Financial Table Columns
A table format combines a table row and column definition, to create a report. The table row defines the content of each row on a report, whilst the table column specifies the content of each column in a report.
Financial Table Columns (FTC) is used to define a set of table columns for a report. The set of columns is identified by a column code. Up to 50 individual column definitions can be defined for a financial table report. Up to 18 of these columns can be printed on the report. You may need to experiment to test the number of columns your printer can fit on a page.
All of the column definitions are identified by a unique table column code.
The Financial Table columns are quite different to the columns defined for the Financial Analysis and Financial Statement report writers. Instead of specifying a two character column code for each column of financial information, using Financial Table Columns you define more detailed information about the contents of the column.
Each column can have a heading of up to four lines, of ten characters each.
Mathematical calculations can be performed on table columns figures. This can include statistical calculations. Hidden columns can be used for interim calculations.
Selecting the Data for a Column
There are two important settings that determine the content of a column on a financial tables report:
- The Column Data code
- The Column Basis code.
The Column Data
The Column Data code determines the period of time represented in a column value, and the type of value selected. A column can include actual values, or budget values, for a selected period in time.
There are a large number of predefined, column data choices available. For example, you could select the Current Period Balance, or Year-to-Date Balance.
The Column Basis
The values that appear in a column represent the total of a selection of ledger transactions.
A Financial Table report must include account codes, either as rows on the report or as columns across the report. If account codes are used as the rows, then analysis codes or another type of selection code can be included in the column values, or vice versa.
For example, you might want to analyze production costs by product group, where product group is identified in a ledger transaction analysis dimension. Each production cost account is printed on a separate line of the report, as defined in Financial Table Rows (FTR). The transactions for each product group are analyzed into separate columns on the report, as defined in Financial Table Columns (FTC). In this case, the Column Basis code would identify the ledger transaction analysis dimension that contains the Product Group codes.
The transactions summarized for a column value are determined by the Column Basis code.
The same principle applies to selecting the transactions that are included on a table row.