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Use Cognos 8 Planning - Contributor

Contributor streamlines data collection and workflow management. It eliminates the problems of errors, version control, and timeliness that characterize decentralized planning processes. Organizations can easily engage thousands of people in the planning process, collecting data from managers and staff across divisions and across geographies as well as from resellers, suppliers, and customers worldwide. Many users can work simultaneously because Contributor is optimized for end-user performance. The client requests data from the server only as needed and saves only data that has changed. Complex calculations are performed at the client, giving you quick response and sparing the server unnecessary traffic during high-use times.

Using an intranet or secure Internet connection, you review only what you need to review and enter data where you are authorized.

You can make current Contributor data available in Cognos 8 Framework Manager for reporting purposes. You can also use Excel print formatting and preview features, and export current data to Excel for customized reporting. If you want to use these features and they are not available, ask your Contributor administrator.

Steps
  1. Open a Web browser. Type the Web address supplied by your administrator in the address bar, typically http://servername/cognos8.

  2. Type your user ID and password and click OK.

  3. In the Plan and forecast area, click the Contributor link. If you have access to more than one plan, click the plan that you require.

    When you log on to Contributor, you see a graphical overview of all the areas you are responsible for, and the status of the data.

  4. To start using Contributor, in the tree on the left side of the screen, click an item. In the table that appears, click the name of the item.

  5. To show more information about an item, click the blue down arrow. This opens a details panel that you can close by clicking either of the arrows.

  6. To send email, click the name of the person in the Ownership or Reviewer cells or in the details panel.

  7. To start working, click the e.List item in the table. This opens an e.List item in a grid where you can view and enter data.