Creating a New Report

There is no single process for creating a new report in the designer. For example, some users select their data source (or data sources) before they add the report objects while other users add report objects to the canvas and then select their data source (or data sources). Some users choose to update the properties and styles for their reports while other users choose not to. The following list of steps is one way that you can create a new report in the designer.

To create a new report:

Select a data source with the associated data items. For information about selecting data, see Selecting Data for Reports.
(Optional) Select the layout (precision or tiled) for the report. For more information, see Choosing a Report Layout.
Select the report object (or report objects) that you want to use in the report. For information about selecting report objects, see Using Tables, Graphs, Gauges, Controls, and Other Report Objects.
Add report objects by dragging and dropping them onto the canvas or by double-clicking the report object on the Objects tab. You can tab over a report object, and press Enter to add the report object to the canvas.
Add data items to report objects by dragging and dropping them onto the canvas or by right-clicking on the report object (or report objects) and using the context menu.
(Optional) Update the properties for the report and the report objects. For information about properties, see Using Tables, Graphs, Gauges, Controls, and Other Report Objects.
(Optional) Update the styles for the report objects. For information about selecting styles, see Using Tables, Graphs, Gauges, Controls, and Other Report Objects.
(Optional) Modify data role assignments. For more information, see Modifying Data Role Assignments in Report Objects.
(Optional) Create or modify display rules. For more information, see Adding Display Rules to a Gauge.
(Optional) Add filters to the report. For more information, see About Report Filters.
(Optional) Add interactions between the report objects in a section. For more information, see Overview of Interactions.
(Optional) Add a rank to a report object (or report objects). For more information, see Adding a New Rank.
(Optional) Add a new section (or sections) to the report. For more information, see Overview of Report Sections.
Save your report. For more information, see Saving a Report.
(Optional) E-mail your saved report. For more information, see E-mailing a Report.
(Optional) Add comments to your saved report. For more information, see Adding Comments to Reports.

You can create a new report based on an existing report or on existing report objects from a report that you have imported. For more information, see Basing a New Report on Report Objects Imported from One or More Existing Reports.