Summary
Cognos output is HTML by default, highlighting data and copying does nothing, the contents of the clipboard is the same as when you ran the report. Pasting will use the contents of the clipboard, NOT your Cognos output
Body
Issue/Question
I ran a Cognos report and I see it on my screen and am attempting to copy a column of data from the report (list of Banner IDs) and paste them into Excel, but it does not paste the correct information to Excel
Environment
Cause
- Cognos reports default to HTML display, unless overridden the the report developer to display in another format
Resolution
If the report submission screen does NOT have a line across the top stating "This report will be downloaded in Excel format", the output is HTML and will need to be run to Excel to copy the information
- With the report output on your screen, click on the white right-facing triangle
at the top of the report
- Select the 'Run Excel' option
- The report will then re-run and put the information into Excel format
- The Excel output presentation method varies by browser
- Edge will display a list of files with an "Open file" link that will open the Excel file
- Chrome will display an icon of the file at the bottom left of the screen that you click on to open the Excel file
- Firefox will display a 'file save' dialog where you choose where to save the file and what to name it, then you open that file
- After opening the Excel file, you can select the data you want and copy/paste as desired
- If the report is already outputting in Excel format, one of the options above will be displayed and you can open the Excel file and copy/paste as desired