Ad Hoc Reporting is an excellent tool that builds the exact report your restaurant needs based on analyzing the data points crucial to enhancing your restaurant's operations. A key part in creating these reports is understanding the different elements in the reporting window so that you can maximize your use of all its functions for each report you create. This article serves as a means to understand each function in the different sections of Ad Hoc to enhance your report creations.


This article explains the elements of each of the following sections and their functionality:



Left Pane


The Left Pane is where you begin building your report using Fields and Measures. If you do not find a data point that you would like added to your report, you can create Calculated Fields and Measures using your very own formula.



1) Left Pane Collapse Button - This button collapses the left pane to give more screen space for report viewing

2) Domain Name - The name of the domain selected from the 'Create Chart Of' or 'Create Crosstab Of' listing will appear here for reference

3) Source Sub-Menu - This sub-menu enables a User to change the data sets pulled in from the domain selected:

  • Change Source - Enables a User to add or remove different data sets for the report. While available, this is an unnecessary feature for some domains
  • Select Fields - Shows a listing of all Available Fields that may be pulled in from the domain but not used in the report. A User can add or remove fields from the 'Fields' box to expand or limit the amount of field options available

4) Calculated Field Button - This provides the option to create a calculated field using existing Fields, Measures, and Excel functions. When this is clicked, a pop-up window will open where customized calculations can be configured to create a newly-defined data point 

5) Calculated Measure Button - This allows a User to create a custom measure from existing fields, measures, and Excel functions. To do so, click this button and a window will open where the measure is given a name and calculated. View an example of creating a calculated measure here. It is recommended to calculate:

  • Net Sales = Enter the following into the formula box before clicking 'Validate'

Total Sales - (Coupon Amount + Discount Amount + Comp Amount)

6) Drag Function - This function enables the 'Measures' box to be dragged and dropped within this left pane

7) Search Field - This field enables a User to filter through both Fields and Measures to find a specific data point


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Top Ribbon



1) Display - This will display a preview of the report

2) Save - This drop-down menu allows the User to Save the report. View the steps of how to Save an Ah Hoc report here

3) Export - This allows a User to download the report as a PDF, CSV, etc.

4) Undo - This updates the report to the previous change
5) Redo - This updates the report to the most recent change

6) Reset - This returns the report back to the last saved format

7) Switch Groups - This will switch the Columns and Rows

8) Alphabetical Order - This will sort the Columns based on any User-chosen fields. When clicked, a pop-up window will display all of the Available Fields that can be used to organize your data

9) Input Values - A placeholder for future enhancement

10) Report Properties - This drop-down menu lists 3 report properties that affect the overall display of the report:

  • Toggle the Title Bar - Hides the title. Click again to show the title
  • Hide Layout Band - Hides the Columns and Rows Layouts for additional room to display the report. Click again to show these layouts
  • Unmerge Crosstab Cells - Unmerges any cells that are currently merged. Click again to merge the cells
  • Use Domain Labels - Updates all Field and Column names to reflect the titles used in the selected domain. Click again to change back

11) Report Type Selector - This drop-down menu allows a User to switch between report displays. View the different displays for a report here. The three Report Types include:

  • Table
  • Chart
  • Crosstab

12) Data Type Selector - The type of data used for the report. There are three different types:

  • Sample Data - Uses key data points for the report. It is recommended to select this type of data while creating a report with massive amounts of data to limit the processing time. However, when the report is completed, make sure to change back to full data before saving
  • Full Data - Uses all data points selected for this report
  • No Data - Uses no data points for the report. If a User is familiar with this reporting tool and knows the type of report he/she wants to create, clicking this data type will enable a User to select the necessary Fields and Measures without the system processing the formatting or data of the report

13) Columns Layout - This box is where fields and measures can be organized for the layout of the Columns. Fields and measures can be structured by clicking and dragging data points in the desired layout. To view the functionality within a Field and Measure in this box, view the following section

  • Note: Measures can only be rearranged among themselves and dragged as a unit using the hash marknext to the first measure

14) Rows Layout - This box is where fields and measures can be organized for the layout of the Rows. Fields and measures can be structured by clicking and dragging data points in the desired layout. To view the functionality within a field and measure in this box, view the following section

  • Note: Measures can only be rearranged among themselves and dragged as a unit using the hash marknext to the first measure


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Row and Column Layout Functionality


Both Row and Column Layouts have different functionalities by simply right-clicking each field and measure. While not all functions are displayed below, the following are key functions for each data point.


Field Functionality



1) Remove from Crosstab - This removes the field from that Column/Row Layout

2) Switch to Row Group - This will switch the field from the Column to the Row Layout. If the field is located in the Rows Layout, then this functionality will switch from the Row to the Column Layout

3) Create Filter - This will create a filter for this field, which can be adjusted in the right pane

4) Move Left -  This will shift the field left and can be an alternative option to clicking and dragging. If this field is not the first field in the Column/Row Layout, 'Move Right' will also appear in this drop-down menu

5) Add Measures - This option only appears when a field is located in the Column Layout and allows the User to select an additional measure to the layout



Measure Functionality



1) Change Summary Calculation - The User can select the type of calculation used for that measure. The listing includes a variety of calculations, including Average, Maximum, Minimum, Mode, and Sum

2) Remove from Crosstab - This removes the measure from that Column/Row Layout

3) Switch to Row Group - This will switch the field from the Column to the Row Layout. If the measure is located in the Rows Layout, then this functionality will switch from the Row to the Column Layout

4) Create Filter - This will create a filter for this measure, which can be adjusted in the right pane

5) Move Left - This will shift the measure left and can be an alternative option to clicking and dragging. If this measure is not the first measure in the Column/Row Layout, 'Move Right' will also appear in this drop-down menu

6) Add Measures - This option only appears when a measure is located in the Column Layout and allows the User to select an additional measure to the layout


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Right Pane


The right pane is used for creating and removing filters for each selected data point. Next 



1) Right Pane Collapse Button - This button collapses the right pane to give more screen space for report viewing

2) Filter Pane Menu - This menu enables a User to adjust the filters display. Options include:

  • Minimize All Filters - This will display only the letter and name of the filter in the box below
  • Maximize All Filters - This will display the letter and name along with the details of each filter
  • Remove all Filters - This will delete all filters that were created

3) Filter Options- This menu enables a User to provide more precise parameters around the filter term

4) Filter Menu - This menu provides additional functionality to each field and measure filtered. Options include:

  • Remove Filter - This removes the filter from the right pane
  • Move Up - This shifts the field or measure filter up
  • Move Down - This shifts the field or measure filter down

5) Date Chooser - When clicked, the User is able to select a Fixed Date (a specific date) or a Relative Date (the day the report is opened +/- a chosen number of days)

6) Search Bar - For selected filters, this will enable a search through that filter's listing

7) Select All - When clicked, this button will select all of the items in the listing. This will only appear if 'is one of' or 'is not one of' is selected in the Filter Options

8) Deselect All - When clicked, this button will deselect all of the items in the listing. This will only appear if 'is one of' or 'is not one of' is selected in the Filter Options

9) Invert - When clicked, this will flip the highlighted section to the opposite of what is highlighted. For example, if Location 1 is the only Location selected in the listing above, then this function would remove the highlighting from Location 1 and highlight Location 2, 5, and 6. This will only appear if 'is one of' or 'is not one of' is selected in the Filter Options

10) Custom Filter Expression - A User-created filter that will return data to the report if the entered filter is true. The letters listed ((A and B) in the image above) reference the different Filter Sections within the Filter Box 

11) Apply Button - This applies all of the changes to filters made in the right pane to the report. This must be clicked in order to save any updates made


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