This article goes over how to create Ad Hoc Reports.
Ad Hocs are customizable reports in which you can pull multiple fields to output data. Ad Hoc reports allow you to save and schedule reports for future use. For more information about Ad Hocs, please refer to the Advanced Reporting Terms Article.
Creating an Ad Hoc Report
Step 1: To get to Advanced Reporting, go to Self > Quick Links > Advanced Reporting.
You can also click on the Advanced Reporting widget to access reporting.
Step 2: Click on the Create dropdown and select Ad Hoc View.
Before creating a new Ad Hoc, check the Reporting Templates folder to see if there is a template that has already been created to meet your needs. For more information on how to access the Reporting templates, refer to the Advanced Reporting Navigation Article.
Step 3: On the Select Data window expand to the following selection, CSU_PROD > Custom > Reports > Domain > CSU Learn Domain. Select CSU Learn Domain.
Step 4: You can select each data source individually be selecting the source and clicking the singular arrow or you can highlight multiple sections and click the double arrows to add multiple data sources.
- Employee: This data source will list data related to the employee including their employee ID, CEPID, email address and manager
- Activity: This data source will list the details of the activity including the activity code, name and primary domain
- Activity Due Exception: This data source will list details for activities that are assigned and required to completed such as due date and assignment status
- Activity Attempt: This data source will list details for activities that are not required such as ILTs or Bundles
When you are ready, click on the OK button.
Step 5: To start building your Ad Hoc, use the data sources on the left hand column and drag the fields to the columns area. As you drag fields over, data should begin to populate.
Refer this article for more information on common reporting fields and datasets that can be used to create Ad Hoc Reports.
If you pull fields over and data disappears or data does not show, it could mean that the data sources that you are combining are not compatible and you will need to select a different field.
Step 6: When you are done creating the Ad Hoc, click on the Save > Save Ad Hoc View.
Best Practices for Creating Accurate Ad Hoc Reports
To ensure your reports return complete and accurate data every time, follow these recommended best practices:
- Always verify and use the accurate and latest activity codes.
- If the activity is not an assigned learning, use the Activity Attempt report instead of the Required Activity reports.
- Always save the Ad Hoc View before saving the report. Failing to do so can result in filters not being applied, causing missing or incorrect data.
- Double-check for overlapping or contradictory filters that may cancel each other out. Use clear, minimal filter logic to keep your data focused.
- Remove fields like audience code if users belong to multiple audiences to prevent duplicate rows. Use essential fields that align directly with your reporting goals.
- If users report to multiple departments, create a custom audience and filter by that instead of individual departments.
- Always run the report manually first before setting up a recurring schedule to ensure it captures the correct data.
- When creating a schedule, use Comma Separated Values (.csv) or Microsoft Excel (.xls) formats for output. Avoid using "Save to Repository" as content type formatting may cause discrepancies in the output.
- If an existing report or schedule suddenly stops working, and troubleshooting fails, create a new report or schedule.
This covers how to create Ad Hoc Reports. You can view the following articles for more information about reporting: