In my Intro to SuccessFactors reporting with BIRT post I mentioned Filters were an option when using the Report Builder within SuccessFactors, but they are also a useful tool when working with BIRT reports. It is easy to confuse when or rather where is the most effective place to utilize a Filter or better yet a Parameter. But before getting into why or when to use a Filter or a Parameter, let me give you a brief overview of each.
Within SuccessFactors there is a tab in the Report Builder where you can refine the data that will appear. It can be done by and selecting what you want to filter for, by defining a rule or by creating a prompt that will let the user running the report chose. You can have a combination of any of these applied to your report. If the report you are creating is going to be used in conjunction with BIRT, these will refine the data before it gets passed to the .rptdesign.
Inside BIRT there is the ability to create Parameters.
Like the SuccessFactors filter, the parameter can be predefined or user prompted. Once created, a parameter can then be used throughout the report. You will find that once a parameter is defined, it becomes available in the Expression builder.
Some examples would be;
- You create a parameter selection for Department, which could refine the data as well as update the report header to include the Department's name.
- In a table you may create an aggregate, then pass the parameter to a filter on the table to only show records that meet your criteria.
- Possibly you have a report that has two designated audiences, and when the report gets run they utilize a check box to identify their needs. This parameter then can be used in a visibility rule to show/hide content appropriately.
Now we know both the SuccessFactors and a BIRT parameter/filter combination can be used to refine data, why would you chose one over the other? Let’s look at the Pro/Con list
Within SuccessFactors
Pros
- Improves processing time by removing non-essential data
- Can run reports Off-Line
Cons
- Data needed for filter has to exist
Within BIRT
Pros
- Can be based on newly created data
- Can be used at any time in the report creation lifecycle
Cons
- User prompted parameters inside BIRT will mean the report will not be able to run Off-line
- Processing time may be impacted
So, the rule to thumb should be to use both. Start by refine the data in SuccessFactors to have it only provide what is needed for the BIRT report, then if needed use parameters and filters in BIRT to continue your data manipulation.
If you’d like to take a BIRT class specifically based on SuccessFactors, please visit my company's website for information on our services and training for SuccessFactors reporting using BIRT.
Now that we've skimmed the surface of Parameter usage, the next topic I’ll cover will be ‘The many uses of Parameters’.
Comments