Databases are built to store data that may be useful to somebody who owns or uses that data. Data becomes information when it is presented in a format that is useful to a viewer. There are many ways to convert data into information, and the most common is by creating a report.
A report organizes data into a format that it is useful for a specific purpose. For example, sales data can be organized to discover trends in sales, rank salespeople, or find out which company promotions are generating the most income. As FileMaker consultants, database designers, and web developers, it is rare when we build a database that is not at some point used to create a report. This article describes a 5-step process for making report design simple and efficient.
1. Know what information you need.
The first step in creating a report is knowing what information you need ask yourself the following questions:
- What is the purpose of this report?
- What would i like to know?
- Who will need to see this report?
- How will the information on this report be used by each person or group that will see it?
2. Determine the data that will be listed on the report.
Now it s time to design your report. Use the answers to the questions in step 1 to design the layout of your report. Ask yourself:
- What data needs to be listed on your report in order for it to achieve its purpose?
- Does the list of data need to be aggregated grouped and or sorted in a particular way? If so, what groups, sorts, and aggregated calculations are needed?
3. Sketch a sample report
Sometimes, there’s no substitute for a visual check. Validate what you’ve determined in steps 1 and 2 by sketching your report on a piece of paper, word processor, spreadsheet or your favorite graphic layout tool. You may find that you left something out in steps 1 and 2. If so, rinse and repeat until you have the sample report of your dreams.
4. Ensure the appropriate data is being collected.
Collecting the appropriate data means making sure your database is modeled and designed properly. Questions to ask your database designer are:
- Is the database storing the data I need for the report I want?
- Is my database structured properly in a way that I can use the stored data to create the report I want? This step requires a knowledge of good database modeling and design and that topic is too big to even summarize here. If you don t know much about data modeling, you can read some good articles on the subject online or consult with a database software design expert to determine whether your database is structured properly for what you need.
5. Create your report.
Use your sample report to create a layout with the technology you are using to present data from your database to the people who need your report. Some examples of such technology are:
- A web page built with php and mysql
- A content management system like WordPress or Drupal
- A database software platform like FileMaker Pro
- A reporting tool like Tableau.
Reports are an important and useful tool to help you understand your business and inform your decision-making processes. Be sure that your reports stay simple, effective and purposeful using the guidelines above. If you need more tools, hints or guidance when designing reports or databases don’t hesitate to contact us for help.