface can be
modified to display different languages
Microsoft
Management
Reporter
XL Connect
X
X
X
7 Languages;
Chinese
Simplified,
English,
French ,
German,
Portuguese
(Brazil),
Russian,
Spanish
18
Languages;C
hinese
(Simplified),
Chinese
(Traditional),
Czech,
Danish,
Dutch,
English,
Finnish,
French,
German,
Italian,
Japanese,
Korean,
Polish,
Portuguese
(Brazil),
Portuguese
(European),
Russian,
Spanish,
Swedish
English
X
Financial Reporting Comparison Matrix
Epicor Financial Management
Report Designing
GL Financial
Report
Writer (FRW)
Row sets
Column sets
Reporting trees
X
Advanced
Financial
Reporting
(AFR)
X
Microsoft
FRx
Microsoft
Management
Reporter
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
XL Connect
Manual
Used to create reporting hierarchies by
company and chart of accounts. You
can further define reporting trees by
account ranges, account categories,
and dictionaries you define
Dictionaries
Contain reusable definitions for groups
of accounts, row expressions, column
expressions, and reporting tree
hierarchies
Putting the report elements
together and creating .rdl
X
X
Use .rdl as a source for creating
functions
via MS BIDS
*
X
Suppress Zero Rows
via MS BIDS
*
X
X
Option for Separate Debit &
Credit Columns
X
X
X
Can be done
with
moderate
Excel skills
X
IF Function
In certain cases, the calculated
values are to be shown in
different places depending on
the sign or other conditions.
Report on unposted
transactions
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
via MS BIDS
*
X
X
Report Header and Footer
X
X
X
Updated Availability of Report
Parameters
X
Exception Reports
X
The option to use report parameters in
Column Period From and Period To
expressions
Drag-and-drop report creation
X
Flexible grid for report layout
via MS BIDS
*
Define look of the report with
MS BI Development Studio
Easy and instant control over
formatting elements like font,
font size, font color, font type,
shading, and borders
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Financial Reporting Comparison Matrix
Epicor Financial Management
Report Designing
(Continued)
Advanced
Financial
Reporting
(AFR)
X
Microsoft
FRx
Microsoft
Management
Reporter
XL Connect
X
X
X
Combine multiple reports in a
single file
via MS BIDS
*
X
X
X
Use functions that reference
data across multiple reports
Include graphs in reports
via MS BIDS
*
via MS BIDS
*
X
X
X
X
X
Include unrelated documents in
report
via MS BIDS
*
X
Include hyperlinks for
navigating around single and
multiple reports
Include non-Epicor data in
functions
via MS BIDS
*
via MS Studio
X
via MS Studio
X
Potential for reporting on more
modules than GL
via MS BIDS
*
via MS Studio
X
(Already have
AP Content
Pack for
Enterprise
and more
planned)
Basic Excel
skills
Conditional formatting
Skills required for designing
reports
GL Financial
Report
Writer (FRW)
via MS BIDS
*
Medium
X
Basic
Basic
Financial Reporting Comparison Matrix
Epicor Financial Management
Reporting Outputs
Advanced
Financial
Reporting
(AFR)
Microsoft
FRx
XML
X
X
X
HTML
X
X
X
CSV
X
X
X
Acrobat (PDF)
X
X
X
Microsoft Word
X
X
X
X
TIFF
X
X
X
SharePoint 2010
X
Email distribution
X
X
GL Financial
Report
Writer (FRW)
Advanced
Financial
Reporting
(AFR)
Microsoft
FRx
Microsoft
Management
Reporter
XL Connect
V8.03.40x
9.05.600
9.04
9.04
9.05.603
Pre-Requisites
None
Replication
Server; SQL
Server
None
None
MS Excel
Other Components
None
Sonic; SSRS
None
SSRS
SSRS
No
Recommend
ed
$4,480
AFR
Designer 2User and 5
Viewers
No
No
No
$4,590
FRx Desktop
2-User and 5
DrillDown
Viewers
$1,580
Concurrent
Named
Named
$6,500
1 designer
2 power
users
4 drill down
users
Named
Microsoft Excel
GL Financial
Report
Writer (FRW)
X
Commercial Arrangements
Epicor Version from
Additional Server Needed
Pricing (USD - 1 designer + 4
viewers)
incl with GL
Licensing
Concurrent
Microsoft
Management
Reporter
XL Connect
X
X
* MS BIDS = Microsoft Business Intelegence Design Studio
st
** All information correct as of 1 of July 2011
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Direct:
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Fax:
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Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, CP 64650
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Phone: +52.81.1551.7100
Fax:
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Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1PU
United Kingdom
Phone: +44.0.1344.468.468
Fax:
+44.0.1344.468.010
Asia
238A Thomson Road #23-06
Novena Square Tower A
Singapore 307684
Singapore
Phone: +65.6333.8121
Fax:
+65.6333.8131
Australia and New Zealand
Level 34
101 Miller Street
North Sydney NSW 2060
Australia
Phone: +61.2.9927.6200
Fax:
+61.2.9956.8976
This document is for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. This document and its contents, including the viewpoints, dates and functional content
expressed herein are believed to be accurate as of its date of publication, July 2011. However, Epicor Software Corporation makes no guarantee, representations or warranties
with regard to the enclosed information and specifically disclaims any applicable implied warranties, such as fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, satisfactory quality
or reasonable skill and care. As each user of Epicor software is likely to be unique in their requirements in the use of such software and their business processes, users of this
document are always advised to discuss the content of this document with their Epicor account manager. All information contained herein is subject to change without notice
and changes to this document since printing and other important information about the software product are made or published in release notes, and you are urged to obtain
the current release notes for the software product. We welcome user comments and reserve the right to revise this publication and/or make improvements or changes to the
products or programs described in this publication at any time, without notice. The usage of any Epicor software shall be pursuant to an Epicor end user license agreement and
the performance of any consulting services by Epicor personnel shall be pursuant to Epicor’s standard services terms and conditions. Usage of the solution(s) described in this
document with other Epicor software or third party products may require the purchase of licenses for such other products.