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:

Creating reports in Dashboard Studio step-by-step

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:

Reports
Dashboards

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

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Step 1: Open the report editor

In the left sidebar, click Tools, then select New report.

Dashboard Studio prompts you to choose a section from your shared menu structure. Select an existing section or choose Root to place the report at the top level.

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Step 2: Enter basic information

The editor opens with two fields at the top:

  • Title (required): the name displayed in the menu and export headers.

  • Description (optional): additional context visible in the editor.

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Step 3: Write the SQL query

  1. 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:

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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.

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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.

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Step 5: Save the report

Click Save. The report appears in the menu section you selected in step 1 and is accessible to all users who have access to that section.

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.

  1. Expand the SQL Query section to view or edit the statement inline.

  2. Apply the changes:

    1. 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.

    2. 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.

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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.

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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.

Button
Output

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

PDF

Static document with the data table, chart, and location map

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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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