In the IUIE, what are the different report types?

The IUIE contains six types of report objects. With the exception of frozen and linked report objects, all report objects require parameter input and provide some choices for formatting the query output.

Each report object type has a distinctive icon beside it. Restricted reports will have a corresponding blank page icon in addition to grayed-out text. For the icons associated with each report object, and screen shots of a typical screen for each, see the IUIE online tutorial.

Report object types and characteristics

• Datagroup
  
  
  • You select a subset of data (i.e., the rows and columns to be returned).
  • The query executes dynamically at the time of the request.
  • Raw (unformatted) data is returned.
  • The source data is refreshed on a scheduled basis.
  • You can choose whether to include column parameters.
  • You can use the Advanced button to write SQL for additional search criteria.
  • You can use the Save button to store reports with saved parameters in My Catalog.
  • This is the best choice for small result sets or sets for further analysis via spreadsheet.
  
  
• Linked
  
  
  • The department providing the information maintains the document URLs.
  • Some online documents may require Indiana University Network ID authentication before access.
  
  
• Pre-Defined Query (PDQ)
  
  
  • PDQs contain raw data.
  • Your parameters determine the data returned.
  • The output format may be pre-determined, or you may be provided with formatting options.
  • The query executes dynamically at the time of the request.
  • Information Publishers may join data from multiple datagroups.
  • You can click the Save button to store a report with saved parameters in My Catalog.
  
  
• Datagroup template
  
  
  • Datagroup templates are overlays to datagroups, which means that an Information Provider has pre-determined what columns will be returned and the row selection criteria.
  • The purpose of datagroup templates is to produce reports focused on a subset of data from the datagroup.
  • You can further narrow the selection criteria by specifying additional parameters.
  • The query executes dynamically at the time of the request.
  • Raw data is returned.
  • The Customize button links you to the underlying datagroup, allowing additional selection criteria.
  
  
• Frozen
  
  
  • Frozen reports are completed summary reports grouped by department.
  • You cannot dynamically query against a frozen report object.
  • You can choose a version from the list provided, as well as whether to open the report in a browser or save it to disk.
  • A pre-formatted report is returned.
  • There are no options for selecting a subset of the data.
  
  
• Indexed
  
  
  • An indexed report object is a subset of a much larger report object.
  • Pages, instead of rows and columns, are returned.
  • Because the report is indexed on key fields, you select parameters based on those indexed fields to return a subset of data pages.
  • The output is usually pre-formatted.
  • Indexed report objects are useful for very large reports from which you may only want to see a few pages.
  • The Advanced button may be available for more refined query options.
  • The Save button can be used to store a report with saved parameters in My Catalog.