urgent help please: excel files with formulas import to rep studio

[promji]

Hi

I have a very complex excel file which is actually reading data from SQL query. Now i have to move this file into report studio .
The problem i am facing is that the excel file has  tons of calculations / formulas which is practically impossible to type . There is no documentation for the excel file .

Is there a way in Cognos / Rep studio to import the structure of the excel file . Or any slightest idea or hope will be appricaited.

Thanks all.
Promji

[bdbits]

One option would be to use the capability found under menu item "Tools > Manage External Data". This will allow you to link the spreadsheet to an existing package. Be sure you read up on this in the documentation as you will need to understand what is happening when you establish this linkage in order to successfully deploy the reports to users.

[promji]

Thank you bdbits. I have already done that. But unfornately my problem is that the strange formula based excel sheet needs to be done in report studio.

The excel file was done quite a while ago and there is no documentation . that means if something is touched its affecting the whole sheet. So i was thinking if there can be a way to export a working logic or may be cell formulas . so I will have some sort of base to start with.

Thank u again.

[bdbits]

Oh I see, you want to re-create the spreadsheet in RS. No, I am not aware of a conversion tool, sorry.

[promji]

Thank you bdbits for your time.

[BigChris]

Depending on what the formulae are you might find that there are more convenient functions in Cognos to do what the spreadsheet is doing. A good example is some of the stuff you can do with dates in Cognos, some of which can be quite tricky in Excel.

[promji]

I totally agree with you BigChris. But what to do with the existing functionality of the old excel report. I am hating to have it redone manually , copying every cell formula and re writing in cognos. :(

[MFGF]

If you're lucky you won't have to rewrite every formula in Cognos. The point Chris was making is that there may be more powerful and/or simpler ways to achieve the desired result in Report Studio. You need to invest some time in understanding what business pains the spreadsheet solves currently, then figure out how to achieve the solution in Report Studio. You might find a much simpler solution than a nightmare of a spreadsheet that has evolved over a million years and has expressions that have not been relevant or required since the Magna Carta was signed :)

MF.

[promji]

agreed MFGF. Thats exactly what i am doing right now chasing finance folks and understaing the requirements . I think much simpler once i have the requirements and will sit down and just design a scratch up , once for good.

Thanks tons .

T