Custom Report Configuration

This article will help you with creating more meaningful and presentable reports to help support you during the decision-making process on projects. The Report Designer allows for grouping, sorting and using charts to be able to display model data concisely and accurately. As an example, we will look at creating a basic multi-level grouped report.

In the example picture of the model, a MEP component is selected along with the relevant data tab showing the Component Item and the Level Location. These will be our main properties to group by to produce a report listing quantities of Components for each Level Location.

"Step 1"

Sample item selected showing data to report by.

STEP 1:

Go to General Configuration tab in the iConstruct menu and click Export Configuration button.

"Step 1"

STEP 2:

Create a new Template by clicking the + button and name it.

"Step 2"

STEP 3:

Select an item in the background and click Refresh Properties icon to pull in the data.

"Step 3"

STEP 4:

Select Export Type from the drop-down menu.

"Step 4"

STEP 5:

Define if you want to export the data from the Item or Group level or both.

"Step 5"

STEP 6:

Select the properties you want to export by selecting the tab or individual item.

"Step 6"

STEP 7:

Run Report Designer. The default report prototype will appear.

"Step 7"

STEP 8:

To set the initial logo (if not selected in the Template editor) click the top left image box, then click the Image property under Data and select an image.

"Step 8" "Step 8"

STEP 9:

In its initial form, the report will just output each item as a separate row (example below). To add a group, or to sort by a specific field click on the Add a Group or Add a Sort buttons. When Add a Group is clicked, a sub-menu showing the available fields to Group By is displayed, in this case ‘Level Location’ is clicked and the Grouping level is displayed.

"Step 9" "Step 9"

STEP 10:

At this time a GroupHeader1 band is also added to the report – this can be switched off/on or add a footer using the Show Header or Show Footer checkboxes.

Note: the original fields are still all in the detailBand1.

"Step 10"

STEP 11:

To create a group header, drag and drop the relevant header field from detail band into the group header (in this case Level Location). This will group the report by Level Location, which is acceptable for some reports but in this case the report is to sum quantities by Furniture Group, so in this case an additional grouping level is added for Component Group and both fields are moved from detail band to the new group header.

"Step 11"

Tip: Use Preview to check the report with values.

STEP 12:

Also Component Group is copied for us to change the Sum field for. To sum by group, first click the field box then the > box that appears above it. Then click the Summary Running and change to Group. Next change the Summary Func to Count as the intent is number of (if for total mass SUM would be the chosen function).

"Step 12"

STEP 13:

The final report, after minor formatting change to highlight the groups (select field and change the Background Color).

Note: this report picks up items not categorized by a Level Location, hence the empty first header row.

"Step 13"

STEP 14:

Save the changes.

Quick Overview:

Go to General Configuration tab ➤ Click Export Configuration ➤ Create New template ➤ Select an item in the background ➤ Refresh Properties ➤ Select Object Type ➤ Choose Template Type ➤ Select Fields to Add to Export ➤ Save the tempalte ➤ Run Report Designer ➤ Create the Report ➤ Save