Shelby Klingerman, Content Curator |

A recent presentation for Quest users covered Sidekick, a tool that allows users to run queries from Excel and utilize Drilling URLs to eliminate the need for memorizing navigation paths and manual data keying.

What is Sidekick

Sidekick is an Excel-based front-end for PeopleSoft’s Query Manager. It allows you to run PeopleSoft Queries using an Excel template, rather than navigating Query Manager in PeopleSoft. Sidekick also uses the PeopleSoft Drillable URLs functionality to deliver data with hyperlinks to other queries. Every piece of Sidekick is either native Excel or delivered PeopleSoft functionality. There is nothing new that users need to buy to utilize Sidekick. The only “prerequisites” you’ll need are basic Excel skills and experience working in Query Manager.

Benefits

By using an Excel template, Sidekick is more intuitive than PeopleSoft’s Query Manager. Sidekick users also do not need detailed PeopleSoft Query knowledge to locate the correct query or modify criteria. Sidekick utilizes the Drillable Query functionality to speed up research time, and it streamlines repetitive reporting by pre-populating criteria. You can get new hires up to speed quickly with commonly used queries embedded within Sidekick.

Tips

End users have developed some helpful tips for others using Sidekick.

1. Save more than one Sidekick to streamline recurring reporting.
2. Run output to Excel when you need to manipulate the data. Run output to HTML to quickly drill between queries.
3. Review the Legend at the top of each Sidekick tab regarding data formats for each prompt.
4. Drag the Sidekick formulas down to create additional Excel lines. This is basic Excel functionality.

Lessons Learned

1. Including an FAQ troubleshooting tab helps cut down on the number of emails.
2. Include a “configuration tab” and then hide it. This tab will contain generic environment information in case you ever need it for test or development environments.
3. Adding nVision reports can be useful. You can include robust descriptions of a report and expectations for how to use it.