Getting Started with Analyzer, Interactive Reports, and Dashboard Designer
This guide provides an overview of product features and related technologies.
It also includes best practices, tutorials, and troubleshooting for common tasks.
In this guide
About Pentaho business analytics tools
The topics in this section give you an overview of reports and dashboards.
Use it to get familiar with the Pentaho User Console.
The Pentaho User Console is a web-based design environment.
Use it to analyze data, create interactive reports, create dashboards, and share solutions.
It also includes administration features.
Use it to configure the Pentaho Server, manage licenses, set up security, schedule reports, and tune performance.
Prerequisites
Before you use the User Console, install the Pentaho software.
Configure the Pentaho Server.
See Install the 30-day trial of Pentaho Data Integration and Analytics for installation and configuration instructions.
Expertise
You do not need special skills to use the User Console design environment.
To use administration features, know your data sources and your security model.
Tools
Use the User Console to access the Pentaho Repository on the server.
You can also use these tools and features:
Analyzer
Interactive Reports
Dashboard Designer
Data Source Wizard
Data Source Model Editor
Login credentials
To complete these tasks, log in to the Pentaho User Console.
Use the evaluator username and password.
Quick tour of the Pentaho User Console
If you use file management tools or any web browser, you should feel right at home with the Pentaho User Console (PUC).
Use this tour to get oriented fast.
The features you see depend on your role and permissions.
See Evaluate and learn Pentaho Business Analytics for more detail.
Log in to the Pentaho User Console
Launch a web browser.
Enter the URL for the Pentaho Server.
Your IT administrator can give you the URL.
The Welcome page appears.
Welcome page Enter your username and password.
Select Log in.
You can also select Log in as an evaluator, if available.
The Home perspective appears.
Home
The Home perspective is your starting point.
You can open content, create new assets, and jump to other perspectives.
Home perspective areas
User menu
Shows the current username.
Use it to log out or change your password.
Perspective menu (Home)
Use Home to switch perspectives.
Available perspectives can include:
Getting Started
Welcome has an intro video.
Samples has example reports and dashboards.
Tutorials has guided videos.
Browse Files
Opens the Browse Files perspective.
Opened files show up as tabs across the Opened perspective.
Create New
Creates reports, dashboards, and data sources.
Availability depends on permissions.
Manage Data Sources
Adds and manages data sources.
Documentation
Opens the Pentaho documentation.
Recents
Lists recently opened files.
Select the star to add an item to Favorites.
Favorites
Lists favorite files for quick access.
Add favorites from Recents or from the Browse Files perspective.
Opened
The Opened perspective shows the files you currently have open.
It helps you switch between them quickly.
Click Home > Opened.
The toolbar options depend on the file type you select.
For more detail, see Evaluate and learn Pentaho Business Analytics.
Use Pentaho tools
The Pentaho Business Analytics Suite download includes sample reports, sample dashboards, and the Steel Wheels sample database.
Use these tools most often:
Create pixel-friendly, tabular operational reports.
Use it for quick answers and strong formatting control.
Explore and visualize data interactively.
Use it for fast slicing, filtering, and drill-down.
Combine multiple reports into one view.
Use it for at-a-glance monitoring and sharing.
Browse Files
The Browse Files perspective helps you organize and find content.
Your files can be local, in the repository, or through a virtual file system connection.
Click Home > Browse Files.
You can browse folders, open files, and run actions like sharing and scheduling.
Schedules
All your active scheduled reports appear on the Schedules perspective.
Click Home > Schedules.
You can view:
Recurrence pattern
Last run time
Next run time
Status
You can also edit schedules, maintain them using the toolbar, and create blockout times.
Administration
The Administration perspective is available only to users with the Administer Security permission.
Click Home > Administration.
If Administration is not shown in the perspective menu, you do not have access.
Common areas include:
Users & Roles
Authentication
Mail Server
Licenses
VFS Connections
Settings
Email Groups
Get started with Analyzer Reports
Analyzer Reports is an interactive visualization tool for analysis data sources.
Use it to explore data fast.
Use it to sort, filter, drill down, and chart results.
View an Analyzer report sample
This section highlights common Analyzer capabilities.
It uses the sample report named European Sales.
You can find it in the Getting Started widget.
In the Getting Started widget on the Home page, click Samples.
In the scrolling panel, scroll down.
Click European Sales, then click Explore.
European Sales (Geo Map) A new browser window opens.
Click the Samples tab to see the report.
Tour the Analyzer panels
You can open the editable version of European Sales from Browse Files.
From the User Console Home page, click Browse Files.
In the Browsing pane, expand
Public.Expand Steel Wheels.
In the center pane, double-click European Sales.
Opened page, Analysis report The Opened page appears with the Analyzer report.
On the toolbar, click Add More Fields and Rearrange Fields.
This expands Available Fields and Layout.
Key areas
Opened page
Create and save new Analysis Reports, Interactive Reports, and Dashboards.
Open reports show as tabs across the page.
Available Fields and Layout
Drag levels and measures into the report.
Changes show in the report canvas.
Delete a field by dragging it off the Layout panel.
A trash can appears in the lower-right corner.
Report canvas
Shows a live view as you build.
Fields vary by selected chart type.
Analyzer toolbar and filters
Undo and redo changes.
Show or hide field lists.
Add or hide filters.
Disable Auto Refresh.
Change settings and report view.
Use Filters to edit or delete filters.
Create your first Analyzer report
These steps create a simple report with sample data.
They use the Steel Wheels sample.
From the User Console Home page, click Create New.
Choose Analysis Report.
In Select Data Source, choose SteelWheels:SteelWheelsSales.
Click OK.
A blank Analyzer report opens.
Drag Territory into Rows.
Drag Years into Columns.
Drag Sales into Measures.
Pivot table, Analysis Report A pivot table appears and populates with server data.
Drag Line above Territory in the Layout column.
Right-click the Line column header.
Select Show Subtotals.
Show Subtotals, Analysis Report Right-click the first Sales column.
Select Conditional Formatting > Data Bar - Green.
Right-click the same Sales column again.
Select User Defined Measure > % of Rank, Running Sum.
In the dialog box, select % of Sales.
Click Next.
Measure field creation Select Each Line Column/Row Subtotal (Subtotal is 100%).
Click Done.
Measure field refinement Click Show Filters to expand the filters canvas.
Drag Territory from Available Fields into the filter canvas.
The Filter on Territory dialog box opens.
Select APAC.
Click the right-pointing arrow to move it right.
Enable Parameter Name.
Enter
region.Click OK.
Filter on Territory dialog box The report updates to show APAC sales only.
Drag the column separators to resize columns.
Sales data, Analysis report Click Save As.
Save the report as
Territory - Salesin your user folder.
You can now export the report or close it.
Get started with Pentaho Reporting tools
After you define the data sources for your Pentaho Server, you are ready to create your first reports.
Work through these sections:
Get started with Interactive Reports
Interactive Reports is a web-based design interface.
Use it to create simple, on-demand operational reports without relying on IT.
Use it if you need quick answers with strong formatting control.
If you want to start right away, jump to Create your first Interactive report.
View an Interactive report sample
This section highlights popular Interactive Reports capabilities.
It uses the sample report called Vendor Sales Report.
You can find it in the Getting Started widget.
In the Getting Started widget on the Home page, click the Samples tab.
Home page Click Vendor Sales from the scrolling panel on the right.
Click Explore in the Samples pane.
A new window opens showing the Vendor Sales sample report.
Vendor Sales Report
Tour the Interactive panels
You can also view an editable version of the Vendor Sales report.
Switch to the Browse Files page in the User Console.
In the Folders pane, expand the Public folder, then select the
Steel Wheelsfolder.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
Areas of the page
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.
Data, Formatting, and General panels
Use the Data panel to drag information into columns and rows.
Use Find to search for a field.
Delete a level or measure by dragging it to the trash can.
Use the Formatting panel to change font size and type.
Use the General panel to set preferences, paper size, and templates.
Report canvas
Shows a dynamic view of your report as you build it.
Interactive toolbar and filters
Use the toolbar to undo and redo actions, hide fields, add or hide filters, disable auto-refresh, adjust settings, change the view, and limit the number of rows queried.
Use the Filters panel to view, edit, and delete filters.
Create your first Interactive report
The steps below guide you through creating an Interactive report using the Steel Wheels sample data.
From the Home page, click Create New, then choose Interactive Report.
Home page, Interactive Report Choose the Inventory data source from the Select Data Source dialog box.
Click OK.
Select Data Source dialog box Click Get Started on the dialog box that appears.
A blank Interactive report canvas appears.
Drag Product Code onto the report canvas.
Drop it when a highlighted vertical line appears.
Click and drag item to canvas Add these fields: Product Name, Product Vendor, Quantity in Stock, MSRP, and Buy Price.
Report fields Data appears on the canvas and populates from the server.
Note: You can change the order of columns by dragging column heads.
To delete a column, drag the column title into the trash can.
Rename your report by double-clicking Untitled.
Enter a report name.
In Stock Reportis used in this example.
Renaming the report Apply a filter.
Click the Filter icon in the toolbar.
Drag Product Code into the filter workspace.
Applying a filter In the Filter on dialog box, click Select from a list.
Selecting filter values Choose items from the filter list, then click the arrows to move items on or off the list.
To select multiple items, hold Ctrl and click items.
To select a range, hold Shift and click the first and last items.
Click OK, then click Save As.
In the Save As dialog box, save your report using the title you used earlier.
In Stock Reportis used in this example.Choose your user folder as the location.
Remember the folder location and report title.
You use this report in a later tutorial.
To export the report, click Export.
Choose a format from the dropdown list.
Report export selection The report exports in the selected format.
You can print a paper copy from the export.
Exported report example
You have successfully created a simple Interactive report.
Get started with Dashboard Designer
Dashboard Designer lets you build dashboards with minimal training.
A dashboard combines multiple reports into one view.
Use Dashboard Designer to:
View several reports at once
Pin frequently used web pages
Work with charts and graphs while you build reports
View a dashboard sample
This exercise uses the Sales Performance (Dashboard) sample.
On the Home page, in Getting Started, click Samples.
Find Sales Performance (Dashboard).
Click Explore.
The sample opens in a new browser tab.
In the horizontal list at the bottom, scroll right.
Click Sales Performance (Dashboard).
Tour the Dashboard Designer panels
You can open an editable sample from Browse Files.
On the Home page, click Browse Files.
In Folders, expand
Public.Select
Steel Wheels.In the center pane, double-click Sales Performance (Dashboard).
In File Actions, click Edit.
Key areas:
Opened page.
Creates or saves new Analysis Report, Interactive Report, and Dashboard items.
Prompts panel.
Adds filters to individual dashboard content.
Browse and Files panels.
Finds files and adds them to dashboards.
Dashboard canvas.
Shows a live preview as you add content.
Objects panel.
Changes templates and object titles.
Create your first dashboard
On the Home page, click Create New.
Select Dashboard.
In the Edit pane, click Templates.
Select the 2 over 1 layout.
Click Properties.
In Page Title, enter
My Dashboard.
Properties tab, Dashboard Click Themes.
Select a theme.
The theme applies immediately.
In the left Browse pane, open the folder you used earlier.
Drag
Territory - Salesfrom Files to the top-left panel.
Drag and drop into dashboard In the Edit pane, in Title, enter
Territory - Sales.Click Apply.
Drag
In Stock Reportto the top-right panel.In Title, enter
In Stock Report.Click Apply.
Drag any report from
Public/Steel Wheelsto the bottom panel.Enter a title for the bottom panel.
Click Apply.
Click Save As.
Save the dashboard as
My Dashboard.Close the dashboard.
In Browse Files, double-click
My Dashboard.
You now have a working dashboard.
Next steps
After you finish the tutorials, learn more in these documents:
Pentaho Business Analytics
Pentaho Report Designer
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