A Brief on Conditional Block in Cognos 10 Report Studio

Conditional Block in Cognos

Conditional blocks show different display results based on user interaction or parameters read in when a Report is run. They provide a creative method for presenting either the same report data in various formats or executing several completely different reports from one prompt page.

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• It is a process of blocking the layouts based on a given condition

• Create a list report with the following query items

• Product line

• Product type

• Product name

• Quantity

• Revenue

• From toolbox drag crosstab object drop and below the list report

• From toolbox drag the chart object drop below the crosstab

• In Crosstab Report

• Drop order year on rows

• Order month on columns

• Quantity on measure zone

• In Chart Report

• Drop Product line in X-Axis

• Order method in Series

• Revenue in Measure

Create a value prompt on Order year:

• From page explorer

• Select prompt pages

• From insertable objects

• Drag the page and drop in prompt page window

• Double click on prompt page

• From toolbox

• Drag the value prompt object

• Drop on prompt page

• Next

• From package item

• Click on eclipses

• Select the package item – Order year

• Click on OK

• Click on Next

• Select Query1, Query2, Query3

• Click on Next

• Click on Finish

Create a string variable:

• Define the following expression

• Click on parameters

• Drag parameter1

If (ParamDisplayvalue(‘Parameter1’))=‘2004’ THEN ‘A’ Else

If (ParamDisplayvalue(‘Parameter1’))=‘2005’ THEN ‘B’ Else

If (ParamDisplayvalue(‘Parameter1’))=‘2006’ THEN ‘C’

• Validate OK

• In the values window

• Add A, B, C variables

• From page explorer

• Click on Page1

• From toolbox

• Drag the Conditional block object and drop at the bottom of the report

• Select the conditional block

• From properties pane

• Select the block variable

• Click on eclipses

• Select string1 variable

• Select A,B,C

• Click on OK

• From properties

• Select Current Block

• Properties

• From Dropdown list box

• Select A

• Select any data item in the list report

• From Ancestor

• Click on List

• Drag the List

• Drop in the conditional block

• Again select the conditional block

• From properties pane

• Select current block

• Select B

• Select data item in the crosstab ( Select only one item, not entire crosstab )

• Drag the crosstab report

• Drop in the conditional block

• Again select conditional block

• From properties pane

• Select current block

• Select C

• Select data item in the chart report

• Drag chart inside the conditional block

• Save & run the report

Note: Scheduling can be onetime/recurring

Ex: Daily/Weekly

[Related Article: Cognos Interview Questions And Answers]

CONDITIONAL BLOCKING:

CREATE A VALUE PROMPT ON ORDER YEAR: