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Designing Reports
There is more to creating a new report than simply pulling data into the Report Writer. Taking the time to design a report on paper will help speed the process for creating a new report. Once the report is designed, it is then a matter of using the report writer to get just the information needed.
There are a few important questions to ask when designing a report which will ensure a successful creation and deployment. Without asking these important questions, much time can be spent re-doing reports once additional information is gathered. Once all of the items are decided about the structure of the report, building the report in the Report Writer is a snap.
| Question |
Example |
Why |
| What type of information? |
Name & education |
Determines which Data Source to use. |
| Which fields of information? |
Name, degrees, year |
Determines which Fields to use. |
| Should anything be excluded? |
Only applicants from 2007 |
Determines which Filters to use. |
| For analysis or just records? |
Sums/Averages/Graphs |
Determines which other tabs need to be used. – Summary, Chart, Gauge. |
| Analysis of what? |
Number of people with which degree |
Determines how Summary and/or Chart and/or Gauge should be used. |
| Preferred Title/Details? |
Degree Report, etc. |
If writing for someone else, might as well get the items set at the beginning. |
| Specific Style? |
Column vs. Field | Value |
If writing for someone else, might as well get the items set at the beginning. |
| End Goal? |
Export to Excel for Manager |
Can add a filter in to split out managers, for example. Or this report might be named in to a category which managers can access. |
See also
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