Free Format Reports and Templates
Free format reports enables you to create custom reports beyond the standard templates that come with CXO. It allows the report creator to be a lot more creative and flexible in what types of reports to create.
These custom reports can then be saved as new templates by a Report Administrator for others to use.
What You Can Create
You can build reports with various layouts, such as:
Two data tables
Two tables with a linked chart
Other custom combinations
See examples for inspiration:
1.
Multiple tables, graphs and Pie/Donut charts – from top to bottom the tables filter one another and the graph on the right hand side of a table visualizes the tables.
2.
KPI overview report with tiles on top to draw attention to the main KPI’s and to link to detailed reports.
And a table to analyze more data. The table determines which line item is further analyzed on the right hand side.
The supporting table includes an item selector to switch analytical dimension on the table rows.
3.
A table plus stacked bars and waterfall chart.
The table determines the line item analyzed by the stacked bars and waterfall chart.
The item selector in the middle determines the analytical dimension that determines the waterfall and stacked bar elements.
Interactive Controls
You can add interactive controls to your reports that allow users to:
Filter and navigate through data
Link controls together so that selecting an item in one control automaticallyupdates other controls
Update the entire report's point of view (POV) based on user selections
This linking capability makes reports a lot more dynamic and user-friendly, allowing for seamless data exploration across different report elements. It cannot be overstated how powerful smart linking of controls together can be.
Creating a Free Format Report
To create a new free format report:
Select New Report.
Choose Create New Free Format Report.
That's it - you can then begin building your custom report layout and adding the controls you need.
The Pop Up guides you through the steps to create the new Free Format report. It consists of the following fields.
Name |
Description | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|
Name |
Name of the new Report | Yes |
| Select a Source System for the Reports Data | Yes |
Editing Your Report Layout
Design Mode
To format and modify your free format report, switch to Design Mode by clicking Edit Layout.
Managing Controls
Once in Design Mode, use the Control Settings Panel to:
-
Add controls:
Click "+ Add control", select your desired control type, and enter the basic parameters.
-
Edit Controls:
Change settings: Click any control to open the Control Settings Panel, where you can modify:
-
Control name: The default name is the control type, for example “Table”. When you add a second table control to your report it will be called “Table 2”.
Renaming you controls, for example to reflect the function or the place in the report, will make it easier to find the right settings and options, whilst configuring the report.
- Size dimensions
Other important settings are:
- Listen To: This parameter determines if the control you are editing is going to pick up input from another control. Table controls, for example, can pick up input from other tables or from item selectors. Graphs can pick up what item to analyse from a table, like in some of our standard templates.
- Grow Horizontally: This parameter is exclusive to the table control. If ticked, the table will be allowed to grow wider in case the amount of columns necessitates that, for example after drilling on one or more columns.
- Grow Vertically: This parameter is exclusive to the table control. If ticked, the table will be allowed to grow higher in case the amount of rows necessitates that, for example after drilling on one or more rows.
-
Control name: The default name is the control type, for example “Table”. When you add a second table control to your report it will be called “Table 2”.
-
Move controls:
Simply drag and drop controls to reposition them or use the Left, Top and Width parameters to precisely size and place your controls.
-
Delete Controls
Click the control you want to remove, then select Remove in the Control Settings Panel.
For more information about control parameters and options, see the Available Controls section.
Saving Your Layout
When you've finished adding controls and configuring their settings, click "Save & Exit" to complete your layout design.
Report Settings
After creating your layout, you'll need to configure settings for each control individually. When you first open your report, you'll see notifications indicating which controls still need their settings configured.
To complete the setup:
Go to the Settings Tab.
Click on each control that needs configuration.
Enter the required settings for that control type
For example, if your report contains a Bars and Lines Chart and a Table Control, you'll need to configure the data sources and display options for each one separately.
Converting to Template
Report Administrators can convert any free format report into a reusable template.
To convert a report:
Select the free format report you want to convert.
Click the gear icon that appears on the right side.
Choose "Convert to Template".
Once converted, the template will be available for others to use when creating new reports.
Note:
Making changes to the lay out of a free format template will affect all reports, that are based on that template.
Be careful and check whether you are editing the layout of a free format template or a free format report.
Template:
Report:
Copying an Existing Free Format Report
An efficient way to create a new free format report, that is similar but not identical to an existing free format report is to copy the existing report and then edit it. This will not affect the original report that got copied.