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

President and Founder of AuditNet®, the global resource for auditors (now available on Apple and Android devices)

Auditor, Web Site Guru,

Internet for Auditors Pioneer

Recipient of the IIA’s 2007 Bradford Cadmus Memorial Award.

Author of “The Auditor’s Guide to Internet Resources” 2nd Edition

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About AuditNet® LLC

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Introductions

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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 tasksCan 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 scenesValue 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 fileSave 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 ScriptsA01, 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 Questions?Don’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.com

Videos accessible for FREE subscriptions

Repeat video and text instruction as much as you need

Sample files, scripts, and macros in ACL™, Excel™, etc. available for purchase

Bite-size video format (3 to 20 minutes)

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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 Scripting

June 19, 2012 – Intermediate Scripting

October 9, 2012 – Advanced Scripting

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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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