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Shared Objects

In CDM, the administrator can select an existing report object and make it available as a shared object. The report object can then be used in other locations in the same report or in other reports.

A shared object is a report object that is made available for its content to be referenced within the same report or across reports. Any report object in CDM can be shared within the same report or any other report.

Copy Objects and Reference Objects

A shared object can be added as a copy of the shared object or as a reference object that is updated with the shared object.

A copy object is a copy of a shared object that is added to a new report or new location in the same report using the Copy option. A copy object exhibits the following behavior:

  • If the original report object is modified, the changes do not appear in the copy.
  • If the copy report object is modified, the changes do not appear in the original.
  • A copy object retains the Share Object setting of the original report object.
  • If you open a report by filtering one or more custom groups, a copy object is not automatically assigned to the custom group or groups.

A reference object is a shared object that is referenced within the same report, or in a different report. A reference object does not contain its own content. A reference object exhibits the following behavior:

  • Reference objects are read-only. You cannot modify the contents of a reference object.
  • If the original report object is modified, the changes appear in the referenced object.
  • If you open a report by filtering one or more custom groups, referenced objects that are added to the report are automatically assigned to the custom group or groups.

If a report object name exists when you are adding a copy or reference, the name of the new report object is appended with a number, such as [2] or [3].

Shared and Reference Object Indicator

Shared and reference objects display a small indicator beside the report object name in the Navigation Pane. The indicator on a shared object is a little hand Indicator on a Shared Object; the indicator on a reference object is a little arrow Indicator on a Reference Object. An unshared report object does not display an indicator. You can also hover over a report object for a tool tip that indicates if that report object is shared or a reference object.

In addition, when a report object references another report object, you can see the following message:

This object is referencing another object.

Shared Objects in Cascaded Reports

When you copy an existing report in CDM, you can use a cascaded report type to refer to shared objects in the original report.

Cascaded reports contain all the report objects in the original source report. Cascaded reports allow for single sourcing. For example, you can cascade a report from one fiscal year and use the same report for a different year.

If the report contains reference objects, you can modify data in the source object in the source report. The modifications are copied to the reference objects in the cascaded reports.

If needed, you can change the references from the original report to the current, cascaded report or any other report.

You can also create cascaded reports that are based on other cascaded reports. Each subsequent cascaded report references the original shared object.

Note: All referenced objects in copied reports are read-only.

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