When a report is executed, it can be automatically displayed in a variety of formats. In addition to the standard display within MicroStrategy (called Express Mode), reports can be automatically displayed in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, an Adobe PDF, and so on. Users must have the appropriate software loaded on their computers to successfully export to that software. For example, to export a MicroStrategy report to Microsoft Excel, the user's machine must have Excel software loaded.
Each display mode is useful for different purposes, depending on what your users need to do with the report's results. Each display mode is described below. Steps to enable a display mode are also below.
Express Mode: This is the default display mode that all reports display in. The report results are opened in MicroStrategy Web, and the user has access to the full analytical functionality available in Web, such as drilling to related data, pivoting results on the report, and so on.
The remaining display modes immediately export the report to a software application outside of MicroStrategy when the user executes the report. When the report is executed, the user is presented with several export options, such as how much of the report to export, whether to add headers and footers to the exported file, and so on.
Excel with plain text: This display mode exports and display the report in Microsoft Excel as plain text in .xls format. When the user executes the report, he is presented with the Export Options page for exporting to Excel. After the report is exported, the report content is displayed using the default settings in Microsoft Excel. The structure and format of the report, as it is displayed in MicroStrategy Web, is not retained. For large report results, this export option is recommended over Excel with formatting.
CSV file format: This display mode exports and displays the report in a comma-separated values file (CSV). When the user executes the report, he is presented with the Export Options page for exporting to CSV in .txt format. After the report is exported, the report content is displayed in a CSV file as plain text. This format is suitable for exporting to Microsoft Access and Lotus 1-2-3. The structure and format of the report, as it is displayed in MicroStrategy Web, is not retained.
Excel with formatting: This display mode exports and displays the report in Microsoft Excel in .xls format. When the user executes the report, he is presented with the Export Options page for exporting to Excel. After the report is exported, the report displays with the same formatting, color, and structure that appears in MicroStrategy Web.
Microsoft Excel does not support all colors that browsers do, so some colors may differ after export.
If the report is large, it is recommended that you use the Excel with plain text export option.
HTML: This display mode exports and displays the report in an HTML editor or browser in .html format. When the user executes the report, he is presented with the Export Options page for exporting to HTML. After the report is exported, the report is displayed in an HTML page. The structure and format of the report is retained, as it appears in MicroStrategy Web.
Plain text: This display mode exports and displays the report in a text editor in .txt format. When the user executes the report, he is presented with the Export Options page for exporting to a text editor. After the report is exported, the content of the report displays in a plain text page. The structure and format of the report, as it appears in MicroStrategy Web, is not retained. You can choose a comma, tab, semicolon, or space to separate the fields of text.
PDF: This display mode exports and displays the report in an Adobe PDF reader in .pdf format. When the user executes the report, he is presented with the Export Options page for exporting to PDF. After the report is exported, the report content is displayed in an Adobe PDF file. The structure and format of the report is retained, as it appears in MicroStrategy Web.
Run a report.
From the Tools menu, select Report Options. The Report Options dialog box opens.
On the Other tab, from the Run by default as drop-down list, select the default display mode in which the report appears when executed. See the bullets above for which report types work best for a display mode, and what the user experiences with each option.
Click OK.
You can also allow the user to select which export formats are available for the report. See Defining which report export modes are available to users.