CounselLink Answer Center for Clients

Editing Reports

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The steps in this article are for Reporting (Microstrategy) users only. If you use Dashboards & Analytics (Amazon Q), proceed to these articles instead.

This article covers the following:

Designing a Report

The Design function allows you to modify a report’s layout and structure. In Design Mode, you edit the report configuration rather than viewing execution results (the page displayed after running a report).

When designing a report, consider:

  • What data is needed?

  • How should the data be formatted?

  • How should the data be filtered?

The template typically determines layout and formatting. Filters determine which data is included.

LexisNexis® CounselLink® also provides templates from which you can start to create your report.

Accessing the Report Designer

  1. Access the Report Designer by one of the following methods:

    • Click Edit when you hover over the report's name.

  • Click Design when viewing a report.

  • Click the REPORT HOME menu, and select Design.

    The Design Mode page displays.

  1. Drag and drop objects into the report as necessary.

  2. Use the tools on the toolbar as necessary. Click on a link (if available) in the Button column to learn more.

    Button Description
    Run Report Run the report as it is currently set up.
    Cancel Exit out of Design Mode.
    Save Save changes to the report. If it is a new report, the Save as window will display.
    Save as Save changes to the report.
    Filter Click to display or hide filters on the report.
    Grid Click to display the report as a grid.
    Graph Click to display the report as a graph. Select options from the Graph Type and Graph Sub-Type drop downs to change the display.
    Grid and Graph Click to display the report data as a grid and a graph.
    Sort

    Click to use the Advanced Sort feature for your report.

    Click the question mark icon in the Advanced Sort window to find more information on advanced sorting options.
  3. Click Save.

Using the Drill Option on a Report

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Drilling allows you to view report data at different levels of detail after execution.

Click the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the Drill dialog box to see a detailed description on all possibilities available when drilling in reporting.

  1. Run the report.

    The report must be in either Grid view or Grid and Graph view.

  2. Click Drill from the Data menu.

    The Drill data box displays.

    You can also drill down on an object in by right-clicking on a row and selecting Drill.

  3. Select an object from the To drop-down list.
  4. Click Apply to update the report.
  5. Optional: Select Keep parent while drilling to see the parent attributes on the report.

  6. Optional: Click More options to drill up or across related attributes.

Filtering Reports

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Filters determine which data appears when a report runs.

You can also create a new filter from the Reports homepage.

Users can view applied filters by selecting View Filter from the Tools menu after executing a report.

Adding a View Filter

  1. Select Add View Filter Condition from the Data menu. The View Filter panel appears.

If a view filter was already defined, the panel is already expanded, and a new blank condition is added adjacent to any existing entries.

  1. From the Filter On drop-down list, specify the condition you want to use.

  1. Define the condition as required. These options vary based on the selected condition. In the following example, the Invoice Date condition was selected.

  1. Click Apply.

    The condition options are collapsed, and the selected items are displayed. In the following example, the selected invoice dates are listed.

  2. Check Auto-Apply changes to automatically refresh results.

    If this check box was already selected, the report is automatically updated when Apply is clicked.

  3. Optional: Add additional conditions by returning to step 2 and defining another condition.

    Adding multiple conditions will further restrict data, limiting what is visible.

Renaming an Object on a Report

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You can rename an existing object on a report to one that better suits your organization's needs.

  1. Find the report and run it.
  2. Access the Rename Objects window by one of two ways:

    • Right click a column and select Rename.

    • Click the Rename/Edit Objects icon from the Data menu.

      The Rename Objects window displays.

  3. Ensure the object is correctly selected in the Object field. If not, select one from the dropdown.
  4. Enter a name for the object in the Name field.
  5. Optional: Select Replace dynamic text if you are using dynamic text in your name.
  6. Click OK.

Creating Derived Metrics

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Derived metrics allow you to calculate new values using existing data.

  1. Select Insert New Metric from the Data menu. The Insert New Metric dialog box displays.

  2. Build the new metric using the available options.

    1. In the Name text box, type a name for the metric.
    2. From the Available list, select the column headers to evaluate and move them, as needed, to the Definition text box using the arrow button.
    3. Specify any needed arithmetic functions (such as addition, subtraction, etc.) in the Definition text box.
    4. Optional: Use the function wizard button (above the Definition text box ) to add functions to the metric.

    In the following example, the Timekeeper Offered Fees column was added to the definition box, followed by the subtraction symbol ( - ), and finally the Timekeeper Last Offering Fee Amount column.

  3. After the metric is defined, click OK.

You are returned to the report. The new metric is added to the Report Objects area, and it can now be added to the report.

Formatting Derived Metrics

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After a new metric is added to a report, the metric should be appropriately formatted. 

  1. Select Advanced Formatting from the Format menu. The Format: Template dialog box displays.

  2. Select the metric to edit.

  3. Locate the formatting option you want to change. In this example, the Number tab is being used, as we want to reformat the number data to use a currency look-and-feel.

  4. Adjust formatting (e.g., Number, Currency). In this example, the Currency option has been selected and the selection's sub-options have been specified.

  5. Click OK.

Organizing Report Columns

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Attributes appear on the left side of a report; metrics appear on the right.

Rearranging Columns

Drag column headers to reposition them. A yellow indicator line shows placement.

Pivoting Data

To move column data into rows:

  • Drag the column header upward until a horizontal yellow indicator appears.

  • Or right-click the column header, select Move, and choose the appropriate option.

Adding or Removing Report Objects

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The Report Details section shows applied filters, and retrieved data appears in the grid below.

The Pending Invoice Report and Rejected Invoice Report do not allow additional objects to be added.

Adding an Object to a Report

  1. Open the All Objects pane.

  2. Click Public Objects. The sub-folders available display.

  3. Drill down into the sub-folder to find the metric or attribute.

  4. Click the object and drag it to your desired position. The yellow line shows where the object will be added.

Hiding or Deleting an Object (Column)

Right click a report column, and select:

  • Remove from Grid: Removes the column but still available in the report.

  • Remove from Report: Removes the column from the report.