Ad hoc Report Designer – Introduction
Ad hoc Report Designer is a tool for non-technical, business end users to design or modify reports. By following simple steps, business users can design reports on their data and view or download them in different formats. There are multiple settings like filtering, highlighting, sorting etc. that gives options to modify your reports as per your exact needs.
In this document we will be taking you through different options in designing ad hoc reports and discuss their benefits.
The Ad hoc Report Designer is divided into sections, which appear as tabs. Each section’s functionality is discussed in the respective sections.
A user with the role of Report Designer having system privileges for Ad hoc Report Designer can design ad hoc reports.
Ad hoc report may have tabular data arrangement in the form of a matrix or as a chart. On Ad hoc Report Designer, you can also:
- Sort the data to re-arrange it in order of your choice
- Get totals / summaries
- Highlight selective records (when a condition is met)
Ad hoc Report designing includes simple steps as selecting a data source and fields, applying grouping, filtering, etc. as required. You can view the report immediately after it is designed.
When you click a tab, it opens to make respective settings on that tab. To close an open tab, click that tab again. You can also expand (or collapse) all tabs one underneath the other by clicking Expand All (or Collapse All).
Figure 1: Ad hoc Report Designer
Information:
- Ad hoc Report Designer is configurable for many options that it provides. Your administrator may further simplify your experience in creating or editing by removing some options on the Report Designer.
- When you run an ad hoc report in HTML output format, the viewer provides a right-click menu that helps altering the report on the viewer itself. To know more about the menu options, refer UsingPowerViewer
- You can also customize the toolbar when a report is viewed in HTML output format. To know about customizing toolbar of HTML Viewer, you can refer to CustomizingHTMLViewer
Selecting a Data Source
Let us look at the Data Source tab where you need to specify the source query object for creating an ad hoc report.
Data Source properties
Item | Values | Comments |
Query Object | Select from Query Object Selector | ![]() Selecting a Query Object populates its fields in all the sections (tabs) of the Ad hoc Report Designer |
Query Editor | Open Query Editor | If you are a Data Administrator you can either design or edit the selected Query Object |
Report Title | Type yourself | Type the title that should appear on the ad hoc report |
Report Format | Select from the list:
HTML ACROBAT PDF MS EXCEL COMMA SEPARATED TEXT MS WORD MS POWERPOINT iHTML
SMART XML RAW TEXT |
HTML = Default format
Opens report in HTML Report Viewer ACROBAT PDF = Opens report in PDF viewer MS EXCEL = Downloads report in XLS format COMMA SEPARATED = Downloads report in CSV format TEXT = Downloads report in TXT format MS WORD = Downloads report in DOC format MS POWERPOINT = Downloads report in PPT format iHTML = Opens report in single page HTML with Grid and Interactive Charts SMART = Opens report in Intellicus Smart View XML = Downloads report in XML format RAW TEXT = Downloads large reports in CSV format, without formatting |
Template | Select from the list | A template defines the layout part of the ad hoc report. This generally applies to color, fonts and page size of the report.
Some templates could be specifically designed for certain reports – such as wide report etc. |
Report Contents | Detailed
Summarized |
Detailed = Shows detail section (expanded), hence showing the lowest level detail of the report
Summarized = Hides detail section, hence showing only the group level summary of the report. Summarized Report shows useful data only when groups and summaries are applied |
View Options
View Options are format specific settings for the report:
View Option | Values | Comments |
Download Zipped File | Check/Uncheck | Applicable to downloadable formats (ACROBAT PDF, MS EXCEL, COMMA SEPARATED, TEXT, MS WORD, XML, RAW TEXT, MS POWERPOINT)
Check = Zip the file and download Uncheck = Downloads the unzipped file |
Multipage | Check/Uncheck | Applicable to specific formats (HTML, ACROBAT PDF, TEXT, MS WORD, IHTML, XML, RAW TEXT, MS POWERPOINT)
Check = Break report into pages according to size mentioned in template Uncheck = Merge all pages into single page (Note: Single page reports will be slower to download and viewers carry their limitations in opening these files) |
MS EXCEL View Options | ||
Pagination
(Alternate property to Multipage ) |
Single Sheet
MultiSheet
Horizontal Breaks |
Single Sheet = Merge all pages into single page
MultiSheet = Break report into pages according to size mentioned in template Horizontal Breaks = Break report only on the length part and keeps the width to actual size required at run time. (This breaking is required for reports with large number of fields or matrix fields when you don’t want pages to split vertically) |
Remove Blank Rows, Columns | Check/Uncheck | Check = Compact the Excel Report by removing blank rows and columns
Uncheck = Shows the Excel Report including blank rows and columns |
Repeat Page Header and Footer | Check/Uncheck | Check = Repeat column headers on each page
Uncheck = Merge all detail data under a single instance of column headers |
COMMA SEPARATED View Options | ||
Separator | Select (under Predefined) or Type yourself (under Custom) | Select the separator character to be inserted between columns in the CSV output |
Enclosure | Select (under Predefined) or Type yourself (under Custom) | Select the enclosure character to be used to enclose each column value in the CSV output |
Target XLS | Select from the list | This option will help you to export your report in CSV format but formatting as per xls format |
Include (Grid, Chart, Matrix) | Check/Uncheck | If you want to include any of the three types, check the respective box. The data generated from these types will get appended in text format in the CSV |
RAW TEXT View Options | ||
Separator | Select (under Predefined) or Type yourself (under Custom) | Select the separator character to be inserted between columns in the RAW TEXT output |
Enclosure | Select (under Predefined) or Type yourself (under Custom) | Select the enclosure character to be used to enclose each column value in the RAW TEXT output |
Action Buttons
Button | Comments |
Run | Run the report with full data in desired format.
This loads the respective report viewer |
Preview | Run the report with initial partial data.
This will also run the report with data that was cached in previous preview of the same report in same session |
Open | Open previously saved ad hoc report for editing. An Open dialog will prompt for selecting the folder and report |
Save | Save the settings of this report – data source, fields, groupings etc. A save dialog will prompt for report name and folder location |
Save As | Save the settings of this report with a different name. A save dialog will prompt for report name and folder location |
Selecting Display Fields
Under the Fields tab, you can select the fields to be displayed on the report.
Figure 2: Selecting Display fields
To select a field, check the checkbox displayed before each field from Available Fields and click button to bring the fields in Selected Fields. To select all the fields, click button
.
To select a group, check the checkbox displayed before the group and click button.
To deselect a field, highlight it from Selected Fields and click button. To deselect a group, highlight the group-name from Selected Fields and click
button. Click
button to deselect all the fields.
To reposition fields on the report, you can use the up and down
arrows.
Click the Apply button after selecting the fields.
In case of a hyperlinked field (specified at the query object level), you can drill down to open another report or URL on clicking the value of field on grid.
You can quickly search a field name by entering any text in the Search textbox. The searched field appears highlighted in the shown list.
Display Field Properties
Item | Values | Comments |
Width | 0-N | Number of characters of this field to show on the report. Field data may wrap beyond this width |
Render As
|
(Default)
DataBar |
Applies to Number Data type fields
Blank option (Default) = render numbers as numbers DataBar = render numbers as a horizontal bar whose size is in ratio to its value |
DataBar Base | 0-N (in case Custom option is checked)
Avg
Min Max |
Custom = Choose your base number for Data bar. Rows with value equal to base value will show zero width data bar. All greater numbers will be green bars towards right and lower to base will be red bar towards left.
Avg = Average of the group becomes base of data bar. All values below average will be red bars and all values above average will be green bars Min = Minimum of the group becomes base of data bar Max = Maximum of the group becomes base of data bar |
Rendering data bars
Figure 3: Rendering Databar
In case Update Fields At Runtime is enabled at Query Object level and you have added a new field in the database file, you would see the new field when Add New Fields At Runtime is checked here. In case this is unchecked, then you can add new fields from PowerViewer.
Applying Filters
You can use filters to limit the data that appears in the report. You can narrow the information based on specific conditions. Filter is a condition, which you can choose to apply on your report data. You can apply multiple conditions by joining them with AND/OR operators.
Filter Section properties
Item | Values | Comments |
Max. Rows | 0-N | Maximum number of rows to be fetched for this report. When you are using a data set that returns too many rows or when you are not sure of number of rows, this is the tool to restrict the size of the report.
(Note: Reports generated with Max. rows set may contain incomplete information of your business data) |
Suppress Duplicates | Check/Uncheck | Yes = Removes consecutive duplicate records from the report.
(Note: Distant duplicate rows may still exist in the report) (Note: Make sure that the report is sorted on all the report fields) |
Ad hoc Filters
Item | Values | Comments |
Field | Select from list | Select the field on which you wish to apply filter |
Criteria | Select from list | Select the operator to be used in the filter. These are comparison operators based on the data type of the selected field.
The between operator prompts for two values |
Use Field | Check/Uncheck | Check = When Use Field is checked, Value gets populated with Field values for comparison |
Value | Type yourself or select from list | Based on the configuration of this field in the meta layer, the value list appears |
Relation | AND
OR |
AND = The next condition is applied with combined conjunction of this condition
OR = The next condition is applied in alternate conjunction of this condition |
Open/Close | (
(( ((( (((( ((((( ) )) ))) )))) ))))) |
Braces to group a set of conditions for applying appropriate AND/OR combination |
Actions
Item | Comments |
Add Filter | Add a new filter condition row |
Remove Filter | Remove current filter condition row |
Selecting values from Lists and Multi-Select List
The value select list may behave differently for different fields based on how they have been configured by your data administrator for best performance. You can configure Lookup Values for fields while designing the Query Object. To know more about Query Objects, refer WorkingwithQueryObjects
List behavior
Criteria | List behavior | Comments |
In List | Pre-populated List is loaded as soon as the field is selected | This field generally has less number of values, it is always faster to pre-fetch the values before loading the Ad hoc Report Designer |
List populates when you pull the drop down | This field generally has medium number of values, it is better to fetch values only when you try to use this field for filtering | |
List shows a hint “Search..” with a search drop down icon | This field generally has a large number of values. You start typing in first few characters and a shortlist will automatically appear for selection |
Entering values for Network ID formatted fields (specified on the Query Object Editor screen)
- IP: It needs to be specified as a set of 4 numbers (decimal) separated by dots or written in hexadecimal and separated by semicolon. (IPv4, IPv6 IP addresses are supported)
- MAC Address: It needs to be specified as a set of 6 numbers (hexa) separated by colon. Each of the number needs to be between x00 (00) and xFF (FF). Example: 15:FF:01:F1:01:B4.
TIP: While specifying MAC address, putting a colon between the hexa digits is not necessary. The application will automatically insert colon after every second ‘digit’ (starting from right side). Example: number entered is FF101B4; Number changed to is 00:00:0F:F1:01:B4.
Linked Filters
A Field could be linked to one or more other fields for fetching available values for filtering.
This is to handle situations like short listing states when a country is selected.
You may need to select parent field, apply filter before selecting a child field to apply filter. The child field is specified as a Link Lookup field linked to parent field at the Query Object level.
Figure 4: Filters as Link Lookup
Selecting Dynamic Dates
When you select a date field to apply filter, you have an option to specify a dynamic date variable – is in last, is in next etc.
This helps to re-run saved reports without having to change the date value to get then current date range applied.
For example,
- Date of hire is in last 10 days from today (report generation date).
- Date of sales transaction is in this Quarter.
- Transaction Date is in last month.
- Date of retirement is in next
For criteria, you may select any of the following:
- is in last
- in this
- is in next
If in this is selected as Criteria, the Value drop down box has following options to choose from:
- Year
- Quarter
- Month
- Week
- Day
- Hour
- Minute
If is in last or is in next is selected in Criteria, specify the number of Day(s), Week(s), Month(s), Quarter(s) or years (as the case may be) in Value entry box. Explanation for each of the option is given below:
- Year(s): The number of years from the date of report generation.
- Quarter(s): The number of quarters from the date of report generation. A quarter is January to March, April to June, July to September and October to December.
- Month(s): The number of months from the date of report generation.
- Week(s): The number of weeks from the date of report generation. A week is considered from Sunday to Saturday.
- Day(s): The number of days from the date of report generation.
- Hour (s): The number of hours from the date of report generation.
- Minute (s): The number of minutes from the date of report generation.
Applying Grouping
Grouping brings together or summarizes the related data of a report based on the grouping key.
Group key can be arranged in ascending or descending order, based on group key value or a detail field’s summary value.
For example, if you group population details by region, you can arrange regions by name or by highest to lowest population.
Ad hoc reports support multi-level grouping, for example, you can group the report data by country; within country by states and within states by cities.
Figure 5: Selecting Grouping
Group properties
Item | Values | Comments |
Field | Select from list | ‘Group By’ field is the highest priority field selected for grouping. It specifies top level grouping.
‘Then by’ field specifies fields of next priority and level for grouping |
Order | Ascending
Descending |
Select the order of grouping. Grouping is applied on group key or ranking field |
Ranking Field | Select from list | Select the field to apply ranking function to decide the order of appearance of groups |
Ranking Function | Sum,
Avg, Count, Min, Max, Variance, PopVariance, StdDeviation, PopStdDeviation and Distinct functions |
Select the function to apply on the ranking field and find rank.
Ranking functions change based on data type of the ranking field |
Show When | Specify the criteria | Show When feature helps to specify condition to be met in order to show that group. You can combine multiple conditions with AND/OR operators. Current group details would be shown on the report only if the Show When condition is satisfied |
Actions
Item | Comments |
Add Group![]() |
Add a new group |
Remove Group![]() |
Remove current group |
Date fields grouping
If you select date type field in Field dropdown, you can also group dates by:
- Minute: Number of the minute indicating the minute of an hour
- Hour: Number of the hour indicating the hour of the day
- Day: Day of the month
- Week: Week number of the month
- Month: Month number
- Quarter: Quarter number
- Year: Number indicating the year
Figure 6: Date fields Grouping
Applying Totals
Applying totals summarizes detail rows. The summaries can be applied at group level (in case grouping is applied), page level or report (grand total) level.
Figure 7: Selecting Totals (summary)
Totals properties
Item | Values | Comments |
Field | Select from list | Select the field on which the summary needs to be applied
|
Function | Select from list
Sum, Avg Count, Min, Max, Variance, PopVariance, StdDeviation, PopStdDeviation and Distinct functions |
Select the function to apply on the summary field.
The applicable functions change based on the data type of the summary field. You can view the custom-defined functions in case the functions are defined as discussed under the section “Custom-Defined Functions” (page# 18).
|
Level | Group
Page
Report |
Group = Apply and display total at each group level
Page = Apply and display total once per page for all detail rows appearing in that page Report = Apply and display grand total at report level |
On a summarized report (Report Content = Summarized), only the group Keys and these summaries appear, hiding the detail rows.
In an iHTML grid report you can collapse group keys to show only summary and hide details. You can also expand the group keys to show detail rows.
Note: If total is applied on field that is not in display fields, it will be automatically added in the Display Fields list.
Custom-Defined Functions
You can also use custom-defined summary functions for summarizing data values in reports.
These summary functions can be defined in a class implementing IScriptFunction interface. The .jar file of this class should be placed in ReportEngine > lib folder.
There should also be an .xml file containing all the entries of .jar file and placed in ReportEngine > config folder.
Restart Intellicus Report Server and then Web Server to be able to see these summary functions as any other function in the list. The .xml file would look like:
<SUMMARYPROVIDERS> <!-- Summary Provider. Provider name is just a user friendly name to identify provider class. Class file is fully qualified java class name of the class containing summary functions. A summary provider may have as many summary functions as desired --> <SUMMARYPROVIDER PROVIDERNAME="PACKAGECAPTION" CLASSFILE="com.client.summaryfunctions.MathAlternate"> <SUMMARYFUNCTIONS> <!-- Summary function that contain logic for applying business logic on the selected field. Name is just a user friendly name that is displayed in the dropdown. Id is a unique number that must be unique and separate from IDs of in-built summary functions. Recommended: Start IDs from 1001. APPLYONDATATYPES is a comma-separated list of data types on which this summary function is applicable. Possible values are CHAR|NUMBER|DATE. Rest all are ignored --> <SUMMARYFUNCTION NAME="AlternateSum" ID="1001" APPLYONDATATYPES="CHAR,NUMBER,DATE"> </SUMMARYFUNCTION> <SUMMARYFUNCTION NAME="ReverseString" ID="1002" APPLYONDATATYPES="CHAR"> </SUMMARYFUNCTION> <SUMMARYFUNCTION NAME="ModTen" ID="1003" APPLYONDATATYPES="NUMBER"> </SUMMARYFUNCTION> <SUMMARYFUNCTION NAME="FutureDate" ID="1004" APPLYONDATATYPES="DATE"> </SUMMARYFUNCTION> </SUMMARYFUNCTIONS> </SUMMARYPROVIDER> </SUMMARYPROVIDERS>
Applying Sorting
You can sort the report to get the report data in a pre-determined (ascending or descending) order.
Note: If you have setup grouping for a report, you need not set sorting for it. This is because data is already sorted to make groups.
Ad hoc Report Designer supports multiple level of sorting. For example, you can Sort By “Country”; then within “Country”, sort by “State” and within “State” sort by “City”.
If not already expanded, click Sorting tab header to expand it. The number of sort levels you have selected is displayed on right side of the header.
Figure 8: Specifying Sort Order
In Sort By row, select the Field on which sorting is to be applied. After selecting the Field, select the sort order from Criteria dropdown menu. You can set sort on more than one field.
To apply sorting on one field specify field in Sort By row. To set sorting on another field select the field from Then By field.
You can choose to alter given sorting settings at the run time from Power Viewer.
Applying Highlighting
Highlight is a visual indication on an ad hoc report. The purpose of highlighting is to catch user’s attention to specific records or groups while viewing the report output. Each highlight is configured along with an ad hoc condition or multiple conditions related by AND/OR operators. The specific record or group is highlighted only if the specified condition is satisfied.
You can also specify Alert with or without highlight. Setting alert creates a special head listing the record count for mentioned condition(s) in the report.
You can set multiple highlights on a report; a record falling into multiple highlights will be highlighted in combination style.
A highlight can be set at Detail level or Report level. If the report is grouped, highlight can be set at group level too.
Figure 9: Setting highlighting
Highlighting properties
Item | Values | Comments |
Highlight | Select from list:
(Entire Row)
Group->Field Name(Entire Row)
Field Name |
(Entire Row) = Apply below mentioned highlighting style to entire row of detail.
Group->Field Name(Entire Row) = Apply style to entire row of field under group header
Field Name = Apply style to individual field value |
Using Style | Select from list | Select the style (combination of color and image) to apply on highlighting item
You can select Custom Style in order to create highlights of your choice of font style and color. |
Alert | Check/Uncheck | Check = In addition to applying style on the report item, the report tool bar also shows an alert icon, if a highlight condition occurs. When this report is saved, users can subscribe to this alert from notification screen
Uncheck = visual style applying only |
Open | (
(( ((( (((( ((((( |
Braces to group more than one conditions using AND/OR |
Field | Select field from list | Field to apply condition on |
Level | Select field from list:
Detail Report
Group |
Detail = field’s value to be compared at row level Report = field’s value to be aggregated at report level and then compared Group = field’s value to be aggregated at mentioned group level and then compared |
Function | Select from list
Sum, Avg Count, Min, Max, Variance, PopVariance, StdDeviation, PopStdDeviation and Distinct functions |
Aggregation function, used in case of field level is Report or Group |
Criteria | Select from list | Condition like Above, Below, Is etc. to apply on the specified field |
Use Field | Check/Uncheck | Check = The value box turns into a field selector. Helps in comparing one field with another for the condition
(Comparison is done dynamically at run time) Uncheck = The value box shows text box, select list or calendar to manually enter or select values (Comparison is done on static value defined at design time) |
Value | Enter or
select value |
Shows text box, select list or calendar to manually enter or select values from drop down list in case “Use Field” is checked |
Close | )
)) ))) )))) ))))) |
Braces to group more than one conditions using AND/OR |
Relation | AND
OR |
AND = The next line condition relates to this condition with an AND operator. This is default behavior when blank is selected
OR = The next line condition relates to this condition with an OR operator
|
Creating Matrix
Use matrix to summarize your report data in the form of cross-section of fields in rows and columns. For example, ‘Product Type’ and ‘Product’ in columns; ‘Location’ and ‘State’ in rows. A cross section of ‘Product Type’, ‘Product’ and ‘Location’, ‘State’ will display sales of that product in that location.
Under Data Source tab, select the data source.
To get only matrix on the report, don’t select any display fields on the Fields tab. If you select display fields, matrix will be placed below the tabular data.
If not already open, click Matrix tab header to open the Matrix tab.
Figure 10: Creating Matrix
To place a field as matrix row, drag it from Available Fields list and drop it in Row Fields (or, select a field and click button). To place a field as matrix column, drag it from Available Fields list and drop it in Column Fields (or, select a field and click
button).
To place a field on summary (intersection of row and column), drag a field from Available Fields list and drop it in Summary Fields (or click button).
These fields will be calculated for summary/totals. Functions listed in Function dropdown box will depend on data type of the Summary Field.
You can drop multiple fields in Row Fields, Column Fields and Summary Fields box. Fields appear higher in sequence in Row Fields and Column Fields will appear on outer side of matrix. Summary Fields are placed left to right on the matrix. To move a field up or down, click or
button.
Show When opens up filtering criteria to apply on column and row fields. The column/row that meets the condition shows up on the matrix when you run the report.
You can highlight a Cell, Cell Family, or an Entire Row or Column of a matrix based on a condition. The matrix highlights the summary field using the specified Style.
In case of a hyperlinked field (specified at the query object level), you can drill down to open another report or URL on clicking the value of field on matrix.
Grouping values of Numeric fields
You can specify an integer value to group numeric fields. For example, to have groups of 0-9, 10-19 … specify 10 in Group By box of respective row in Row Fields or Column Fields box.
Grouping values of Date type fields
You can group a date by Minute, Hour, Day, Week (Sunday to Saturday), Month, Quarter (Jan-Mar, Apr – Jun, Jul – Sep, Oct – Dec), Year. Select an option from Group By box of respective row in Row Fields or Column Fields box.
Clicking Clear Matrix would clear the specified matrix properties to start all over again.
Designers/Users can link Matrix and Chart so that any changes made in one component gets reflected automatically in the other. Linking can be done in both ways- Matrix to Chart and vice versa.
Figure 11: Link Matrix and Chart
Creating Chart
Chart is used for graphical representation of data. To address your charting needs ad hoc report supports most of the popular chart types like bar, line, pie and radar.
You can create multiple charts on an Ad hoc report.
Chart section provides + button to add more charts and specify the chart details in the new chart tab.
In the Ad hoc template you can control the number of charts displayed by the size. More charts flow to next row.
In case of a hyperlinked field (specified at the query object level) on either X or Y axis, you can drill down to open another report or URL on clicking the data point on chart.
Figure 12: Creating Chart
Chart properties
Item | Values | Comments |
Query Object | Check ‘Use Parent’s’ or select from object selector | Select the parent query object to create chart on same dataset or a different query object to help you create chart on different datasets in the same report |
Chart Title | Type yourself | Give a title to your chart |
Chart Type | Select from list | Select the base chart type |
![]() |
||
Link | Select from list:
With Report Fields
Matrix |
Report Fields = Take report grouping fields as chart grouping fields and number fields from detail or summary section as chart series fields at run time
Matrix = Take row and column group fields as chart group fields and cell value fields as chart series fields |
Clear Chart | Action | Removes all chart settings |
Value Fields
(Y-Axes) |
![]() |
|
Value Fields Y-Axes | Tabs
Y Y1 Y2 + |
Create new tab using + for secondary Y Axis.
Drag fields on respective Y Axis tab |
Field | Drag from available fields | Each field becomes a Y axis on chart series |
Function | Select from list
Sum, Avg, Count, Min, Max and others |
Value Fields will be aggregated on chart using this function |
Series Type | Select from list
|
Select series level chart type.
(Parent) = No series level chart type applied, use base chart type |
Trend | Set Trend options
|
Opens trend dialog
|
Show Trend Line | Check/Uncheck | Check = Adds a trend line to this series. Trend line will be a line type chart irrespective of base chart type and series chart type
Uncheck = Switch off trend line for this series |
Trend Type | Automatic
Manual |
Automatic = The tool selects one of the trending algorithms automatically based on the data
Manual = You can choose one of the algorithms for drawing trend line: Exponential, Linear, Logarithmic, Polynomial, Power, Moving Average |
Trend Manual Polynomial Order | 0 – 5 | Defines the order of polynomial trend line.
The order of the polynomial determines by the number of fluctuations in the curve |
Trend Manual
Moving Average
|
0-N | Determines the number of data points to average and use as average value for trending over a specific number of periods |
Forecast | Forward
Backward |
Specify trend line for future or back period of time |
Infographic | Select from Color or Clipart
|
You can select a color for the chart series or else default color would be picked from the system palette.
You can also assign a color for negative values i.e. values below a specified’ Negative Base’. ‘Use Negative Color For Decreasing Values’ option enables viewing values following a decreasing trend in the chosen negative color. Choosing a clipart will help you display clipart image (SVG format) as chart patterns. You will have to place your SVG images as files or in folders under <Intellicus installation folder>> ReportEngine > Templates > Charts > Infographics Once you have added the images, you will see the folder names as categories and images will be displayed in the box as thumbnails. |
Title | Type yourself | Give a title to Y axis |
Stack Type | Select from options:
Normal Stacked 100% Stacked |
Normal = No stacking
Stacked = Stack all series of this Y axis 100% Stack = 100% stack all series of this Y axis |
Base Value | Specify a value between 0-N | Specify a base value (scale) of Y axis in the chart |
Threshold | Set Threshold options![]() |
Opens threshold dialog
Threshold Lines help to effectively communicate important points in your data like a key value, sales threshold, important date or the average of your data |
Show Threshold Line | Check/Uncheck
|
Check = Adds a threshold line for this series.
Uncheck = Switch off threshold line for this series |
Threshold Value | Specify value/range of values | You can either specify a value for Threshold Line or a range of values for Threshold Band |
Threshold Label | Enter text | Specify label text to appear for the threshold line or band on the chart |
Threshold Color | Select from color selector | Specify the color of Threshold Line or Band |
Group Fields
(X-Axis) |
||
Field | Drag from available fields | Each field becomes a X axis on chart series |
Group By | Select from list:
YEAR QUARTER MONTH WEEK DAY HOUR MINUTE |
Applicable for Date data type fields |
Display Field | Select a field from list | On X axis data label, show the selected fields’ values instead of group field value |
Pivot | Check/Uncheck | Check = Convert into series. All the values from this field become series at runtime |
Show Axis Title | Check/Uncheck | Check = Give a title by typing it in the box |
X–Axis
Label Angle |
Select from list:
0 30 45 60 90 |
Rotation or angle of labels on the X axis |
Settings | ||
Show Legends | Check/Uncheck | Switch On or Off legends, you can also define the position of Legend from the drop down beside Show Legend option if you Switch On the Legend |
Show Title | Check/Uncheck | Switch On or Off title |
Show Point Labels | Check/Uncheck | Switch On or Off Data point labels |
Show Description | Check/Uncheck | Whatever Description you give in Miscellaneous, will be displayed alongside the chart if you check here |
Align | Select from list
Top
Bottom |
Position of chart when report has detailed data
Top = Show the chart at the top of report Bottom = Show the chart at the bottom of the report |
Level | Select from list
Report
Page |
Level of data to aggregate for chart
Report = All of report data will be aggregated in to one chart per report Page = Data rendered in one page of detail section will be aggregated into a chart per page |
Sorting | ||
Sort Order Field | Select field from list | The X Axis values will be sorted based on the value of selected field |
Sort Order Order | Ascending
Descending |
Order of sorting |
Show (N) | Select from list
(All) 1-50 |
Restrict number of X axis values to given number |
Miscellaneous Description | Click ![]() |
Type a description to show along with your chart |
Custom Chart Type
With the implementation of this feature, you can use your own customized SVG images to be rendered as a chart type. You need to place the custom SVG file containing the visualization rendering information, data representation including animation etc. under <Intellicus Installation Folder Path>\Intellicus\ReportEngine\templates\charts\custom
Intellicus chart control supplies data and activates the SVG to render.
A sample report output using the custom chart type appears as shown in the below image:
Figure 13: Custom Chart using SVG file
SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) based Visualizations
With Intellicus’ data visualization capabilities, you can let your creativity flow when telling the story of your data unlike ever before. You are no longer tied to bar charts and pie graphs. Now, you can display comprehensive maps, entire shop floors, images of trucks or animals, and virtually any relatable image to the business. This provides responsive, interactive charts that facilitates you to build pictograms and custom-tailored visuals. You can place the SVG template folder (containing SVG image, HTML and CSS files) under <Intellicus installation folder>\Intellicus\ReportEngine\templates\ihtml
The above folder would be available at Administration > Configure > Config Files > iHTML Template Files on portal as shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14: iHTML Template Files
Next, you need to configure the iHTML template. Go to Navigate->Design->Ad hoc Template and choose a template that you want to map the iHTML template with. Select your iHTML template under iHTML item. Click Save to save the configuration.
Figure 15: Ad hoc Template Configuration
You can now use this SVG template to design an ad hoc report. Go to Navigate->Design->Ad hoc Report and select the desired Query Object as a data source.
Figure 16: Selected Query Object with Template
With iHTML as the Report Format, select the template that you had mapped the SVG template with. The SVG Mapping tab is now visible at the top on the Ad hoc toolbar.
Go to the Chart tab to create a chart for your ad hoc report.
Figure 17: Chart in an Ad hoc Report
Under SVG Mapping tab, select a container on the SVG image and link this to the above created chart.
Figure 18: Link SVG Container to Chart
Note: A single chart control can be mapped with a single container only.
You can run the ad hoc report with your SVG template as shown in the image below.
Figure 19: Chart using SVG Template
Auto truncate X-Axis labels in Chart
You can now choose to trim some characters of X axis labels automatically so that the chart gets enough space to render. This can be customized in the respective ICT file to enable or disable the auto truncate feature, truncate either the initial or trailing characters and specify the maximum percentage height for X-axis labels.
Below is a sample ICT file (<Intellicus installation path>\Intellicus\ReportEngine\templates\charts\amchart_javascript\Default) with the specified configurations:
categoryAxis.disableEllipsisInLabels = true;
categoryAxis.ellipsisPosition = “suffix|prefix”;
categoryAxis.maxHeight = “25%”;
Figure 20: Custom Chart using SVG file
Creating GIS Maps
You can add interactive mapping functionality to your reports with vast customization options. It enables to zoom or pan the map, drill-down to other reports or external URLs.
You can create GIS maps on smart reports and achieve the following:
- Heat maps: A heat map uses shading to display how a value differs in proportion across a geography or region. You need to set light (start) and dark (end) color, so that for the corresponding values for your Value Field, the map will automatically choose intermediate color corresponding to its value. Refer the “GIS section properties” table on page 32 to know more about heat map properties.
- Attributes on balloon: You can specify how the value of a particular field should appear when you click an area on the map (as shown in Figure 13).
- Drill down: In case of a hyperlinked field (specified at the query object level), you can drill down to open another report or URL on clicking the area on map.
Figure 21: Creating Map
Attributes Dialog
Area attributes dialog helps you design the content of the balloon that opens when an area on the map is clicked as shown in Figure 14.
Figure 22: Attributes Dialog
GIS section properties
Item | Values | Comments
|
Map | Select Map Data:
|
This list populates according to map data available on your system.
Select the map name for initial loading of data. For example, if you want to depict US states heat map then select “USA – Regions”. If you want World countries heat map then select “World – Countries” map |
Area Field | Select field from list | This list populates GIS enabled fields from your selected data set.
Select appropriate field for grouping of data. For example: the field that contains state name, country name etc. |
Area Attributes | Opens Attributes dialog
(See image below this table)
|
Area attributes dialog helps you design the content of the balloon that opens when user clicks an area on the map |
Area Attributes
Prefix |
Type yourself | Prefix caption value for the field |
Area Attributes Field | Select field from list | Value of the field |
Area Attributes Function | Select summary function | Select the aggregation summary function applied on the field |
Area Attributes Suffix | Type yourself | Append suffix caption for the field |
Area Attributes
As Title |
Check/Uncheck | Check = This line appears on the title bar of the balloon
Uncheck = This line appears on the canvas area of the balloon
|
Area Attributes Preview | The balloon content formation is previewed here | |
Heatmap Properties
|
This section helps you design the heat map on the GIS map | |
Value Field | Select field from list | Select the value field using which the heat map is calculated |
Function | Select summary function | Select the aggregation summary function applied on the field |
Start Color | Select color from palette | Select the lowest value color |
End Color | Select color from palette | Select the highest value color.
All the in-between values will be assigned respective colors automatically by an even distribution |