Batch reporting is a critical process in some organisations. The ability to print multiple copies of the same report for different parts of the organisation for example, allows a controlled distribution of reports via a central source.  Jedox provides a built in Batch Reporter. It allows you to spin off multiple copies of the report via specific dimensions of the data (for instance, by Cost Centre, Region, Division etc).

The standard Batch process only prints to pdf, and can only deliver the reports via email. With the help of some php script and web macro, we can take a simple web report and allow it to be printed as a batch in some different ways. We can get a series of reports (not just one) generated. For example, one report per region element. We can also allow that report to be printed as either an xlsx or wss file directly to the filesystem.

See the example here.

Steps to get the report to work:

1. Report Directory: Enter in a path that the Jedox Web server can see (normally a local path). For the moment, this directory must exist. Although directories are not created as part of this process, that could be by extending the php code further.
2. Report Title. This will be used as the first part of the filename that gets generated in the batch process. The second part of the filename will be the dimensional elements that you are looping through. Also select the checkbox if you would like values only generated by the process.
3. Reporting Filename. Ignore this, as it will be generated automatically as part of the process.
4. File Type. Select xlsx or wss
5. List of Elements. Under the chart, there is a hidden column which contains a list of elements that I want to loop through. Put a zero in cell A1 to unhide the column. It is a named range, so if you want more elements, just insert some rows in your report within the grey area to extend the range:

Once you have done the above, run the macro by clicking the batch button. If you get a dialog box telling you that the macro is complete, then usually the process has run successfully.

If you do not get that dialog, then something has gone wrong. Normally, the problems is related to insufficient permissions to write out the file or that the directory does not exist. This useful extension to the built in reporting can itself be extended. If you wanted to loop through more than one dimensional list, you could have multiple nested loops in the php macro generating the reports you required.