PK96051: INSTALLING C8.4FP2 CAUSES A RUNTIME ERROR IN RUNNING EXCEL REPORT

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• After installing Cognos 8.4 FP2(8.4.29.13) over C8.4GA, the
  following script runtime error occurs in running Excel reports
  from Cognos Viewer.
  
  Error Message:
  -----
  A Runtime Error has occured.
  Do you wish to Debug?
  
  Line: 2136
  Error: '1' is Null or not an object.
  -----
  
  All Excel formats such as the following, have the same problem.
  - View in Excel 2007 Format
  - View in Excel 2002 Format
  - View in Excel 2000 Single Sheet Format
  - View in CSV Format
  
  Confirmed the below:
  - The same error was not produced in Cognos 8.4 GA version.
  - Only when client IE option "Display a notification about every
  script error" is enabled, this issue ocurrs.
  - The Excel output will show with no problem if you ignore the
  error message and continue to open the Excel report.
  

Local fix

• NA
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * All Users                                                    *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * See Error description.                                       *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Upgrade to IBM Cognos 8 Business Intelligence 8.4.1.         *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• Our javascript engine submitted a request to view the excel
  content, but was not validating the length of the url, and if
  the url was greater than the browser imposed limit, and error
  would occur. The fix is to verify the length of the url prior to
  issuing a GET request for the excel content, otherwise we must
  do a POST.
  

Temporary fix

• This was fixed early on in 8.4.1 development.
  

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  COG8 BI COG VIE

• Fixed component ID

  5724W12CV

Applicable component levels

• R841 PSN

     UP