There are eight (8) types of custom report in Workday. Users with the appropriate permissions (security domains) are able to create custom reports and when they do, they must select from one of these eight (8) types. The types are shown in the image below.
This article describes the different types of custom reports that users can create (and use) in Workday.
Simple
As the name implies, this type is meant for the simplest reports – reports built on a single business object and has no calculated fields. Simple reports provide a straightforward user interface that allows the report creator to select a set of fields, and optionally set sort and filter criteria. This report type cannot be later modified to add additional business objects or calculated fields. Also, this report type cannot be used as a web service. For this reason, this report type is not often used.
Advanced
This is the most used report type in Workday (estimated to typically be 90% of reports). As you might assume, this report allows for everything the Simple report offers plus some additional features. Data for the report can come from a Primary business object and Related business objects.
Also, these reports can have calculated fields, multiple levels of headings and sub-totals, sub-filtering, run time prompts, charting, worklets, and can be used as a web service. Reports used as a source for Prism Analytics must be of the Advanced type.
Composite
Composite reports are made up of different existing matrix reports.
Matrix
As the name implies, a Matrix report contains both row and column headers. It summarizes numeric data by one or two fields, that contain repeating values and displays them in a matrix that can be rendered as a drillable table or chart. As with other report types, Matrix reports also allow for filtering, run time prompts, worklets, and report sharing.
Trending
Trending reports group and summarize data by time periods allowing users to perform trend analysis.
Transposed
As the name suggests, Transposed reports turn the columns (of data) into rows (of data) and the rows into columns.
Search
Search reports display the various search results that are based on values selected/choices made for the report’s facet filters. Search reports can also be used as a web service in outbound EIBs.
nBox
nBox reports are used to calculate all the information, count data, and display the information in a two-dimensional matrix.
Thanks for reading!
The Data Community 