Toolsets and timing

Reports are accessed from the main navigation menu. Within the reporting tool, we have report templates and report instances:

• Report template: This defines the features of a report. This includes what fields are available to the report, options for grouping and filtering, display choices (tabular, bar/pie chart), and any other options available.

• Report instance: This selects and saves specific criteria and options you wish to view. For example, you may want to view a constituent summary report displaying all contacts in Group A. At a later time, you may create a second instance of the constituent summary report displaying all contacts in Group A and Group B.

A template will be reused many times as different criteria and display options are selected to meet specific needs. After generating a report, you may print it, export as .csv, or publish as .pdf. It is common to refer to a report instance as simply a report, but you should make sure that the distinction between the...