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Introduction

This document is intended for use with Cognos 8. Cognos 8 is a Web product with integrated reporting, analysis, scorecarding, and event management features.

This document explains how to use Cognos Connection, the Cognos 8 portal, to view, edit, schedule, and distribute standard and complex reports.

Audience

To use this guide, you should be familiar with reporting and security concepts, and have experience using a Web browser.

Related Documentation

Our documentation includes user guides, getting started guides, new features guides, readmes, and other materials to meet the needs of our varied audience. The following documents contain related information and may be referred to in this document.

Note: For online users of this document, a Web page such as The page cannot be found may appear when clicking individual links in the following table. Documents are made available for your particular installation and translation configuration. If a link is unavailable, you can access the document on the Cognos Global Customer Services Web site (http://support.cognos.com). Logon credentials are available either from your administrator or by request from support.america@cognos.com.

DocumentDescription

Cognos 8 Administration and Security Guide

Managing servers, security, reports, and portal services; setting up Cognos samples; troubleshooting; and customizing Cognos 8

Analysis Studio User Guide

Exploring, analyzing, and comparing dimensional data

Cognos 8 Getting Started

Teaching new users how to use Cognos 8

Cognos 8 New Features

Describing features that are new in this release

Localization Development Kit Installation and User Guide

Installing and using the Localization Development Kit to translate and customize the messages and user interface text in Cognos products

Query Studio User Guide

Creating self-service business intelligence reports

Report Studio Professional Authoring User Guide

Authoring reports that analyze corporate data according to specific needs

Report Studio Express Authoring User Guide

Authoring financial reports that analyze corporate data according to specific needs

Event Studio User Guide

Creating and managing agents that monitor data and perform tasks when the data meets predefined thresholds

Framework Manager User Guide

Creating and publishing models using Framework Manager

Cognos PowerPlay Enterprise Server Guide

Administering PowerPlay servers and deploying cubes and reports to PowerPlay users in Windows environments or on the Web

Cognos PowerPlay Web User Guide

Viewing, exploring, formatting, and distributing PowerPlay reports using a Web browser

Cognos Web Portal User Guide

Viewing, finding, organizing, and sharing information in Upfront, the customizable interface used to publish Cognos reports to the Web

Metric Studio User Guide

Authoring scorecard applications and monitoring the metrics within them

Cognos 8 Go! Office User Guide

Using Cognos 8 Go! Office to retrieve content from Cognos reporting products within Microsoft Office

Finding Information

To find the most current product documentation, including all localized documentation, access the Cognos Global Customer Services Web site (http://support.cognos.com). Click the Documentation link to access documentation guides. Click the Knowledge Base link to access all documentation, technical papers, and multimedia materials.

Product documentation is available in online help from the Help menu or button in Cognos products. You can also download documentation in PDF format from the Cognos Global Customer Services Web site.

You can also read PDF versions of the product readme files and installation guides directly from Cognos product CDs.

Using Quick Tours

Quick tours are short online tutorials that illustrate key features in Cognos product components. To view a quick tour, start Cognos Connection and click the Quick Tour link in the lower-right corner of the Welcome page.

Getting Help

For more information about using this product or for technical assistance, visit the Cognos Global Customer Services Web site (http://support.cognos.com). This site provides product information, services, user forums, and a knowledge base of documentation and multimedia materials. To create a case, contact a support person, or to provide feedback, click the Contact Us link. For information about education and training, click the Training link.

Printing Copyright Material

You can print selected pages, a section, or the whole book. Cognos grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use, copy, and reproduce the copyright materials, in printed or electronic format, solely for the purpose of operating, maintaining, and providing internal training on Cognos software.