Difference reports, use saved versions of a report format to calculate the difference in records between two versions of the same report printed at two separate times. Each line item represents a record that has a change in quantity from one version of the report to the other.

In order to be able to run a difference report, previously cataloged reports must have YES chosen on their screen 5 diff report filter. Choose a report and press Modify.

Modify from select report screen

Go to Screen 5 on the top menu bar. Make sure the option for Diff Report is set to YES.

Modify report screen 5

Once you have saved a report file with a Diff Report Yes filter, CATS will begin keeping track of versions.

Go to Position Reports > Difference.

Go to Position report then Difference

Select the category of report for which to run comparison and Continue.

Select a report type to proceed

Select the name of the report to use in the comparison from the list. Only reports which have run more than once can be compared. Then press Next.

Select a report for comparison

Select two dates to compare. You will need to select from a list of saved versions of the report. Select using the [Ctrl] key and clicking on two different lines in the list. The older report will be treated as baseline for the newer report. Then choose Print.

Select date range to compare

You will be asked to create or choose a format for the difference report. Note that this does not override the report format of the (for example) Net Physical report you are using to print the difference report; this Difference Report format allows you to choose how to display the data on the difference report itself. Select a report and continue to Print as usual.

Select report format

You will see a list of the items that have differing quantities from one report to another.

Sample difference report

Instead of navigating to the Difference Reports area, wherever you see the Diff Report button on a saved report file, you can choose that button instead.

Diff report button on a saved report

A snapshot report is everything that is on the original report. It is the format of a difference report but will show original dates. Go to Position Reports > Difference.

Go to Position report then Difference

Select report type and Continue.

Select a report type to proceed

Select a the report for comparison. Then press Next.

Select a report for comparison

For a snapshot report, only choose one date, then press Print.

Pick only one date for a snapshot report

You will receive a message asking to confirm that you are selecting one record.Press Yes to continue and then print as usual.

Confirm snapshot

Sample snapshot report.

Snapshot report