*Create reports

Build comprehensive reports that combine data, insights, and rich content with powerful organization features.

Think of creating a report like organizing a comprehensive presentation for city council - you need to combine data, explanations, and visuals in a way that tells a clear story and helps people make decisions.

What you can build

Reports let you create professional documents that combine:

• Rich text content - Explanations, summaries, and analysis in formatted text

• Data visualizations - Charts, tables, and maps from your insights

• Structured organization - Pages, sections, and groups to organize content logically

• Flexible layouts - Side-by-side content, multi-column arrangements

• Page-level filtering - Control what data appears on individual pages

• Shareable views - Customized versions for different audiences

Real-world example: A comprehensive annual budget report that includes executive summaries, detailed department breakdowns, trend analysis charts, and appendices - all organized into logical sections that different stakeholders can navigate easily.

Step-by-step report creation

1

Start your report

From a solution

1. Navigate to your solution workspace

2. Go to the "Reports" tab

3. Click "+ New report"

4. Enter a descriptive name for your report (e.g., "Q4 Department Performance Review")

5. Add an optional description explaining the report's purpose

6. Click "Create report" to open the editor

From reports overview

1. Click "Reports" in the left navigation

2. Click "+ New report"

3. Choose the solution where you want to create the report

4. Enter a name and description

5. Click "Create report" to start building

Choose names that clearly indicate the report's purpose and audience. Good examples: "City Council Budget Summary", "Public Safety Quarterly Review", "Annual Transparency Report".

2

Structure your report with pages, groups, and sections

Before adding content, plan your report organization using the three-tier structure system:

Pages

Pages are the main content areas - think of them as individual documents or chapters:

• Executive Summary - High-level overview for leadership

• Department Analysis - Detailed breakdown by department

• Financial Overview - Budget and spending analysis

• Recommendations - Action items and next steps

When to use pages:

• Different topics that need separate focus

• Content for different audiences

• Major sections of a comprehensive report

Groups

Groups are containers that organize related pages together:

• Overview Group - Contains summary pages

• Departmental Group - Contains all department-specific pages

• Financial Group - Contains budget and financial pages

• Appendices Group - Contains supporting documentation

When to use groups:

• Organizing related content

• Creating logical navigation structure

• Separating main content from supporting materials

Sections

Sections are high-level headers that don't contain children:

• Introduction - Simple header for opening content

• Methodology - Header explaining approach

• Conclusions - Header for final thoughts

When to use sections:

• Simple topic separators

• Headers that don't need sub-content

• Visual breaks in long documents

To create your structure:

1. Click "Add element" in the structure panel

2. Choose "Add page", "Add group", or "Add section"

3. Drag and drop to reorder items

4. Nest pages within groups for organization

5. Name each item clearly for easy navigation

Pro tip: Start with a simple structure and expand as needed. You can always reorganize later by dragging items around.

3

Add rich content blocks

Once your structure is ready, add content to your pages. Click the "+" button to insert blocks:

Text Content

Rich text blocks for explanations and analysis:

• Text: Rich formatting with bold, italic, lists, links

• Headings: H1, H2, H3 for section titles

• Quote: Highlighted statements or citations

• Lists: Bulleted, numbered, or todo lists

Best for: Explanations, summaries, analysis, conclusions

Data & Insights

Data visualization blocks:

• Insight: Insert existing charts, tables, or maps

• Image: Upload charts, diagrams, or photos

• Code: Display data samples or technical details

Best for: Supporting data, visual evidence, technical details

Layout & Organization

Structure and layout blocks:

• Columns: Side-by-side content (2-3 columns)

• Divider: Visual separation between sections

• Toggle: Collapsible content for optional details

• Date: Static date displays

Best for: Professional layout, optional content, visual organization

Block management:

• Drag blocks to reorder content

• Delete blocks using the trash icon

• Duplicate blocks for consistent formatting

• Nest blocks within columns for complex layouts

4

Create flexible layouts with columns

Use columns to create professional, side-by-side layouts:

1. Click "+" and select "Three columns" (you can adjust to 2 columns later)

2. A layout block appears with empty slots

3. Add content to each column - text, insights, images, etc.

4. Adjust layout using the toolbar that appears when you hover:

   • Equal width columns

   • Wider left column

   • Wider right column

   • Three equal columns

Common column layouts:

• Chart + explanation: Insight on left, analysis text on right

• Multiple metrics: Several single-number insights side by side

• Comparison: Two related charts or data sets

• Navigation: Links or summaries in narrow column, main content in wide column

Columns make your reports look more professional and help readers scan information more effectively.

5

Add insights and data visualizations

Bring your data into the report by inserting insights:

1. Click "+" and select "Insight"

2. Choose an existing insight from your workspace

3. The insight (chart, table, or map) will be embedded in your report

4. Customize the display:

   • Add a custom title for the report context

   • Include description text

   • Adjust sizing if needed

Live Insights

Insights are linked to the original analysis:

• Data updates automatically when source data changes

• Charts refresh with new information

• Filters from the original insight apply

Benefits:

• Always current data

• Consistent with original analysis

• No manual updating needed

Insight Organization

Choose insights that support your story:

• Use summary charts for executive pages

• Include detailed tables for analysis sections

• Add maps for geographic context

• Use single-number metrics for key highlights

Pro tip: Create insights specifically for reports - simpler, focused visualizations often work better in report context than complex analytical charts.

Changes to the original insight will automatically appear in your report. This keeps data current but means you should be careful when modifying insights used in reports.

6

Set up page-level filters

Apply filters to control what data appears on individual pages:

When to Use Page Filters

Department-specific pages:

• Filter by Department = "Public Safety"

• Shows only relevant data for that specific page

Time-based analysis:

• Filter by Date range = Q4 2024 on quarterly pages

• Different time periods for comparison pages

Audience-specific content:

• Filter sensitive data on public-facing pages

• Show executive-level summaries on overview pages

Setting Up Page Filters

1. Navigate to the page you want to filter

2. Go to "Page Filters" in the page settings

3. Click "Add Filter"

4. Choose the field to filter by

5. Set your filter conditions

6. Test the filter to ensure all insights on the page display correctly

7. Save your changes

Filter examples:

• Department equals "Health"

• Status not equals "Cancelled"

• Budget greater than $10,000

• Date between Jan 1, 2024 and Mar 31, 2024

For comprehensive filtering guidance, see Report Filters documentation.

7

Upload images and media

Enhance your report with visual content:

1. Click "+" and select "Image"

2. Upload files from your computer:

   • Screenshots of external systems

   • Photos of facilities or projects

   • Diagrams and flowcharts

   • Logos and branding elements

3. Adjust image settings:

   • Resize for appropriate display

   • Add alt text for accessibility

   • Include captions if needed

Image security: Images are securely stored in our cloud infrastructure and can only be accessed with appropriate permissions. They are not available via public URLs, ensuring your sensitive visual content remains protected.

Image best practices:

• Use high-quality images that are readable when displayed

• Keep file sizes reasonable for fast loading

• Include context or captions to explain what the image shows

• Consider accessibility - describe important visual information in text

To view image content in a report, users need appropriate permissions on the report itself. Images follow the same security model as other report content.

8

Save and manage your report

1. Click "Save" in the top right to store your report

2. Set permissions for who can view and edit

3. Create views for different audiences (see Report Views)

4. Share your report with the appropriate stakeholders

Your report is now ready! You can continue editing, create filtered views for different audiences, or share it directly with your team.

Available content blocks

Understanding the different types of content blocks helps you create more effective reports:

Text and formatting blocks

• Text: Rich text with bold, italic, underline, links, and lists

• Heading 1/2/3: Section titles with automatic hierarchy styling

• Bulleted list: Unordered lists for presenting multiple items

• Numbered list: Sequential lists for steps or rankings

• Todo list: Interactive checklists with toggleable items

• Quote: Highlighted text for important statements or citations

Data and media blocks

• Insight: Live data visualizations from your saved insights

• Image: Uploaded photos, screenshots, diagrams, or graphics

• Code: Monospaced text for displaying code snippets or raw data

• Date: Static date stamps for version control or timestamps

Layout and structure blocks

• Three columns: Flexible multi-column layouts (adjustable to 2-3 columns)

• Divider: Horizontal lines to separate content sections visually

• Toggle: Collapsible sections for optional or detailed information

• Link: Clickable references to external resources or other reports

Best practices for block usage

• Combine text and visuals: Use insights alongside explanatory text

• Use consistent formatting: Apply heading levels systematically

• Break up long content: Use dividers and columns for readability

• Make content scannable: Use lists and headings to structure information

• Consider your audience: Use toggles to hide technical details for executive readers

Next steps

Once you've created your basic report, explore these advanced features:

• Pages, groups, and sections - Learn the three-tier organization system

• Report filters - Control what data appears on individual pages

• Report views - Create customized versions for different audiences

• Manage reports - Organize and maintain your report library