# Get started with Interactive Reports

Interactive Reports is a web-based design interface which is used to create both simple and on-demand operational reports without depending on IT or report developers. Use Interactive Reports if you want to create a quick report that answers an immediate business question, looks professional, and provides significant control over formatting elements such as fonts, column width or sorting, background colors, and more.

Jump to:

* [View an Interactive report sample](#view-an-interactive-report-sample)
* [Tour the Interactive panels](#tour-the-interactive-panels)
* [Create your first Interactive report](#create-your-first-interactive-report)

### View an Interactive report sample

This section highlights some popular Interactive Reports capabilities that are available, using the sample report called Vendor Sales Report, located in the **Getting Started** widget.

1. In the **Getting Started** widget on the Home page, click the **Samples** tab.

   ![Home page](/files/TEleYtA2xlPtogr7umJC)
2. Click **Vendor Sales** from the scrolling panel on the right.
3. Click **Explore** in the **Samples** pane.

   A new window opens showing the Vendor Sales sample report.

   ![Vendor Sales Report](/files/fqkuAyeHToFwv2VuScVM)

### Tour the Interactive panels

By going to the Browse Files page in the User Console, you can also view an editable version of the Vendor Sales report.

1. Switch to the Browse Files page in the User Console.
2. In the **Folders** pane, click to expand the **Public** folder, then click to highlight the `Steel Wheels` folder.
3. In the **Files** pane, click **Vendor Sales**, then click **Edit** in **File Actions**.

   The Opened page appears with the interactive report and toolbars active.

   ![Opened page](/files/l8ItCq0VeHeA5Pc1ooRi)

Key areas on the page:

1. **Opened page**\
   Provides quick access buttons across the top to create and save a new **Analysis Report**, **Interactive Report**, and **Dashboard**. Opened reports and files show as a series of tabs across the page.
2. **Data**, **Formatting**, and **General** panels\
   Use the **Data** panel to drag information into a column or a row on the report. Your report updates as you drag items onto the report canvas. Use **Find** to search for a specific field. Delete a field by dragging it from the layout area to the trash can that appears in the lower right corner of the report canvas.

   Use the **Formatting** panel to change font size and type.

   Use the **General** panel to set preferences, select a paper size for printing, and select templates for your report.
3. **Report canvas**\
   Shows a dynamic view of your report as you build it. The look of your report changes as you use the **Data**, **Formatting**, and **General** panels.
4. **Interactive toolbar and filters**\
   Use the toolbar to undo and redo actions, hide lists of fields, add or hide filters, disable auto-refresh, adjust settings, change the report view, and limit the number of rows queried. Use the **Filters** panel to view, edit, and delete filters for the active report.

### Create your first Interactive report

The instructions below guide you through the creation of your first Interactive report using the Steel Wheels sample data.

1. From the Home page, click **Create New**, then choose **Interactive Report**.

   ![Home page, Interactive Report](/files/kxnr5xnBTfTIwHIQ6y71)
2. Choose the **Inventory** data source from the **Select Data Source** dialog box. Click **OK**.

   ![Select Data Source dialog box](/files/AWXrwz7joDH40kH8CvN4)
3. Click **Get Started** on the dialog box that appears.

   A blank Interactive report canvas appears.
4. Click and drag the **Product Code** element onto the report canvas until a highlighted vertical line appears. Drop it onto the report canvas.

   ![Click and drag item to canvas](/files/dqZiIHItkqyRBAHjFllH)
5. Continue dragging and dropping these fields onto the canvas: **Product Name**, **Product Vendor**, **Quantity in Stock**, **MSRP**, and **Buy Price**.

   ![Report fields](/files/9lHXPEOkajesV3wxnxfa)

   The data from the chosen fields appears on the report canvas and populates with the information from the server.

   **Note:** You can change the order of the columns by clicking the column headings and dragging them left or right. If you want to delete a column, drag the column title to the trash can.
6. Rename your report by double-clicking **Untitled** in the report canvas and typing a name in the field that appears. `In Stock Report` is used in this example.

   ![Renaming the report](/files/RUdQPn2QEqcpMgIbFYbD)
7. After you have arranged your columns, apply a filter to the data. Click the **Filter** icon in the toolbar. After the **Filter** pane expands, drag the **Product Code** field onto the filter workspace.

   ![Applying a filter](/files/ApK4eI5N1a44UAz3lmpo)
8. In the **Filter on** dialog box, click **Select from a list**.

   ![Selecting filter values](/files/EzBtflPJgA7l0W1BvUmH)
9. Choose items from the filter list using one of these methods. Click the arrows to move your selected filters on or off the filter list.
   * To choose more than one item, hold down Ctrl and click the items. Then click the top arrow to move them to the right panel.
   * To choose a range, hold down Shift. Then click the first and last item.
   * To choose a single item, click it. Then click the top arrow to move it to the right panel.
10. Click **OK**, then click **Save As** on the toolbar.
    1. In the **Save As** dialog box, save your report using the title you used in Step 6. `In Stock Report` is used in this example.
    2. Choose your user folder as the location. Remember the folder and report title. You use the report in a later tutorial. Click **Save**.
11. If you want to export the report, click the **Export** icon on the toolbar and choose a format from the dropdown list.

    ![Report export selection](/files/BrsIPPCVE8axo4gnLKlt)

    The report exports in the selected format. You can print a paper copy from the export.

    ![Exported report example](/files/ivbm7RYkAQcn0Wa8pFNW)

You have successfully created a simple Interactive report from scratch. See **Pentaho Business Analytics** for details on how to work with more complex interactive reports.


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