User Guide
Financial Reporting
This document and its contents, including the viewpoints, dates and functional content expressed herein are the proprietary copyrighted property of Epicor Software Corporation, are intended for informational purposes only and are believed to be accurate as of its date of publication. However, Epicor Software Corporation makes no guarantee, representations or warranties with regard to the enclosed information and specifically disclaims any applicable implied warranties, such as fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, satisfactory quality or reasonable skill and care. As each user of Epicor software is likely to be unique in their requirements in the use of such software and their business processes, users of this document are always advised to discuss the content of this document with their Epicor support representative, account manager and/or consulting personnel. All information contained herein is subject to change without notice and changes to this document since printing and other important information about the software product are made or published in release notes, and you are urged to obtain the current release notes for the software product. The usage of any Epicor software shall be pursuant to an Epicor end user license agreement and the performance of any consulting services by Epicor personnel shall be pursuant to Epicor's services terms and conditions. Usage of the solution(s) described in this document with other Epicor software or third party products may require the purchase of licenses for such other products. Where any software is expressed to be compliant with applicable laws or other statutory or regulatory requirements in this document, such compliance is not a warranty and is based solely on Epicor's current understanding of such laws and requirements. All laws and requirements are subject to varying interpretations as well as to change and accordingly, Epicor cannot guarantee that the software will be compliant and up to date with such changes. All statements of platform and product compatibility in this document shall be considered individually in relation to the products referred to in the relevant statement, i.e., where any Epicor software is stated to be compatible with one product and also stated to be compatible with another product, it should not be interpreted that such Epicor software is compatible with both of the products running at the same time on the same platform or environment. Additionally platform or product compatibility may require the application of Epicor or third-party updates, patches and/or service packs and Epicor has no responsibility for compatibility issues which may be caused by updates, patches and/or service packs released by third parties after the date of publication of this document. Epicor, Business Inspired and the Epicor logo are trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation, registered in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © Epicor Software Corporation 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Epicor Software Corporation.
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Revision: May 07, 2014 12:43 p.m. Total pages: 255
Contents
Introduction...9
Chapter 1: The Advanced Financial Reporting Environment...10
How AFR Works...10
Primary Environment Requirements...12
Network Servers...12
AFR Installation Options...12
Report Server...13
Logon Server...13
Financial Data Security Manager...13
Workstation Environments...13
Epicor Applications...14
Advanced Financial Reporting Applications...14
License Requester...14
Replication Monitor...15
Report Designer...15
AFR Report Server...16
Viewing Reports...17
Financial Data Security Manager...17
Report Layout and Formatting Tools...18
Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder...18
SQL Server BI Studio...20
Summary...20
Chapter 2: AFR Data Replication...21
AFR Replication Monitor...21
AFR Replication Monitor Installation...21
Granularity...22
Replication Types...22
Operational and Setup Tables...22
Daily Balances Aggregation...23
Using AFR Replication Monitor...24
Launch AFR Replication Monitor...25
Create Replication Tasks with AFR Replication Wizard...26
Select ERP Source...26
Select ERP Database...27
Select Companies and Books to Replicate...27
Set Company and Fiscal Year Granularity...28
Set Daily Balance Aggregation and Task Prefix...29
Enter Security Credentials and Create Tasks...33
Initialize Replication Tasks...34
Monitor and Change Replication Task Status...35
Summary...36
Chapter 3: Setup and Configuration...37
Configure Logon Server...37
Request License...41
Report Components Setup...42
Configure Report Designer...42
Create New Report Definition Database...43
Report Designer Settings...44
Summary...47
Chapter 4: Designer Settings and Tools...48
Report Designer Settings...48
General Settings...49
RDL Settings...51
Preview Settings...52
Default Formats...52
Export Report Elements...53
Import Report Elements...54
Import Management Reporter Reports...56
Import FRx Reports...57
Load Style Theme...58
Summary...59
Chapter 5: Row and Column Sets...60
The Epicor AFR Report Designer...60
Row Sets...60
Create a Row Set...61
Row Definitions...61
Use the List Sheet...61
Enter Row Definition Details...64
Create a Row Expression...66
Row Sum Type...68
Expression Row Type...69
Expression Syntax...72
Format Each Row...73
Row Set Drill-Down Reports...74
Set Up a Row Set Drill-Down Report...74
Individual Row Drill-Down Report...75
Create a Row Set Version...77
User-Defined Properties...78
Query...79
Create a User Property...79
Copy a Row Set...81
Copy and Paste Rows...83
Row Grouping...85
Renumber Rows...88
Row Set Wizard...90
Select Chart of Accounts...91
Set Partitions and Sections...92
Fill Sections...94
Set Row Formatting...96
Generate the Row Set...98
Column Sets...100
Create a Column Set...100
Establish Column Definitions...102
Create a Column...102
Unposted Balances...105
Set Column Numeric Format...106
Define Column Period/Date Filter...107
Report Parameters...108
Date Parameters...110
Define Column Account Filter...111
Define the Column Book Filter...113
Define the Budget Filter...116
Create a Column Expression...116
Row Properties...120
Cell Properties...121
Column Properties...121
Math, Constants, and Logical Parameters...122
References...123
Financial Data Fields...124
Dictionary Parameters...125
Column Expression Assistant...126
Generate Multiple User-Defined Columns...126
Select Fiscal Periods and Ranges...128
Select Fiscal Years...129
Review Columns...129
Generate Predefined Groups of Columns...131
Update Single Column...133
Launch Column Expression Assistant when Creating a New Column...136
Column Set Wizard...137
Copy the Column Set...140
Chapter 6: Report Design...143
Reports...143 Create a Report...144 Column Sets...145 Report Parameters...146 Available Parameters...149 Presentation Options...149Book Selection Type...151
Period and Date Range Selection Type...152
Simple Currency Conversions...153
Options...154
Body...157
Headers and Footers...159
Define the Report Header and Footer...159
Header Footer Expressions...160
Report Preview...161
Preview the Report...161
Reporting Trees...164
Create a Reporting Tree...165
Create a Node...166
Define Child Nodes...169
Parent and Child Node Logic...170
Copy a Reporting Tree...171
Reporting Tree Wizard...172
Final Data Results...175
Dictionaries...175 Create a Dictionary...175 Create a Definition...176 Copy a Dictionary...179 Report Security...180 Security Setup...180
Assign View Rights...180
Assign Edit Rights...181
Report Element Security...182
Assign Edit Security Rights on the Current Element...182
Copy a Report...183
Generate an RDL File...184
RDL Parameters...186
RDL Merge...187
Merge on Save Setting...188
Automatic Merge on Save...188
Manual Merge on Save...191
Refresh the RDL List...195
Convert RDLs...195
Use the RDLs Sheet Functionality...196
Summary...197
Chapter 7: Report Layout...198
The AFR Report Project...198
Report Template Creation...198
Create a Report Template...199
Pre-Defined Reports...201
Microsoft Business Intelligence Studio...202
Report Items Design...204
Edit the Report Title...204
Add Text Boxes...206
Add a Company Parameter Box...206
Display the Modified Report...207
Data Regions...210
List Data Regions...210
Add a List...210
Add Text Boxes...213
Display the List Data Region...214
Changing RDL Project Properties...216
Deploy All RDL Files in the Project...217
Summary...218
Chapter 8: Report View and Use...219
The AFR Report Server...219
SSRS in AFR...220
SSRS Access Rights...221
Launch SQL Server Report Builder...222
Batch Report Schedule...223
Create Subscription in Reports...227
Report View...229
Navigate to the Report...229
Report Parameters...231
Modify Report Parameters...231
Modify Reports with Advanced Currency Conversion...232
Report Viewing Controls...234
Use Report Viewing Controls...235
Exporting Reports...235
Export a Report...235
Viewing AFR Reports in Excel...237
Generate a Report in Excel...238
Summary...241
Chapter 9: Financial Data Security...242
The AFR Financial Data Security Manager...242
Launch the AFR Financial Data Security Manager...242
Log on to the Financial Database...243
Upgrade a Financial Database...243
Navigation...244
Navigate in the Application...244
Security Levels...245
Account Sets...245
Create an Account Set...246
Account Masks...246
Create an Account Mask...246
Users and User Groups...248
Assign a User Permission to an Account Set...248
Activate AFR Financial Data Security...249
Refresh Security Settings...250
Introduction
This user guide is a reference book that explores the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) applications. The guide is aimed at use of the AFR application after installation, from preliminary configuration through report generation and viewing. It begins by describing the various components that make up the AFR environment, including data replication, which is required to make your financial data available to AFR, and some basic setup steps to take when you first start using the AFR Report Designer.
The user guide then examines the elements that make up an AFR report definition: row sets, column sets, report parameters, reporting trees, drill-downs, and also looks at the expressions used to retrieve required data from you AFR financial database.
Learn how to generate RDL files and view reports in a web browser using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), or alternatively in Microsoft Excel. The guide also touches on the third-party products you can use to fine tune your report layouts, such as Microsoft® Business Intelligence Development Studio and Microsoft® SQL Server® Report Builder.
Finally, the guide addresses how to set up data security and restrict access to confidential company financial data stored in AFR financial databases.
Chapter 1: The Advanced Financial Reporting Environment
Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting, or AFR, is a complete toolset you use to create custom financial reports specific to the needs of your organization. The reports you build will contain financial information from various sources you define - you can set up each report to pull information from one or multiple general ledger (GL) books across multiple companies, from multiple ERP systems, for example, Epicor ERP, Prophet 21, iScala. Through the AFR toolset, you first link to a Microsoft® SQL Server® database instance that contains current, regularly refreshed GL data from your Epicor application. This instance must be a replicated database, based on SQL Replication, set up through Epicor’s AFR Replication Monitor.
The AFR Report Designer is used to define the basic elements of the reports - row sets, column sets, report parameters, data filters, and formatting of the reports. Each report row can also have additional drilldown reports defined for it -this feature enables report rows to link to another report, for example a report with more detail. Using the Report Designer, you can build report definitions, preview them to verify current data displays as expected, and upload Report Definition Language (RDL) files, which enable users to view reports in a web browser, via SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). Once you set up your report, you can further refine the look and feel in either Microsoft® Visual Studio® or
Microsoft® SQL Server® Report Builder. You can use these report layout and formatting tools to fine-tune the overall look of each financial report.
When you finish refining the layout of your financial reports, users can view them in a web browser or in Microsoft®
Excel®. Reports can be printed, or exported in various file formats, or you can schedule a batch of reports to be created
at regular intervals. Based on the report parameters you define in the report, users can filter data, or change the parameters to view different data, for example, change the report currency, change the report dates, or filter by GL accounts.
This chapter details the overall server environment you need to have in place before you can use the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting toolset. Besides the AFR applications and replication tools you install from Epicor, some Microsoft® applications are also required for your environment to work properly. This chapter describes these applications and their purpose within the environment, so you can be more familiar with the required AFR elements.
How AFR Works
Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting interacts with an Epicor application through a report server. This server pulls the general ledger data from your active database to an AFR financial database via replication, and makes this data available for use within AFR. You then create a report definition in the Report Designer. This report definition accesses data replicated from the active Epicor financial database, selecting the data for display using the report structure and layout specifications defined on the report.
The following illustration describes the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting process:
1. Financial data is first pulled from the source ERP financial database(s) through SQL Replication tasks. This
multiple books and/or multiple companies, the report data is pulled from these multiple general ledger sources.
2. The financial data is replicated via SQL Replication tasks.
3. Use the separate AFR Replication Monitor to create the replication tasks.
4. The replicated general ledger data is copied to an AFR financial database in SQL Server, designed for use
with AFR. The AFR financial database is configured specifically for AFR to display the data when the report is activated at run time. You can create this AFR financial database within the AFR Report Designer or the AFR Replication Monitor.
5. The AFR Logon Server validates your license, and controls access to the AFR tools.
6. You create the financial report definitions within the AFR Report Designer. Through this tool, you design
the row sets, column sets, report parameters, filters and drill down options for the reports. These items are the components that make up the report definition.
7. The report definition data is stored in a Report Definition Database - separate from the AFR Financial
Database.
8. You then upload a Report Definition Language (RDL) file to the SSRS server, to enable users to launch the
report in a web browser.
9. When you launch a report RDL file, the AFR Report Server provides a web service which combines with
SSRS to enable users to view the report in a web browser. The report that displays is effectively a combination of the report definition and the AFR financial data, presented according to the RDL layout or template.
10. The optional AFR Financial Data Security Manager, if activated, restricts access to specific databases,
11. The AFR ODBC Driver enables you to generate a Microsoft® Excel® file for a report from the Report Designer, which contains a predefined connection to the AFR data sources. You can change report parameters and refresh the report in Excel to view the latest data.
Primary Environment Requirements
The following sections describe the applications that need to be installed within your network server environment. Once these applications are installed and configured to interact with your network, the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting tools are ready for use.
Network Servers
Within your network environment, you can choose to set up separate servers or a single server to handle the data processing and report generating tasks. Create the server environment you need to maximize the efficiency of your network resources. This list describes the specific servers you need for the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting functionality:
1. Epicor ERP Application Database Server – Users enter financial data into the Epicor ERP application
through this server. This database contains the source data that needs to be replicated out for display within the AFR application. AFR currently supports data replication from Epicor ERP, Prophet 21, and iScala.
2. Report (AFR) Server – This server contains the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting Server functionality.
You and other users link client machines to this server to create the AFR reports. This server records the report definitions within an AFR database. This server requires Internet Information Services to be running.
3. Microsoft®SQL Server®Reporting Services (SSRS) Web Site Server – Users log into this server to view
the available AFR reports in a web browser.
4. Microsoft®SQL Server®, including SQL Server Replication, on the machine that will host the AFR
financial database.
Notice that both the replicated database and the report definition database can be located within any of these servers. Likewise, some or all of these servers can be consolidated to run within a single server machine. Set up the server configuration that works best with the demands placed on your network.
AFR Installation Options
You have the option to install advanced financial reports within just the server environment, or both server and workstation environments. You can create reports on workstations by installing the Report Designer on separate client machines. You can also install the Report Designer directly on the Report Server. Regardless of where you place these tools, you can then build, view, and print out reports directly from either environment. You can preview reports from the workstation and upload them to the Report Server for use by end-users. These tasks can also be carried out on the Report Server.
Where you decide to install the AFR tools reflects how you and other users in the organization wish to run Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting. Creating separate workstation environments ensures more security and stability for the AFR tools, as users will be prevented from changing parameters defined on the Report Server. Workstation installations also reserve the server machine’s resources for replicating data and generating the advanced financial reports, freeing it up for other tasks. However, users will most likely have better AFR performance if they use these tools on the Report Server. You can also better manage the AFR tools when they are all installed on the server, as most of the AFR environment is contained within one machine. Evaluate the needs of your users and network before you decide on where to install the AFR toolset.
Report Server
The Report Server is the primary computer that contains the AFR environment. This server processes the report data definitions and layout configuration you will define for each report. It also typically handles the database replication tasks that run through the SQL Replication.
The Report Server environment needs the following operating systems, applications, and available memory: • Windows® 2008 or Windows® 2008 R2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (Standard or Enterprise) with Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services • AFR Replication Monitor
• AFR Report Designer– The Report Designer primarily functions as a workstation application on a separate computer; however, if you want to create reports on the Report Server, you need to install this application in this environment.
• At least 3 GB of RAM
Logon Server
The Logon Server controls access to the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting tools. You install this application to validate your license from Epicor and activate the AFR tools. The Logon Server environment needs the following operating system:
• Windows 2008 or Windows 2008 R2
Financial Data Security Manager
The Financial Data Security Manager enables companies to restrict which users can access financial data stored in AFR financial databases, when creating or viewing financial reports. This standalone program installs with the main AFR programs, namely AFR Report Designer and Report Viewer.
Workstation Environments
As described previously, you can set up separate workstation environments to create advanced financial reports. These optional workstation environments are connected to the Report Server, so you will need to install the Report Designer on them. You can then create the reports on these workstation environments and upload them for use across your network. The workstation environments can contain the following applications:
• Windows® 7 or 8.
• Report Designer – Required to create advanced financial reports on the workstation.
• Microsoft SQL Server BI Studio (SQL 2008 R2) or Data Tools (SQL 2012+) – This solution is an optional application you can use to refine your report layout.
• Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder 3.0 – This application is available for free download on the Microsoft website. This solution is also an optional application for refining your report layout.
While the Microsoft SQL Server BI Studio and Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder are both optional items for your AFR environment, it is recommended you use one of these tools to polish the final layout of your reports. These tools provide you with the advanced layout and formatting functionality useful for fine-tuning the final presentation of your reports.
Epicor Applications
This section describes the Epicor applications you need to install within your server environment.
Advanced Financial Reporting Applications
This section briefly describes the applications you should have installed for use in creating AFR reports. You use these tools to create the report data definition, organize the reports, and display the reports in a web browser. Each AFR tool has a unique function you use during the report creation process.
This guide does not cover the installation of AFR tools or other related programs. For details on installation of AFR programs, refer to the AFR Installation Guide.
The layout for the reports you create through this toolset can also be modified later in Microsot Visual Studio or Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder. These solutions are described in the next section.
License Requester
Before you can use Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting, you must receive a license for the toolset from Epicor. You do this during installation of the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting component tools by running the Epicor AFR License Requester from the installer. This tool automatically generates the machine identifier you then email back to Epicor Customer Service; an Epicor support representative will then generate your license key. You enter your name, the license duration you require, and how many concurrent users need access to Epicor AFR during the licensing period. (The AFR Logon Server is licensed for a specific server machine; because of this, you need to email the unique machine identifier (ID) back to Epicor Customer Service for verification and activation.)
Once you receive your AFR license key, you must apply it to the Report Server before you can begin creating reports.
Replication Monitor
The Epicor AFR Replication Monitor, together with the in-built AFR Replication Wizard, are programs designed specifically to enable easy setup of SQL data replication from an ERP system database to an Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) financial database. The AFR Replication Monitor also provides subsequent monitoring of replication tasks.
The AFR Replication Wizard, which you launch from within the AFR Replication Monitor, creates SQL replication tasks which provide data synchronization between the Epicor ERP and AFR databases, using a plugin specific to the ERP system in question. This program creates a publisher, subscriber, and job in Microsoft SQL Server. The wizard sets up SQL replication from the source ERP database to the target AFR financial database by creating a publication on the source SQL server and subscribing to it on the target SQL server. Once the wizard completes the setup, and replication is initialized, the replication continues by means of SQL server.
The AFR Replication Monitor displays information about active replication tasks and their status, and enables users to activate, deactivate, reinitialize, edit, and delete replication tasks.
Report Designer
Use the Report Designer to create financial reports. In this application, you set up the basic report layout of rows and columns, the report parameters, define data criteria to pull specific data into the report, and preview your new financial reports.
The advanced financial reports you create have three general report elements; these elements are rows, columns, and reporting trees. Use this flexibility to develop each element individually and then combine the elements to produce the various reports your end users need, without having to recreate these reports each time they are needed. For example, if you want to see comparisons of budget vs. actual financial reports, you can combine one row set with two different column sets and generate separate reports. Within each report, you can also display multiple general ledger books to immediately compare the results for the selected books.
Reporting trees are hierarchies that use elements of GL account codes, and expressions based on database fields, that enable you to filter the data that display in a report.
You can also create dictionaries. In each dictionary you create, enter default data sets or common expressions to use within row sets, column sets, and reporting trees. The use of dictionary definition removes the need to re-enter complex expressions every time you need them.
The available syntax you use for expressions on report items is documented within the Row and Column Sets, and Report Design chapters.
The default dictionary definitions you create are typically made up of commonly used expressions, but these expressions can be used to pull in complex data results. For example, a set of revenue accounts can be spread across multiple account numbers because of the chart of accounts structure; you can set up an expression that automatically pulls in all of these account numbers and name that dictionary definition “Revenue_Accounts”. By creating a data set, you avoid having to specify complex details each time you want to include the “Revenue Accounts” in a row set, column set, or reporting tree.
Once you create a report definition, you can preview the report data and the report structure, upload Report Definition Language (RDL) files, and create drill down links from one report to another. Drill downs are especially useful for displaying more detailed reports directly from within a summary report.
AFR Report Server
The AFR Report Server, part of the AFR installation pack, creates a web application which acts as an interface between the AFR application and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). This enables users to view AFR reports in a web browser. AFR thus works with SSRS to provide a place to organize, manage, upload, and view financial reports.
You connect to the web service via the AFR Report Server option in the Windows Start menu. This launches your default web browser, and displays the SSRS Home page. From there, you can access and view your AFR reports. The web service also launches when you click View Report in the Report Designer.
Viewing Reports
While you design your reports, you can use the report preview to display the data results of your report. When you preview the report, you can also update parameters you defined on the report in the Report Designer. Use these parameters to determine what data displays on the financial report.
Once you have uploaded an RDL file, you can launch the report in a web browser, via SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). This is how other report users will normally view reports. If you are satisfied with the report data and basic layout, you can further refine the final look of the report in either the Microsoft Visual Studio or Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder.
Financial Data Security Manager
To restrict unauthorized access to confidential company financial data stored in AFR financial databases, use the AFR Financial Data Security Manager. This standalone program enables you to define permissions for certain users or user groups to access restricted portions of financial data in reports. If AFR Financial Data Security is
activated, and a user has not been explicitly granted permission to view restricted parts of a report, the user is not able to view this confidential data.
Report Layout and Formatting Tools
Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting creates reports using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). These SSRS reports leverage the functionality available through this powerful reporting engine. There are two applications you can use to refine the layout and formatting of your SSRS reports – Microsoft SQL Server BI Studio and Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder. This section describes each of these tools to help you decide which one you are more comfortable using with Epicor AFR. You use the BI Studio and the Report Builder applications to complete the final polish of the report format after the basic report definition is completed in the AFR Report Designer, and the RDL file is uploaded.
Regardless of the third-party application you decide to use, the report layout output result is the same - an RDL file. You can refine the report file created in Epicor AFR, and make it available for users to view via SSRS.
Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder
Microsoft® SQL Server® Report Builder is the report layout tool included when you install Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. Unlike Microsoft SQL Server BI Studio, this application is exclusively designed for use with SSRS reports. If you are familiar with other report writers like SAP® Crystal Reports®, consider using this tool
instead of BI Studio. The SQL Server Report Builder is an ideal layout tool to use with your advanced financial reports.
SQL Server BI Studio
Microsoft SQL Server BI Studio (2008 R2) / SQL Server Data Tools (2012+) contains project types specific for reporting layout tools.
You can use this application to fine-tune the layout, style, and format for a report definition RDL file created in the AFR Report Designer. This powerful tool contains functionality you can leverage to modify almost every aspect of your advanced financial report. Note, however, that this tool is designed for use by software developers, so the interface is more complicated than the Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder. If you are comfortable with using a more developer-based tool, you can use this application to load and refine the financial reports created through AFR.
Summary
This chapter contains a high level description of the components required to run Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting. You first need to decide how AFR will be installed on your network. Various server functions can be placed on separate servers or installed together on one main Report Server. Likewise, you need to decide whether users will create advanced reports directly on the Report Server or indirectly through a series of workstation environments.
Regardless of the installation strategy you use, you must run a series of network tasks in order for users to display and print advanced reports. First, financial information from a source Epicor ERP database is replicated to an AFR financial database via SQL Replication tasks you set up in the AFR Replication Monitor. This replicated data must be accessible in the Report Designer. After you develop advanced reports in the Report Designer, upload an RDL file, and optionally refine the layout in applications available from Microsoft, you make these reports available for display in a web browser via SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS). Alternatively, the AFR ODBC driver enables users to generate and view reports in Microsoft® Excel®. Users can launch these reports from client workstations
Chapter 2: AFR Data Replication
To make AFR compatible with multiple Epicor applications, data from the source general ledger tables must be replicated to a target AFR financial database. The AFR financial database requires only certain data from the ERP database, and is structured to facilitate financial report creation in AFR.
Replication to AFR is achieved via SQL Replication, which you set up and monitor in the AFR Replication Monitor. This program incorporates specific plugins to setup replication tasks for different Epicor ERP databases, for example Epicor ERP, Prophet 21, and iScala.
By replicating financial data to a separate AFR database, probably on another server, you reduce the effect on the performance of your ERP application(s). Because you are offloading report processing to a separate environment, you free up the Epicor ERP server from the processing required to generate financial reports. Data replication also ensures you can maintain your data; the replication process creates a separate instance of your basic financial data, away from the main Epicor ERP application database. How often you replicate the financial data determines how current the data will be in the AFR reports. The data in the AFR financial database is used as a read-only data source, specifically used by AFR to retrieve data for reports.
This chapter describes how the AFR Replication Monitor enables setup of SQL replication tasks to transfer financial data from an Epicor ERP database (or multiple databases) to an AFR financial database. To set up replication tasks, you access the AFR Replication Wizard from within the Replication Monitor. This chapter goes through the steps you take in the wizard, from selection of source ERP database to initialization and verification of replication tasks. The AFR Replication Monitor then displays information about active replication tasks and their status, and enables users to activate, deactivate, reinitialize, edit, and delete replication tasks.
AFR Replication Monitor
The Epicor AFR Replication Monitor, together with the in-built AFR Replication Wizard, are programs designed specifically to enable easy setup of SQL data replication from an ERP system database to an Advanced Financial Reporting (AFR) financial database. The AFR Replication Monitor also provides subsequent monitoring of replication tasks.
The AFR Replication Wizard, which you launch from within the AFR Replication Monitor, creates SQL replication tasks which provide data synchronization between the Epicor ERP and AFR databases, using a plugin specific to the ERP system in question. This program creates a publisher, subscriber, and job in Microsoft SQL Server. The wizard sets up SQL replication from the source ERP database to the target AFR financial database by creating a publication on the source SQL server and subscribing to it on the target SQL server. Once the wizard completes the setup, and replication is initialized, the replication continues by means of SQL server. This is not dependent on the Replication Monitor. Therefore, the Replication Monitor can then be closed.
The AFR Replication Monitor displays information about active replication tasks and their status, and enables users to activate, deactivate, reinitialize, edit, and delete replication tasks.
AFR Replication Monitor Installation
Granularity
The Replication Wizard enables set up of individual data replication tasks for each company, book, and fiscal year in your ERP database. Equally, you can combine all company, book, and fiscal year data into one replication task. The separation of companies and/or books into separate tasks can be an advantage when large amounts of data are replicated. If it is necessary to reinitialize replication for just one company, it will be much quicker if that company has a separate task. If you have to re-initialize replication for all companies in the one task, it could take considerably longer.
Replication Types
The Replication Wizard creates two types of replication task:
• Operational Data - Business transactions, GL daily/periodic balances, and so on.
• Setup Data - Includes chart of accounts, chart of accounts segment values, company, GL book, fiscal periods, and so on.
There is always just one Setup Info task created for each ERP database, which replicates date-independent setup data for all the companies, books and fiscal years being replicated. This task is separate, so if you need to re-initialize only setup data, it is not necessary to re-initialize operational data, which might take longer.
Operational and Setup Tables
The operational and setup tables differ slightly according to the ERP system from which you replicate. The following table lists the operational and setup tables used for replication by the Epicor ERP plugin.
Filter Type
Table
Company, Book, FiscalYear Operational
GLJrnDtl
Company, Book, FiscalYear Operational
GLPeriodBal
Company, Book, FiscalYear Operational
GLBudgetDtl
Company, Book, FiscalYear Operational GLJrnDtlMnl Company Setup COA Company Setup COASegment Company Setup COASegValues Company Setup Company Company, Book Setup GLBook Company Setup FiscalPer Company Setup GLAccount Company Setup COAActCat Company Setup Currency Company Setup CurrConvRule
Filter Type Table Company Setup CurrRateGrp Company Setup CurrExRate
The Epicor 9.05 plugin uses the same tables as the Epicor ERP, except it does not include the GLJrnDtlMnl table. The following table lists the operational and setup tables used for replication by the iScala plugin.
Filter Type
Table
Operational GL52 (Periodical and budget balances)
Operational GL06 (Transactions) Operational GL10 (Fiscal Periods) Setup GL12 (Account Categories) Setup GL03 (Segment values for Acc. Dimensions)
Setup GL53 (Segment values for Natural Accounts)
Company Setup ScaCompanies Company Setup ScaCompanyProperty Company Setup ScaCompanySegment
iScala stores each company and fiscal year in a separate individual table. For example: GL06AB16, where AB = company code and 16 = fiscal year.
The following table lists the operational and setup tables used for replication by the Prophet 21 plugin.
Filter Type Table Company, FiscalYear Operational gl Company Setup balances Company Setup chart_of_accts Company Setup company Company Setup periods Setup code_p21 Setup currency_hdr Setup currency_line
Daily Balances Aggregation
If you select the Epicor ERP replication plugin, there are two options for the creation of daily balances:
1. Aggregate using the full accounting string from transaction lines.
For example, there are three transaction lines for the natural account 1090. Only two of the lines have a dynamic segment in the GL account string.
Segment4 (Dynamic) Segment3 Segment2 Segment1 Amount Date 00 02 1090 10000.00 2015/10/15 CustomerA 00 02 1090 8.00 2015/10/3 CustomerA 00 02 1090 250.00 2015/10/15
The following tables illustrate the difference between the two aggregation methods.
AFR 9.05 behavior - Aggregate using the full accounting string from transaction lines: GL Account String Amount Date 1090-02-00-CustomerA 8.00 2015/10/3 1090-02-00 10000.00 2015/10/15 1090-02-00-CustomerA 250.00 2015/10/15
This is the default behavior if you want to replicate to an existing AFR financial database converted from AFR 9.05.
Aggregate using balance segment settings in ERP - Aggregate using Balance Segment settings in Epicor
ERP:
Balance Segment Account Amount Date 1090-02-00 8.00 2015/10/3 1090-02-00 10250.00 2015/10/15
With this method, the other segments are ignored for the purposes of daily balance creation. This is the default behavior if you want to replicate to a new AFR 10 financial database.
Using AFR Replication Monitor
Setting up SQL replication tasks in the AFR Replication Monitor involves the following steps:
1. Connect to an AFR financial database
2. Create replication tasks, including detail on these elements:
• Company/Books to replicate • Fiscal Years to replicate
3. Set Granularity
4. Set the replication task name prefix 5. Specify security settings
Launch AFR Replication Monitor
To set up new tasks to replicate data from a source ERP database to an AFR financial database, first launch the AFR Replication Monitor.
Main Menu Path: Start > All Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial Reporting > Replication
Monitor.
1. The Connect to AFR Financial DB window displays.
2. If necessary, select the required server in the SQL Server field.
3. Select an existing AFR financial database from the Database drop-down list.
4. To create a new financial database, select <Create new...> from the drop-down list. 5. If you create a new database here, the Create a new AFR financial DB window displays.
6. Enter a suitable Database Name.
7. Click Create. The database name is selected in the Database field. 8. Click OK.
9. The AFR Replication Monitor launches.
10. The Replication Tasks sheet displays details of existing replication tasks (if any).
11. The ERP Databases sheet displays details of the ERP database to which you are connected.
Create Replication Tasks with AFR Replication Wizard
The following sections describe how to create new replication tasks. To do this, you use the AFR Replication Wizard.
Select ERP Source
1. In the AFR Replication Monitor, click Subscribe.
2. The AFR Replication Wizard - Source ERP Type window displays.
3. In the Source ERP Type field, select the type of ERP database from which you are replicating. The options
are:
• Epicor 9.05 - When you select this option, only Epicor 9.05 source databases are available or selection in the next window.
• Epicor ERP - When you select this option, source databases from Epicor 9.05 and Epicor 10 are available for selection in the next window.
• iScala - When you select this option, only iScala source databases are available for selection in the next window.
• Prophet 21 - When you select this option, only Prophet 21 source databases are available for selection in the next window.
4. Click Next.
Select ERP Database
1. The AFR Replication Wizard – From window displays.
2. In the SQL Server field, specify the server where the ERP source database is located. 3. In the Database field, select the source ERP database.
4. Click Next.
Select Companies and Books to Replicate
1. The AFR Replication Wizard – Company and Book Filter window displays.
Select a company to automatically select all its books.
3. If you want to replicate all companies and books in the ERP database, select <All companies>. 4. Click Next.
Set Company and Fiscal Year Granularity
1. The AFR Replication Wizard – Granularity window displays.
2. In the Re-initialization options section, select how to divide companies and books into separate replication
tasks. Available options:
• All companies together – All companies and books are included in one task
• Each company independently from others – A separate task is created for each company. The task includes all the books selected in the company.
• Each company and book independently from others – A separate task is created for each company/book combination.
3. Select Include all new companies in replication to automatically add companies created in the future to
the replication tasks.
4. Similarly, select Include all new books in replication to automatically add books created in the future to
the replication tasks.
6. A second AFR Replication Wizard – Granularity window displays.
7. In the Replicate from year field, specify the earliest year from which you want to start replication. 8. In the Re-Initialization options section, select whether to separate different fiscal years into individual
tasks. Available options:
• All years together – No separation of tasks according to fiscal year.
• Each year independently from others - A separate task is created for each fiscal year.
9. Select Include all new years to automatically add fiscal years created in the future to the replication tasks. 10. Click Next.
Set Daily Balance Aggregation and Task Prefix
1. If you are using the Epicor ERP replication plugin, the AFR Replication Wizard – Type of aggregation window displays.
2. For aggregation behavior, select from the two alternatives:
• AFR 9.05 behavior - Aggregate using the full accounting string from transaction lines
• Aggregate using balance segment settings in ERP - Aggregate using Balance Segment settings in Epicor ERP
3. Click Next.
4. The AFR Replication Wizard – Miscellaneous window displays.
5. In the Replication task name prefix field, accept or overwrite the default task name prefix which displays.
When created, each replication task uses the prefix, followed by a unique numerical identifier. This is the task ID used by SQL Management Studio in the publisher and subscriber servers.
6. Select the Start replication immediately check box if you want replication to initialize as soon as the tasks
are created. Otherwise, you have to manually initialize each task after creation.
7. In the Select path for shared folder field, you can specify an alternative location to set up snapshot scripts.
By default, the snapshot scripts folder is located on the Epicor ERP (Publisher) server.
Review Tasks for Creation
1. The AFR Replication Wizard – Task Review window displays, with details of the replication tasks that
will be created. The number of tasks depends on the level of granularity you specified for companies/books and fiscal years.
There is always just one Setup info task.
2. To add more tasks, click New.
3. The Create New Task window displays. Specify the companies, books, and fiscal years for which to add
tasks.
5. To delete a task, select it in the grid and click Delete.
6. To edit a task, select it in the grid, and click Edit.
7. The Edit replication task window displays. Enter additional companies, books, or fiscal years to the same
task.
8. Click OK.
Enter Security Credentials and Create Tasks
1. The AFR Replication Wizard – Task security window displays.
2. In the Windows account field, enter the domain\username. 3. Enter the Password.
This is the username and password which will be used to run the SQL Replication tasks. They must be entered here for replication to function.
4. Click Next.
5. The AFR Replication Wizard - Configuring SQL Replication window displays. The task creation process
starts. Each action displays in the Message field, and the status bar displays the progress of the task generation process.
6. When the process is complete, the last message line displays the location where the log file is saved, in case
you need to review it. This file can be useful for troubleshooting.
7. Click Done.
8. The tasks display in the AFR Replication Monitor.
Initialize Replication Tasks
Once you have created tasks with the AFR Replication Wizard, you must initialize each task to start replication. To initialize tasks in the AFR Replication Monitor:
1. Select the task you want to initialize.
2. Click Initialize.
If you selected the Start replication immediately check box on the AFR Replication Wizard - Miscellaneous window, it is not necessary to initialize the tasks, as they initialize as soon as they are created.
3. To view the current status of the tasks, click Refresh.
Monitor and Change Replication Task Status
Replication can be monitored via the AFR Replication Monitor or using standard SQL Server Replication Monitor. This section describes the first method. For the second method refer to MS SQL Server help materials.
There are various actions you can perform on existing tasks. Each action has a corresponding button on the toolbar.
Sometimes it is necessary to reinitialize a replication task, for example due to a network disconnect between the source and target database.
1. Use the toolbar buttons to execute the various functions available in the AFR Replication Monitor.
2. Select a task and click Edit to adjust the following aspects of the task:
• Add or remove companies, books, and fiscal years.
• Select/clear the Include all new companies in replication and Include all new books in replication check boxes.
3. Remove a task by clicking the Unsubscribe button. When you remove a task in the Replication Monitor,
the related SQL entities - publisher, subscriber, job - are deleted from SQL automatically.
4. Click Refresh to view the current status of a task. 5. Click Suspend to temporarily stop replication tasks.
There may be occasions when your company needs to generate a large number of reports in the AFR Report Viewer. If you want to ensure exactly the same data is used for all the reports, you can temporarily suspend replication tasks, to ensure no new data is added to the AFR database during report generation.
6. Click Resume to restart the tasks after suspension.
7. The Last Action and Last Action Time fields give details of the latest status; click Refresh to update these
8. The Last Error and Last Error Time fields provide information on errors encountered in a particular task.
For details on troubleshooting, view the application help.
9. The Change Queue field displays the number of items due to replicate from the source ERP database to
the target AFR database. If, after some time, this number does not reduce, it may indicate an issue with the replication.
10. If you need to update the Windows user and password details, for example due to their expiry, navigate to
the ERP Databases sheet and click Change replication task credentials.
11. The Task security window displays.
12. Enter account and password details. 13. Click OK.
Once the replication tasks are up and running, you can close the AFR Replication Monitor; it is not necessary to keep the application open.
When you create the replication tasks, the replication monitor log file is created in the location displayed in the Message field in the last step of the AFR Replication Wizard. This file can be helpful for troubleshooting.
Summary
Now that the database replication process is duplicating financial data, you are ready to build your AFR reports. You next need to configure the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting tools within the report server environment and any workstation environments you need. These tools connect to the subscriber databases, so you can display the financial data regularly generated through data replication. The next chapter documents how you set up and configure the AFR reporting tools.
Chapter 3: Setup and Configuration
This chapter looks at the AFR Logon Server configuration file, which it may be necessary to alter to make sure it points to the correct URLs required to create and view reports. It also provides an overview of the basic steps to take when launching the AFR Report Designer for the first time, to create a new report definition database. For full information on installing AFR, refer to the AFR Installation Guide.
When you finish the setup and configuration, you will be ready to create and view advanced financial reports.
Configure Logon Server
If necessary, in the AFR Logon Server config file, you can specify the URL of the SSRS report manager, and specify which SSRS server(s) can be accessed.
To configure the Logon Server:
1. On the server, navigate to the location where your AFR Logon Server is installed. For example: C:\Program
Files\Epicor Software\AFR\Logon Server. Using a text editor like Notepad, open this file:
Epicor.FinancialReporter. LogonServer. WinService.exe.config.
2. In the text of this file, within the <ReportViewer> element, locate the <ReportManagerUrl>, <WebServiceUrl> and <AFRReportServerURL> lines .
3. These correspond to the fields used when the AFR Logon Server was setup during installation.
4. If you do not know these URLs, you can use the Reporting Services Configuration Manager. To launch
this program, navigate to: Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 > Configuration Tools
> Reporting Services Configuration Manager. Connect to the server.
The ReportManagerURL is only used by the AFR Report Viewer application, which retrieves this URL after it connects to the Logon Server and opens the URL as a default home page.
5. On the left navigation menu, select Report Manager URL. 6. In the Report Manager URL section, review the URL.
7. Copy the URL text and paste it between the [ ] within the ReportManagerURL line in the configuration file.
8. Now follow these same steps for the Web Service URL. Return to the Reporting Services Configuration
Manager. On the left navigation menu, select Web Service URL.
10. Copy the URL text and paste it between the [ ] of the WebService URL line in the configuration file.
11. In the <AFRReportServerUrl> element, you specify the URL of the AFR Report Server. This URL is used by
the AFR installer to extract the URL for shortcut creation.
12. This setting was initialized during installation, using the value specified in the AFR Report Server URL field
13. This URL was used by the AFR installer to extract the URL for creation of the AFR Report Server shortcut.
If the user selects to install the AFR Server Shortcut (instead of the AFR Report Viewer), and there is already an AFR Logon Server installed on the network, the installer prompts the user to select a Logon Server, then connects to it and retrieves the URL specified in the
<AFRReportServerUrl> tag of the Logon Server config file. The installer then creates a Start menu shortcut pointing to this URL. This tag is not used for the AFR Report Viewer.
14. Save the Logon Server configuration file.
Request License
If your license expires, or you need a new license to enable the batch schedule feature, you have to request a new one from Epicor Customer Support.
When the request is verified, Epicor Customer Support will generate the new AFR license and email it to you. For details on how to request a license, refer the AFR Installation Guide.
Windows Path: Start > All Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial Reporting > License Requester
Report Components Setup
When the Epicor Advanced Financial Reporting license is active, you are ready to install and configure the reporting components – the Report Designer and Report Viewer. You must install these applications on the report server environment. If you will build advanced financial reports on one or more workstations, you must install these tools on these workstation environments as well.
Configure Report Designer
When you first launch the Report Designer, the system prompts you to select an AFR Logon Server.
Windows Path: Start > Programs > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial Reporting > Report Designer To select the logon server:
1. When you first launch the Report Designer, the Select Logon Server window displays. Server(s) licensed
through Epicor are available for selection.
2. Select the logon server and click Connect.
The Report Designer will remember the chosen logon server, and will not prompt you for selection in future, as long as the same logon server is accessible when you launch the application. To force the Report Designer to display the prompt, use the '-s' argument in the command line for the program.
3. When the license and server are validated, the Log on to Report Definition DB window displays.
4. If necessary, select the required SQL Server.
If you need to verify the SQL Server host name, you can open SQL Server Management Studio and review the host name information.
5. Enter your User and Password or select the Use Windows credentials check box to enter your network
ID.
6. Select an existing report definition database in the Database field.
7. To convert an existing database from a previous AFR version, select the Show previous versions check box, then select a database from the Database list. You will be prompted to give the database a new name. 8. Click OK.
The Report Designer launches.
Create New Report Definition Database
If you do not have a report definition database to select, for example when you first launch the Report Designer in a new AFR installation, create a new report definition database:
1. Select Create new from the Database drop-down list.
3. Enter the Database Name you want for your new database. 4. Click Create. The database is generated.
5. In the Log on to Report Definition DB window, click OK. You have created the new report definition database.
The definitions for the advanced financial reports you will build are stored within this database.
The Report Designer launches.
Report Designer Settings
When you create a new report definition database, you must also configure the Report Designer settings, to select the AFR financial database used by RDL files and the report preview function.
1. In the Report Designer, select Settings from the Tools menu.
3. On the RDL sheet, enter the Web Service URL.
4. If you do not know this URL, you can use the Reporting Services Configuration Manager. To launch
this program, navigate to: Start > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (or 2012)> Configuration
Tools > Reporting Services Configuration Manager.
5. Click Find to locate your Server Name. 6. Click Connect.
7. On the left navigation menu, select Web Service URL.
8. In the Web Service URL section, review the Report Server Web Service URLs information. This URL
displays as a blue underlined link. Verify this URL is the same as the one you entered on the Settings > RDL window in the Report Designer.
9. Return to the Settings > RDL sheet in the Report Designer. To verify you have a valid URL, click the Test connection button.
11. The Data source Name is the folder that will contain your reports in SSRS. This is automatically created by
AFR.
12. The Default SSRS Folder is called AFR, unless you decide to change it.
If security considerations mean you require several separate folders on the same server, each must have a different name.
13. Select the SQL Server where the AFR financial database is located.
14. In the Database field, select the database that contains replicated AFR financial data. 15. Click OK.
Summary
This chapter looked at three important fields in the Logon Server config file, which you may need to configure. Once your AFR installation is configured, you can launch the AFR Report Designer, connect to the Logon Server and create a new Report Definition Database, or select an existing one.
Chapter 4: Designer Settings and Tools
You can configure the Report Designer through a number of settings and tools. Use these options to modify the Report Designer for use in your environment. For example, you can set details of the database you use for financial report data and report preview data, indicate how many rows are created by default within each row set, and set default display formats for dates and fiscal periods.
As you create advanced financial reports, you can export report elements (row sets, column sets, reports, and so on) to a separate location in order to create backup copies. This export functionality can also make these report elements available for other users. Other users can then import these report elements into their Report Designer environments and modify them to create their own advanced financial reports. In addition, you can import existing reports from Microsoft® Management Reporter and FRx, then customize them for use in AFR.
Report Designer Settings
The Report Designer contains several global settings you need to configure. These global settings are used for all of the advanced financial reports you create. This section explores the global setting options available within the Report Designer.
You define these setting options directly within the Report Designer:
Main Menu Path: Start > Epicor Software > Advanced Financial Reporting > Report Designer To access the Settings window:
2. The Settings window displays. Notice this window has four sheets – General, RDL, Preview and Default Formats.
The rest of this section explores the options available on each of these sheets.
General Settings
The General settings sheet contains overall settings for the Report Designer. These options define how various functions perform while you create advanced financial reports.
1. Click the General tab.
2. In the Rows in a new row set field, enter the number of rows you want to display within new row sets.
This value is for convenience - it limits the number of rows you will typically need within each new row set. Enter a value that best reflects your average reporting needs. If you do not have enough rows when creating reports, you can always add more rows. You can also delete any unwanted rows from your row sets.
3. In the New row number increment in a new row set field, enter the numerical gap you want to have
in between rows in a row set. The default value is 10, meaning rows are numbered 10, 20, 30, and so on. It is useful to have a gap, so you can later add additional rows in between, if required. For example, you might create an addition row 15 betweeen rows 10 and 20.
4. If you want Report Definition Language (RDL) files to automatically open in Microsoft® Visual Studio® when you generate them, select the Edit generated RDLs by default check box.
5. Select the Use summary balances check box to indicate summary balances will be used in a report. When
selected, the Report Designer uses the Summary and Summary/Detail balance types. If you do not select this check box, the Report Designer uses the Detail and Summary/Detail balance types.
6. The Show ‘Nan’ and ‘Infinity’ as field defines how ‘NaN’ (null) and ‘Infinity’ values will display on your
advanced financial reports. The default value is an en dash (‘-’), but you can enter another symbol if you prefer.
7. Select the Use column names in the expression builder check box to indicate that column names display
within the Expression Builder window. You use this window to create calculations for specific fields within each advanced financial report. If you select this check box, the columns names are available for use in expressions as you need.
8. In the Default 'edit' access role field, enter the default user or group with Edit rights on new reports.
When you create a new report, this user or group can then automatically make changes to this report. You can then give other users and groups Edit rights to the report on the Security sheet. For more information, review Chapter 5: Report Design; the Report Security section describes this functionality.
9. In the Default 'view' access role field, enter the default user or group with View rights on new reports.
When you create a new report, this user or group can then automatically launch and view the report. You can then give other users and groups View rights to the report on the Security sheet.
10. In the SQL query timeout seconds field, define how long a query can be idle before it stops, or times out.
You enter this value in seconds; for example, 180 seconds (3 minutes).
11. If you select the Start Column Expressions Assistant for new columns check box, the assistant will
launch whenever you create a new column in a column set.
12. If reports are likely to contain more than 5,000 rows, enter a suitable value in the Maximum rows in a list
field.
This value applies to both report preview and report RDL files launched in a web browser.
13. Select the Enable segment display order to display GL account strings in the same segment order as they
RDL Settings
Use the report definition language (RDL) settings to define how your RDL files interact with SQL Server for Reporting Services (SSRS). You define the location of both the web service and the reporting database. The RDL files can then access the SSRS functionality and display data from your database.
To configure the RDL Settings:
1. Click the RDL tab.
2. The Web service URL used for the report server displays in the top field. This URL is received from the
Logon Server and set by default when the report definition database is created. The setup places the URL in the logon server config file.
3. To verify this connection, click the Test connection button.
4. The Data Source Name field displays the name of the AFR Report Definition Database, with the prefix
'DS1_'.
5. In the Default SSRS Folder, you can specify the folder where all newly-generated or imported RDL files are
stored. The default folder is AFR.
If you change the default folder, it does not affect RDL files that were already generated.
6. The SQL Server field displays the location of the AFR financial database which provides the financial data
when you launch a report RDL file.
7. The Use Windows credentials check box is selected by default. If specific AFR login credentials are used
instead, clear the check box and enter the username and password.
8. In the Database drop-down list, select the AFR financial database that contains the replicated financial
data to display on reports when you launch a report's RDL file in a web browser. To launch and view reports in a browser, you must specify