What is the difference between the Reporter module and Prepackaged Access Reports in Voyager

Question

What is the difference between the Voyager Reporter module (client) and the Voyager Prepackaged Access Reports?

Answer

It is easy to confuse these two different parts of Voyager because their names are so similar.  Adding to the confusion is that they are both documented in the Reporter User's Guide.

Prepackaged Access Reports (PpR) use Microsoft Access (a relational database program that is part of Microsoft Office) to provide read-only access (using a special read-only user and password) to the data stored in Voyager's database. See Chapter 3 of "Installation and Upgrade Requirements" for information about what versions of Microsoft Access are supported.  

• Libraries can use Prepackaged Reports for statistical reporting using queries and associated formatted reports included with PpR. 
• Prepackaged Reports uses a Reports.mdb file that is installed in the c:\voyager\Access Reports folder.  This file should be run from the local C: drive and not a shared drive (or your desktop).  It should be replaced with each upgrade.
• The Reports.mdb file that is installed with Voyager includes over 100 "canned" Queries and Reports. Custom queries can also be created.
• Prepackaged Reports requires that ODBC Drivers be installed on the PC. They are the only reason that the ODBC Drivers need to be installed for Voyager.

Prepackaged Access Reports

The Reporter module (or client) allows operators to produce standard reports and notices such as overdue notices, or acquisitions reports.  It works in conjunction witha locally installed copy of Microsoft Access on your computer to produce these reports and notices. See Chapter 3 of "Installation and Upgrade Requirements" for information about what versions of Microsoft Access are supported.  

• These reports and notices include: circulation availability and overdue notices, acquisition purchase orders and invoices, and various reports for cataloging.
• Reporter produces reports and notices, and acts as a coordinator between server input files that contain raw data, and the printed or emailed copy of the report or notice produced using Access.
• The Reporter module is installed during the client installation process. It is not included in the "Typical" installation option.  
• The Reporter client does not require that the ODBC drivers be installed on the PC.
• See: Overview of generating reports and notices via Reporter

Reporter Module

• Article last edited: 05-Jun-2020