Course · Two 3-day sessions

Argos 6-Day Advanced Training Package

In-depth training on developing DataBlocks and writing reports, extending into the advanced modules of OLAP, charts, and the API, plus a facilitated discussion on reporting best practice. It runs as two separate 3-day sessions so your team has time between them to practise and come back with questions.

Ask about scheduling this course

All training options

At a glance

Length

Two 3-day sessions, scheduled more than one week and not more than four weeks apart

Recommended class size

10 to 15

Format

Sessions aimed at specific user types, including two trainer-facilitated workshops

Agenda

Deliberately not hour by hour, so trainers can follow the group's progress and adapt segments

Recommended for

Institutions new to Argos, those broadening Argos use across campus, and those advancing existing users

Note: This package does not include custom report development. If that is what you need, Professional Services scopes it separately.

Overview

The gap between the sessions is part of the design

Two 3-day sessions with a gap between them beats six consecutive days, because the gap is where people try what they learned, hit something, and arrive at the second session with real questions rather than polite ones. That is also why the recommendation is more than one week and not more than four.

The workshops are the other reason this package works. DataBlock designers build against their own specifications in the first session, and report writers build on those DataBlocks in the second, so the training output is your reporting rather than an exercise.

Curriculum

What the course covers

Argos Demonstration

All user groups. An overview of Argos functionality and navigation. Not hands-on.

Evisions Support resources
Navigating a dashboard and running Argos reports, including OLAP cubes and drill-through charts

Report Design Process

Report writers, DataBlock designers, and reporting process decision makers. A trainer-led discussion on the design process and what a report specification needs to contain, so different user groups can communicate in both directions.

Report design process
Report request template

DataBlock Designer Training

DataBlock designers. Hands-on. An understanding of query logic or SQL recommended.

Evisions Support resources
DataBlock creation
Dashboard variables
Report query
OLAP cube
Dashboards with multiple forms
Drill-through charts
Using the Visual Designer with subqueries, functions, and unions
Security, object level security, and report query field level security
Report datasets, connecting to multiple databases
Scheduling reports
Library of Objects and templates

DataBlock Designer Facilitated Workshop

DataBlock designers. Independent or small-group work building DataBlocks against your own specifications, with the instructor assisting on planning and technique. These DataBlocks are what report writers use in the second workshop, so they need to be finished first. Attendees should arrive with predefined report specifications and familiarity with the database tables.

Report Writer Training

Report writers and DataBlock designers. Hands-on.

Evisions Support resources
Security and reports
The capabilities of each report type
Letters and mailing labels
Expressions
Sorting and filtering
Grouping in banded and extract reports
Library of Objects and templates
Using datasets in banded reports

DataBlock and Report Writer Workshop

Report writers and DataBlock designers together, reviewing the DataBlocks built for the workshop and agreeing any changes needed.

Report Writer Facilitated Workshop

Report writers. Building reports on the DataBlocks created in the first session, independently or in small groups, with the instructor answering questions and suggesting approaches.

Audience

The four Argos user types, and where each one fits

Report viewers

Casual users who run reports and save or distribute the output in a variety of formats. The demonstration session is for them.

Report writers

Intermediate users who build reports on pre-built DataBlocks. They should be comfortable learning new software.

DataBlock designers

Power users who create DataBlocks and reports, familiar with SQL and the database table structure.

MAPS administrators

The person who manages the MAP Server and defines configuration: users, groups, and ADO connections.

Argos 3-Day Basic Training Package

If operational reporting is the whole requirement and the advanced modules are not in play.

See the course

SQL Advanced Techniques

For designers who need to go past querying into functions, tables, and tuning.

See the course

Professional Services

For the custom report development this package deliberately does not cover.

See Professional Services

Next step

Tell us your attendees by user type

Before the sessions we ask you to select attendees by which of the four types they are. Starting that conversation early is what makes the workshops work.