RE: New Spreadsheet Server Product

We started down the path of FRW - version 6.0 a couple years ago. The
finance department was initally enamored by the ability to control their OWN
REPORTING!!! this digressed fairly quickly as they recognized the work that
would go into it . We engaged a consultant to help them develop the reports
they wanted; attempting to let them control their own destiny.

Final word was that it was a little more effort than they wanted to put in
to learn the product; but, more importantly, they discovered that they would
have to dedicate financial resources to develop and run these reports.

Long story short; we eliminated using frw for these reasons:
1. The reports  usually printed all day at each month end, if not for a
couple days. A PC was dedicated just for FRW reporting.
2. No archiving was available - we have ROBOT reports which archives and
allows for reprinting, viewing past reports etc.
3. No scheduling - finance people had to run the reports; feed paper, etc.
All of the mundane tasks that an IS operation department provides.
4. No ability to enter distribution (who the reports go to) and to make
multiple copies  - again finance labor had to be applied to make copies.

> ----------
> From:         Monika_Rossocha@PLANAR.COM[SMTP:Monika_Rossocha@PLANAR.COM]
> Reply To:     bpcs-l@midrange.com
> Sent:         Monday, October 01, 2001 4:42 PM
> To:   bpcs-l@midrange.com
> Subject:      Re: New Spreadsheet Server Product
>
> Hi,
>
> we are just completing our BPCS implementation and still use some excel
> spreadsheets for reporting. I planned to extend our list of Financial
> Reports that we run from the client server. If necessary I would export
> the
> results into MS Excel for graphs etc.
> What are the advantages of not using the Financial Report Writer function?
> Thanks,
>
> monika_rossocha@planar.com
>
>
>
>
>
>                     "Jason Schemmel"
>                     <jschemmel@ascentsolu        To:     "BPCS Mailing
> List" <BPCS-L@midrange.com>
>                     tions.com>                   cc:
>                     Sent by:                     Subject:     New
> Spreadsheet Server Product
>                     bpcs-l-admin@midrange
>                     .com
>
>
>                     10/01/2001 01:34 PM
>                     Please respond to
>                     bpcs-l
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Attention BPCS® User
>
> Global Software has just released version 1.0 of its Spreadsheet Server
> product designed especially for BPCS. The product was introduced during
> the
> SSA Global Client Forum held last week in Boca Raton, FL.
>
> The Global Software Spreadsheet Server product converts your familiar
> spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3, into
> tightly
> integrated analytical tools for your BPCS financial system. Your financial
> users can leverage the strength of your spreadsheets with seamless
> real-time
> integration to your financial information. Spreadsheet Server eliminates
> the
> re-keying or downloading of data into your spreadsheet and makes your
> spreadsheet an integral part of your financial application.
>
> If your financial group uses Microsoft Excel for financial reports, they
> will find this product invaluable. Some of the features include:
> -          custom formulas to retrieve account balances
> -          retrieve period, year-to-date, opening balance, or quarter
> balances
> -          view and retrieve account descriptions
> -          drill down to account balances
>
> This product is a tremendous complement to the BPCS CEA product. If your
> financial users are re-keying or downloading account balances, the
> spreadsheet server product will  be a significant timesaver at month-end.
>
> The product is currently available for all versions 6.0 and beyond. In
> addition, due to tremendous interest from the 4.05CD participants at the
> SSA
> Global Client Forum, Global Software will release a version for the 4.05CD
> version in the next few weeks.
>
> Please forward this email to your financial users for evaluation. Please
> contact me at jschemmel@ascentsolutions.com for more information.
>
> Regards
>
> Jason Schemmel
>
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