RSinteract Features & Screenshots

Once the user has selected a data source, it is then a simple matter of deciding how to build the query; from Tables or Views, Stored Procedures or by typing their own SQL Statement.

If an OLAP (Analysis Services) data source is selected, RSinteract presents a list of cubes and / or perspectives. The user can then select whether to generate a Table, Matrix or Chart type report section from the OLAP data

Multiple relational tables or views can be joined on key fields in the ‘create report’ wizard to create supersets of data. Where large datasets are likely to result, the user has the option to pre-filter the data to improve performance or reduce the burden on the reporting server at design time.

RSinteract is supplied with a range of style templates which can be applied to each report. Styles are preset colour formatting options to help personalise reports or integrate them with your corporate design. The standard set of report styles is extensible allowing the creation of new ones to suit the corporate image or reporting requirements wherever it is deployed.

A single RSinteract report can contain any number of sections. Sections can represent data as either Lists, Subtotalled tables, Matrices or Charts. Sections on a report can be based on the same or completely separate data sources. Where the same data source has been used, filters can be set to apply to all sections, this is designed to give the end user a very rich ‘dashboard’ style interactive reporting experience.

List reports represent the selected data as simple columns. The standard Reporting Services exporting and rendering capabilities allow users to export and present any RSinteract report in any format for distribution to any audience. Because RSinteract generates standard RDL for storage on the reporting server, administrators can use standard Reporting Services functionality to handle subscriptions, caching and scheduling of all RSinteract reports.

Tables can be used to present the user with interactive, nested subtotals which are easily expanded or collapsed to support analysis and trend spotting activities. These reports can include aggregate totals (Sum, Count, Min, Max etc.) at group and grand total levels.

Matrices represent data in a familiar ‘pivot table’ format. Row groups and column groups can be applied at many levels and expanded, collapsed and subtotalled (Sum, Count, Min, Max etc.) like RSinteract table reports. Users can interact with these reports, switching data between row and column groups for example, to provide familiar ‘pivot table’ functionality.

A matrix is the traditional way in which multi-dimensional data is presented. RSinteract OLAP matrices work in a very similar way to those based on relational data sources. Dimensions, attributes, hierarchies and levels can be displayed as row or column groups. Users determine whether dimensional levels are expanded, collapsed or hidden. Measures and dimensional attributes can be selected for display in a matrix by simply dragging and dropping from the lists on the standard RSinteract editing screen.

New charts or converting tables and matrices to charts can be achieved in as few as four clicks! Select from the usual array of chart types and define chart formatting, grouping and aggregation properties interactively through the same intuitive interface. Filters and parameters can be applied to chart and tabular data simultaneously if required.

Users can interactively filter reports in a truly ad-hoc way to select the data they need as they need it. Simple or advanced (AND / OR) and grouped filters can be applied or removed to ensure the correct subsets of data are presented to the relevant individuals. RSinteract can select distinct values for fields to give ‘pick list’ functionality in the filtering screen and parameter section of the side bar. Parameters can be applied via the same intuitive interface. The user can define which field filters to prompt the user for. An additional option to define a user friendly question to associate with the parameter is also provided.

Users can interactively filter OLAP reports in the same way as relational data. Users can filter on combinations of measures and dimensions and define parameters (and associated prompts) via the same intuitive interface.

In report sections built from OLAP data sources it is possible to drill-through to underlying transactional information. Links will appear on aggregate fields automatically and the user can click on these to open a new report containing drill-through details. This report can be pre-formatted and manipulated using RSinteract in the normal way, and saved as a separate report for direct access if required, or as the default drill-through next time the originating report is accessed.

Change how fields are displayed, date formats, currency, decimal places, text and background colours, alignment and much more.

Users can highlight data items according to their values. Cell background and text colour can be set to depend on sets of rules, applied in order, to help pick out comparative exceptions or important target values.

The ‘custom fields’ feature allows the user to create their own fields containing values determined by very simple or more complex expressions using existing fields or predefined formulae.

RSinteract’s ‘intervals’ feature allows grouped values to be further grouped into meaningful divisions (e.g. dates grouped into years, quarter or months). The system is supplied with a variety of predefined intervals, whilst the ‘custom fields’ feature allows these to be further tailored for the users’ own requirements.

RSinteract allows you to create links from a field in a report to another RSinteract report and / or an external URL.

To link to an existing report, users can pass values from the existing report into the parameters of the destination report. Linked fields appear as hyperlinks in the RSinteract report.

Reports can be exported to Excel, PDF, TIFF, CSV, and XML, as with any standard Reporting Services Report.

Example Excel & PDF Outputted Reports