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Chapter 4 Reports
4. Reports
In the following chapter, we would like to familiarize you with the basic tools for your daily work with reports. ReportServer supports various report types, each of which fulfills a different application purpose. Depending on the report type, different configuration options can be used. What all report types have in common is the option to configure them using parameters predefined by report developers. We look at working with parameters in section 4.2.1. Further configuration options for individual report types are discussed separately in later chapters.
4.1. Report Types
ReportServer supports a variety of different report formats, which we classify into different groups (report type) according to their typical area of application. Depending on the report type, different interaction options are available to you, which we will look at in more detail in the following sections and chapters. At this point we would like to briefly introduce the different report types. A detailed look at the report formats supported by ReportServer (e.g. ReportServer supports various report formats for the integration of so-called graphical reports).
4.1.1 Graphical reports
Graphical reports are report formats that have been developed for the creation of graphically sophisticated evaluations. Graphical reports are usually designed by report developers using special tools. The development and changes are therefore usually time-consuming. Graphical reports are usually finished evaluations that are not intended for further processing. In ReportServer, graphical reports can usually only be configured using a few parameters (we look at parameters in section 4.2.1.) and are usually exported in PDF format.
4.1.2 Dynamic list
In contrast to graphical reports, the dynamic list is a report format that offers you as the end user complete freedom with regard to the type of evaluation to be carried out. You can decide on the data contained and any post-processing yourself. Your evaluations can be exported as Excel or PDF, for example. The dynamic list offers extensive filters and formatting options and can export data directly to Excel, Word or text documents using so-called templates. In addition, the dynamic list offers an analysis mode (pivot) with which data sets can be prepared in a variety of ways. These formats can be exported in the form of crosstabs or graphics, for example.
With its wide range of configuration options, the dynamic list is the ideal tool for day-to-day work. The many different export options (Excel, PDF, CSV, XML, ...) also allow data to be prepared for further processing by other systems. The various configuration options of the dynamic list are presented in detail in chapter 6.
4.1.3 Excel template reports
With JXLS, ReportServer offers a reporting language based on Microsoft Excel. In terms of configuration options, JXLS reports are most similar to graphical reports for you as a user. Configuration options are specified by report developers via parameters. The subsequent export takes place as an Excel worksheet.
4.1.4 OLAP -- Analysis reports
OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) is often used synonymously for the analysis of multidimensional data. ReportServer supports the Mondrian reporting language for defining so-called multidimensional analysis spaces (cubes), which offer very flexible analysis options for experienced users.
We discuss OLAP reports in chapter 8.