WebFocus is a third party software product that has been used to create a 'webified' reporting environment that is both functional and easy to use.
The Temple WebFocus Reporting System gives even the occasional user the capability of running flexible, predefined reports anytime and almost anywhere. It is intended to reduce the need for intervention by professional programming staff while minimizing the knowledge that one must have in order to generate meaningful reports.
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| Main WebFocus Menu |
WebFocus uses actual data or extracted files to dynamically generate reports that reflect database transaction activity that is usually no more than 12 hours old.
The Temple University implementation of WebFocus balances ease of use and functionality. To maximize ease-of-use, there is an intentional emphasis on 'predefined' reporting although you may still write your own reports if you want to. To mazimize functionality, reports are designed to be multi-purpose.
The WebFocus Reporting System is intended to be an adjunct to the reporting and data extraction capabilities of mainframe Focus and is not intended to replace mainframe Focus. In fact, some of the larger reports that are processed on the mainframe may not be appropriate for processing through WebFocus.
| What can I do with WebFocus? |
Although any University data can be accessed with WebFocus, a suite of reports has been developed primarily for ISIS users. The following are brief descriptions of only a few of these reports.
- Comparative Headcount Report shows headcounts for the last five years in any of about 15 categories such as matriculation status, curriculum, full/part time status, etc.
- Students Not Yet Registered shows a list of students who were registered at the end of the previous semester, have not graduated, and do not have 'hard' holds that would prevent registration, but who have not yet registered for the current semester. The listing includes contact information.
- Section Listing allows the user to produce a listing of sections that includes any of about 30 fields. The report can be sorted in a number of ways.
- Comparative Admissions Report shows the number of applications, admissions, registrations, and denials for the current date compared with a similiar date in the previous year.
- Student Recruitment Listing is a report that lists prospective undergraduate students. Various data can be selected including address and phone information. Avery 5160 mailing labels can be generated or the data can be downloaded into an Excel spreadsheet for use with a Word mail merge document.
Other reports can be designed to meet more specific needs or specific reports can be created which a user can enter into the 'Create a Report' window.
The WebFocus Monthly Report shows the number of reports that have been run in the past and also includes a list of the types of reports that have been processed by users.
| A browser is all you need. |
The WebFocus Reporting System uses the Internet to move data between the University mainframe databases and your PC. To use the WebFocus Reporting System, all you need is a PC running a Windows based browser (which supports the use of Java, Javascript, and 'cookies' - these functions must all be enabled) such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. We recommend that you have the latest version of the browser software. We do not recommend the use of beta releases.
While easy to use, the WebFocus Reporting System allows some degree of customization. Report parameters can be entered by selecting options from a drop-down list or check-off box. Complex selection criteria can be entered using the Focus programming language (examples are provided which can be cut-and-pasted into the report form).
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| Example of Report Form |
These is also a great deal of flexibility available in how a report is delivered to the user's desktop. One can choose to see the output using browser software or one can choose to have the file sent to the local PC in a number of standard file formats including Excel. The transfer of data to the PC takes place through the browser software and no other software is needed.
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| Drop-down list of output options |
Once a report has appeared on the screen, the usual browser capabilities can be used to navigate, search, and print it.
There is plenty of help available for each report that explains what the report shows, what the report parameters are, and how to enter selection criteria. A link to the data dictionary for each report is also available for users who want or need to generate more complex reports.
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| Example of Report Help |
| WebFocus does not replace mainframe Focus reporting. |
The Temple WebFocus Reporting System is meant to be an adjunct system to the existing mainframe Focus reports. Reports that are too complex or too large to process in WebFocus will most likely run fine (and take less processing time) in the mainframe Focus system.
While WebFocus is designed to meet the needs of the occasional user, some programming is also possible. However, WebFocus is not designed to be a platform for user developed applications. We continue to work on the development of a Web-based development environment.
Reports generated through the WebFocus Reporting System do not appear instantly after you press the 'Submit' button. WebFocus reports require data to be gathered from the mainframe, formatted for display on the local browser, and then transferred to the local PC for display. While past experience with the Web may lead one to expect instant response, the WebFocus Reporting System reports are dynamically produced from updated data files and can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes to generate. The majority of reports take less than a minute.
The WebFocus Reporting System will continue to be developed to include more reports and more reporting capabilities. Your comments, ideas, and suggestions are needed and valued. Please contact the WebFocus Support Staff or your Computer services contact staff with your suggestions for additions to existing reports or with your ideas for new ones.
| How does one get access to WebFocus? |
If you are interested in getting access to reports using WebFocus, please contact the WebFocus Support Staff or your Computer services contact staff. You will need to provide a written request signed by your Budget Unit Head stating what reports you will need.
Once you have a WebFocus account, you can begin generating reports by pointing your browser at www.temple.edu/webdata or webfocus.temple.edu.
| Note on Confidentiality of Student Records |
Please note that student data are protected under the Federal Educational Family Rights and Privacy Act (aka FERPA). Reports derived from student data are governed by Temple University Guidelines Pertaining to the Confidentiality of Student Records.
