© 2014 Jenzabar, Inc. Talia Brown Graceland University, Lamoni, IA May 28 to 31, 2014 – Washington, DC #498 Cognos Letters for Financial Aid.

© 2014 Jenzabar, Inc.

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

#498 Cognos Letters for Financial Aid


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!


Prepare Data


Format Page(s)


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

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

Format Your Page(s)


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.




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

‘New Boolean Variable’

Render Variable Text


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


‘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


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


Standard Mailing Labels

• Insert a Repeater Table

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


Cognos tools provide numerous

opportunities.

Try something new!

© 2014 Jenzabar, Inc. Talia Brown Graceland University, Lamoni, IA May 28 to 31, 2014 – Washington, DC #498 Cognos Letters for Financial Aid.

Documents

text block

lables page properties

new student letter

idvariable text

needed insert table

render variable option

size envelope

new students