# Generating a report using the report builder
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Reports can only be generated via the Tablion report builder by a Tablion Administrator.
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The Tablion report builder can be used by Tablion Administrators to retrieve data and statistics from their system. Once generated, this report can be exported as a spreadsheet directly to Microsoft Excel.
### How to generate a report using Tablion report builder
1. Log into Tablion, and select your profile from the header.
2. Select 'Admin tools'.
3. Select 'Report Builder'.
4. Select 'Create New Report'.
5. Populate the 'Title' and 'Description' fields as desired.
6. Select the data type you would like to use as the basis for the report form the 'Initial object' dropdown.
7. Populate the 'Columns' field with any object fields possessed by the initial object you selected that you wish to be included as columns of the final report. Entries in this field must be separated by pipes ('|'), with any subfields specified via the 'main.sub' formula (see below).
**Note: If you wish to rename a report column**, an alias can be set for a field via the 'alias:=field' formula, for example 'Published:=created'.
8. Populate the 'Filters' field with any of the following filters to refine the data in the final report via the exclusion of non-filtered fields:
| Filter | Description | Example |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------ |
| = | Equal to | *field* = approved |
| < > | Not equal to | *field* < > unapproved |
| < | Less than | *field* < 30 |
| > | Greater than | *field* > 30 |
| <= | Less than or equal to | *field* <= 2024-01-01 |
| >= | Greater than or equal to | *field* >= 2024-01-01 |
| \&contains | Contains exact matching text | *field* \&contains Frederick |
| \&icontains | Contains matching test in any case | *field* \&icontains frederick |
| in | Value is in a list (comma separated) | *field* in approved, unapproved, frederick |
**Note:** Not all filters work with all data types/fields.
9. Populate the 'Order by' field with fields you wish results to be sorted by, separated by pipes ('|').
**Note: If you wish to sort a field in reverse order**, add a minus sign ('-') to the beginning of the field name, e.g. '-created'.
10. Select from the 'Allowed users' field the users that should be able to access this report.
**Note:** Hold Ctrl when selecting users to select multiple users at once
11. Select one of the following options from the 'Status' dropdown based on your requirements:
* 'Restricted view': This option will make the report only visible to its creator and other administrators
* 'Shared view': This option will make the report visible to its creator, other administrators and any users selected in the 'Allowed users' field above.
12. Select 'Preview' if you wish to see a preview of how the report will look using its current settings. Once satisfied, select 'Save report'.
**Note:** Once the report has been saved, you can export the report as a CSV file from the preview (below):
13. Once saved, your report will appear in the 'Report Builder' tab of 'Admin tools'. From here you can, select:
* The report's title to view it
* 'Edit Report' to reopen the editor used to create the report initially and make changes
* 'Delete Report' to remove the report from the 'Report Builder' tab.
**Note:** The report's initial object cannot be changed once the report is saved.
