Using a Quick Start Method to Create a Report :: SAS(R) Web Report Studio 4.31: User's Guide

About the Quick Start Methods

There are five quick start methods for creating a new saved report. Advantages and Considerations for Each Quick Start Method provides an overview of the advantages and considerations for each quick start method.

Note: For more information about saved reports, see About Reports Saved in SAS Web Report Studio.

Tip

When reviewing the considerations, keep in mind that you can use Edit mode to make modifications until the report is exactly the way that you want it.

Advantages and Considerations for Each Quick Start Method

Quick Start Method	Advantages	Considerations
Use the Report Wizard	The five-step Report Wizard guides you in defining a query; selecting a table and graph for the layout; and adding optional features such as group breaks, section filters, a header, and a footer. You can also select the format for displaying the data (for example, the number of decimal places that are used when displaying a number). When you click Finish, you have a complete, one-section report. Because the resulting report is based on a data source, you have full access to all the report objects (tables, graphs, geographical maps, group breaks, headers, footers, images, and text).	You can choose only from three graph types (bar, line, and pie).
Open a stored process as a report	When you include a stored process in a report, you can use Edit mode to add a header, a footer, images, and text that are independent of the stored process. The result can be a much more robust report than just the stored process report itself.
Use a template for the layout and then add the data	When you select a template, you start creating your report with an already completed layout design. The layout can include tables, graphs, images, text, and their last saved properties; links from images1 and text to Web sites and reports; a header and a footer; and positioning information. It can also include stored process objects (without the stored process selected). In addition, templates can contain multiple report sections, each with a unique design.	You must define the query that will retrieve the data for the report. You must specify any group breaks. A layout design that exactly meets your needs might not be available. In this case, you can create your own template (or templates).
Save a report based on a data source	When you save a report based on a data source, you create a new report simply by selecting an information map, a table, or a cube. Because the resulting report is based on a data source, you have full access to all the report objects (tables, graphs, geographical maps, group breaks, headers, footers, images, and text).	You do not choose the data items used in the default query (which includes only standard data items). You do not have any input into the default layout design.
Base the new report on an existing report	If there is an existing report that closely meets your requirements, you might only have to make minor changes to the query and the layout to create a new saved report. The existing report might have multiple report sections.	Some changes might result in the loss of some existing functionality, such as conditional highlighting. If too many adjustments need to be made, it might be easier to create a custom report.
1Images can include links from group break values to prompts in a target report. However, prompt associations cannot be saved in a template because templates cannot contain group break information.

Use the Report Wizard

The Report Wizard guides you through five steps to create a one-section report that uses standard data items. To use the Report Wizard, complete these steps:

Select FileNewNew Using Wizard.
Select a Data Source. The default data source is determined by the selection on the Report Creation tab in the Preferences dialog box. You can click Change Source to select a different data source.
Select the data items that you want to use in the report. In the Available data items box, select one or more data items and click to move them to the Selected data items list box. Some users will be able to move all data items in the data source by clicking .

Step 1 in the Report Wizard
Click Next to go to the next wizard page.

Tip
At this point, instead of clicking Next, you can click Finish to display the Edit tab. Defaults are used for any remaining unspecified required content. For example, if you are using a relational data source, a list table is automatically included. For more information about how to save the report at this point, see Save a Report.
(Optional) Select or create a category filter. For more information, see Subsetting Query Results.
(Optional) Change the format of some data items. For more information, see Modify the Format of a Standard Data Item.

Step 2 in the Report Wizard
Click Next to go to the next wizard page.
(Optional) Create group breaks. A group break is a way to divide report sections by distinct category or hierarchy level values when you are using a relational or multidimensional data source. For more information about group breaks, see Overview of Using Group Breaks.

Complete these steps:
1. From the first Break by drop-down list, select a category or hierarchy to specify the first group break.
2. If you want the report to display a new page for each value in the first break, select New page for each value.
3. Specify up to two more breaks.
4. If you do not want labels to appear with each value, then clear the Label each value option.
Step 3 in the Report Wizard
Click Next to go to the next wizard page.
Add at least one view element to display the results of the query, either a table or a graph (a bar chart, a line graph, or a pie chart). The data items that you selected in step 1 are shown as selected to display. Either accept the default data item assignments or deselect the Show check box to hide the data items that you do not want to display.
- If you select the Table option, select the type of table. If your data source is multidimensional, then your only option is Crosstab.
- If you select the Graph option, select the type of graph.
Step 4 in the Report Wizard
Click Next to go to the next wizard page.
(Optional) To add a header or a footer, complete these steps for each feature that you want to include in your report:
1. From the Banner drop-down list, select an image to use for the banner. The images that are available are provided by your system administrator. If there are no images available, then your only selection is None.
  
  Step 5 in the Report Wizard
2. Type the text that you want to include in the header or footer. You cannot use these characters: < > & #
3. To include the date that the section query was last run, select Display date that query was last refreshed.
Click Finish to display the report in the Edit tab.
Select FileSave. For information about how to complete the Save As dialog box, see Save a Report.
Click the View tab to see the results.

A Completed Report from the Report Wizard

Base a New Report on a Stored Process Report

To save a new report from a stored process report, complete these steps:

Run a stored process by selecting one of the last six viewed stored processes from the File menu or the Welcome window, using the Open dialog box (shown) or using the File Management window.

Note: For more information about the File menu and the File Management window, see The SAS Web Report Studio Interface.

Open Dialog Box Showing Two Stored Processes
If a prompt window appears, provide the requested information, and then click View Report.
Select FileSave. For information about how to complete the Save As dialog box, see Save a Report.

Note: By completing the Save As dialog box, you create a new saved report, either with the same name as the stored process or with a new name. The original stored process continues to exist in addition to the new saved report.

For more information about saved reports that use stored processes, see Including Stored Process Output.

Base a New Report on a Report Template and Then Add Data

Report templates can contain more than just report objects placed in certain positions. Properties and, in some cases, linking can also be part of a template. In addition, templates can contain multiple report sections, each with a unique layout design.

To create a saved report by using a template, complete these steps:

Select FileNewNew Using Template. You can also select New using Template in the Welcome window. Templates can have multiple sections. If you use this method to start building a new report, then all sections from a template containing multiple sections are used.
Click one of these tabs:

General templates

Select this tab to use the default templates that come with SAS Web Report Studio.

Shared templates

Select this tab to use the templates that can be viewed and used across your company.

My templates

Select this tab to use the templates that can be viewed only by you and your system administrator.
Select a template.

How the General Templates Tab Appears in the Select a Template Dialog Box
Click OK. Your selected layout is displayed in the Edit tab.

The following display is an example of what Edit mode looks like if you select the Table over graph template.

How Edit Mode Appears When You Select the Table over Graph Template
Define the query by selecting data items from a data source. For more information, see Defining Queries to Obtain Results.
Select FileSave. For more information about how to complete the Save As dialog box, see Save a Report.

Tip

You can also apply a template to a report section when you are in Edit mode. However, when you apply a template to a report section, only the first section in the template is used.

Base a New Report on Opening a Data Source Directly

A new report can be based on opening a data source directly. The report uses either a crosstabulation or a list table to present the results. For more information about which tables are created for a data source, see Opening Data Sources Directly.

Note: Your data administrator determines what data sources you are authorized to view.

To create a report by opening a data source directly, complete these steps:

Double-click an information map, table, or cube in the Open dialog box. The new report opens in View mode.

A New Report Based on Ad Hoc Output from an Information Map
Select FileSave. For more information about how to complete the Save As dialog box, see Save a Report.

You can use Edit mode to update a saved report based on opening a data source directly. To create a saved report from ad hoc output from an information map, table, or cube and then make changes, complete these steps:

Select an information map, table, or cube in the Open dialog box; click in the Actions column and then select Edit. If the report was opened in View mode, click the Edit tab to switch to Edit mode.
In Edit mode, make any customizations that you want. For example, you might want to add a header or a footer.

A New Report Based on Ad Hoc Output from an Information Map in Edit Mode
Select FileSave. For information about how to complete the Save As dialog box, see Save a Report.

Base a New Report on an Existing Report

If there is an existing saved report that closely matches the report that you want to create, you can save the existing report under a new name, which is the only step that is required to create a new saved report. However, you might want to use Edit mode to make some customizations. To base a new report on an existing report, complete these steps:

View the existing saved report by doing one of the following:
- Select FileOpen Recent and then select the report.
- Use the Open dialog box.
- Use the File Management window.
If a prompt window appears, provide the requested information, and then click View Report.
Select FileSave As and complete the Save As dialog box, giving the report a new name. For more information, see Save a Report.