Explaining the Difference Between Prompts and Filters in Cognos Reporting

When it comes to Cognos reporting, it's crucial to understand the difference between prompts and filters as they play a significant role in refining and manipulating data for analysis and visualization.

Prompts

Prompts in Cognos are interactive controls that allow users to input values or make selections to customize the data they want to see in a report. Prompts prompt users to specify criteria for data retrieval, enabling them to tailor the information according to their specific requirements.

Filters

Filters, on the other hand, are used to limit the data displayed in a report based on specified conditions. Filters are applied directly to the data before it is presented, unlike prompts which allow user interaction. Filters help to focus on specific subsets of data that meet certain criteria, providing more refined and targeted results.

Understanding the distinction between prompts and filters is essential for optimizing your Cognos reporting experience and effectively analyzing and presenting data.