Report Studio: Using Java Script to Select and Submit Values to a SAP Prompt.

Transcription

1 Tip or Technique Report Studio: Using Java Script to Select and Submit Values to a SAP Prompt. Product(s): IBM Cognos 8 Area of Interest: Reporting

2 Prompt. 2 Copyright Copyright 2008 Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated). Cognos ULC is an IBM Company. While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information in this document is accurate and complete, some typographical errors or technical inaccuracies may exist. Cognos does not accept responsibility for any kind of loss resulting from the use of information contained in this document. This document shows the publication date. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Any improvements or changes to the information contained in this document will be documented in subsequent editions. This document contains proprietary information of Cognos. All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, or translated into another language without the prior written consent of Cognos. Cognos and the Cognos logo are trademarks of Cognos ULC (formerly Cognos Incorporated) in the United States and/or other countries. IBM and the IBM logo are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, or other countries, or both. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Information about Cognos products can be found at This document is maintained by the Best Practices, Product and Technology team. You can send comments, suggestions, and additions to cscogpp@ca.ibm.com.

3 Prompt. 3 Contents 1 INTRODUCTION PURPOSE APPLICABILITY UNDOCUMENTED AND UNSUPPORTED CAPABILITIES USED IDENTIFYING THE SAP VARIABLE CREATING THE PROMPT PAGE... 5

4 Prompt. 4 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose This technique dynamically selects and submits required SAP prompt values without any user interaction. 1.2 Applicability The technique identified in this document was implemented using build of IBM Cognos Undocumented and Unsupported Capabilities Used This technique requires the use of undocumented and unsupported capabilities in IBM Cognos 8. There may be a risk associated with this technique in that support for these capabilities may change or be dropped entirely in some future release. 2 Identifying the SAP Variable The first step to this technique is to identify the SAP variable that is to be by passed via the custom java script. 1. To do this, open the report in Report Studio. 2. Within the Report Page, double click on one of the query items to enter the Data Item Expression dialog box.

5 Prompt On the bottom left of the screen, select the parameters tab. The objects listed in the Available Components section are the parameters associated with this report. For this example we will use the SAP variable [ZVARSLB5]. 4. Cancel out of the Data Item Expression dialog box to return to the main report page. 3 Creating the Prompt Page 1. Using the Page explorer, create a new prompt page.

6 Prompt Within the Page Explorer, double click on Prompt Page1. The following view should be displayed. 3. Using the View menu command switch from Page Design to Page Structure.

7 Prompt Delete all the objects, except for the Page Body. Once the objects have been removed, the screen should display as follows. 5. From the Insertable Objects pane, locate the Block object. Then drag this object under the Page Body. 6. From the Insertable Objects pane, locate the value prompt and drag it on top of the Block object. 7. When presented with the Prompt Wizard dialog box. Select the Use existing parameter radio button. 8. From the list of available parameters, select the parameter identified earlier. For this example the parameter will be [ZVARSLB5].

8 Prompt Once completed, select Finish. The Page Structure view should now look like the following. 10. Once completed, select Finish. The Page Structure view should now look like the following. 11. In order to be able to reference the value prompt via java script. The value prompt will require a name. Select the value prompt, then in the properties pane on the bottom left of the screen locate the Name property under Miscellaneous. 12. Add a name for the value prompt. For this example we will use ZVARSLB5.

9 Prompt From the Insertable Objects pane, locate the HTML item and insert it below the value prompt. 14. Double click on the HTML item to display the HTML dialog box. 15. Add the following text to the HTML dialog box <script> List = document.formwarprequest._olstchoiceszvarslb5; for (i=0;i<list.length;i++) {

10 Prompt. 10 } List.options[i].selected = true; settimeout('listboxzvarslb5.autosubmit()',0); </script> 16. Once completed, press the OK button. If the report is executed now, the prompt page will display with all the values selected. After a couple of seconds the prompt page will disappear and the report will execute. This may be confusing to a user. The next step would be to hide the value prompt. To do this: 17. Select the Block in the page structure view. 18. In the properties pane on the bottom left of the screen locate the Size and Overflow property under Positioning. 19. Give the Block a height and width of 1px.

11 Prompt Once completed click the OK button. If the report is executed now the prompt page will be hidden. Instead the user is presented with a blank screen. To enhance the user experience, add another block with the text. All prompt values have been selected and are being submitted.