Configure Pixel-Perfect Reports Using Report Viewer
Use the illustrated Report Viewer to configure pixel-perfect reports.
The following options are available in Report Viewer. Not all options are available for all reports.
- Specify parameters
- Select layout
- Select output type
- Perform actions
The image shows the Report Viewer options.
Specify Parameters
Reports that require parameter value input present the parameter selection prompts in the report viewer. The presentation of the prompts varies according to the report configuration.
Select a Layout
When multiple layouts are available, they're displayed as separate tabs in the Report Viewer page. Different layouts can have different output types.
- Open the report in the Report Viewer.
- Select the report layout tab you want to view.
Select an Output Type
You can select an output option from the menu in the Report Viewer.
Output Types
The View Report list contains the output types that are available for a pixel-perfect report.
Output Types
Output Type | Description |
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Interactive | Enables pop-up chart value displays, navigable and filterable tables, and other interactive features for a report. This output is only available for layouts designed using the Layout Editor. |
HTML | Generates the report as an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file for browser viewing. |
Generates the report as a PDF (Portable Document Format) file and opens the report in Adobe Acrobat reader. This output type is optimized for printing. | |
RTF | Generates the report as a RTF (Rich Text Format) file . If you've a word processing application installed, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org, then you're prompted to open the application for viewing. |
Word | Generates the report as a Microsoft Word document in the .docx format. |
Excel (*.xlsx) |
Generates the report as an Excel.xlsx (Excel XML format) file. If you've Excel 2007 or later installed, this option provides the best preservation of layout and formatting. For output format Excel 2007, that uses the xlsx file extension, Publisher doesn’t apply any formatting for number and date. Publisher saves the formatting mask and the actual value (date or number) into the XLSX output file. The formatting is handled by Microsoft Excel. For example:
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MHTML | Generates a MHTML (Mime HyperText Markup Language) file. This option enables you to save a Web page and its resources as a single MHTML file (.mht), in which all images and linked files are saved as a single entity. Use this option to send or save HTML output and retain the embedded images and stylesheet formatting. |
PDF/A | Generates a PDF file, which has an archiving standard to support reports that require long-term preservation. PDF/A is a specialized subset of the PDF standard that prohibits elements that may interfere with the preservation of the file as a self-contained document. |
PDF/X | Generates a PDF file, which supports pre-press graphics exchange. PDF/X is a specialized subset of the PDF standard that streamlines documents for high-quality print production output and restricts content that doesn't serve the print production, such as signatures, comments, and embedded multimedia. |
Zipped PDFs |
Generates a zip file containing the report PDF output and index files. This option is only available for reports that have been designed to enable zipped PDF output. |
FO Formatted XML | Generates an XML file with the XSL-FO information. |
Data (XML) | Generates the XML data.
For Safari browser users, the Safari browser renders XML as text. To view the XML generated by the data engine as XML, right-click inside the frame displaying the data and then click View Frame Source. This is a display issue only. The data is saved properly if you choose to export the data. |
Data (CSV) | Generates the data in comma separated value format. The data must be in a simple <rowset>/<row> structure.
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Perform Actions
The Actions menu provides more commands and operations that you can perform on a report.
- Open the report in the Report Viewer.
- Select the action from the Actions menu.
Actions
The options available to you in the Actions menu depend on your user privileges and properties set for the report.
Menu Option | Description |
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Add to My Favorite |
Adds the report to your My Favorites list on your Home page. |
Edit Report |
Enables you to update the report definition. For example, you can add or create new layouts, update the report properties, or change the default parameter values. |
Edit Layout |
Enables you to update the layout you're viewing. When the layout was created using the BI Publisher Layout Editor, the Layout Editor launches in the browser. If the layout is based on another supported template type such as RTF, PDF, or Excel then you're prompted to save the template file. You can then open it in the appropriate application. |
Export |
Exports the report to the default application for the output type you select, for example, Adobe Acrobat for PDF output or Microsoft Excel for Excel output. |
Send |
Enables you to schedule the report for immediate delivery to an e-mail address, printer, or other destination. The Send action launches the Schedule Report Job page where you can select the output, destination, and notification options. You can't send a report in Interactive mode. You must select a different output type such as PDF or HTML from the View Report list, and then click Send. |
Schedule |
Creates a job to run and distribute the report. |
Jobs |
Enables you to view and manage currently scheduled jobs for this report. |
Job History |
Enables you to view completed and running report jobs. |
Republish from History |
Enables you to select a previously scheduled, completed job and specific output for viewing in the report viewer. |
Share Report Link |
Enables you to generate a link that you can copy and reuse, based on the report that you're currently viewing. When you select an option, a dialog displays the URL to the report. You can control what the URL displays as follows:
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