Getting Started with Analyzer, Interactive Reports, and Dashboard Designer

This guide covers core Pentaho Business Analytics workflows in one place.

Jump to:

• About Pentaho business analytics tools

• Quick tour of the Pentaho User Console

• Get started with Analyzer Reports

• Get started with Interactive Reports

• Get started with Pentaho Reporting tools

• Get started with Dashboard Designer

• Next steps

About Pentaho business analytics tools

The topics found in this section give you an overview of the reports and dashboards you create with the User Console, to help you become familiar with the look and feel of the console.

The Pentaho User Console is a web-based design environment where you can analyze data, create interactive reports, dashboard reports, and build integrated dashboards to share business intelligence solutions with others in your organization and on the internet. In addition to its design features, the User Console offers a wide variety of system administration features for configuring the Pentaho Server, maintaining the Pentaho licenses, setting up security, managing report scheduling, and tailoring system performance to meet your requirements.

Prerequisites

Before you work with the User Console, install the Pentaho software and configure the Pentaho Server.

See Install the 30-day trial of Pentaho Data Integration and Analytics.

Expertise

You do not need special skills to use the design environment.

To use system administration features, you should understand your data sources, system configuration, and security providers.

Tools

In the User Console, you can access the Pentaho Repository on the server and these tools:

• Analyzer

• Interactive Reports

• Dashboard Designer

• Data Source Wizard

• Data Source Model Editor

Sign-in credentials

Some tasks require that you sign in to the User Console with an 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). To familiarize yourself with the different features and options of the User Console, take a quick tour.

The features and options you see depend on your role and permissions.

See the Pentaho Business Analytics documentation for full details.

Jump to a section:

• Log in

• Home

• Opened

  • Use Pentaho tools

• Browse Files

• Schedules

• Administration

Log in to the Pentaho User Console

Follow these steps to log in to the User Console.

1. Launch a web browser.

2. Enter the URL for the Pentaho Server.

   Your IT administrator can provide the URL.

3. On the Welcome page, enter your username and password.

4. Select Log in.

   You can also use Log in as an evaluator if enabled.

Welcome page

Home

After you log in, you land on the Home perspective. Use it to start most tasks.

Home perspective

Item	Name	Function
1	User menu	Shows the name of the user currently logged in to the User Console. To log out or change your password, click the arrow next to your username.
2	Home	Indicates the Home perspective, which you can use to explore learning resources, create reports, dashboards and data sources, open recent files, view Help documentation, and access other User Console perspectives. Click Home and use the drop-down menu to navigate to the different perspectives: Home - Shows the Home perspective. See the Pentaho Business Analytics documentation for more information. Opened - Shows your open files. Browse Files - Helps you access, view, and manage the files and folders you need. Schedules - Shows your active scheduled reports, any block out times, and allows you to create, edit, and maintain report schedules. Administration - Allows you to perform user setup, mail server configuration, revise Pentaho Server authentication settings, and view the available Pentaho licenses.
3	Getting Started	Shows resources to help you get familiar with Pentaho. Click the tabs in this section for videos, and report and dashboard examples.- The Welcome tab contains an introductory video about Pentaho products. Click the play icon to view the video. The Samples tab contains sample reports and dashboards that you can use to get familiar with the features and functionality of the User Console. Click Explore to view the samples. The Tutorials tab contains tutorial videos that provide a visual tour of the User Console, reports, and dashboards. Click Watch the Video to view the tutorial.
4	Browse Files	Opens the Browse Files perspective, where you can locate your files and folders, manage files, and schedule reports. Any file that you open appears in a new tab on the Opened perspective.
5	Create New	Allows you to create new reports, dashboards, and data sources, if your user role has permissions.
6	Manage Data Sources	Allows you to manage existing, and add new, data sources.
7	Documentation	Opens the Pentaho documentation in a new window or tab.
8	Recents	Shows a list of your most recently opened files. Click the star next to the file name to add it to Favorites.
9	Favorites	Shows a list of your favorite files for quick access. To add a file for future access, use Recents, or select Add to Favorites in Browse Files.

Opened

The Opened perspective contains your open files. It appears after you open a file from Recents, Favorites, or the Browse Files perspective.

Select Home > Opened.

The icons and options you see depend on the file type you select. See the Pentaho Business Analytics documentation for more information.

Opened perspective

Use Pentaho tools

Your download includes sample reports and dashboards. It also includes the Steel Wheels sample database.

• Interactive Reports helps you create operational, tabular reports.

• Analyzer Reports helps you explore data visually with filtering and drill-down.

• Dashboard Designer helps you combine multiple visuals into one dashboard.

Browse Files

The Browse Files perspective helps you organize, find, and manage files. Your files can be local, stored in the repository, or accessed through a virtual file system (VFS) connection.

Select Home > Browse Files.

You can use this view for file management and actions like sharing and scheduling. See the Pentaho Business Analytics documentation for more information.

Browse Files perspective

Schedules

The Schedules perspective shows your active scheduled reports.

Select Home > Schedules.

You can view recurrence patterns, last run time, next run time, and status. You can also edit schedules and create blockout times. See the Pentaho Business Analytics documentation for more information.

Schedules perspective

Administration

The Administration perspective is for users with the Administer Security permission.

Select Home > Administration.

If you do not have admin privileges, you do not see Administration.

Options include:

• Users & Roles

• Authentication

• Mail Server

• Licenses

• VFS Connections

• Settings

• Email Groups

See the Pentaho Business Analytics documentation for more information.

Administration perspective

Get started with Analyzer Reports

Analyzer Reports is an analytical visualization tool. It helps you filter and drill into data from Pentaho analysis data sources.

Use Analyzer when you need quick, interactive analysis. You can sort, filter, pivot, and add chart visualizations.

View an Analyzer report sample

This section highlights popular Analyzer capabilities. It uses the sample report European Sales in the Getting Started widget.

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

2. In the scrolling panel, scroll down and 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 an editable version of European Sales in Analyzer from the Browse Files page.

1. From the User Console Home page, click Browse Files.

2. In the Browsing pane, expand Public, then expand Steel Wheels.

3. In the center pane, double-click European Sales.

   

   Opened page, Analysis report

   The Opened page appears with the Analyzer report.

4. On the toolbar, click Add More Fields and Rearrange Fields.

   The Available Fields and Layout panels expand.

Panel and toolbar basics

• Opened page

  • Quick-access buttons for Analysis Report, Interactive Report, and Dashboard.

  • Tabs across the page for opened reports and files.

• Available Fields and Layout

  • Drag levels and measures into a report.

  • The canvas updates as you build the layout.

  • Remove a field by dragging it off the Layout panel.

• Report canvas

  • Dynamic view of your report as you build it.

  • Shown fields depend on the selected chart type.

• Analyzer toolbar and filters

  • Undo/redo, show or hide panels, and change settings.

  • Use the Filters panel to view, edit, and delete filters.

Create your first Analyzer report

These steps use the Steel Wheels sample data.

1. From the User Console Home page, click Create New, then select Analysis Report.

2. In Select Data Source, select SteelWheels:SteelWheelsSales, then click OK.

   A blank Analyzer report appears.

3. Build a basic pivot table:

   • Drag Territory to Rows.

   • Drag Years to Columns.

   • Drag Sales to Measures.

   

   Pivot table, Analysis Report
4. Add subtotals:

   1. Drag Line above Territory in the Layout column.

   2. Right-click the Line header, then select Show Subtotals.

   

   Show Subtotals, Analysis Report
5. Add conditional formatting:

   • Right-click the first Sales column.

   • Select Conditional Formatting > Data Bar - Green.

6. Add a user-defined measure:

   1. Right-click the same Sales column.

   2. Select User Defined Measure > % of Rank, Running Sum.

   3. Select % of Sales, then click Next.

   

   Measure field creation
7. Refine the measure:

   • Select Each Line Column/Row Subtotal (Subtotal is 100%), then click Done.

   

   Measure field refinement
8. Add a filter:

   1. Click Show Filters to expand the filters canvas.

   2. Drag Territory from Available Fields to the filter canvas.

   The Filter on Territory dialog box appears.

9. In Filter on Territory, select APAC, then click the right arrow to move it to the selected list.

10. Enable Parameter Name.

11. In Parameter Name, type region, then click OK.

Filter on Territory dialog box

The report updates and shows APAC sales data. 12. Resize columns as needed for readability.

13. Save the report:

1. Click Save As.

2. Save the report as Territory - Sales in your user folder.

You have created a simple Analyzer report from scratch. For deeper Analyzer workflows, see About Pentaho business analytics tools.

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

• Tour the Interactive panels

• 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
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

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

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
2. Choose the Inventory data source from the Select Data Source dialog box. Click OK.

   

   Select Data Source dialog box
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
5. Continue dragging and dropping these fields onto the canvas: Product Name, Product Vendor, Quantity in Stock, MSRP, and Buy Price.

   

   Report fields

   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
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
8. In the Filter on dialog box, click Select from a list.

   

   Selecting filter values
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

    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 from scratch. See Pentaho Business Analytics for details on how to work with more complex interactive reports.

Get started with Pentaho Reporting tools

After you define the data sources for your Pentaho Server, you are ready to begin working with the Pentaho User Console to create your first reports. Each section below uses sample data sources that are included with the installation.

Use these sections in order:

• Quick tour of the Pentaho User Console

• Get started with Interactive Reports

• Get started with Analyzer Reports

• Get started with Dashboard Designer

• Next steps

Get started with Dashboard Designer

Dashboard Designer lets you build dashboards with minimal training. A dashboard combines several reports in one view. Use it to monitor multiple reports at once, keep quick links to pages you use often, and view charts while you work.

In this topic:

• View a dashboard sample

• Tour the Dashboard panels

• Create your first dashboard

View a dashboard sample

This section highlights popular Dashboard Designer capabilities, using the sample dashboard Sales Performance (Dashboard) in the Getting Started widget.

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

2. Scroll down to Sales Performance (Dashboard).

3. Click Explore to open a new browser window, then click the Samples tab.

4. Scroll right in the horizontal list at the bottom.

5. Click Sales Performance (Dashboard).

Dashboard sample

Tour the Dashboard panels

You can open the editable version of Sales Performance (Dashboard) in Dashboard Designer from Browse Files.

1. In the Folders pane, expand Public, then select Steel Wheels.

2. In the center pane, double-click Sales Performance (Dashboard).

3. After the dashboard opens, in File Actions, click Edit.

Dashboard example

Item	Name	Function
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	Prompts panel	The prompts panel gives you a way to add filters to the individual parts of your dashboard.
3	Browse and Files panel	Locate your files using the Browse and Files panels, and add them to dashboards.
4	Dashboard canvas	Shows a dynamic view of your dashboard as you work to build it. The look of your dashboard refreshes as you add content from the Browse and Files panels, and work with the prompts or Objects panels.
5	Objects panel	Refine the look of your dashboard with the Objects panel by choosing a dashboard template or changing the titles for each object in the dashboard.

Create your first dashboard

1. From the User Console Home page, click Create New, then select Dashboard.

2. In the Edit pane, click the Templates tab, then select 2 over 1.

3. In the Edit pane, click the Properties tab, then enter My Dashboard in Page Title.

   This is the title for your dashboard page.

   

   Properties tab, Dashboard
4. Click the Themes tab, then select a theme.

   The new theme applies immediately.

5. In the Browse pane, open the folder you used earlier.

6. From the Files pane, drag Territory - Sales onto the top-left dashboard panel.

   

   Drag and drop into dashboard
7. In the Edit pane, enter Territory - Sales in Title, then click Apply.

   The panel populates with the Territory - Sales report.

8. Locate your Interactive report in the Browse pane.

9. Drag In Stock Report onto the top-right dashboard panel.

10. In the Edit pane, enter In Stock Report in Title, then click Apply.

    The panel populates with the In Stock Report.

11. Drag any report from Public/Steel Wheels into the bottom dashboard panel.

12. Enter a title for the bottom panel, then click Apply.

13. In the toolbar, click Save As.

14. Save the dashboard as My Dashboard, then click Save.

15. Close the dashboard (click X on its tab).

16. Go to Browse Files, then double-click My Dashboard in the Files pane.

Created dashboard

You created a simple dashboard. See Pentaho Business Analytics for details on complex dashboards.

Next steps

After you have finished working through the walk-through tutorials, you are ready to learn more about Pentaho reporting with the following documents:

• Pentaho Business Analytics

• Pentaho Report Designer