Docs & Tutorials

Create Tabular Report

Creating a Tabular Report in NileDesk

Tabular Reports in NileDesk allow you to generate structured, spreadsheet-like views of your data. Unlike Pivot Tables, which summarize data into rows and columns with aggregations, Tabular Reports display raw records in a customizable table format. This makes them ideal for situations where you want to view and export detailed data rather than high-level summaries.

This guide explains how to create a Tabular Report step by step, shows how to add fields, apply filters and sorting, and highlights advanced options like working with table fields, authorizations, and exports.

Getting Started: Creating a Tabular Report

You can create Tabular Reports in any NileDesk template type: Process Flows, Boards, Datasets, or Data Forms.

  1. Navigate to the Detail/Reports section of your template dashboard.
  2. Click the + (Add Report) button.
  3. From the options, choose either Tabular Report or Pivot Report.
  4. Select Tabular Report.
  5. Enter a name (e.g., “Customer Orders by Date”) and an optional description.

Once created, the Tabular Report Editor will open, allowing you to configure the layout and fields of your report.

Adding Fields to the Report

The core of a Tabular Report lies in the fields you choose to display. On the left panel, you’ll see a list of all available fields:

  • Process Fields (e.g., Created Date, Status, Process ID)
  • Form Fields (e.g., Customer Name, Order Amount)
  • Table Fields (fields from embedded tables inside forms)

To add a field, click the field name, and it will appear in the report editor. To remove a field, click the – (minus) button next to its name.

Example: For a Sales Orders report, you might add fields such as:

  • Order ID
  • Customer Name
  • Product Name
  • Order Date
  • Total Amount

This will display one row per sales order, with all the selected details.

Working with Table Fields

NileDesk supports table fields within forms, and Tabular Reports can include them as well.

  • If you include a table field alongside form fields, the report automatically joins the table with the main form data.
  • Each form row will repeat according to the number of rows in the linked table.

Example:

If an order form has a Products Table with multiple items:

  • Order #101 (with 3 products) → will display as 3 rows, one for each product.

This is useful for generating detailed itemized reports.

Previewing the Report

After adding fields, the Preview Area shows a live version of the report with actual process data.

  • Confirm the layout and ensure all required fields are included.
  • Remove or re-add fields as needed.

This preview helps fine-tune the report before finalizing it.

Applying Filters

Filters allow you to refine which records appear in your Tabular Report. You can filter by system fields or form fields.

  • Submitted At → Date when the record was created
  • Submitted By → The user who submitted the record
  • Closed At → Completion date of the process
  • Status → Active, Completed, Pending, etc.
  • Process ID → Narrow down to specific processes

Example Filter:

  • Show only Completed Sales Orders
  • From January to March
  • For Product Category = Electronics

Sorting Results

Sorting allows you to order report rows based on one or more fields.

  • Choose Ascending (A–Z, 0–9, earliest to latest)
  • Choose Descending (Z–A, 9–0, latest to earliest)

Example:

  • Sort Customer Orders by Order Date (Descending) to see the latest orders first.
  • Add a second sort by Customer Name (Ascending) to group orders alphabetically.

Completing and Viewing the Report

When you’re satisfied with the report design:

  1. Click Save.
  2. The report will appear under the Reports tab of your template.
  3. Open it anytime to view real-time data.

Tabular Reports display data in a clean table layout, making it easy to scan rows, compare values, and export when needed.

Additional Options

  • Modify or Update Anytime → Edit the report layout, filters, or fields.
  • Authorization Control → Restrict access to specific users or groups.
  • Rename Reports → Update names as report usage evolves.
  • Resize Columns → Adjust widths by dragging borders in the report view.
  • Export Data → Download reports in CSV or Excel.

Practical Examples of Tabular Reports

  • Sales Teams → View all orders with details such as order date, customer, and amount.
  • HR Teams → Generate employee lists with joining dates, departments, and status.
  • Operations → Track inventory movement with item details and warehouse locations.
  • Support Teams → Analyze tickets with ticket ID, category, priority, and assigned agent.