Creating reports
Reports give you a structured way to analyze IoT Query data through three coordinated views from a single SQL query: a paginated data table, a chart, and an interactive map. Use reports when you need a fixed, exportable output rather than a free-form dashboard canvas.
Custom SQL reports adapt instantly to any business question by adjusting queries and parameters:
Automation saves time by reusing queries and integrating with BI tools for quick updates.
Deep analysis is possible by combining, aggregating, and segmenting data from multiple sources.
Accuracy and relevance are ensured by working directly with raw, up-to-date database information.
Interactive visualizations let users explore data dynamically by tweaking axes, filters, and metrics.
Watch this video to get familiar with report creation in the Dashboard Studio app interface:
Reports vs. dashboards
Both reports and dashboards run SQL queries against your IoT Query database and render results as visualizations. The key difference is in how queries and output are structured:
SQL queries
One query powers all views
Each tile has its own query
Layout
Fixed: data table, chart, location map
Drag-and-drop canvas
Export
HTML, Excel, PDF
JSON schema only
Use case
Exportable, single-dataset analysis
Multi-panel operational monitoring
Use reports when a single dataset needs to be explored as a table, visualized as a chart, and mapped simultaneously, or when the output needs to be exported and shared outside Dashboard Studio. Use dashboards when you need multiple independent visualizations on a single canvas, for example: combining a trip summary stat tile, a fuel consumption chart, and a zone visit table in one view.
For details on creating dashboards, see Creating dashboards.
How to create a report
Step 3: Write the SQL query
Click the SQL Query tab and enter a SELECT statement against your IoT Query tables. The query defines all three components (table, chart, and map), so include every column you intend to use across all views, for example:
Some tips for query building:
Add a LIMIT clause while configuring the report. It reduces query execution time and speeds up component preview. Remove or increase the limit before saving if you need the full dataset available for download.
After writing the query, you can click Detect Columns to check what columns are actually retrieved with this query. This helps to set up the column selectors in the Components tab. The step is optional. You can configure components manually, but running it first simplifies axis and field selection.
Any SQL query used in a dashboard panel is a valid starting point for a report. Copy the query from a panel and adjust it to fit the report's goal. For example, adding columns needed for the location map, or removing aggregations that don't apply to a table view.
The IoT Query's Recipe Book contains general and industry-specific query examples ready to use as a foundation for reports. See SQL Recipe Book for the full list.
Step 4: Configure components
Click the Components tab. Three components are available: Table, Chart, and Map. Each has a toggle to include or exclude it from the report. You can remove any component you do not need.
The data table displays query results in paginated rows.
Page Size: sets how many rows appear per page in the interactive view. This does not affect the export, which always contains the full result set.
Show Totals Row: adds a summary row at the bottom of the table when enabled.
Two chart types are available:
Time series (line): suited for data plotted over time.
Bar chart: suited for categorical comparisons (also referred to as a column chart).
Configure the axes:
X-axis column: typically a time column such as
device_time.Y-axis columns: one or more numeric columns, such as speed or
fuel_level.Group by: optionally split series by a categorical column, such as
object_label, to display a separate line or bar group per device.
The location map plots data points using GPS coordinates.
Dashboard Studio can auto-detect latitude and longitude columns from your query result. When Auto-detect GPS columns toggle is enabled, the columns needed to define location (usually latitude and longitude) are selected automatically if your query returns them.
You can also disable the Auto-detect option and select the needed columns manually.
Viewing a report
After you create a report it opens immediately. You will see all configured components rendered with live data from your IoT Query database. The report header displays the last updated timestamp, total row count, and query execution time.
The report page also exposes the SQL query directly, so you can update it whenever you need to.
Expand the SQL Query section to view or edit the statement inline.
Apply the changes:
Click Save to store changes without running. You will need to click Refresh to re-execute the query and update all views with current data.
Save & Run to apply the updated query immediately.
Data table
The Data Table section shows query results with the section header displaying the total row count returned by the query. The interactive view displays only a limited number of rows, the footer confirms the exact number. Use the Download dropdown to export the complete result set as Excel (.xlsx) or CSV (.csv) regardless of how many rows the interactive view displays.
If you need locations instead of raw coordinates, check the Geocode to address box in the top-right of the Data Table header. When enabled, it resolves coordinate columns into readable street addresses.
Address resolution places a significant load on the server. Use this option only with aggregated or filtered datasets. For raw telematics data with tens of thousands of rows, keep coordinates in numeric form.
Chart
The Chart section renders below the data table. It inherits the settings you applied in the report editor, but you can also adjust axis configuration directly in the view:
X-axis: select the column to plot on the horizontal axis.
Y-axis: select the column to plot on the vertical axis.
Group by: optionally split series by a categorical column, such as
object_label, to display a separate line or bar group per device.
The chart displays an auto-generated title describing the current axis and grouping selection, for example: speed over device_time (grouped by object_label). When you modify axis settings without saving, an Unsaved changes indicator appears next to the Save Chart Settings button. Click it to keep the configuration changes in the report.
Location map
The Location Map section displays each query row as a point at its GPS coordinates. The section header shows the number of points plotted. GPS columns are defined upon report creation (automatically or manually), it's not possible to edit them afterwards. If the query returns no recognized coordinate columns, the section shows "No GPS coordinates detected in query results."
For timestamped telematics data, the plotted points represent the full path of an object over the queried period.
The map is interactive: zoom and pan to inspect individual points. Click Show all to zoom out and fit all plotted points within the visible map area.
Exporting a report
Dashboard Studio provides two levels of export.
Data table export
Use the Download dropdown within the Data Table section to export table data only. The export always contains the complete result set returned by the query, regardless of the display limit in the interactive view.
Full report export
Use the buttons in the report header to export all components together.
Excel → Excel (.xlsx)
Spreadsheet with the complete data table
Excel → CSV (.csv)
Comma-separated values file with the complete data table
HTML
Interactive file with the data table, chart, and location map
Static document with the data table, chart, and location map
The exported HTML file preserves interactivity: the chart supports hover tooltips and the location map supports zoom and pan.
Editing and deleting a report
To edit a saved report, you don't need a separate editor dialog anymore. Open the report from the menu and modify the SQL query or component settings directly in it. The only exception is location columns, they are defined once upon report creation.
To delete a report, click Tools in the left sidebar, then select Edit menu. Locate the report in the menu tree and click the three-dot menu next to its name, then confirm deletion.
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