Report List
The report list provides you with the ability to search and browse for reports. This section covers the features of the report list page.
- Browsing reports by category, and
- Editing, copying or deleting reports from the reports list.
The report list page provides you access to all the reports that you have available to you. It is the main entry page for Yellowfin if you do not have access to a Yellowfin Dashboard.
List Menu
The Report List displays detailed information relating to the selected report, such as:
Delete (deletes the report)
Edit (allows you to edit the report, placing it in draft mode)
Edit Metadata (allows you to edit the name, description, category and subcategory of the report)
Tags (displays the tags assigned to the report for easy searching)
Display Type (report format settings - table/chart/both)
Drag and Drop Builder (report writing method)
Active (active/draft mode)
Public Report (access settings)
Fast Run Time (Less than 1 second - the report's average run time)
Dashboard Enabled (can the report be used on the dashboard?)
Linked (the report is linked to another report)
Broadcast (reports that are marked for broadcast to nominated users)
Add to Favourites
Copy
Information
Filtering Your List
You can apply basic or advanced filters to your list to assist finding the report you are searching for. The basic filter allows you to search for reports by name. The advanced filter allows you to filter by report mode and access settings, as well as data source and views.
Folder View
While Folder View is selected in the top-right, the report list will be arranged in a folder structure based on the category the report as been saved into. To browse reports by category, simply open and close the folders by clicking on them.
You can also arrange reports in order of name, description, date modified, type, status and run time by clicking on the column headers (this will arrange reports within their categories).
List View
To browse all of your reports at once, click on list view on the top-right. You can now sort all of your reports by the column headers at once.
Column Settings
You are able to choose which columns you display by clicking on the Columns option on the top-right.
Folder Categories
To assist in finding and managing access to reports, the reports are categorised into major and minor categories. The effect of this categorisation is three fold:
- Display & Classification: By using the folders structure a user can navigate through the available list of reports. This assists the user to understand the purpose of a report.
It is not possible to classify the same report into two different categories. If this is required a report can be copied and the new report given a different category than its original parent report. - Security: Report Categories and subcategories also control access to reports. It is possible to define which specific users can read, edit or delete reports from a selected category or subcategory.
- Default DRAFT folders: Within your list your administrator may have setup a default draft folder. When creating new reports - if you do not specifically save them into a folder they will be placed in this folder. The folder is identifiable by the draft folder icon.
Report Information
The report list displays some information about the reports.
- The report name is the title of the report and by clicking on the link the report will open.
- The description column provides an overall description of the report.
- The run time column provides an indication of the time taken for a report to run. Depending on the complexity of a report or the amount of data that needs to be retrieved the time taken for a report to run can vary significantly.
Fast Execution |
The report should take less than 1 second to return a data set. |
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Medium Execution |
The report should take between 1 and 5 seconds to return a data set. |
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Slow Execution |
The report takes over 5 seconds to return a data set. |
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Public reports |
Potentially available to all users, depending on the security level of the report category. |
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Private reports |
Reports that you have created for your own use. These reports will not be available to any other user. |
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Draft Reports |
Reports which you are currently working on but have not yet activated. Whether these are corporate or personal they are not available to any other user of the system whilst in a draft state. |
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Public Drafts |
Public reports that are currently being edited by other users - generally only administrative uses will see this status of report. |
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Linked Reports |
Reports that are linked to other reports. |
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Broadcast Reports |
Reports that are marked for broadcast to nominated users. |
Editing an Existing Report
The edit report functionality allows you to make changes to existing reports and continue to work on your draft reports.
When a report is edited it goes into a DRAFT status. This is to prevent other users from accessing the report whilst it is being modified.
Once you have finished editing the report ensure that you save it back into its ACTIVE status so that other users can continue to access it.
Edit Rights
You will only be able to edit reports to which you have edit rights. Your ability to edit reports will be based on:
- The general report writing function. You must be able to write and edit reports.
- Your access level to reports in a specific category. E.g. If you only have READ access to finance reports you will not be able to edit them.
- Your access rights to the VIEW. You must have rights to access the view so that you can write reports.
Basic Edit
To edit an existing report select it from your list and click the edit link. This will open the report data page.
Edit / Duplicate Report
When a corporate report is saved the user may specify that when it is edited a copy is to be made. The new version will have (copy) inserted after its name to assist you to identify it.
This is done so that others users can continue to access the report even once it is in edit mode - as only the new version is in a DRAFT status. The edit version remains a standalone copy of the original.
Copying Reports
Yellowfin provides you with the ability to make copies of existing reports. Through this function you will be able to use any report in your repository as the basis for your next report rather than starting every report from scratch.
Select the required report by clicking in the report selection checkbox and then clicking the COPY link. This will create a copy of the report and open up the report data page so that the user can begin to edit the report.
Copy Rights
Similar to the edit rights discussed above you must have the appropriate access rights to copy a report. These include:
- The general report writing function. You must be able to write and edit reports.
- Your access level to reports in a specific category. E.g. if you only have READ access to finance reports you will not be able to edit them.
- Your access rights to the VIEW. You must have rights to access the view so that you can write reports.
Delete Reports
To delete a report from your repository select one or more reports using the check box and click the delete link.
A confirmation page will open which will prompt you to confirm your intention to delete the report(s) selected. Confirm you wish to delete the report to continue.
Delete Rights
You will only be able to delete reports to which you have delete rights. Your ability to edit reports will be based on:
- The general report writing function. You must be able to delete reports.
- Your access level to reports in a specific category. E.g. if you only have READ access to finance reports you will not be able to delete them.
- Your access rights to the VIEW. You must have rights to access the view so that you can delete reports.