Other Best Practices

The following best practices make it easier to work with reports and avoid unexpected changes.

When you would like to change a cell reference in a function to make it an absolute reference, then put the cursor in the parameter box with the cell reference and press the key F4. The cell reference C4 will for example transform to $C$4.

The values that are displayed directly when you open a sheet in a workbook are the values generated at the last update. If you know that the content of the database has changed, you have to use Refresh for an IBM® Cognos® Controller Link for Microsoft Excel report, or Reports Run for a Report Generator report.

In an expanded report you can not insert rows or columns within an expansion area. Also you can not change the layout of individual cells. If you do that it will be overwritten next time you generate the report.

It is not possible to make references to an area with expanding cells since the expanding area will be recreated every time you generate the report.

If you want to insert columns/rows in a report with fixed rows and columns, use the function Insert Column/Row.

Do not format the cells in the system row and column of a Report Generator report to differ from a general number format.