How to use Report Wizard

With the built-in Report Wizard of AD Reports, you have the capability to modify any existing report or customize it and save it as a new custom report. Simply right-click on the report from the report tree and choose the Customize... option to begin the customization process.

AD Report Wizard Open

For reports that have been loaded, you have the option to select the same item from the grid's pop-up menu.

AD Report Wizard dropdown menu

Alternatively, you can also select the same item from the toolbar.

AD Report Wizard toolbar

The Report Wizard interface will be presented.

AD Report Wizard dialog

The Report Wizard consists of three tabs: General Filter Settings, Grid Column Settings, and Membership Settings.

AD Report Wizard tabs

Please be aware that the Membership Settings tab will not be visible for Printer reports.

1. General Filter Settings

Within this tab, you have the option to choose the search root, which denotes the starting container for the search process of the selected report. By default, the search root is set to the selected domain.

AD Report Wizard General Filter Settings

Underneath the search root tree, you can make a selection from the available search scopes, which include Subtree, Base, or One Level. The default selection is set to Subtree.

AD Report Wizard Search Scope

By utilizing the LDAP filter builder, you can craft your custom LDAP filter query and incorporate it into your report. Additionally, you have the option to save your LDAP query for future use in other reports. Starting from version 5.8.3.1, AD Reports allows you to include your own custom LDAP filters in text format.

AD Report Wizard LDAP Filter Builder

To utilize the built-in LDAP filter builder, ensure that the Use LDAP filter builder radio button is selected.

  1. Click on the small plus sign next to the condition group to add a filter condition line.
  2. This line comprises three components: the attribute name, the condition, and the value. The default attribute displayed will be the first one in the list of available attributes.
  3. To modify it, click on the attribute name and select the desired attribute from the list.
  4. Clicking on the condition will present a list of available conditions specific to the selected attribute.
  5. Finally, enter the value in the corresponding text box. Your filter will be automatically converted into the LDAP filter string.
You can add multiple condition lines as needed. To include another condition group, click on the condition group name (e.g., "And" or "Or") and select it from the list.

To employ your personal custom LDAP filter, opt for the Use Custom Filter option and input or paste your LDAP filter accordingly. The filter toolbar    offers additional functionality such as saving, loading, and clearing your LDAP filter. Moreover, within this tab, you can set a limit on the maximum number of objects to be loaded.

AD Report Wizard maximum number of obkects to load

2. Grid Column Settings

AD Report Wizard Grid Column Settings

Within this tab, you have the ability to choose which LDAP attributes to load for your reports. On the left side, you will find two list boxes: AD Attributes and Predefined Attributes.

AD Report Wizard Predefined and All AD Attributes

The Predefined Attributes list comprises commonly used attributes, while the AD Attributes list encompasses the remaining LDAP attributes specific to the selected report category (e.g., user, group, etc.). When you choose an attribute from the list, the Selected Attribute panel will display information about that particular attribute.

AD Report Wizard Attributes Panel

Within this section, you have the option to modify the caption of the selected attribute before adding it to the grid. The grid will then showcase the currently selected attributes as columns.

AD Report Wizard select report columns

To include the selected attribute in the grid, you can either click the Add to Grid button or simply double-click on the attribute in the list. This action will remove the attribute from the list and append it to the end of the grid. If you wish to position the selected attribute at a specific location in the grid, you can drag it from the list and drop it into the desired position.

To remove an attribute or column from the grid, simply drag and drop it outside of the grid.

If you want to start fresh, you can click the Reset to Default button to reload the grid with preselected attributes. Additionally, you have the option to remove all columns from the grid by clicking the Remove All Columns button. By clicking the downward arrow on the Remove All Columns button, you can choose to delete either predefined attributes only or AD attributes only.

AD Report Wizard Add Columns

On the right side of the screen, you will find a dropdown list that contains attributes currently unsupported by the AD Reports tool.

AD Report Wizard not supported attributes

3. Membership Settings

AD Report Wizard Membership Settings

Within this tab, you have the capability to include group members or user memberships in your report. By default, this option is disabled. To activate it, simply check the Load Group Members checkbox (or Load User Membership for User reports).

AD Report Wizard Membership Settings

Within this section, you have the ability to specify whether you want to load only direct members or include nested membership. For group members, you can also choose to include nested group names, include primary group membership, and translate foreign security principals to more readable NT Account names.

Furthermore, you can determine whether you want to load only distinguished names or select specific member attributes. If you opt for "Select Member Attributes" and enable the "Select Group Members Attributes" panel, you can choose the columns/attributes you wish to load for your membership report.

Please bear in mind that selecting more options may result in slower report performance, as AD Reports needs to iterate through all members to gather the necessary information. The default membership settings are configured to load direct members with distinguished names only.

4. Saving Report

Multiple options are available for saving your report.

AD Report Wizard saving report

4.1. Applying settings to all reports

Once you have finished making modifications to your report, you have the option to apply these new settings to the entire report category (e.g., user, group, etc.). To do so, click on the Apply Settings to all reports... button.

In the subsequent pop-up window, you can choose which settings you would like to apply to all reports within the category.

AD Report Wizard saving report settings

Additionally, if you wish to make these settings available for all reports in all domains, you can select the option to "Save selected settings for All domains" and then click on Apply.

4.2. Updating existing report

To save the modifications made to your existing report, simply click on the Save & Exit button. If the "Reload selected report after save & exit" checkbox is selected, the report will be reloaded with the updated settings.

4.3. Saving Report as Custom

An alternative option is to save your report as a Custom report by clicking on the Save as Custom... button. In the subsequent pop-up window, provide a new name for the custom report and click on Save. Additionally, you have the choice to save this custom report for all domains by selecting the "Save this report for All domains" option. The report will then be reloaded and saved under the Custom reports tab.

We highly recommend utilizing this custom report option as it allows you to save numerous similar reports with different filters and settings, using your own custom report names.

When you run your report, the current report settings will be displayed in the "Selected Report Settings" window.


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