Modify a Report Specification

Use the following steps to modify a report specification.

Procedure

  1. You can modify the report specification in a number of ways, including
    • using an XML parser such as a Document Object Model (DOM) parser with your programming language to modify the report specification, or
    • saving the report specification as an XML file, and using an XML editor to make your changes.

    For information about how to use IBM Cognos Reporting to determine what changes you want to make to your report specification, see Use Reporting to View Report Specification XML.

  2. If you want to validate your XML file before you add it to the content store, use the validateSpecification (specification, parameterValues, options) method. This method validates the XML against the schema and also validates the internal logic of the XML and the expressions in the report specification. Expressions define filters, calculations and data items.

    If you use this method, your report specification must validate against the latest version of the report specification schema. For information about validating report specifications in an XML editor using the IBM Cognos DTD or IBM Cognos schema, see Report Specification Validation