Create Custom Reports > Getting Started
Steps Required to Create a Report
Below are the general steps for creating custom reports, along with broad estimates of the time needed for each step.
| Reporting Tasks | Estimated Time Required |
| 1a. If you plan to use Business Objects to create reports: | |
| 4 hours |
| 2 hours per universe |
- Review other relevant Metadata materials for information about the data content and meaning
| 2-4 hours per data collection |
| 1 hour |
| 1b. If you plan to use another query or reporting tool to develop your report | |
- Review the Metadata for data to which you have access, particularly the Data Models and Data Dictionary, and Data Education materials for ODBC users
| 4-8 hours per subject area |
2. Develop report: - Determine data to be displayed in report.
- Determine how you want to limit the data.
- Determine desired format.
| 2-12 hours, depending on report complexity and your experience |
| 5. Test your report | |
- Test report results to ensure you are capturing the correct data, changing your report logic until the results are correct. See Verifying Results for hints on how to check your resultant data.
| |
- Test report performance, changing logic to improve response times as needed. See Table Index Metadata for information about how to structure non-Business Objects reports for optimal performance.
| |
6. Save and distribute report. - Determine the file type of the report (e.g., .xls for Excel, .rep for Business Objects)
- Determine the location where the file is to be saved.
- Determine report recipients.
| 1-2 hours |
7. Document your report:
- Leave good notes on intended audience, report logic, meaning, appropriate use, confidentiality issues, etc. for future use by your unit.
| 2-3 hours |
