As most of you know, OTS has been working over the past year to enhance PeopleSoft reporting using third party tools such as Crystal, Access and Excel while also addressing the following issues:
1) A way to get all reporting users using the same versions of tools, and a way to simplify and quicken reporting tool upgrades while reducing the efforts to do so.
2) Keeping PeopleSoft report data within the confines of the secured server environment. Keeping report data off of user desktops/laptops greatly reduces the chance of sensitive data loss.
3) Auditors ever increasing ?least access? rules whereby laptop/desktop access to critical data sources be limited.
4) A way to reduce OTS Field Support and Help Center overhead of supporting locally installed reporting tools on user desktops.
The good news is that OTS has developed a solution leveraging the Virtual Workspace that solves these four problems while also providing the following benefits:
1) Faster report results than when run on user desktops. This is due to the faster networking and processing power in Virtual Workspace.
2) The ability to easily and securely do reporting from any machine on and off campus. You are no longer required to be at your work PC to run reports.
3) Other reporting tools such as Access, Excel, etc. have been installed within Virtual Workspace and are able to access the same data sources that you have access to with Crystal. This provides a ?one stop shop? environment for reporting.
4) Your reports, when saved to your H drive (the default), are backed up. When reports are saved to your PC they are not backed up and can be lost.
OTS has a goal of moving all users to the new environment and removing direct access from campus machines to the PeopleSoft databases over the next several weeks. What this means for you:
1) Direct ODBC access from desktop or laptop machines will not be possible once the cutover to the new system is complete on August 1, 2010. Instead, desktop and laptop users will use Virtual Workspace for reporting needs.
2) The version of Crystal reports being supported in Virtual Workspace will be 2008 (CR2008). Crystal reports 2008 looks and feels exactly like XI. However, 2008 now offers enhanced Web integration, more powerful crosstab capabilities and improved formula development features. If you are currently using a version older than XI you will need to convert your reports. To convert your reports open the report to be converted in 2008 and use the ?Save As? function to save them in the new 2008 format. (There may be some formatting changes that you will need to make.) If you have questions or need assistance regarding converting your Crystal reports to version 2008 please contact Lana Rybalnik at x4-2014.
3) For individuals using BOE to schedule reports the interface is a little different.
4) If you are using Microsoft Access or Excel to do direct reporting from PeopleSoft, please note that the Office 2007 versions are what is installed in Virtual Workspace. Most people on campus are already using Office 2007 programs.
5) OTS will no longer be installing new versions of Crystal Reports on individual desktops. If a new user requires access to Crystal reports contact the help center at x4-5151 and we will provide access to the Crystal reports desktop.
There are also documentation available explaining how to access the Virtual Workspace and the Crystal Reports Desktop and a document to walk BOE users through how to schedule new reports. These documents can be obtained by contacting Lana Rybalnik at {lrybalnik@towson.edu}. If you have any questions please contact Venus McDonald at x4-4310.
