EditReport Templates
backEditIntroduction
The
reports within RT are extremely flexible; providing a canvas where there is a rich palette of information to pull from. This flexibility allows our
reports to be leveraged as a "analysis engine"; democratizing the ability to include the information desired and presenting it in a layout that makes sense to the viewer without requiring the taking of night classes where you have to consume a 400+ page manual.
The
Report Templates add-on provides the capability to define rigid templates that are applied to the existing available RT
reports that ensures consistency in the presentation of the information when delivering
reports across our organization.
EditConfiguration
The ability to create report templates is limited to the
Administrator role. It is possible, however, to extend this role to the
Administrator Assistant role.
At the very bottom of the Users Icon, Options is the "Non Recommended" section. The ability to give access to your Admin Assistants is here. If you want your Admin Assistants to have this ability. Simply checkmark the option and click apply.
EC - We recommend that if you do give access out that you only do this when creating the pages within your group/organization then removing this access when you have them completed.
EditUsage
EditCreate
There are several steps that need to be followed in order to create a report template.
- Decide on a base (existing) report as a starting point.
- Choose which columns and manipulate the layout to your liking. (See Reports.)
- Using the File main menu, click the Create Report tool.
For this Demonstration we will be making a Billing Report to show by Sales Person and add the
Station column. First I opened up the Billing History Report. (For video size I removed half of the GE$ months).
I Right click on the column line and move curser down to and left click on "Column Chooser". This will open up the Customization window. Drag the column marked Sales Person up to the area above the line know as the Column Header and it will be added to your template. (Columns placed in the header will group that report by the header placed).
To drag a Column box up to the Column line and add it to your template. I Right click on the Column line and left click on "Column Chooser". This will open up the Customization window. Drag the "Column" up to the line and it will be added to your template.
Once you have gotten your report set up how you want it, You will want to save it. To Save it, Got to "File" in the Main Menu, right click. This will open up the Context menu with the top menu item being "Create Template". Left click to bring up the Name/Description window.
Add a
Name and
Description the report template.
Once these steps have been followed, the report template will be included among the existing
reports (as well as other possible report templates).
EditView
How you "recognize" that a "report" is a report template.
A quick way to see what report you are in and if its a template is the name.
- First you will see "Template".(In yellow)
- Second is the Name you called it.(In blue)
- Third is the base report.(In red)
Another way to see them is from the Reports window.
With this add-on you will have a new Column in the Column Chooser labeled "Template". This will add a column that shows through checkboxes what is or is not a custom report. Right click on the column line and drag the "template" box to the line to add that column.
EditModify
Once the template has been named and you can access it from your reports window you cannot modify this template in any way.
If you want to Adjust your template see below.
Edit"As a Template"
If you Like your new report but would like to add/remove something or alter one slightly for whatever reason. We have that ability built in a way that you keep your original template and start creating from the point of that template.
In the templates you have created, under File in the Main Menu is the Context Menu. Here you will find the "Switch to Original" tab.
When you do this a few things happen. You are moved to the Base report with your changes in place. Your template is still there if you want to go back.
At this point you are in the original base report but with your template settings and can now alter, add, remove or change things. when you are done just go to "File" in Main Menu and "Create Template", Name it. Now you can keep or remove the old template.
EC - With the older template still in your reports you will want to name it something different.
EditRemove
If you wish to remove a report you have created. Right click will open the Context Menu and at the bottom you will have the "Trash" option. Click the trash option will bring up the "Do you really want to remove this report" window. Click "yes" and its gone.
EC - You will not have the ability to trash any of the base reports at any time.
EditFAQ
TODO Add any questions as they come up to this section.
EditAdditional Information
TODO What other tidbits of information might be useful related to this subject.