1 Overview to STAR

This chapter contains these topics:

Section 1.1, "Features,"
Section 1.2, "Conceptual Overview of the Printed Report,"
Section 1.3, "How STAR Compares with Other Report Writers,"
Section 1.4, "Database Review,"
Section 1.5, "Review of Programs."

STAR (Spreadsheet Tool for Asset Reporting) is a flexible report processor that uses data from either the Fixed Assets or Equipment/Plant Management system. You can use STAR to create reports that show balances or activity for fixed assets. You can specify any period and any ledgers for a report.

STAR is modeled on FASTR (Financial Analysis Spreadsheet Tool and Report Writer). It is similar in setup to DREAM Writer, but allows more flexibility in defining the format of the report. You can define the following:

The data fields and specific records to select from the Asset Master table (F1201) and Asset Balances table (F1202)
The sequence of data
Where totals appear
Column headings
Size of columns
Sequence of columns
Content of columns

You can also create exception reports that print only data that meets a specified tolerance limit. For example, you can create a Fixed Assets report that lists only assets that have a depreciation expense greater than 1,000.00.

As with DREAM Writer, you start from a version list screen to create, revise, or run a version. A version contains the specifications for a report. When you run a version, STAR creates a report. You can run a version as often as you want to create new reports.

Various DEMO versions are provided with STAR that include predefined specifications. You can run a DEMO version, copy and revise a version, or create your own version. When you copy, create, or revise a version, STAR automatically displays the series of screens that you use to define and revise specifications for the report.

Note:

This book contains navigation instructions to access STAR from the Fixed Assets menu. Alternatively, you can also access STAR from the Equipment/Plant Management system. From the Equipment/Plant Management menu (G13), choose Cost Inquiries & Reports. From the Cost Inquiries & Reports menu (G1312), choose Report Writer.

1.1 Features

1.1.1 Columnar Selections

You can include information in a version on a column-by-column basis using the following criteria.

Fiscal Year

You can limit or select information in a version based on fiscal year. You can also include multiple fiscal years on a report.

Ledger Type

You can define which ledger is to be used in a particular column, such as AA (general ledger amounts) or D1 for (federal tax amounts).

Column Type

You can define any of the following types of data to appear in a column:

Account values or ranges
Cost center values or ranges
Company values or ranges
Asset number
Category code
Item master data

1.1.2 Columnar Calculations

You can define the data in a column as the result of calculations involving other columns and numeric values. For example, you might define column 3 as the result of adding columns 1 and 2 and multiplying the result by 100.

Calculations that you can use include the following:

Addition
Subtraction
Division
Multiplication
Summation
Averaging

1.1.3 Flexible Columnar Printing

You can define up to 40 columns of financial information, including non-print columns, plus 1 column for descriptions, for a total of 41 columns. You use non-print columns for interim calculations. You can have up to 20 print columns in addition to the description column.

Column size and position are user-defined. You can define the column size to fit the data and place the column anywhere on the printed report. You can easily move the columns after you have defined the report.

1.1.4 Column Headings

You can define your own column headings of up to four 10-character lines. The system automatically centers the headings within the defined column size.

You can also use predefined column headings that dynamically create the appropriate column headings for rolling monthly spreadsheets. For example, the printed report's column heading for the current month would change from "January" to "February." The system automatically abbreviates the month if the column is too narrow for the entire word.

1.1.5 Exception Reporting

You can create exception reports by defining a column that prints only rows that are within a defined tolerance limit, that is, above, below, or above and below a defined amount or percent.

1.1.6 Journal Entry Creation

You can have the system create journal entries to be posted to the general ledger for any column defined on a report. You can run the report in proof or final mode.

When you choose proof mode, the report is generated, and edits are made to identify any errors, such as invalid accounts. It does not list the journal entries that the system will create, nor does it create the journal entries.

When you choose final mode, the report contains the same information as the proof report. Additionally, the system creates the journal entries. The report lists the batch number and document number for the journal entries. After the system creates the journal entries, you must review and post the batches of journal entries.

1.1.7 Report Illustrations

After you define the columns for a report, the system displays an online illustration of the report layout. It shows report headings, column headings, and column sizes and position.

1.1.8 PC Download

You can save a copy of the report and have STAR convert it to ASCII format. You can then download the copy to a PC program, such as a spreadsheet tool. This is useful if you want to enhance or manipulate the report using the PC program.

1.2 Conceptual Overview of the Printed Report

The basic layout of a STAR report contains the following elements:

Header information
Columns
Rows

The following illustrates these elements.

Figure 1-1 Basic Layout of a STAR Report

Description of "Figure 1-1 Basic Layout of a STAR Report"

1.2.1 Header Information

The header information consists of the following:

The job number. This indicates the program that processes the report.
The screen ID and version number. These indicate the group of reports that the report belongs to and the specific report within that group.
The company name as defined in the Company Constants table (F0010).
Title 1 - Title 3. These are optional, user-defined report titles.
An optional profit and loss, balance sheet, or single period date title. Or you can choose one of nine predefined dates that you can customize.
The page number.
The date and time that the report was processed.

You can suppress all of the following items by using an option on the Override Default Information screen:

Job number
Form ID
Version number
Page number
Date
Time

1.2.2 Columns

Two types of columns appear on STAR reports:

Description column. Contains identifying information specific to a row or series of rows, such as item descriptions and item numbers.
Data column. Two types of data columns are included:
- Selection columns contain data chosen from the Asset Master table (F1201) or Asset Balances table (F1202).
- Calculation columns contain amounts calculated from other columns and numeric values.
Data columns can be print or non-print columns. Non-print columns are used to hold interim calculations. You can define a column heading of up to four lines for each data column.

1.2.3 Rows

The information that appears in rows on the report is determined by the data fields in the Asset Master and Asset Balances tables to which you assign sequence numbers on the General Specifications screen. Assets become rows when you assign a sequence number to any of the following data fields:

Item
Unit
Serial number

1.2.4 Example: Completed STAR Report

The following illustrates a completed STAR report.

Figure 1-2 Completed STAR Report

Description of "Figure 1-2 Completed STAR Report"

1.3 How STAR Compares with Other Report Writers

The following chart describes how STAR compares with other JD Edwards World report writers.

Figure 1-3 STAR Comparison

Description of "Figure 1-3 STAR Comparison"

The following describes each row in the chart above.

Row	Description
Files	Indicates from which files you can choose data for the version.
Selection and Sequence	Indicates whether data selection and sequence for the version are separate or combined functions.
Report Format	Indicates which parts of the report format you can define.
PC Download	Indicates whether you can download a copy of a report to a PC program.

1.3.1 DREAM Writer and STAR Screens

DREAM Writer has the following screens:

Version Identification
Additional Parameters
Processing Options Revisions
Printer File Overrides
Data Selection Setup
Data Sequence Setup

STAR shares the following screens with DREAM Writer:

Version Identification
Additional Parameters
Printer File Overrides

STAR's processing options are divided among the following screens:

Override Default Information
Conditioned Variance Reports
Journal Entry Specifications
PC Download Processing Options

STAR has the following additional screens that DREAM Writer does not have:

General Specifications
Column Report Illustration
Column Specifications

STAR's General Specifications screen combines the functions of DREAM Writer's Data Selection Setup and Data Sequence Setup screens.

1.3.2 DREAM Writer and STAR Screen IDs

DREAM Writer

A screen ID in DREAM Writer identifies a particular fixed template designed by JD Edwards World. The screen ID is the same as the program ID. For example, P12424 is the screen ID as well as the program ID for Cost Analysis.

STAR

Screen IDs in STAR are user defined. Screen IDs are used in STAR to group reports by category, such as:

Department (for example, TAX or MAINTENANCE)
User
Type (for example, ASSETS or BUDGET)

1.4 Database Review

1.4.1 Data Tables

STAR uses data only from the following Fixed Assets tables.

Table	Description
Asset Master (F1201)	You can report on all fields in the Asset Master table. Information in this table includes the following: Company Number Item Number Unit Number Parent Number Serial Number Three Description Lines Three Remark Lines Date Acquired Date Disposed Equipment Status Asset Cost Account Number Accumulated Depreciation Account Number Depreciation Expense Account Number Asset Revenue Account Number Insurance Information Financing Information Investment Tax Credit Information 23 Category Codes
Asset Balances (F1202)	The Asset Balances table contains amount and unit information, including: Company Fiscal Year Period Asset Number Ledger Type Subledger General Ledger Account Number Currency Balance Forward 14 Net Posting Periods Original Beginning Balance Requested Budget Approved Budget Memo Commitment This table also contains all values for depreciation, including: Life Months Depreciation Method Depreciation Information Method Percentage Schedule Number and Method Computation Method Date Depreciation Started

Table

Description

Asset Master (F1201)

You can report on all fields in the Asset Master table. Information in this table includes the following:

Company Number
Item Number
Unit Number
Parent Number
Serial Number
Three Description Lines
Three Remark Lines
Date Acquired
Date Disposed
Equipment Status
Asset Cost Account Number
Accumulated Depreciation Account Number
Depreciation Expense Account Number
Asset Revenue Account Number
Insurance Information
Financing Information
Investment Tax Credit Information
23 Category Codes

Asset Balances (F1202)

The Asset Balances table contains amount and unit information, including:

Company
Fiscal Year
Period
Asset Number
Ledger Type
Subledger
General Ledger Account Number
Currency
Balance Forward
14 Net Posting Periods
Original Beginning Balance
Requested Budget
Approved Budget
Memo Commitment

This table also contains all values for depreciation, including:

Life Months
Depreciation Method
Depreciation Information
Method Percentage
Schedule Number and Method
Computation Method
Date Depreciation Started

Note:

For a complete list of fields and field IDs, enter hidden selection 40 from any menu to access the File Field Descriptions window. In the File field, enter F1201 or F1202.

The following fields in the Asset Balances table contain the information specified. You use the Column Amount codes shown to capture the information.

Field Code	Column Amount
FLBORG	RT - Retirement Amount (Disposal Amount)
FLTKER	SV - Salvage Value
FLBREQ	TI - Transfer In Amount
FLBAPR	TO - Transfer Out Amount

1.4.2 DREAM Writer Tables Used by STAR

DREAM Writer provides the following tables used by STAR.

Table	Description
Version Identification (F98311)	Contains the information that identifies the version to the system and to users.
DREAM Writer Master Parameter (F98301)	Contains the following: Information about parameters that control variables, such as security for the version and how the system processes the version and submits it to batch Defaults for the parameters that control how the report is printed and displayed
Printer File Overrides (F983012)	Contains printer and formatting information for printing the report.

1.4.3 STAR Tables

In addition to the DREAM Writer tables listed above, STAR includes the following tables.

Table	Description
General Specifications Master (F12603)	Contains the data choice, sequence, and total specifications defined on the General Specifications screen.
STAR Workfile (F12601)	Contains the data from which STAR will build the report. The system builds the work file when you submit the report for processing. It is based on specifications that you define on the General Specifications and Column Specifications screens.
Column Specifications Master (F12604)	Contains the column specifications defined on the Column Specifications screen.
Print Image (F12609)	Used by STAR to download copies of reports to a PC.

1.5 Review of Programs

The following programs are the main programs that the system uses to build and generate STAR reports.

Program	Description
STAR Build Report Workfile (P126400)	Builds the work file from which data is selected for the report based on specifications in General Specifications and Column Specifications.
STAR Columnar Spreadsheet (P126410)	Reads the work file and builds the report.
STAR Maintain Selection/Sort Parameters (P126030)	Verifies information in General Specifications.
STAR Version Selection (P126300)	Processes the STAR version list.
STAR Maintain Column Specifications (P126040)	Verifies information in Column Specifications.

1.5.1 Process Flow

The following process flow occurs when you submit a report.

Figure 1-4 The STAR Process Flow

Description of "Figure 1-4 The STAR Process Flow"