Creating a report from a report template

You use the Report Wizard to perform these actions:
  • Create and edit reports from templates
  • Specify parameters for reports designed to be used in dashboards
To create a report from a template you access the Report Wizard from the Extras menu, or from the Create Report dialog box. If you access it from the Create Report dialog box, Step 3 of the Wizard is displayed.

To be editable in the Report Wizard, the value of the Editable with the Report Wizard option must be True on the Options tab of the report properties pane. To edit a report in the Report Wizard, click the report in the Report Catalog and select Edit > With Report Wizard.

This topic describes how to access and use the Report Wizard from the Extras menu.

  1. Select Extras > Report Wizard (New Report).
  2. Select a report template and click Next.
  3. Specify the Report name.
  4. Optionally specify a description of the report.
  5. Select the target folder in which to create the report.
  6. Optionally, click Use Style Sheet and select a style sheet.
    Note: If the Use Style Sheet option is not available, it has been disabled by the designer of the template.
  7. Click Next.
    The data connection parameter is displayed.
  8. In the Value column, select the data connection to use.
  9. Select the cube to use.
    A field for each dimension required by the template is displayed. The dimensions that you assign to the fields vary according to the data connection that you selected.

    For example, the are several cubes. Each cube has a Measures dimension. For the Analysis cube the Measures dimension is called Measure and, for the Sales cube, the Measure dimension is called Profit. Both include measures such as Gross Margin, Net Revenue. Similarly, each cube has a version dimension. This is a dimension which includes planning scenarios such as Actual, Budget and Forecast. In the Analysis cube, the Valtype dimension is the Version dimension. In the Sales cube, the version dimension is called Version.

    Typically, a template requires several filter dimensions, which are displayed in combo boxes in reports. Filter dimensions affect the slice of data analyzed in a report. For example, in a report on product sales by region, a time dimension used as a filter dimension would enable you to select the year for which to view the sales. Or, in a report on product sales in a particular year, a region filter dimension would allow you to view the sales in different regions.

  10. Assign the appropriate dimensions.
    As you assign each dimension, a hierarchy field for that dimension is displayed. If each dimension has only one hierarchy, the hierarchy field is automatically populated. If the dimension has multiple hierarchies, specify the hierarchy to use.
  11. Specify any elements required by the template.
    For example, when you assign the Version dimension, the template can require you to specify the scenarios to use in the report. For example, Actual, Budget, and Variance. Or, the Time dimension can require you to specify whether to display Years, Quarters or Month, etc.
  12. Click Finish.
    The report is created in the specified folder. A number of report variables are also created. To display the report, double-click it in the Report Catalog.
    Note: By default, template-based reports remain editable with the Report Wizard but you can disable this property. Right-click the report and select Properties. Specify False as the value of the Editable in Report Wizard property.