A Custom Report gives you complete control to design reports exactly the way you want. Unlike predefined report types, it lets you decide both what data is shown and how it is presented.
This flexibility is made possible through XML and XSLT working together:
- XML (Extensible Markup Language): Defines the structure of your data (e.g., project name, vendor name, amount).
- XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations): Defines how that data appears in the final report, including layout, formatting, and styling.
By combining XML and XSLT, you can generate polished, professional reports in PDF or HTML formats. These reports can include headers, footers, logos, styled tables, and even conditional formatting — giving you branded outputs tailored to your business needs.
¶ Key Features and Benefits
1. Effortless Report Creation:
- Automated Formatting: Reports are generated by transforming XML data into PDFs using XSLT scripts. No manual formatting is needed, saving both time and effort.
- Professional Output: The final reports are clean, polished, and presentation-ready — helping you share insights with confidence.
2. Customization and Flexibility:
- Tailored Design: Adjust layouts, fonts, colors, and branding elements to create reports that match your organization’s style.
- Creative Freedom: Go beyond standard templates to design reports that are unique and impactful.
3. User-Friendly Experience:
- Guided Setup: Even if you’re new to XML and XSLT, the interface makes it easy to configure and customize reports step by step.
- Accessible to All: Designed to support users with varying levels of technical expertise.
4. Clear and Engaging Data Presentation:
- Data Made Simple: Convert complex information into clear visuals and structured layouts that are easy to read and interpret.
- Stronger Communication: Deliver reports that not only show data but also tell a compelling story — making it easier to impress and persuade your audience.
- Go to Admin Menu → Database → Data Sources.
- Choose the Data Source you want to use, click on it, and select Report.
- On the Create Report page, pick Custom as the report type and give your report a name.
- Prepare your XML file — this will hold the data for the report.
- Create an XSLT file to define how the XML data should appear in the report (layout, styles, and structure).
- Upload both the XML data and the XSLT template into the platform, then link them using the simple interface.
- Run the process — the platform will apply the XSLT template to the XML data and generate a PDF report.
- Review the report and, if needed, adjust your XSLT template until it looks the way you want.
When creating a Custom Report, you can choose the output format that best fits your needs:
- HTML: Quick web format for viewing, sharing, or embedding in dashboards. Ideal when you want instant access or online sharing.
- PDF: Printable, professional format for official documents or reports to distribute. It turns complex data into easy-to-read, polished reports, making it perfect for clients, stakeholders, or coworkers.