Creating reports

Though Sales-n-Stats provides you with the set of preconfigured reports, you can create your own reports with the help of a built-in visual report constructor.

To create a new report follow the next steps:

1.	Click New report (constructor).

2.	Enter a report's name into the 'Input report name' field.

Click OK.

'Input' dialog: entering a new report name.

4.	Report constructor window opens in the 'General' tab.

5.	Use the following tabs:

1.	General – to enter the report's name, description and to select the folder it will belong to;

2.	Data rows - to specify the table columns of your reports;

3.	Groups – to organize the information into groups according to the desired parameters;

4.	Subgroups – to organize the information within a group;

5.	Subsubgroups – to divide the information within the subgroups into smaller units.

1. General

The 'Report name' field will be filled in automatically with the report name you have entered into the 'Input' dialog. The comment you put in the 'Description' field prompts what information the report will present. The next step is selecting one of the existing groups your report will belong to from the 'Folder' drop-down list. You can also enter additional information on the report into the 'Help' field.

This information can be accessed later as follows:

•	right-click on the necessary report and then select Help; or

•	click on the Help button in the 'Input report parameters' dialog.

2. Data rows

Any report consists of a number of rows and columns. 'Data rows' section allows you to set the order of the rows in your report. Select what your report is about in general from the 'Select from' drop-down list so that the report engine selects information about visits first. Then go to the 'Table columns' section to define the list of columns of your report and select what information will be presented in each column. For example, the report 'Daily Orders' can contain the following columns: Last name, First name, Product, Subtotal.

To add a column:

1.	Click Add. A new row appears in the 'Table column' section.

2.	Enter the name of the column into the 'Header' field.

3.	Double-click the empty field in the 'Expression' column, click the button and select the expression from the list of the given values (for example, first name, last name, product name, total)

4.	The format is set automatically, but you can select a more appropriate one.

5.	Check out 'Totals' next to those columns for which you would like to see the total number in the table. Remember to select 'totals' only for columns with numeric data.

The 'Sort by' field defines what column the table will be sorted by. Select the desired column header from the drop-down list and eitherascending or descending. Arrange the order of the columns in your report by selecting a column header and clicking on the appropriate 'Column order' arrow (up/down).

‘Data rows’ tab: arranging the rows in the ’Daily Orders’ report.

'Row filter' section helps you filter the information in your report. For example, you might want to see your customers from the US who have ever made a purchase in your store.

1.	Click New row.

2.	Then click on the button and select an appropriate parameter from the popup menu. In our case the parameter is Country. In the next field select the "=" sign and enter 'US' or any other country into the last field of the row.

To delete a filter click remove next to the one you want to delete.

To restrict the filter you have created you might also set the necessary parameters. For example, to see the visitors not only from a definite country but also from a city follow the next steps:

1.	Click New parameter. A new parameter row appears.

2.	Then click on the button and select a parameter ('Billing city') from the popup menu. In the next field select the sign of relation and enter the parameter name ('City') into the 'Param' field.

3.	Every time generating this report you will first see the 'Input report parameters' window that allows you to select among the parameters you have created. Click OK to confirm.

If while generating the report you want to enter the parameter into the field manually, select 'editor' in the last field of the row. To select the parameter from the list suggested by the system, choose 'selector'.

Report Constructor window: adjusting the report filters.

Selecting font size and color

'Font sample' section allows you to configure the appearance of your report. To change the font, size and color of the text:

1.	Click Font. 'Select text font' dialog opens.

2.	Select a necessary font and change its size by moving the slide. You see the changes in the 'Sample typing area' at once.

3.	Click OK to apply the changes or Cancel to exit.

To select the color of the text in the report do the following:

1.	Click Color. 'Select text color' dialog opens.

2.	Select a necessary color - use one of the Swatches, HSB, RGB tabs.

3.	Click OK to apply the changes or Cancel to exit.

3. Groups

'Groups' section allows you to unite the report rows into groups according to different parameters. For example, you can group the information about the orders by the time they were made.

By default there are no groups ('No grouping' radio box is enabled). Before you divide your report into groups select what parameters you will group the information by.

Select either 'Group data by' or 'Group by period' section:

•	'Group data by' section allows you to define the common value of strings in your report and unite them into different groups, for example, by the following parameters: product category name, email address, country, order ID, etc.

1.	Select the appropriate parameter in the 'Group data by' field by clicking on the button.

2.	Then select the name of the group in the 'Group title' field. The title format is set automatically but you can select it yourself from the drop-down list.

To group the data in your report select Days, Weeks, Months, Quarters, Years in the 'Periods' field of the 'Group by period' section. If you are not sure about the period select User-defined. Then when generating this report you will be able to select the appropriate period in the 'Input report parameters' dialog. Then select the necessary data format MM.dd., Month day, day in the 'Date format' field. If you select 'Default date' the system will use your local settings. 'Group summary' section allows to group information within a column. 'Format' (Integer, String, etc.) is set automatically or you select it yourself.

4.	In the 'Sorting' section arrange the information within the columns. Select an appropriate parameter from the list in 'Sort by'. Select either ascending or descending.

To delete a parameter click remove next to the parameter you would like to delete.

'Font sample' section allows you to configure the appearance of your report. To change the text font click Font, select the necessary font, and change its size by moving the slide. You see the changes in the 'Sample typing area' at once. Click OK.

To select the color of the text in the report click Color, and select a necessary color - use one of the Swatches, HSB, RGB tabs. Click OK.

Adjusting the groups of data within the table columns

'Group summary' section is used as follows:

•	If you have already defined the columns of your report in the 'Data rows'-> 'Table columns' section, use 'Group summary' to organize the information into groups within a column according to the selected parameters.

•	If the report columns have not been defined in the 'Table columns' section do it in the 'Group summary' section.

4. Subgroups/Subsubgroups

Organize the information within the groups into the subgroups and the subsubgroups on the same principle as you organized it in the 'Groups' section. Sort the data within a group according to certain parameters.

Editing a report

You can save the reports you create yourself in any group within the set of preconfigured reports. Your reports will be marked with the sign which means that you not only can generate them but also edit, rename and delete.

To edit a report follow the next steps:

1.	Right-click on the report you want to modify and select Edit from the popup menu.

2.	Make necessary changes in the corresponding tabs and click Save.

3.	If the report is not marked with the sign, you can not edit it in the report constructor. If you need to modify such a report, right-click it, select Edit from the popup menu and go to 'Macro' tab. Make necessary changes and then click Save to apply them.

Note: To edit a macro you need some programming skills. If you are not sure how to do it, contact our support team for more information.

To copy the selected report right-click the necessary report and select Copy from the popup menu. The 'Input new report name' dialog opens. Enter the new name and click OK. You will have two identical reports with different names.

To rename the existing report right-click it, select Rename from the popup menu, enter new report name, and click OK. To delete a report, select the necessary one from the list and click Remove.