ACCESS ACCOUNTS l Modules - Report Writing

Solutions for making informed decisions.

Detailed management information is critical for making timely and informed business decisions. Access reports will enable you to convey information clearly and concisely, in a format tailored to your specific needs.

Standard Reporting
There are hundreds of standard, pre-configured reports available within Access Accounts. You can, for example, opt for a one-page summary of 60 different records, a highly detailed report with a full page on a single record, or a combination of both. Reports can be structured to include all of the records in a given category, or - using simple filters - only those records which meet specific criteria. Each filter or search format can be saved using a name of your choice, making the selection of data for subsequent reports simplicity itself. The data you select can be totalled and subtotalled in many ways and to many levels. You can choose to print subtotals on their own, thereby representing hundreds of pages of information in a single, concise, summary.

Enhanced Reporting
Access recommends Crystal Reports as the ideal third party report writer, but any ODBC compliant software can be used, including Microsoft Excel, Word and Access, and OLAP tools such as Cognos Powerplay. You can combine data held in Access Accounts with information stored in other ODBC compliant databases.

Business Forms
Using Access Crystal Design (ACD) and Crystal Reports, documents such as invoices, statements and remittance advice notes can be customised to match your existing stationery. Alternatively, you can start with a blank sheet of paper and design whatever you choose using any combination of font, size, colour and graphic. Multiple designs can be stored for each document, allowing each Customer to have a unique invoice layout.

Report Publishing
Reports can be printed to screen, printer, and most common file formats. They can be sent instantly by e-mail and fax, and converted to HTML - enabling you to publish selected accounts data on Intranets, Extranets and the Internet. This means that Customers and Staff can have worldwide, 24-hour access to up-to-the-minute business information.

Access VBA Add-ins for Microsoft Office
Access has introduced a new range of menu options in Microsoft software (such as Excel, Word and Project), giving users a dynamic link directly into Access Accounts datafiles. This advanced integration offers a number of key benefits, including: real-time 'mirroring' and snapshots of accounts data; manipulation of data in the accounts; and consolidation of up to ten companies or datafiles.

This enhancement will be of particular interest to those who prefer to work with spreadsheets, as it provides a secure and reliable method for displaying financial data in spreadsheet format. Each time a spreadsheet is opened, it is automatically refreshed from the live accounts system, without the need for re-keying or reformatting of data. Conversely, the write-back facility updates the Access Accounts datafile with any amendments that have been made in the spreadsheet. With this interaction it takes just seconds to change non-auditable data, such as which Sales Person is allocated to hundreds of Customer Records, or to revise and update a whole year's budget in the Nominal Ledger. Auditable data, such as financial values, dates and tax values, is completely protected and secure.

The example below shows how, with a single key-stroke, you can update an Excel spreadsheet showing month-by-month management accounts (with embedded graphics) from budget to actual figures. Now you can prepare Profit & Loss, Balance Sheets, variance reports, sales analysis and other key management information in an instant - using a full range of layouts, graphics, fonts and colours to provide maximum impact.