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Note: The Cognos reports and workloads are being migrated to Tableau. Information below is provided to help support existing users as they transition to Tableau. Contact the Pitt IT Helpdesk if you'd like to schedule a consultation on your adoption of Tableau.

Cognos Analytics is a tool for enterprise reporting, ad hoc data reporting and self-service analytics. Using Cognos Analytics, authorized staff can view standard University financial and student reports. Data and administrative professionals can use Cognos Reports to create or run existing reports.

Data from the University data marts are organized into packages within Cognos. These packages provide data for pre-built reports, as well as providing data sources for ad hoc reporting via the Cognos Report tool for student, employee, and financial data.

Frequently Asked Questions

 How do I view or run monthly GL Level Reports in Cognos?

Viewing and Running General Ledger Level Reports (Training Guide)

 I have access to Cognos but getting an error when logging in

Below are a few things for you to try if you have access to Cognos but are getting an error when logging in.

  1. Make sure you are VPN'd in (Global Protect or Pulse). 

  2. Make sure you are not using Edge or Internet Explorer.  Cognos doesn't work with either of those.

  3. Try a different browser (Chrome or Firefox) and see if that works.

  4. Clear your web browser cache (How to clear Chrome cache - https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop ).

    1. In Chrome:

      1. On your computer, open Chrome.

      2.  At the top right, click three vertical dots to access the "Customize and control Google Chrome" menu.

      3.  Click More tools and then Clear browsing data.

      4.  At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.

      5.  Next to "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," check the boxes.

      6.  Click Clear data.

      In Firefox:

      1. At the top right, click the three horizontal bars menu and choose Options.

      2. Select the Privacy & Security panel.

      3. In the Cookies and Site Data section, click Clear Data….

      4. Remove the check mark in front of Cookies and Site Data.

      5. With Cached Web Content check marked, click the Clear button.

      6. Close the about:preferences page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.

  5. Use the “incognito” Chrome option.   To use the incognito option, right click on the Chrome launch icon and select “New Incognito Window”.

  6. Reboot your machine.  Sometimes a login file becomes corrupt when Cognos is left open and not logged out.  Rebooting fixes the corrupt login file. 

 Is there information on what package I should use when writing a Cognos Report?

Cognos Query packages (Reference Sheet)

 Can I automate a query or report from Cognos?

Creating and Running Jobs (Training Guide)

 What data is available in Cognos?

A Data Dictionary (organized by Cognos packages) is available.

For an overview of Financial and Student data mart collections and subject areas
See the Data Collections section for complete details about available Cognos packages.

To see what data is available in the most commonly used packages see
ST Mart Fields and Screen Tips by Pkg (Excel download)

GL Mart Fields and Screen Tips by Pkg (Excel download)

 How can I request a new report in Cognos?

If you have Cognos Analytics Reports, you can create your own report.  Pitt IT manages standard University reports in Cognos.  If you have an idea for a report that would be useful to the University Community or need help in writing your school or departmental reports, contact the Technology Help Desk

 Are there any Cognos trainings available?

Below are the training guides and recorded webinars for Cognos users.  

Cognos User Group Archives

The Cognos User Group no longer meets but you can view prior meeting recordings below.  Please note all Cognos User Group meetings were from version 11.0.12.  

  • April 24, 2020 -Recorded webinar on the following (video)

    • Cognos maintenance - deleting unused reports, schedules, and jobs

    • Creating prompts and prompt pages (including cascading prompts)

    • Inserting SQL code into a report

  • March 27, 2020 - Recorded webinar on the following (video)

    • Uploading an Excel spreadsheet for use in reports

    • Creating a data module from an uploaded spreadsheet

    • Scheduling reports and creating jobs (video)

  • February 28, 2020

  • December 13, 2019

    • ST Enrollment and Tuition Query Pkg (Notes on using this pkg)   

    • GL Transaction Query Pkg (Notes on using this pkg)

  • November 15, 2019

    • ST Mart - The Course Repeat Form is now available.  It can be run by EMPLID, Plan or Standing.  Reports are in folder:  Team Content > Cognos Reports > ST Class Enrollment Reports   

    • GL Mart - The new Variance report is available in folder:  Team Content > Cognos Reports > General Ledger Reports.  And is named:  Monthly Variance Report

    • ST Mart - How to create a report with two queries joined (applications that were WAPP yesterday but not today) (Video)

    • GL Mart - How to create a report with two queries joined (accounts with no budget this year) (PDF) 

    • Date Filter Examples (PDF)

  • October 18, 2019

  • September 20, 2019

  • August 8, 2019

  • July 11, 2019

    • Common ST Mart Cognos packages, purpose and tips for each (PowerPoint)

    • How to convert a Query to a Report (Step by step) 

    • How to conditionally format fields for different styles (Step by step) 

    • How to format Data Types (numbers, dates & percentages) (Step by step) 

    • How to change the numbers of rows shown in report output (Step by step)

    • How to write a report to identify Active Students not yet enrolled (Step by step)

    • How to write a report to list all Acad Program codes in which students are enrolled (Step by step)

  • June 11, 2019

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Need help? Contact the Pitt IT Helpdesk