When to use Business Intelligence export as a reporting solution
Powerproject offers a number of methods of creating reports, from the simple copying and pasting of data from the spreadsheet to custom-written reporting macros. Business Intelligence export is one of the reporting methods available. Compare your requirements to the list below to see which one suits you best.
Copying and pasting data from the spreadsheet into Microsoft Excel®
One simple method of reporting is to display the data that you need in the Powerproject spreadsheet. You can then print the spreadsheet, or copy and paste the spreadsheet data into an application such as Microsoft Excel.
In addition to copying and pasting data from the spreadsheet, it is also possible to copy and paste data from other areas of the Powerproject user interface, such as histograms and resource usage views.
Advantages:
- Easily create the required columns in a separate view.
- Combine with chart selection, filters and sorts/groups to further refine the spreadsheet data.
- Can be used as raw data for advanced Microsoft Excel dashboards.
- Free, inbuilt functionality.
Disadvantages:
- Only works on a single open project/
- You cannot copy the spreadsheet text formatting.
- You cannot export data directly to a database.
- Manual export only.
Tabular reports
You can use tabular reports to generate reports on single projects. Tabular reports are configurable and are capable of a wide range of outputs.
Advantages:
- Configure your reports using a Wizard.
- Can be configured to save automatically to a particular file or webpage.
- Can be used as raw data for advanced Microsoft Excel dashboards.
- Can be run according to a schedule, using a free add-on.
- Output options include printer, HTML, CSV, Clipboard, XML and Microsoft Excel.
- XSL transformation files are supported to further format the output.
- Powerproject comes with a number of ready-made tabular reports, which you can modify to work with your data.
- Free, inbuilt functionality.
Disadvantages:
- Moderately complex to design.
- Effectively restricted to a single output file per project.
Business Intelligence export
You can export Business Intelligence data from multiple sources for enterprise-level reporting.
Advantages:
- Extract data from multiple projects and combine into one set of data.
- Very fast and efficient data extraction.
- Export data to Microsoft Excel or to an external database.
- Supports tailored export models.
- Supports manual and scheduled data collection.
- Free for supported customers.
Disadvantages:
- Has no inbuilt functionality for displaying the data.
- The level of configuration difficulty ranges from simple to very complex, depending on your requirements.
- Customised export models and formatted reports available as a paid consultancy service.
Customised macros
A custom-written software macro can meet advanced reporting requirements. If you have programming skills in-house, we can help you to start writing your own macros. Alternatively, you can commission your own macros from Elecosoft as a consultancy service.
Advantages:
- Can follow complex rules and perform data processing.
- Can link directly to other applications.
- Can export and import data.
Disadvantages:
- Expensive and time-consuming to produce.
- Relatively slow to process.
- Awkward to change and maintain.