Step 3: Add rows and columns to a report definition

You specify the variables and values (from source data) to define rows and columns in the report, the labels of report columns, and the aggregation method (such as count, percentage, mean, or actual value) to be used to show values in the report on the Edit Report Columns page.

A report can include columns from multiple tables. The application assumes that the tables can be linked by the case ID. As a result, only tables containing a case ID column are suitable for use with reports.

If you are creating a report definition, a placeholder appears for the variables that define rows and columns for the report in a tabular display:

The following instructions do not include changing the labels of row and column variables or changing the aggregation method. These instructions use default labels, which are the variable names, and the default aggregation method (Value).

Access Report Definitions

1. In the left navigation pane, hover on the Data Analysis icon (), then click Report Definitions.
2. On the Report Definitions page, accept the case series shown or click Browse to the right of Case Series to display the Select Case Series page and select a case series.
3. Click a Report Definition's Row Action menu (), then click Edit.

The Edit Report Columns page appears. It also provides links to the Edit Report Attributes and Edit Report Descriptors pages.

Define the first row variable

1. To define the first row variable, click {New Row Variable} to highlight it in yellow.
2. To specify the corresponding source data variable, to the right of the Data Source field, click Select.
3. On the Edit Data Source page, specify a data source.
4. Click OK.

The selected variable appears as the row variable.

Define the first column variable

1. To define the first column variable, click {New Column Variable} to highlight it in yellow.
2. To specify the corresponding source data variable, next to Data Source, click Select.
3. On the Edit Data Source page, specify a data source.
4. Click OK.

Add a row variable

1. To add a row variable, click the name of an existing row to highlight it in yellow.
2. Click Insert Left or Insert Right.
3. On the Edit Data Source page, specify a data source.
4. Click OK.

Add a column variable

1. To add a column variable, click the name of an existing column variable to highlight it in yellow.
2. Click Insert Left, Insert Right, Insert Above, or Insert Below.
3. On the Edit Data Source page, specify a data source.
4. Click OK.

Note:

For a column breakdown variable, you are required to specify breakdown values. If there are 10 or fewer distinct values for the variable in the source data, the application automatically uses those values as breakdown values. You can modify them as needed. If there are more than 10 distinct values, a message informs you that breakdown details are missing and you must specify them.

Specify column attributes variables

1. Add rows and columns as described above.
2. To select an aggregation method for an analysis variable, highlight the variable in the cell.
3. Next to Content Details, click Select.
4. Specify content details.
5. Click OK.
6. To select which source values for a variable will appear in the report, highlight the variable in the cell.
7. Next to Breakdown Details, click Select.
8. Specify breakdown details.
9. Click OK.
   • You can edit report attributes, edit report descriptors, or save or run the report definition. For an interactive report definition, you can define a query.
   • To view a histogram showing the distribution of values for a numeric variable, click View Column Statistics.
   • To delete a variable, highlight the variable and click Delete. At the message asking if you are sure you want to delete the variable, click OK. You cannot delete the last row variable or last column variable.

Tips when specifying columns and rows

• Click Save frequently to save the report, especially when building a complex report definition.
• Click Preview to preview the report. (This feature is not available for interactive reports.)
• Click Undo to remove the last change you made to the report definition since you last saved the report definition. Click Redo to add back the last undone change. You can click Undo and Redo successive times.