Charging and resource-utilization reports

In FY97, SCD's Database Services Group (DBS) concentrated on converting over 100 charging and resource-utilization reports (1000+ pages per month) from hardcopy to the web, and automating report creation and electronic distribution (email and/or web). Creation of the reports and periodic distribution of the resulting 1000+ hardcopy pages was inefficient and time-consuming, and hardcopy allowed users only limited access to the information. Distributed on varying periodic schedules (daily, weekly, and so forth), many of these reports were in 132-column, landscape format, and several were generated by manually entering data into Excel on a PC.

Immediate OIS goals included:

Consolidate reports where possible
Develop a scheme to distribute routinely generated reports via e-mail and/or the web
Convert routinely generated reports from 132 columns to 80
Develop SAS/GRAPH programs under UNIX to generate all charts, eliminating the manual entry of data on a completely different computer platform
Develop templates to automate distribution to the web

Completed in FY97:

Nearly 100 reports are now automatically distributed via email (80 column)
Over 100 reports are distributed via the Web (text and charts)
All charts are now generated with SAS on UNIX
Hardcopy has been reduced 90% (remaining is mostly for internal use)
Users are able to access a variety of new information for which they had formerly had to request special reports

About 12-15 small, routinely generated reports remain to be converted to electronic form during FY98.

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