——Update February 18, 2016—————-
I received some additional information related to this post for the new FR Web Studio.
•Conditional formatting and suppression
•Auto Calculations
•Sorting
•Row/Column templates, saved/linked objects
•Edit multiple reports at the same time
•Grid Format Cell > Replace
———–End of update——————–
Hello,
It has been awhile since I posted anything. I have some drafts, but need more hands on examples to finish them.
In the meantime, I am re-posting details Oracle just sent out for the March PBCS release. I know that may not be helpful. Normally I at least like to validate and tinker with the product rather than regurgitating public knowledge. Not this time however, perhaps some of you have not heard about this or read your email(s).
Per Oracle in regards to reports for PBCS:
***Update although the statement from Oracle says “March update” they also state “The next monthly update for your service will be applied to your test instance on Friday, February 5 and to your production instance on Friday, February 19.” ****
“New Financial Reporting Web Studio
The March update of the service will include the new Financial Reporting Web Studio. The Financial Reporting Web Studio is a web-based report authoring solution that has a similar look and feel as the current Windows-based Financial Reporting Studio. Additionally, it incorporates some usability improvements and report design paradigms. This release includes about 85% of the functionality currently available in the Windows Financial Reporting Studio.
The existing Windows Financial Reporting Studio will still be available. Because the report definitions remain the same, you can edit existing reports using the Windows or web version of the Financial Reporting Studio.”
So take it for what it is worth. I have not had a chance to validate the new functionality for Financial Reporting Studio. However, considering in a 10-minute span last week I lost my connection to PBCS in the reporting studio client 3 times, I am hoping for improvement.
Here is the URL for the documentation for the web based client:
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/middleware/bi-foundation/fr-webstudio-2874377.pdf
Also here is the screenshot I grabbed from the documentation…gives you a little idea of the look and feel.
Also per Oracle:
“Upgraded Financial Report Rendering Engine
Starting with the March update of the service, Financial Reporting will use an upgraded charting engine to improve report visualization. Because of the inherent differences between the old and new rendering engines, this upgrade will have some impact on the rendered chart output and behavior. While Oracle has focused on maintaining the existing charting functionality, chart outputs from the upgraded engine may differ from those created using the old engine. “
Hopefully I will get something substantial out to you very soon.
Regards,
Scott Williams
EPM4ALL 
Missing conditional formatting is a big deal. Will the FR client still be available?
Luis,
Per Oracle ” The Windows FR Studio is planned to be available for a few months after Phase 2.” Phase 2 = Summer 2016 release.
I assume yes.
However I do have a specific question into Oracle around the continuing functionality in the Windows client.
I will update this thread if/when I get a response.
Scott
Hello Luis,
Just to follow up. I did get a response from Oracle.
“If you have functionality created in the windows client that is not supported in web studio, editing the report in web studio will not remove that functionality – you just won’t be able to edit it in web studio, so full report editing interchangeability between web and windows studio.”
Regards,
Scott