Concepts in ConnectReport

Designing, scheduling and publishing reports in ConnectReport is easy and straightforward, but before you get started, take the time to review a few important concepts that are unique ConnectReport. You can potentially save much time in the long run by learning these concepts before jumping in. 

Data platform – A data platform is the Business Intelligence platform or Database Management System that you choose to work with when you initially create a template. Once you choose a data platform for a report template, you cannot go back and change it. Templates may only be associated with one platform.

Filter cycle - Filter cycles are used to automate the creation of report tasks. When you create a filter cycle, you start by choosing a “Field to cycle on”, and then select field values of that field. A report task is created for each field value that you select. Filter cycles can also include batch publishing schedules and batch sharing options. Batch options are applied to each report task in the filter cycle.

Filter set – Filter sets are used to filter report data. Depending on the platform data connection that you choose when you create a template, ConnectReport may automatically detect Filter sets. If your platform is Qlik Sense, filter sets are references to Qlik Sense Bookmarks. If your platform is Tableau, filter sets are references to Tableau Sets. You can apply filter sets to most objects in the report editor, including visualizations, pages, and table bands. Filter sets can also be applied to report tasks, and in such cases, they are applied when the report document is generated.

Platform data connection – A platform data connection is a specific data set from a Data platform. Platform data connections are generally referred to by their data-platform-specific alias. Depending on the Data platform that you are connecting to, your platform data connections may be known as “Apps,” “Databases,” or “Workbooks.” When you create a new template, you choose one data platform connection for the template. You can only associate one data platform connection with a report template.

Publishing schedule – A publishing schedule is a set of parameters associated with a report task that tell the report task when to run. For instance, publishing schedules may be set to daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually.

Report document – A report document is a final generated report. Report documents are generated based on a publishing schedule or may be generated on demand. To view existing report documents that have been shared with you or created by you, navigate to the ConnectReport Portal and click “Reports” in the left-hand sidebar.

Template editor – The template editor is where you create new report templates or edit existing templates.

Portal – The portal is the core of the ConnectReport workflow. From the portal, you can edit and create new templates, and view, search, and export published report documents that have been shared with you.

Report task – Once you create a template and decide that you want to schedule or share it, you create a report task. A report task includes parameters such as a publishing schedule, who to share the generated report document with, and optional filters. Report tasks are always associated with report templates.

Template –  A template is a file that is used to generate report documents. The template stores information for the layout, formatting, and design of the report, as well as the visualizations and table data inside of the report. Creating a new report template is easy, see Create a template in the “Getting started” section of the help documentation.