Strata Information Group (SIG)

Trip Report

Argos Training

For

Allan Hancock College

4/24 – 26/2012

Michael Boote

Senior Consultant


Overview/Background

· Provide basic Argos training for DataBlock Designers, Report Writers, and Report Viewers

Key Activities

· Tuesday, 4/24 – Trained on report viewing basics and how to search for existing DataBlocks and reports via the Evisions Co-op (library) and Forums (listserv)

o Reviewed the Evisions website

o Discussed the distinction between new reports that will be suitable to Argos, and existing Banner reports needing to be modified which is suitable to FormFusion

· Wednesday, 4/25 – Created various report types. We created QuickView reports, CSV reports, and Banded reports utilizing a standard DataBlock created by consultant

· Thursday, 4/26 – Trained on DataBlock design. We created three datablocks. One to retrieve names and addresses, one to create an OLAP cube (Argos’ version of a pivot table) and a new datablock/report utilizing existing SQL

· Attendees:

o Josie Cabanas – Transcript Evaluator

o Armando Cortez – Sr. Research Analyst

o Marian Quaid-Maltagliati – Coordinator, Admissions & Records

o Shirley Rorabaugh – Financial Aid Technician

o Karen Parent – Financial Aid Accounting Technician

o Joan Henretta – Financial Aid System Tech

o Catalina Stavgaard – Coordinator, Cashier Services

o Marlyn Cox – Foundation

o Karen Vasquez – Software Support & Development

o Keli Seyfert – Coordinator, Auxiliary Accounting

o Polly Blackburn – Senior Accounting Specialist

o Sharon Alldredge – Assessment Coordinator, Testing Center

o Gregory Deleon – Admissions & Records Technician

o Veronica Sanchez – Counseling Coordinator

o Laurie Pemberton – Director, Institutional Research

o Rebecca Andres – Curriculum Specialist

o Luis Ayeda – EOPS/CalWORKS Specialist

o Will Bruce – EOPS/CalWORKS Director

Findings and Recommendations

· Training went very well. We had to invert the agenda as two key people were not able to attend the first day training, which was initially slotted to be training on DataBlock creation. We had to move that to Thursday, and move report writing training up a day. This actually turned out well, as it gave the people who are both DataBlock designers and report writers the opportunity to see a report and gain some familiarity, and then see the process of creating the DataBlock. They then seemed to have some investment in creating the DataBlock properly.

· Our next training is scheduled for the week of May 8, 2012. At that time, we will be creating DataBlocks and reports which are needed at AHC. I have instructed the attendees to find report projects we can work on, and furthermore to make those requests relatively simple, so we can get those reports completed. I explained that where it is natural to want to dive into the most complex and most needed reports, which would be a poor way to start using Argos. Report requests tend to grow exponentially normally and this will happen with the simplest requests.

Deliverables

Proposed Visit Schedule

· May 8 – 10/2012