Chapter 4. Reports
In the following chapter, we would like to familiarize you with the basic tools for daily work with reports. ReportServer supports different report types, each serving a different purpose. Depending on the report type, different configuration options are available. What all report types have in common is that they can be configured using parameters predefined by report developers. We discuss working with parameters in Section 4.2.1. Further configuration options for individual report types are covered separately in later chapters.
ReportServer supports a wide variety of report formats, which we classify into different groups (report types) according to their typical use cases. Depending on the report type, different interaction options are available; we will discuss these in more detail in the following sections and chapters. At this point, we briefly introduce the different report types. A detailed discussion of the report formats supported by ReportServer (e.g. ReportServer supports various report formats for integrating so-called graphical reports ) follows later.
Graphical reports summarize report formats that were developed for creating visually sophisticated evaluations. Graphical reports are typically designed by report developers using specialized tools. Developing and making changes is therefore usually time-consuming. Graphical reports are generally finished evaluations that are not intended for further processing. In ReportServer, graphical reports can usually be configured only via a small number of parameters (we discuss parameters in Section 4.2.1.) and are usually exported to PDF.
In contrast to graphical reports, the Dynamic List is a report format that gives you, as an end user, full flexibility regarding the type of evaluation to be performed. You can decide which data to include and whether further processing is required. Exports of your evaluations can be generated, among others, as Excel or PDF. The Dynamic List offers extensive filtering and formatting options and can export data directly into Excel, Word, or text documents using so-called templates. In addition, the Dynamic List provides an analysis mode (pivot) that allows data sets to be prepared in a wide variety of ways. These preparations can, for example, be exported as cross-tabs or charts.
With its wide range of configuration options, the Dynamic List is the ideal tool for daily work. The many export options (Excel, PDF, CSV, XML, ...) also make it possible to prepare data for further processing by other systems. The various configuration options of the Dynamic List are explained in detail in Chapter 6.
With JXLS, ReportServer provides a report language based on Microsoft Excel. In terms of configuration options, JXLS reports are, from your perspective as a user, most comparable to graphical reports. Configuration options are predefined by report developers via parameters. The export is then generated as an Excel worksheet.
OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) is often used synonymously for analyzing multidimensional data. ReportServer supports the Mondrian report language for defining so-called multidimensional analysis spaces (cubes), which offer very flexible analysis capabilities for experienced users.
The report formats described so far are used for analyzing data. In addition, ReportServer provides formats that can be used to manage data (e.g. to control processes).
