The Batch Reports Tab allows you to set up and group reports that can be run in a batch (run all at once).  This Tab is specific to each User and cannot be accessed by or copied to another User.  Each Folder created on the Batch Reports Tab is considered a Batch and contains reports that can be run at the same time – either manually or by using the Windows Scheduler.  When the User elects to print a Batch, there are certain parameters assigned to the Batch that are passed through to each report.  They are as follows:

First Day of the Year – used on reports such as Timekeeper Productivity where you are asked for First Day of Year for Year to Date calculations.

Fiscal Year – used by any report (typically General Ledger and some Accounts Payable reports) where you are asked for the Fiscal Year.

Periods from/through – used by any report (typically General Ledger and some Accounts Payable reports) where you are asked for a General Ledger Period range.

Dated From/Through – used by any report (Summary of Hours, Billing Realization, etc.) where you are asked for a report date range.

If you typically run some reports for the current period and run them also for year to date (i.e., Billing Realization for current month and Billing Realization for year to date), you would be better served to set up separate batches – one for those reports run using a current period date range and one for those using a year to date range.

Creating a Report Batch

Before you create any Report Batches, you should map out which reports you want and how many batches you will need.  To create a Report Batch, you must first have a Folder on the Batch Reports Tab. To create a Folder, access the Batch Reports Tab, right click and choose New, Folder.  The Folder Name is the equivalent of the Batch Name so use a descriptive name.  

You are now ready to add reports to your batch.  You can add reports from the Standard Reports Tab or the Site-Defined/Custom Reports Tab.  Locate the report, right click and choose Add to Report Batch.  

Once you have your reports you will want to create Scenarios for each report so they will run in the format you desire.  Make sure when you create the Scenarios that you do not touch the Date fields in the report or they will be saved with the Scenario.  Below is a sample of a Batch set up with a couple of reports:

After you have your batches set up, you can now run them and print the reports.  Prior to running the Batch, you will first want to enter the date ranges, period ranges, etc. you want to use for the reports.  To specify this information, right click on the Batch (Folder) you want to run and choose Edit Batch.  The following screen will appear:

The first time you edit Batch Settings, the fields will be blank. However, any settings you enter will be saved with the Batch until new settings are entered.  Enter the dates, periods, etc. you want to use and click the OK Button.  Once you are returned to the Batch Reports Tab, right click on the Batch Folder name and choose Run Batch.

If the “Monthly Month to Date” Batch were run with the above Batch Settings, the reports in the Batch would print with the specified parameters in each Report Scenario and the Batch Settings would pass through the Date and Period ranges.  The reports would run as follows:

Timekeeper Productivity – Current Period would be for 10/01/2012 through 10/31/2012 and if the Scenario is set to print Current and YTD, the Year Begins Date would be 01/01/2012.

Billing Realization – the report would run for invoices dated between 10/01/2012 and 10/31/2012.

Aged Work in Process – the report would run for an Aging and Transaction Cut Off Date of 10/31/2012.

Aged Accounts Receivable – the report would run for an Aging Date of 10/31/2012.

Account History – the report would run for Periods 1 through 10 of Fiscal Year 2012.

You can run a Report Batch at any time by editing the Batch Settings and choosing to run the Batch.  You can only run one Batch at a time and the reports are printed in the order in which they were added to the Batch.

You may also set up your Report Batch to run unattended by using the Windows Scheduler.  If you want the Report Batch to run automatically at a specific time, click on the WINDOWS SCHEDULER Button while in the Batch Settings window.  Depending on your operating system, different windows will appear.  

Orion passes through a command line that runs the standalone reporting module (orionreporting.exe) with a switch at the end specifying the Report Batch ID as held in the data files.  For information on using the Windows Scheduler, refer to your Windows Operating System documentation.  You do not need to leave Orion running on your workstation in order for the Batch Report to run using the Windows Scheduler, you just need to make sure the workstation is on.

Tips on Report Batches

    1.    Each report can be set to print to a different printer.  If no special printer settings are saved with the report, it will print to the Windows Default Printer.  To set a report to go to a printer other than the Default Windows Printer, open up the Report, right click in the blank area to the right of the Sort Order options and choose Printer Setup.  Select the printer to which you want the report to print and click OK.

    2.    You may set your reports to print to a PDF printer; however, you will be unable to use the Windows Scheduler feature and will need to monitor your system as the Report Batch is printed.  After each report prints, you will need to specify a path and file name to which to save the report.  The system will not move on to the next report until this is done.