Creating a New Dynamic Report Definition

  • Article

You use the Reports module to create new dynamic report definitions, to change the PivotTable of a report, and to save the new report as a new report definition. The newly saved report is then available in the Reports list. For information about creating custom reports for use by site developers, see ''Creating Custom Reports'' in Commerce Server 2002 Help.

Ee784420.note(en-US,CS.20).gifNote

  • Microsoft Office XP Web Components and the support files that include the Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.7 and pivot table services are required to run the dynamic reports in Analysis. Installing Microsoft Office XP, Microsoft Excel XP, Microsoft Access XP, or Microsoft FrontPage XP automatically installs the Microsoft Office XP Web Components and all of the required support files. If you have already installed Microsoft Office XP or any of the applications listed previously, you do not need to install the Microsoft Office XP Web Components, which are included on the Commerce Server 2002 CD.

To create a new dynamic report definition

To add fields to a PivotTable

To view your new report in the Reports list

To refresh the Reports list

To create a new dynamic report definition

  1. Contact your system administrator to import data into the Data Warehouse and to run the Report Preparation DTS task to make the data available for reports.

  2. In Analysis, click Reports.

  3. Click New on the report toolbar to create your new report.

  4. In the Create a new report - Web Page dialog box, do the following:

    Use this To do this
    Report Type Select OLAP or SQL depending on the type of report you want to create.
    Cube Name Only used for OLAP reports. Select a cube name from the drop-down list. Only processed cubes that can be reported on will be shown.
    MDX Query Only used for OLAP reports. Type a query string if you want to create this report based on a query and then click OK. (This box is optional.)
    SQL Query Only used for SQL reports. Type an SQL query to specify the fields to return, and then click OK.

    Ee784420.note(en-US,CS.20).gif Note

    • If the PivotTable Field List does not appear automatically when you open the table, click PivotTable Field List on the PivotTable toolbar to view the PivotTable Field List.

  5. Drag fields from the PivotTable Field List and drop them onto the PivotTable.

    In the PivotTable, the items under Totals in the PivotTable Field List are measures; the items at the same level as Totals are dimensions. Measures can be added to the data area (that is, the center cells) of the PivotTable. Dimensions can be used as rows, columns, or filters.

    As an alternative to using a drag-and-drop operation to move the fields from the PivotTable Field List, you can use the Add to button at the bottom of the PivotTable Field List. For information about using the PivotTable Field List, click Help on the PivotTable toolbar.

  6. In the Completed Reports window, click Save on the toolbar.

  7. In the Save a report—Web Page dialog box, do the following:

    Use this To do this
    Save Report Defaults to Save As if the report is a default report and to Save if the report is not a default report.
    Report Name Type the name of the new report.
    Report Category Type the report category.
    Report Description Type a description for the new report.
    Report Long Description Type a longer description for the report. This description will be visible in the browser window above the PivotTable controls when you click Show description above the PivotTable controls.

  8. Click OK.

    Ee784420.important(en-US,CS.20).gif Important

    • When you save a new report, you are saving the report definition, not the data. The next time you run the report, it will have the same rows, columns, and filters, and current data will be queried from Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services (OLAP) as specified in the report definition.

  9. To return to the Reports screen, close the report window.

For more information about working with PivotTables, click Pivot Help on the PivotTable toolbar.

To add fields to a PivotTable

  1. Contact your system administrator to import data into the Data Warehouse and to run the Report Preparation DTS task to make the data available for reports.

  2. In Analysis, click Reports, and then select the dynamic report definition on which you want to base your new report.

  3. In the Reports screen, click Run on the toolbar to run the dynamic report.

    The completed report appears in a new browser window as a PivotTable. The PivotTable Field List appears above the PivotTable.

    Ee784420.note(en-US,CS.20).gif Note

    • If the PivotTable Field List does not appear automatically when you open the table, click the Field List button on the PivotTable toolbar to view the PivotTable Field List.

  4. Drag fields from the PivotTable Field List and drop them onto the PivotTable.

    In the PivotTable, the items under Totals in the PivotTable Field List are measures; the items at the same level as Totals are dimensions. Measures can be added to the data area (that is, the center cells) of the PivotTable. Dimensions can be used as rows, columns, or filters.

    As an alternative to using a drag-and-drop operation to move the fields from the PivotTable Field List, you can use the Add to button at the bottom of the PivotTable Field List. For information about using the PivotTable Field List, click Help on the PivotTable toolbar.

  5. In the completed report window, click Save just above the PivotTable. The Save a report — Web Page dialog box appears.

  6. In the Save a report—Web Page dialog box, do the following:

    Use this To do this
    Report Name Type the name of your new report.
    Report Category Type the category for the new report.
    Report Description Type a description for your new report.
    Report Long Description Type a longer description for your report. This description will be visible in the browser window above the PivotTable controls when you click Show description above the PivotTable controls.

  7. Click OK. Your new report is saved.

  8. To return to the Reports screen, close the report window.

For more information about working with PivotTables, see PivotTable Help, available when you click the Help button on the PivotTable toolbar.

Ee784420.important(en-US,CS.20).gif Important

  • When you save a new report, you are saving the report definition, not the data. The next time you run the report, it will have the same rows, columns, and filters, and current data will be queried from Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services (OLAP) as specified in the report definition.

To view your new report in the Reports list

  1. In Analysis, click Reports.
  2. On the Reports screen, click Find on the toolbar, select the search criteria that will find your report, and then click Find Now.

Your new report appears in the Reports list.

To refresh the Reports list

  1. In Analysis, click Reports.
  2. On the Reports screen, click Find on the toolbar.
  3. In the Find By box, select All Reports, and then click Find Now.

A new Reports list appears showing all reports.

See Also

About Dynamic and Static Reports

Commerce Server 2002 Reports

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