© 2014 jenzabar, inc. talia brown graceland university, lamoni, ia may 28 to 31, 2014 –...

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Talia BrownGraceland University, Lamoni, IAMay 28 to 31, 2014 – Washington, DC

#498 Cognos Letters for Financial Aid

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Do you have report writers in your office?

How are you currently utilizing Cognos? Are you utilizing Word Merge processes?

Cognos Usage

Here are a few ways we utilize Cognos!

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Prepare Data

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Format Page(s)

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

‘Page’ properties; adjust margins Utilizing ‘Padding’ Insert headers or footers as needed

Insert ‘Table’ within ‘Table’ Insert ‘Image’

Format Your Page(s)

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

New Students – File the FAFSA!Three simple queries1. LETTER

• Identifies who needs the letter based on a specific contact (generated by tickler) and completed today.

• Selects the appropriate addressing fields. • Ensures the student has not already filed a FAFSA.

(ID not in FAFSA Query)• Ensures the student is not already identified as a non-

filer. (ID not in NON-FILER Query)2. FAFSA

• Selects anyone who has filed a FAFSA for the current financial aid year.

3. NON-FILER• Selects anyone who has been identified as a non-filer

for the current financial aid year.

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Insert ‘Block’ inside ‘Table’ Utilize the ‘Render Variable’ option in the ‘Properties’ window

‘New Boolean Variable’

Render Variable Text

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Simple query that pulls in address information.

Prompts for ID Variable text if the student needs to

complete exit counseling or if they had a TEACH Grant.

Letter to Students Leaving Graceland

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

‘Layout Calculation’ – allows for various text options. Example:

• IF (REASON CODE = ‘WD’) • THEN ('Always remember, we told you not to take out the

maximum loans and we told you not to blow your credit balance on video games.')

• ELSE ('Congratulations on your graduation. You have a grace period and then reality hits and you must repay your loans. Enjoy.')

Another Variable Option

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Envelopes or LablesPage properties – size of your envelopeInsert repeater table with address info and group by unique field

Create a Page SetGroup the page set by a unique field

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Standard Mailing Labels

• Insert a Repeater Table

• In the Properties of the table you can set the number of cells across and down

 © 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

Cognos tools provide numerous

opportunities.

Try something new!