An Excel Report Writer
Most spreadsheets exist to provide information, but it can be difficult to store data, carry out calculations and display results all in the same workbook. The answer is to use a report writer to show the information you want clearly.
What are the benefits?
Many Excel workbooks use autofilter, pivot tables, charts etc. to display information. But by using a report writer, you have a far more flexible system. You can:
- Collect data from as many sources as necessary.
- Process the data before reporting in a variety of ways.
- Have complete flexibility over how the data is presented and formatted.
- Create reports which allow the user to select the information to display.
- Drill-down from summary reports to supporting detail.
- Distribute reports to people who do not have the original source workbook or data.
How does it work?
The report writer operates entirely within Excel, and the reports it produces are Excel workbooks. The reports contain the macro code they need (for example to carry out selections) so can be distributed to users who don't need the report writer.
Reporting will normally involve three steps:
- Collect the data, which may come from existing worksheets or even multiple workbooks, from the database if used or from extenal files or databases.
- Process the data - for example join tables, sort, summarise or carry out calculations to produce new data.
- Produce the reports themselves.
The power and flexibility of the tools lies in their ability to manipulate the data, as extensively as needed, prior to report generation.
What can be done in a report?
- Report layouts can consist of lists, cross-tabs or combine a list and crosstab in the same report.
- Sorting, summarising and subtotalling are done automatically in the report if required.
- Calculated columns can be included (using an Excel formula).
- All the formatting capabilities of Excel can be used (fonts, colours etc.) including conditional formatting.
- Excel charts can be included, and will automatically adjust to the data displayed.
- Reports may be fixed, or generated on-the-fly based on user selection. Click on this demo to see how this works.
- A family of reports (each on its own worksheet) can be generated at different levels of detail, and there is a drill-down facility to allow the report user to double-click on a summary item to see the underlying detail - as shown here.
You can create very comprehensive reporting systems with these reporting tools.
Whatever your application, we are happy to take an initial look, with no obligation, and demonstrate how the report writer will simplify your development. Why not contact us... ?
For the technically minded, our tools are fully described on our technical web pages (opens in a new window). You can also download a free trial.
