Banner Information

   Forms
   Banner Reports
   Oracle Reports

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Forms

Data is entered through forms, such as the Requisition Entry Form (FPAREQN) which is used to create a requisition. When you save the data the system returns to you a system-generated RQ number, such as R0000015. Once the requisition is written, you can always go back and view the requisition by going to an inquiry form, such as the Requisition Inquiry Form (FPIREQN) and entering the requisition number.
 

Banner Reports

Banner comes with many baseline formatted reports. To view budget information, you would use Organization Budget Status Form (FGIBDST). This returns budget information to the screen. However, if you need more complete information you probably would prefer a printed report. The Budget Status Report (FGRBDSC) lets you print a complete list of all transactions against your budget. There are many of these baseline Banner reports.
 

Oracle Reports

These are customized reports to give an institution precise data. They are usually used for reports that have the same formatting and content (although they can be parameter driven to give specific information or variable information as needed). They need to be written and maintained by the institution's programming staff.

An example of an Oracle report is the Seat Count Report (SYRSEAT)

SYRSEAT produces a comprehensive seat count report, including cross listed classes, date class closed, census date, wait list information, subtotals by department. Parameters can limit it to one college or one division or one department. Used by instructional/division offices. Designed primarily for Executive Vice President to analyze/manage enrollment.

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   How to Copy a Stores Requisition
   Printing Requisitions
   Deleting an Item from a Requisition

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How to Copy a Stores Requisition

If you have a stores requisition that has been completed and approved, you can copy it!  Go to the requisition form,  FPAREQN.  Click on the icon for Copy.  Enter in the stores requisition that you want to copy.  Remember, if it has not been completed and approved you cannot copy the requisition!  If you cannot remember the stores requisition number you can click on the search button. Otherwise, enter the RQ number and click OK.  This copies the requisition.  The new number will show up in the Requisition box. Write this number down. Notice that in the status bar Banner tells you that this is a stores req and to use FSAREQN to edit the requisition.  Exit from this form.  Go to FSAREQN, enter the RQ number and Next Block.  Edit what you need to and submit the new stores req.

Printing Requisitions

Question: I really like having a printed copy of any requisitions I create. Is there an easy way to do this?

Answer: Yes! There are several ways to accomplish this:  

• By far, the easiest and the most efficient way to print a RQ is to print it from mygateway! Sign into mygateway, and click on "view document" from your finance channel. If you don't have the finance channel, click on Webstar and go to the Finance Services tab, and click on "view document".  Enter the RQ# and click on view document.  When the RQ is displayed, just click on print.
  
  
• You can print a requisition using FPARQST, Banner's "print requisition form." An RQ must be completed and approved before it can be printed using this method.  If you need directions on running this report, please see page 23 of your Requisitions, Stores and Approvals handout.  Running this report takes several steps, and to some, this takes too many steps and does not give all of the information they would like to have.
  
  
• You can do screen shots of the last "screen" of your requisition (while either in FPAREQN or FPIREQN).  Click on the printer icon on your tool bar. Follow the prompts where you will click on OK. The "screen shot" will then print on your attached printer.
  
  
• If you just want a list of the items you are ordering, you can print a screen shot of FOICOMM. Enter in “REQ” for the Document Type and the RQ # you want to look at and press Next Block.

Deleting an Item from a Requisition

Question: I have an item on an RQ that I no longer need to order. The RQ has not been submitted yet. Is there an easy way of removing that item from the RQ?

Answer: Yes, there is!  Open your requisition in FPAREQN. Click on the "Commodity/Accounting" tab. Highlight the item you wish to remove by using the down arrow key on your keyboard.  Click on the icon for DELETE RECORD (5th icon from the left).

Remember, you can only alter RQs that have NOT been submitted. If you have already submitted the RQ and realize you need to remove an item, you will have to have someone in the approval queue reject the RQ.  Once rejected, you can go back into the RQ, remove the item as outlined above and resubmit.

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Your Banner password needs to be changed every 90 days.  It can be changed more often if you wish to do so.  If a password has not been changed in 60 days, you will get a reminder notice each time you sign into Banner.  If you do not change the password before the 90 day period is over, the password will expire and the account will be locked.  Once locked you will need to contact Information Services to have the password reset. 

Your password will become disabled if you enter the password incorrectly 3 times in sequence.  Once a password has been used, you cannot use it again.  A password must be at least six (6) characters in length with one (1) character being a number.

To change a password, sign into Banner and enter in GUAPSWD in the Direct Access box. There is also an option on the main menu of Banner.  Once there:

• Enter your CURRENT password in the "Oracle Pasword" field.
• Press [tab]
• Enter in your NEW password
• Press [tab]
• Verify your NEW password by entering it again.
• Click on OK.

You have now changed your password!

A Few Tips on Selecting Passwords

Passwords are used to help protect data integrity. Therefore, when you are selecting a password you want to keep in mind the following:

• Do not use words that are easy to figure out, such as your spouse's name or children's names, your favorite author or musician, etc.
  
• Do not use dates such as births, anniversaries, etc.
  
• Do make it something that is easily remembered. 
  
• Use something that only you may know, such as your first pet's name, the street name that you grew up on, etc.
  
• Use a combination of alpha and numeric characters. Example: hugs4me
  
• You can even use a combination of two totally random words and a number. Example: home8work
  
• Change your password every 90 days!

One other note on Banner passwords:

If you change your password for the PROD_DB database, it does not mean that your password was changed for all Banner databases! Each database is a separate database. Therefore, you will need to change your password in all other databases.

Now you know everything there is to know about changing passwords! Have fun coming up with a suitable password for yourself.

Banner and Oracle 
Error Messages

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Does Banner sometimes do things you don't expect? It happens to us here in Information Services, too. However, there are a few hints that may help you before you need to call to the Help Desk.

Always check the Auto Hint Line which appears at the bottom of the screen. If you don't get the results you expect, it usually tells you the reason.

Problem: You are searching for a student named Dominguez and the following message displays on the Auto Hint Line:

   FRM-40301:Query caused no records to be retrieved. Re-enter.
   Record 1/1

Solution: This message is telling you that there are no records matching the information you put in the search screen.

Some of the reasons could be:

• Banner is case sensitive.
  If you searched for dominguez instead of Dominguez, you probably won't find it. If you search for pfe instead of PFE (Partnership for Excellence), it won't be found.
• There simply are no records that meet the criteria you specified.
• You made a typing error, i.e., Domingues. Correct and retry.

Then there are the Oracle Errors:

These are more serious and are not the result of operator error. Some examples are:

ORA-03114. Post form trigger raised - unhandled exception.

FRM-40735: PRE-UPDATE trigger raised unhandled exception ORA-01031. Record 1/1
 

What to do:

• Write down the error and what form you were using when it occurred.
• Click on Help (from pull-down menu), then click on Display Error. This will contain detailed information that will assist IS in trouble-shooting the problem. The message displayed has a top portion which contains code, but the bottom is more explicit, such as "Insufficient privileges." That message means you have a query, but you do not have update capabilities to the form you just used.

Since these errors are frequently lengthy:

• Do a screen shot, by pressing the "Print Screen" key while the error message dialog box displays. This copies it to the clipboard.
• Open your word processing program and paste the clipboard to the screen. Now you can save the message as a document and send it electronically to Information Services.