1 Introduction to Data Reporter

Learn about setting up and using Data Reporter.

• About Data Reporter
  Learn how about Data Reporter.
• Getting Started with Data Reporter
  Learn about accessing and setting up Data Reporter.
• About the Data Reporter Home Page
  Learn about the Data Reporter home page.
• About the Data Reporter Application Home Page
  Learn about the Data Reporter Application home page.
• Example Reporting Application
  View an example Data Reporter reporting application.

1.1 About Data Reporter

Learn how about Data Reporter.

Data Reporter is a fully self-service module which enables business users to quickly and easily build applications and reports with little to no developer expertise. Data Reporter is designed with the business user in mind.

With Data Reporter, an administrator creates and manages datasets built on tables available in the APEX workspace. Business users can then use these datasets to quickly build reporting applications containing powerful reports without any knowledge of the APEX development environment.

Available Report Types

Data Reporter reporting applications support three report types:

• Interactive Report
• Faceted Search with Table
• Faceted Search with List

Each report type functions similarly to reports built in App Builder but features a streamlined user interface that enables users to update reports and edit columns without needing to access Page Designer, authoring SQL or building full APEX applications.

To learn about Building application and available report types, see Managing Data Reporter Reporting Applications and Managing Reports.

About Data Reporter Users

APEX users with developer privileges have full access to Data Reporter. Administrator can also create and manage users exclusively within Data Reporter on the Manage User page. Users created and managed within Data Reporter, have three distinct user roles:

• Administrators can create and modify Data Reporter applications, manage dataset objects, monitor activity, and manage Data Reporter user accounts.
• Editors can create and modify reports in applications they have access to. Monitor activity related to the applications they have access to.
• Viewers have no development privileges and can only view application reports to which they are given view access.

To learn more about managing Data Reporter user accounts, see Managing Users.

1.2 Getting Started with Data Reporter

Learn about accessing and setting up Data Reporter.

• About Using Data Reporter
  Learn about the general process of setting up and using Data Reporter.
• About Accessing Data Reporter
  Learn how different users access Data Reporter.
• Setting Up Data Reporter from the Welcome Page
  A Workspace administrators sets up Data Reporter using links on the Welcome page.

1.2.1 About Using Data Reporter

Learn about the general process of setting up and using Data Reporter.

To set up and use Data Reporter, a Workspace administrator completes the following steps:

1. Configure Authentication Schemes - To access Data Reporter, you must configure one of the following authentication schemes: SAML, Social Sign-In, or HTTP Header Variable. See Configuring an Authentication Scheme for Data Reporter Oracle APEX Administration Guide.

2. Create tables - A Workspace administrator creates tables on which to build Data Reporter reporting applications.

3. Set Up Data Reporter - The first time you access Data Reporter, a Welcome page appears. A Workspace administrator uses the links on the Welcome page to create an initial dataset and Data Reporter reporting application.

   To learn more, see Setting Up Data Reporter from the Welcome Page.

4. Create reports - Once a Workspace administrator creates an initial reporting application, they can select the application and start creating reports.

   To learn more, see Managing Reports.

5. Manage users -APEX users with developer privileges have full access to Data Reporter and can mange users. Administrators can also create and manage users exclusively within Data Reporter on the Manage User page.

   To learn more, see Managing Users.

   Note:

   Workspace administrators can also manage users in Workspace Administration. To learn more, see Managing Users in a Workspace in Oracle APEX Administration Guide

1.2.2 About Accessing Data Reporter

Learn how different users access Data Reporter.

How users access Data Reporter differs depending upon the type of user account, the defined account privileges, and the Data Reporter user role.

Existing APEX Users

In order to access Data Reporter, an existing APEX user must have the one of following Account Privileges enabled:

• Administrator
• User is a Developer and Data Reporter Access

Tip:

By default, users with Administrator privileges also have the Data Reporter Access privilege enabled.

Existing APEX users with these privileges access Data Reporter using the typical Oracle APEX Sign In page.

1. Navigate to Oracle APEX Sign In page.
2. Provide the workspace name, username, and password and select Sign In.
3. On the Workspace home page, select Data Reporter.

To learn more about user privileges, see Managing Users in a Workspace and Managing Users Across an Oracle APEX Instance in Oracle APEX Administration Guide.

Data Reporter Administrators

Data Reporter administrators also access Data Reporter using the typical Oracle APEX Sign In page. However, after they provide the workspace name, username, and password, the Data Reporter home page appears.

Data Reporter administrators have full access to Data Reporter but cannot access the full Oracle APEX development environment unless granted the privileges by a Workspace or Instance administrator. Data Reporter administrators only have Developer and Data Reporter Access privileges.

Tip:

A Workspace administrator can grant more privileges and therefore provide more access by editing the user in Workspace Administration. Managing Users in a Workspace in Oracle APEX Administration Guide.

Data Reporter Editor and Viewer Navigation

Data Reporter Editors and Viewers only have access a specific reporting application. These users sign access Data Reporter, using the Application Name Sign In page.

Workspace administrator can find Application Name Sign In page URL in the following locations:

• Data Reporter home page - Find the application and select the Run icon under the Actions column.
• Data Reporter Reporting Application home page - Select the Run Application icon.

1.2.3 Setting Up Data Reporter from the Welcome Page

A Workspace administrators sets up Data Reporter using links on the Welcome page.

Note:

Before you can access Data Reporter, you must configure one of the following authentication schemes: SAML, Social Sign-In, or HTTP Header Variable. To learn more, see Configuring an Authentication Scheme for Data Reporter Oracle APEX Administration Guide.

About the Welcome Page

The first time you access Data Reporter, the Welcome to Data Reporter page appears. A Workspace administrator uses this page to set up Data Reporter by creating an initial dataset and reporting application.

Description of the illustration dr_welcome_page.png

The Welcome to Data Reporter page features the following setup links:

• Create Dataset - Select Create Dataset to group existing related tables and views into datasets.
• Create a Reporting Application - Once a dataset has been created, click Create Application to build a Data Reporter reporting application on tables.

Note:

Oracle recommends configuring a Generative AI service to unlock the full Data Reporter experience. To access the Generative Services page, select Configure in the note at the bottom of the page. To learn more, see Managing Generative AI Services in Oracle APEX App Builder User’s Guide.

Using the Welcome Page

Before you can can start using Data Reporter, a Workspace administrator must perform the following set up tasks:

1. Create tables. A workspace administrator must create the underlying tables and views. This publication uses examples built on tables available in SQL Workshop.

   See Using Sample Datasets in Oracle APEX SQL Workshop Guide.

2. Create a Dataset. Once tables are available in the workspace, a Workspace administrator must group related tables and views into a reusable datasets. On the Welcome page, select Create Dataset and follow the on-screen instructions.

   See Managing Datasets.

3. Create a reporting application. After creating a dataset, Workspace administrator must create an intial Data Reporter reporting application. On the Welcome page, select Create Application and follow the on-screen instructions.

   See Managing Data Reporter Reporting Applications.

Once a Workspace administrator completes these steps, the Data Reporter home page appears. To learn more, see About the Data Reporter Home Page.

1.3 About the Data Reporter Home Page

Learn about the Data Reporter home page.

The Data Reporter home page is the starting point for creating Data Reporter reporting applications and reports.

Description of the illustration dr_home_page.png

Data Reporter Home Page Icons

The following large icons display on the Data Reporter home page:

• Create - Launches the Create Reporting Application Wizard. Use this wizard to create new Data Reporter reporting applications. See Creating a Data Reporter Reporting Application.

  Tip:

  You can also access the Create Reporting Application Wizard by selecting the Create button on the navigation bar above the Applications report.
• Datasets - Links to the Manage Datasets page. Datasets are collections of tables and views that make data available for reporting. Each reporting application is associated with one or more dataset. See Managing Datasets.
• Manage Users - Links to the Manage Users page. See Managing Users.

  Tip:

  Workspace administrators manage user in Workspace Administration. See Managing Users in a Workspace in Oracle APEX Administration Guide.
• Monitor Activity - Links to the Monitor Activity page. See Managing Data Reporter Activity
• Export / Import - Launches the Export / Import Wizard. See Exporting and Importing Applications.

Reporting Applications

A report of current Data Reporter reporting applications displays next. The previous example shows on reporting application named IT Projects.

A navigation bar displays above the report and includes the following controls:

• Columns to search - Features the image of a magnifying glass. Click Columns to search to narrow your search result. Options include: Row Search; Application; Reports; Authentication Scheme; and Last Updated.
• Search - Enter case insensitive search criteria in the text area (wildcard characters are implied) and press Enter.
• Actions - Use the Actions menu to customize the report view. For example, to display additional columns, select Actions, Columns.
• Create - Display the Create Reporting Application Wizard. See Creating a Data Reporter Reporting Application.

The application report features the following columns: Application; Reports; Authentication Scheme; Last Updated; and Actions.

Click the Application name to view the Application home page.

The Actions columns features the following controls:

• Run - Submits the reporting application to the APEX engine to render viewable HTML. Selecting Run displays the Application Name Sign In page. See About Accessing Data Reporter.
• Actions menu - Action menu options include:
  • Edit - Displays the Edit Application page. See Editing a Reporting Application.
  • Monitor Activity - Displays the Monitor Application page. See Managing Data Reporter Activity.
  • Manage Users - Displays the Manage Users page. See Managing Users.
  • Export - Displays the Export Wizard. See Exporting and Importing Applications.
  • Delete - Displays the Delete Reporting Application dialog. See Deleting a Reporting Application.

1.4 About the Data Reporter Application Home Page

Learn about the Data Reporter Application home page.

Once you select an application on the Data Reporter home page, the Data Reporter Application home page appears.

Description of the illustration dr_app_home_page.png

The following large icons display on Data Reporter Application home page:

• Run Application - Submits the associated reporting application to the APEX engine to render viewable HTML. Selecting Run Application displays the Application Name Sign In page. See About Accessing Data Reporter.
• Manage Users - Links to the Manage Users page. See Managing Users.

  Tip:

  Workspace administrators manage user in Workspace Administration. See Managing Users in a Workspace in Oracle APEX Administration Guide.
• Monitor Activity - Links to the Monitor Activity page. The Monitor Activity page. See Managing Data Reporter Activity
• Export / Import - Launches the Export / Import Wizard. See Use the Export / Import Wizard to export and import reporting applications and datasets. See Exporting and Importing Applications.

Reports

A list of reports in the current application displays next. The previous example shows on reporting application with two reports.

A navigation bar displays above the report and includes the following controls:

• Columns to search - Features the image of magnifying glass. Click Columns to search to narrow your search result.
• Search - Enter case insensitive search criteria in the text area (wildcard characters are implied) and press Enter.
• Actions - Use the Actions menu to customize the report view. For example, display additional columns by selecting Actions, Columns.
• Create - Displays the Create a Report Wizard. See Creating and Editing Reports.

The report features the following columns: Report; Last Updated; Status; and Actions.

Click the report name to edit report attributes.

The Actions columns features the following controls:

• Run - Submits the associated reporting application to the Oracle APEX engine to render viewable HTML.
• Actions menu - Action menu options include:
  • View Details - Links to the Report Details page.
  • Publish / Unpublish - The option that displays depends upon the report status. See Understanding Report Publishing.
  • Copy - Displays the Copy Report Wizard. See Copying a Report.
  • Delete - Displays the Delete Report dialog. See Deleting a Report.

Tasks Region

The Tasks region displays in the sidebar and displays the Manage Datasets link. See Managing Datasets.

1.5 Example Reporting Application

View an example Data Reporter reporting application.

The following example shows the running Data Reporter reporting application, IT Projects.

Description of the illustration dr_eg_app.png

In the previous example, the reporting application contains two reports: IT Summary Projects and Projects by Assignee. A search field and Order By list displays at the top of the page. Selecting a report name displays the report.

The following example shows the faceted search page, Projects by Assignee.

Description of the illustration dr_eg_faceted_search.png

A faceted search page features a faceted Search region and report. The Search region displays on the left side of the page and enables users to narrow down the search result by selecting facet values. Narrowing the search result, makes it easier for users to find the data they want. The right side of the page features a Search Results region which in the previous example displays as a report. Note that the Total Row Count 125 displays above the report.

Clicking Assignee Options (the three dots) and then selecting Show Chart displays a bar chart that illustrates the number of projects for each assignee.

Description of the illustration dr_eg_faceted_search_chart.png