Post on 23-Dec-2015
Learn to Effectively Script in ACL – The Keys To Getting
Started and Fully Automating Your Testing
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About Jim Kaplan, CIA, CFE
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About AuditNet® LLC
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Introductions
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Webinar Housekeeping
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This webinar and its material are the property of Auditnet LLC Cash Recovery Partners LLC. Unauthorized usage or recording of this webinar or any of its material is strictly forbidden. We are recording the webinar and you will be provided with a link to that recording as detailed below. Downloading or otherwise duplicating the webinar recording is expressly prohibited.
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Disclaimers
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The views expressed by the presenters do not necessarily represent the views, positions, or opinions of AuditNet® or the presenters’ respective organizations. These materials, and the oral presentation accompanying them, are for educational purposes only and do not constitute accounting or legal advice or create an accountant-client relationship. While AuditNet® makes every effort to ensure information is accurate and complete, AuditNet® makes no representations, guarantees, or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided via this presentation. AuditNet® specifically disclaims all liability for any claims or damages that may result from the information contained in this presentation, including any websites maintained by third parties and linked to the AuditNet® websiteAny mention of commercial products is for information only; it does not imply recommendation or endorsement by AuditNet®
Richard B. Lanza, CPA, CFE, CGMA
• Over two decades of ACL and Excel software usage• Wrote the first practical ACL publication on how to use the
product in 101 ways (101 ACL Applications)• Has written and spoken on the use of audit data analytics for
over 20 years.• Received the Outstanding Achievement in Business Award by
the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners for developing the publication Proactively Detecting Fraud Using Computer Audit Reports as a research project for the IIA
• Recently was a contributing author of:• Global Technology Audit Guide (GTAG #13) Fraud in an
Automated World – Institute of Internal Auditors.• Data Analytics – A Practical Approach - research whitepaper
for the Information System Accountability Control Association.
• Cost Recovery – Turning Your Accounts Payable Department into a Profit Center – Wiley and Sons.
Please see full bio at www.richlanza.com
Learning Objectives
Understand the value of automating data work and how ACL scripts can be your link to continuous monitoring.
See how to build an ACL script in two minutes (with no prior experience) and the various approaches to writing scripts.
Walkthrough a variety of different built scripts (provided to attendees) to understand the range of ACL in pre-developed applications.
Learn how to maximize the new ACL script editor (version 9.3 and forward) to make script writing that much easier.
Understand how to create all types of ACL dialogs and menus for rolling out interactive scripts.
Learn how to manage and move scripts across various ACL documents, as well as, making desktop icons to run entire ACL programs with one click on your desktop. This includes working with ACL folders within the ACL document and scripts.
Walkthrough intermediate techniques including a Monthly Stratification script, using Loops and Groups, as well as, the difference between Sorting and Pre-Sorting data.
See how to complete a key word search using a subroutine script.
Learn and document best practices for script development to ensure knowledge transfer to others within the organization.
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Making an ACL Script in Two Minutes
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Value of ACL Scripting
Useful for routine tasks Can be for periodic audit steps
Also can assist in importing similar data• For example, OPEN FILE 1, EXTRACT RECORD,
OPEN FILE 2, EXTRACT RECORD, etc.
Build the quality in once
“Set it and forget it”
Learn how ACL works behind the scenes
Value of learning ACL for DOS
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Quick Process to Running Data
1. Know your audit objectives
2. Align reports to the objectives
3. Use past reports to model /refine reports
4. Set data requirements based on reports
5. Obtain, validate, and normalize data
6. Edit scripts for data needs
7. Run reports and document results
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Two Top Methods to Script
Add a new session to the ACL log file Save work to a script
Use the Script Recorder
Turn it on (Tools menu)
Turn it on again to save work
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Making a Script In Two Minutes
Open payables table
Statistics on all values
Stratify check amount value
Extract invoices above average (AVERAGE1)
Safety, Delete All, Pause, and Comments
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Polling Question #1
What comes first – identifying data sources, requesting data, building scripts, or listing report ideas?
Getting data sources
Listing report ideas
Requesting data
Building scripts
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Hardcoded and Introducing Dialogs
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101 ACL Applications
Over 100 reports including all scripts, audit objectives, comments to scripts and suggested audit steps to take with the results
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101 ACL ApplicationsSample Script Review
GL #6 – Entries Not Equal to Zero
GL #2 – Flattening Journal Entries
VEN_INTR_101 - Weighted DPO Calculation
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101 ACL ApplicationsApproach of Scripts
Rename file names to equal script tables
Rename field names to equal script fields
Adjust all variables in the script
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VEN_INTR_PTSPayables Test Version
Same functionality
Can be universally applied
Uses dialog boxes to:
Select a data
Select fields
Set an interest rate
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Polling Question #2
What is put at the beginning of a script to have it overwrite existing tables?
Set Overwrite On
Set Overwrite OK
Set Safety Off
Set Safety On
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Developing Each Dialog Box
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Project Item DropdownMost Versatile
Project Item
Tables
Fields – Can set type
Variables
Scripts
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Other Dialogs
Dropdown Numbers and Characters
Radio IF RADIO1=1
Checkbox IF PAYABLEREP=T DO SCRIPT ABC
Text Entry Numbers and Characters
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Script Editor Changes in One Picture
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Setting Folders
ACL folders can be established to manage script work.
Script command to set folder:SET FOLDER /_CRP_SCRIPTS_AND_FILES/Report_Output_Final_Files
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Polling Question #3
What is one feature not available in the script editors enhancements in ACL 9.3 & 10?
Word wrap
Line numbering
Spell check
Font style customizations
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Monthly Stratification Script & Working With Variables / Defined Fields
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Monthly Stratification ScriptLearning Objectives
Building Complex Conditional Fields
Ensuring Date Variables are Used Properly
Using Variables in Dialog Boxes
Using Variables in File Names
Adjusting Variables in Field Names
Export fields AS Another Field Name
Maximizing the Stratify Command Using KEY and the Crosstab function
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Polling Question #4
What word is used in the STRATIFY command to break at a key field?
BREAK
PARSE
KEY
PRIMARY KEY
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Group and Else
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Simple Yet Effective Group/Else
Reduces Processing Time / Passes Through Table Once
Allows Multiple IF Statements
GROUP IF
GROUP ELSE / ELSE IF / ELSE / END
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Key Words Search and Vendor to Employee Name Search
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The Main Statement
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JOIN PKEY Blank_Field_ON FIELDS RECORD_NUMBER_ON
Search_ON_Field_CONV SKEY Blank_Field_Through WITH
RECORD_NUMBER_THROUGH Search_THROUGH_Field_CONV IF
FIND(ALLTRIM(Search_ON_Field_CONV),Input_Search_Through_EXT.Search_THROUGH_Field_CONV) TO "SEARCH_FILE_1"
OPEN MANY
Script Best Practices
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Script Best Practices
Set Safety On / Off
Set field/file variables up front in the script
Code in a text editor (i.e., Edit Pad Pro)
Comment throughout the code (you will forget what you did otherwise)
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Script Best Practices
PAUSE statements
Delete All OK
Delete temporary files at the end:
Delete sorted.fil OK
Delete format sorted OK
Master script to DO SCRIPTS
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Script Best Practices
Number Your Scripts A01, A02, etc.
SORT vs. PRESORT
Dialog Titles & Set Sizing of Dialog Boxes
SET FOLDER to Include Tables in Folders of Choice
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Polling Question #5
What function allows you to search THROUGH a certain field in ACL?
FIND ()
LOOK()
RIGHT()
MID()
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Questions?
Any Q
uestions?D
on’t be Shy!
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In the Queue
Excel Pivot Tables and Graphing for Auditors – June 25
Building Simple Continuous Monitoring in ACL – July 2
AuditSoftwareVideos.comV
ideos accessible for F
RE
E
subscriptions
Repeat
video and text instruction as m
uch as you need
Sam
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acros in A
CL
™, E
xcel
™, etc. available for purchase
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at (3 to 20 m
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>> Professionally produced videos by instructors with over 20 years experience in ACL™, Excel™ , and more
Free Files for TodayAuditSoftwareVideos.com
June 7, 2012 – Introduction to S
cripting
June 19, 2012 – Interm
ediate S
cripting
October
9, 2012 – A
dvanced S
cripting
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Thank You!
Jim KaplanAuditNet LLC®1-800-385-1625Email:info@auditnet.orghttp://www.auditnet.org
Richard B. Lanza, CPA, CFE, CGMACash Recovery Partners, LLCPhone: 973-729-3944Cell: 201-650-4150Fax: 973-270-2428Email: rich@richlanza.comhttp://www.richlanza.com
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