Report formats

The second option we have when creating a new report is selecting the report format. Here, we can choose between the following types:

• Tabular: This is a simple list of records with fields displayed in columns, similar to a spreadsheet. This format cannot be used to group data or used with charts or within dashboards (unless you limit the number of rows):

Tabular report example

• Summary: Similar to tabular reports, we can group rows of data (with subtotals) based on a given field and create charts on those groupings (for example, group cases on the Status field and read the subtotals for each status):

Summary report example

• Matrix: Like the Summary report format, this format is used to summarize the rows and columns of the given fields. This is useful when you need to compare data from several fields:

Matrix format example

• Joined: This format is used to combine reports (even from different objects and report types). For example, you can report Accounts w/ Opportunities to get a glimpse of what’s going on with each of your customers:

Joined format example

Grouping data is quite simple in Classic: just drop your field onto the grouping section that’s highlighted with the Group a field here to create a grouping label in the summary format or with the Drop a field here to create a row/column grouping label in the matrix format.

Remember that, when grouping by a date field, you can select the grouping time frame, such as day, week, month, quarter, and year, as shown in the following screenshot:

Date field grouping options in Classic

The Lightning Report Builder works in the same way (take a look at the grouping section in the right-hand sidebar to see how grouping differs in Lightning):

Date field grouping options in Lightning

Regarding grouping, summary and joined reports can have up to three grouping levels, while matrix reports can have two row and two column groupings. In matrix reports, you cannot use the same fields as row and column grouping.

When dealing with joined reports, your reports (known as blocks) may be linked using fields in the Common Fields category (in Classic) or the Group Across Blocks section (Lightning), such as Account Name when joining accounts and opportunities reports.

Sometimes, grouping is not enough to understand the report’s results. In this case, we add a chart.