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Overview

Reports transform your dashboard data into shareable documents that communicate insights to stakeholders, document performance for records, and drive decision-making. This guide covers creating various report types and automating their distribution.

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Report types

The Dashboard supports multiple report formats for different purposes:

Executive summaries

High-level overviews with key metrics and trends for leadership review.

Operational reports

Detailed metric breakdowns for day-to-day management and monitoring.

Analytical reports

Deep-dive analysis with correlations, comparisons, and insights.

Compliance reports

Structured documentation meeting regulatory or audit requirements.

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What you will learn

This exploration task teaches you to:
  • Create reports from dashboard views
  • Customize report content and formatting
  • Schedule automated report generation
  • Distribute reports via email and download
  • Manage report templates and versions

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Prerequisites

  • Completed Analyzing dashboard data
  • At least one custom dashboard view configured
  • Understanding of your audience and their reporting needs
  • Valid email configuration for distribution
1

Access the reports section

Navigate to “Reports” from the main menu or click the reports icon in the Dashboard.
The reports page lists existing reports and provides tools to create new ones.
2

Create a new report

Click “New report” and select your starting point:
  • From current dashboard view
  • From template
  • Blank report
Starting from a dashboard view preserves your configured widgets, filters, and time ranges.
3

Configure report content

Select which elements to include:
  • Specific widgets from your dashboard
  • Custom text sections and explanations
  • Cover page with title and summary
  • Header/footer with branding and page numbers
Choose content that tells a clear story for your intended audience.
4

Set time range and filters

Define the data period for the report:
  • Fixed date range (e.g., January 1-31, 2024)
  • Relative range (e.g., last 7 days, last month)
  • Rolling window (e.g., trailing 30 days)
Apply any filters needed to focus on relevant data segments.
5

Customize appearance

Adjust formatting options:
  • Color scheme and branding
  • Chart styles and sizes
  • Page orientation (portrait/landscape)
  • Font and spacing
Complex formatting may increase report generation time. Balance aesthetics with performance.
6

Add narrative sections

Include explanatory text to guide readers:
  • Executive summary at the beginning
  • Context for key metrics
  • Explanations of significant changes or anomalies
  • Recommendations or action items
7

Preview the report

Generate a preview to verify:
  • Data is current and accurate
  • Layout appears as expected
  • All sections are included
  • Charts and tables are readable
Review the preview carefully before finalizing or scheduling.
8

Save report configuration

Name and save your report template for future use.
Saved templates can be regenerated with updated data or scheduled for automatic creation.

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Scheduling automated reports

Save time by automating regular report generation:
  1. Open a saved report template
  2. Click “Schedule” to set up automation
  3. Configure frequency:
    • Daily (morning summary)
    • Weekly (Monday morning review)
    • Monthly (end-of-month analysis)
    • Custom (specific dates or intervals)
  4. Select recipients or distribution lists
  5. Choose format (PDF, Excel, CSV, HTML)
  6. Set expiration or end date if needed
  7. Activate the schedule

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Distribution options

Multiple distribution methods ensure reports reach the right people efficiently.

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Email distribution

  • Direct send: Attach report or include link
  • Embedded: Charts and tables in email body
  • Secure link: Password-protected download link

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Collaboration platforms

  • Share to Slack, Teams, or other chat platforms
  • Post to Confluence, SharePoint, or wikis
  • Upload to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox)

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API and webhooks

  • Trigger external systems when reports generate
  • Push data to business intelligence tools
  • Integrate with ticketing or workflow systems

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Report management best practices

  • Consistent naming: Use clear, dated names like “Weekly Sales Report - 2024-01-15”
  • Version control: Track changes to report templates
  • Audience optimization: Tailor content depth to reader needs
  • Mobile consideration: Ensure reports are readable on phones and tablets
  • Archiving: Retain historical reports for trend analysis and compliance

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Troubleshooting

  • Check if data sources are available and responding
  • Reduce report complexity (fewer widgets, shorter time range)
  • Verify you have permission to access all included metrics
  • Review error logs for specific failure reasons
  • Confirm the time range includes recent data
  • Check if data refresh intervals align with report generation
  • Verify data sources are updating correctly
  • Manually refresh data before generating report
  • Use landscape orientation for wide charts
  • Reduce chart sizes or use multiple pages
  • Simplify color schemes for print compatibility
  • Test with different PDF viewers
  • Verify email addresses are correct
  • Check spam/junk folders
  • Review schedule configuration (timezone, active status)
  • Test with a manual send first

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Conclusion

You have now completed all Dashboard exploration tasks. You can:
  • Navigate and customize the Dashboard interface
  • Create personalized views for different needs
  • Set up proactive alerts for important metrics
  • Analyze data to identify trends and insights
  • Generate and distribute professional reports
Continue exploring advanced features as your needs evolve, and refer back to these guides whenever you need a refresher on Dashboard capabilities.