Distributing and collecting offline data

BPC's offline distribution and collection feature allows administrators to distribute reports and input schedules to multiple recipients, based on a predefined distribution list. The reports are saved to be used offline from the server in native Excel.

The mechanism to distribute offline reports is similar to publishing a book of reports, but this feature also allows you to distribute and collect input schedules. Other differences between publishing a book and distributing and collecting reports and input schedules are:

• Reports or input schedules are locked (parked)

• You can collect changes to offline input schedules and send the data to a database

• Reports and input schedules are distributed through email or a designated network folder, not with a TOC on BPC Web

 
Distributing offline reports involves at least three steps, with an optional fourth step to collect modified input schedules:
 

• 
  Step 1: Create a report or input schedule template that defines the layout of the report. 
  Step 2: Create a distribution list that defines the scope (current view) of the data for one or more users.
  Step 3: Use the Distribution Wizard to distribute offline reports or input schedules through email or a network folder. Reports are created for each user and for each current view described by the distribution report
  Step 4: (Optional) If you distributed input schedules, the users can input data offline, and then email the reports back to you or save them in a designated directory. You can then use the Distribution Wizard to collect the data from the modified reports and send it to the database