Exploring the Basics of Change Logs

Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
  • Understand what change logs are and the benefits of using them.
  • Access Change Logs.

Unit Overview

This unit is designed for beginner administrators looking to efficiently manage change logs within Concur Expense.

After completing this unit, you will:

  • Understand what change logs are, and the benefits of using them for auditing and troubleshooting purposes.
  • Apply search criteria and refine date ranges to find specific entries.

Basics of Change Logs

A screenshot of the SAP Concur Administration interface, specifically under the Company tab in the Expense Settings section. The interface displays a Change Log search form with fields for Start Date, End Date, and a dropdown menu for selecting criteria. There is also a Search button. Below the search form, there are columns labeled Date/Time, Modified By, Config Type, and Description, but no data is currently displayed.

Change logs are important for tracking changes in a system. They provide a detailed record of all configuration changes and activities carried out by administrators, which helps to maintain transparency and accountability within the organization. In Concur Expense, the change log page shows all changes made through the Setup wizard. By setting a date range and refining search criteria, you can easily find specific entries and review the details of each change.

Key Changes Monitored

In Concur Expense, various types of changes are meticulously tracked to ensure transparency and accountability. These changes include modifications to account codes, form fields, and other configuration types. Each change is logged with details such as the date range of the activity, the administrator who made the changes, and a description of the modified object.

A section of a user interface labeled Change Log. At the top, there are fields to input a date range, with Start Date set to 09/01/2014 and End Date set to 10/31/2014. Below these fields, there are dropdown menus for filtering by Config Type and Equals, with another dropdown menu highlighted in red, displaying various options such as Account Codes, Audit Rule, and Expense Type. There is a Search button to the right of these filters. Below the filters, there is a table with columns labeled Date/Time, Modified By, Config Type, and Description. The table lists entries with details such as dates, the modifier Admin.Expense, and descriptions of changes, such as Object: Drive Not Used Value: N Updated.

Benefits of Using Change Logs

Benefits

  • Track configuration changes

    Change logs allow you to monitor all configuration changes, ensuring you have a complete history of modifications.

  • Identify responsible administrators

    By recording who made each change, change logs help in identifying the administrators responsible for specific modifications.

  • Audit trail for compliance

    Change logs provide an audit trail that is essential for compliance with internal policies and external regulations.

  • Enhanced troubleshooting

    Having a detailed record of changes assists in troubleshooting issues by pinpointing when and what changes were made.

Path to Access Change Logs

How to Access Change Logs

You can access the change log by navigating to the Administration section and selecting the Change Log option.

You can efficiently review all relevant changes by setting specific date ranges and additional search criteria, such as employee names or configuration types.

A screenshot from the SAP Concur interface. The Administration menu is expanded, revealing several options under the Company tab. The options listed are Tools, Web Services, Change Log (highlighted in yellow), and Authentication Admin. The Expense Settings option is also visible at the top

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