Cognos Report - move totals to top of list

If you create a list object in a Cognos Report with some simple attributes and measures, then you may want to add a Grand Total. By default it will look something like this...

If you want to move the Grand Total to the top of the report, then you need to follow these steps:

1. Go to Structure -> Headers & Footers -> List Headers & Footers

2. Tick ‘overall header’ so that new blank row appears

3. You may need to split the cells on this new row as it can appear as a single merged cell

4. Go to the old cell that contains the summary (at the bottom of the table)

5. Unlock cell using the padlock icon

6. Copy the text item containing the summary content

7. Paste into your new cell at the top of the table

8. Merge cells as necessary to get the look and feel you want

9. Go back to Structure -> Headers & Footers -> List Headers & Footers

10. Untick ‘overall footer’

11. The summary at the bottom of the table should now have disappeared

and you should have a list object like this.

To fully replicate the formatting of the previous Total row you may need to amend alignment, background, colour etc.