Out of the Clouds and Into Reality: XBRL for the Business User

Bowne Viewer Updated With Latest SEC XBRL Rendering Engine

In a previous post I provided an overview of the different XBRL viewers currently in place at the SEC.  The "original"/Voluntary Program XBRL Viewer has been relegated to "the cheap seats" now that a new XBRL rendering engine is driving the display of live-filed XBRL mandate submissions (click on the blue "Interactive Data" button on our latest filing here) as well as documents uploaded to the SEC's Previewer.

Given the visual enhancements made by the SEC in this new rendering engine, and given the SEC is kind enough to continue to make this code available in an open source format, we've now updated the Bowne Interactive XBRL Viewer to render all uploaded XBRL documents using this new rendering engine.  This enhancement once again puts the Bowne Viewer in synch with the renderings being provided by the SEC while providing additional review and approval capabilities not available on the SEC Previewer.

In addition, and unlike the current SEC Previewer, the Bowne Viewer also provides mandate-level technical validation feedback on any uploaded XBRL documents.  Documents currently uploaded to the SEC Previewer are not passed through the SEC's XBRL validators as part of the upload and preview process.  Whether the SEC changes this going forward, we'll have to see...but the Bowne Viewer is ready today to do both (validate and review/approve!).

We hope you enjoy the new functionality, and let us know what you think!

-Rob 

US GAAP 2009 Taxonomy Support Announced; Reminder for SEC Webcast

Today the SEC updated their official SEC EDGAR Standard Taxonomies page to announce forthcoming support for the US GAAP 2009 taxonomies.  On the site, the SEC states that July 22, 2009 is when the EDGAR system will officially support these new taxonomies.  This means that as of that day, XBRL test/live filings based on the  the 2009 taxonomies against the EDGAR system can be done.  Until then, test/live filings can only be done using the 2008 taxonomies.

In addition to this roadmap, the SEC "strongly encourages" companies to begin working with and using the 2009 taxonomies.  I agree completely!!...but what does a company do between now and July 22nd to make sure their 2009 taxonomy-based XBRL data is mandate-ready?  I'd recommend (shameless gratuitous plugs aside...=) the Bowne Interactive XBRL Viewer as it provides not only the visual review of XBRL data but also SEC mandate-level validation when uploading files.  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Finally, a reminder of the SEC's webcast Wednesday, June 10, 2009 starting at 12 PM ET to discuss Interactive Data Reporting Requirements.  One of the key items of interest on the webcast was going to be listening for the SEC to provide an update on support for the 2009 taxonomies.  Now that that's no longer an issue...=)...there's still lots of interesting tidbits that should be discussed.  This includes clarification around points of conflict within the EDGAR Manual, tagging guidance around topics not covered directly by the EDGAR Manual, and specific discussion on the US GAAP 2009 taxonomies themselves.

Happy tagging!

-Rob