Is it possible to connect Cognos to feed data into excel?

[Applemdjs311]

I have a Cognos query that has filters and an excel template where I usually grab the output and drop in my excel data tab then refresh my excel pivots. Is there a way to connect Cognos to excel, so within excel a user can select the filters and Cognos retrieve the data and automatically feed it directly into my excel template?

[tjohnson3050]

There is a plugin for Excel - Cognos Analysis for Excel that you should investigate:

http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/cognos-analysis-ms-excel

[bdbits]

Nothing wrong with tjohnson3050's recommendation but I have to ask... why not do the whole thing in Cognos? Excel pivot tables are fine and all but I get the impression you are just dumping data into Excel and doing a lot of work there you could just do in Cognos. This would eliminate needing CAFE or even Excel - just a web browser or mobile app.

Just a thought.

[Applemdjs311]

Not everyone that receives my report has a Cognos license (budget reasons I guess). But let's say I wanted to do it in Cognos how would drop down filter for pivot tables work? Would I still use report studio?

[bdbits]

Budget reasons I can certainly understand if everyone already has Excel anyway. Kind of a pity, though, not to be able to use Cognos. :-)

Yes, you'd still use Report Studio. You could make an Active Report out of it, or use a standard report. You can put value prompts right on a report page.