Defining report column templates

In the Pillar application, you can use reports to create budgets. Each report includes columns from the dimensions that you established, as well as time periods (such as months or quarters). When you import data from your Lawson Business Management System, the columns in the import file must match the columns in the Pillar application's budget report.

In Budget Architect, you can create templates to identify the report columns that you want in the Pillar application's budget report. When you create the report definition for the import file, you will attach a template to identify the report columns.

You can create as many templates as you need. A template can be used in multiple report definitions. Use this procedure to define a report column template:

  1. On Budget Architect (EB10.1), select the budget for which you want to create the report column template.
  2. Click Define Rpt. to display Line Item Reports (EB30.1).
  3. On Line Item Reports (EB30.1), click Template to display Report Column Template (EB20.1).
  4. Specify or select a Template Name and click Define. The Template Definition (EB20.2) form displays.
  5. Specify a description for the template in the field next to the Template Name.
    Note: On the next step, the time format determines the period columns that you can specify in the template, and should reflect the Time Periods that you plan to use in the Pillar application's budget report.
  6. Select one of these time formats:

    • To allow you to specify an annual fiscal year column, select Fiscal year column.

    • To allow you to specify 12 fixed or variable period columns, select Monthly columns.

    • To allow you to specify four fixed or variable quarterly columns, select Quarterly columns.

  7. Add the template definition.
  8. Close Template Definition (EB20.2) to display Report Column Template (EB20.1).
  9. On Report Column Template (EB20.1), click Inquire to fill in the column information for the template.
  10. Specify or select the Column Headings to identify each report column. Select from these heading types:

    • Dimension ID Columns allows you to select column headings from your dimension metadata (such as cost center, revenue center, activity, employee, job code, etc.).

    • Period Columns allows you to select a fiscal year, up to 12 months, or up to 4 quarters as columns, depending on the time format specified in the template. Periods are determined by the General Ledger or Project Accounting calendars.

    • Variable Period Columns allows you to select a fiscal year, up to 12 months or up to 4 quarters, depending on the time format specified in the template. Variable periods are calculated as a number of months from Budget Architect's current year and period.

      See Setting the current year and period.

    • Other Columns allows you to select Line Item or Miscellaneous as column headings.

      Note: Ensure that the report template's column order matches the column order of the Pillar application's budget report. The Pillar application allows a maximum of 40 columns in a single report. The Pillar application reports accommodate one year of data per report.
  11. When you have identified the report columns, add the report column template.