Introduction to ACL for Windows Training

Introduction to ACL for Windows

Course Level: Beginner

CPE Credits: 20

Course Description:

The objective of this 2.5 day “hands-on” course is to acquaint the
participant with the primary features of the ACL for Windows software
system in order to enable him/her to successfully perform data analysis
on various types of data files. The ACL for Windows environment will be
discussed including navigation techniques, creating and working with ACL
projects (documents) and views, and the function of the overview window.
Data access methods will be presented and explained. Real-world
exercises will include the use of the primary ACL data analysis commands
including: Count, Total, Verify, Classify, Stratify, Statistics, Duplicates, Age,
Sort, Summarize, Sample, Join and Export. Graphing, reporting, record
filtering, and expression building will also be presented.

Course Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, each participant will be able to:

Understand the role data analysis software plays in supporting
audit activities.
Understand and recognize data analysis terminology, as well as
common data types and structures.
Create and manage ACL Projects and Project components.
Navigate within the ACL software system in order to utilize ACL
commands, functions and other software features.
Perform basic data analysis operations on various types of data
files.
Utilize the reporting and other output features of ACL to generate
meaningful reports, charts and graphs.

Course Balance:

Lecture / discussion: 50%
In-class applications: 20%
Section exercises: 30%

Course Prerequisites:

Participants should have basic computer skills, including at least some
experience using applications operating within the Microsoft Windows
operating system.

Who Should Attend:

IS/IT Auditors, Financial and Operational Auditors, Internal/External
Auditors, Analysts, Accounting Professionals, Investigators, or anyone
interested in learning to use the ACL for Windows software system.

Other Information:

PIA Consulting will provide comprehensive course manuals containing
presentation material, command, function and other ACL reference
material, class exercises, and glossary sections.

Course Outline:

Days 1 and 2

Days 2 and 3

A. Understanding the Basics
- Data audit and analysis techniques
   What is ACL?
- Understanding common data types
  and data structures
- Obtaining your data
B. Understanding the ACL for
Windows Environment
- Navigating within ACL / The ACL
  Main Menu structure
- Creating and working with ACL
  projects
- Creating and managing ACL Views
- Working with the Overview window
C. Accessing Data
- Data paths and data downloading
- Defining data files
- Accessing / downloading ODBC-
compliant data

D. Analyzing and Understanding
Your Data
- Using the Verify, Count, Total, and
  Statistics commands
- Using the Sequence, Duplicates,
  Stratify, Classify, & Age commands
- Graphing and reporting within ACL
- Filtering records
- Building expressions using the ACL
  Expression Builder feature
E. Manipulating and Managing Data
- Using the Extract, Export, Sort, Join,
  Merge, Summarize, and Sample
  commands
- Working with common ACL
  Functions.
F. Comprehensive Class Exercise

G. Course Wrap-up & Discussion