6.1 Data Objects Overview
Report Authority allows content in the document to be automated and XBRL tagged through the creation of data objects.
Data objects must be created where content is to be automated (using report variables, calculations or linked to external data sources) or XBRL tagged.
Data objects can be created using;
- the XBRL Primary Tag and Secondary Tags panels (see XBRL Tagging); or
- the Automation panel
Data objects can be created by dragging and dropping an item from the Primary Tags or Automation table onto existing content, a blank cell in a table, or the end of a paragraph. Alternatively, a data object can be created around a specific selection of text by pressing the Insert Object(s) button or using the Ctrl + t shortcut key combination.
When the XBRL panel is used, an XBRL tagged object is created of the type consistent with the XBRL tag (such as text, monetary, other numeric or date). The data object’s data adaptor set to manual, which can then subsequently be linked to internal or external data sources.
When the Automation panel is used, an untagged data object is created of a type consistent with the selected item, and it is appropriately linked to the internal or external data source. These objects can be subsequently XBRL tagged if necessary.
Note that when dragging and dropping external data adaptors such as Excel, HFM or Essbase, the data type is assumed to be monetary. If you intend to create a date data object linked to a specific cell in Excel, first drag a Manual Date object to create the date data object, then drag the Excel adaptor to automate the date data object.