Default Reports or Report Groups

[wmorgenstern]

Hi
We are using Powerchurch Version 9.
I have a question. It might not be possible with the current version, but it is an idea for a future version (or even upgrade - hopeful).
I do the finances for our church weekly (sometimes even a few times in a week). I am only the clerk, and we have a finance committee. The two people on the committee are not able to meet with me every week, to decide what to pay, and when. So I am sending them the reports by mail.
Now, I only print certain reports (Balance Sheets, Unpaid Items in Accounts Payable, Check Register for Checking and Savings Accounts, and also Contributions and Income for the Week). It takes me a while to go into all the menus to print these reports, as they are in different modules. Is there a way to create a new menu, which can be customized (kind of like when you open Powerchurch, you can select which Quick Menus should appear)? And that new Quick Menu contains the reports one needs.
And then when we have a monthly Elders Council Meeting, they get the monthly reports.
It would save time to do Reports Groups (one for Finance Committee, one for Senior Pastor, One for each Department, e.g. Youth, Music, Children, and then another Report Group for Elders Council.
I am not sure if other people would like something like that too.

Before Powerchurch, we used QuickBooks, and it had something like that.
The only thing which would change is the dates on the reports.

Thanks
Werner Morgenstern
Harvest Ministries Church

[jeffkoke]

Interesting idea...and worthy of consideration, IMHO.

In the interim, how about using the Custom Reports features? That probably won't get everything within multiple modules, however.

Just a thought.

Jeff

[Jeff]

Your suggestion has been noted. How would you see the user interface working? Ideally you would click one button and several reports would run, but each report has its own set of options.

[jeffkoke]

Since we're in this windoze environment (btw, X-11 windows (http://www.x.org) predates M$ windows), how about the ability to click a "Create Menu" button and allow the user to drag 'n drop the desired feature/button onto it? Then it could be automatically saved as part of the user's environment/profile. Of course, you'd need a "Delete Menu" capability, too.

Good idea?

Jeff

[wmorgenstern]

I like the idea from Jeff. That would be good for the beginning. Just create a menu, drag-and-drop (or even select with checkboxes) the reports you want in that menu. That would be a start, as all reports are in one menu. You don't have to move the mouse too much.
I know, the problem comes in that each report has different options. Though one option, which is common among most (if not all) reports in Accounts Payable, and Fund Accounting is the date range. So that can be common criteria, and doesn't have to entered for EVERY report.
Maybe, when you click on an option "Print ALL Reports", it first asks which date range (which is used for all reports), and then as each report is printed/displayed, it asks for the more specific options, like Header/Report Title, or which funds. Or all options can be asked at the beginning, and then rhe reports are printed.
Just some ideas.