There are two main types of reports in Microsoft Dynamics AX: ad hoc reports and preconfigured reports.
Ad hoc
reports
Ad hoc reports are reports that you create yourself. You select the data that you want to display on the report, and you design the layout of the report. You can create transactional ad hoc reports or multidimensional ad hoc reports.
Transactional ad hoc reports
A transactional ad hoc report is a report that is based on transactional data that is entered in Microsoft Dynamics AX.
To create a transactional ad hoc report, you use a tool called Report Builder, which is a component of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. Using Report Builder, you can create a report by dragging database tables and fields onto a report template. For more information, see Create a transactional ad hoc report.
Multidimensional ad hoc reports
A multidimensional ad hoc report is a report that is based on Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services cubes.
To create a multidimensional ad hoc report, open Microsoft Office Excel, select the cube data that you want to display on the report, and then format the report as a PivotTable or PivotChart report. For more information, see Create a multidimensional ad hoc report.
Preconfigured
reports
Preconfigured reports are reports that have been designed for you. Although you will not be able to modify the layout of these reports, you can filter and sort the data that is displayed on the reports. The following types of preconfigured reports are available.
Microsoft Dynamics AX standard reports
Standard reports are preconfigured reports that are provided by Microsoft Dynamics AX. Each module's area page has a Reportsarea that contains links to standard reports. For more information about how to generate and print standard reports, see Microsoft Dynamics AX standard reports.
Microsoft Dynamics AX auto reports
Auto reports are preconfigured reports that you can generate by clicking the Printicon on a form. For more information about how to generate and print auto reports, see Microsoft Dynamics AX auto reports.
Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reports
Microsoft Dynamics AX includes many preconfigured reports that were built by using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. To view these reports, go to your Role Center ( Home).
Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services cubes
Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services provides online analytical processing (OLAP) functionality. OLAP helps you analyze data and identify trends that you might not otherwise discover when viewing data in traditional reports.
An OLAP query—called a cube—is said to be multidimensional because the query returns data from multiple tables in a database. The report data is then viewed in an Office Excel PivotTable or PivotChart report. For more information about OLAP reporting and viewing data that is included in a cube, see Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services cubes.
Microsoft FRx financial reports
Financial reports are the period-end reports and year-end reports that you can create from your Microsoft Dynamics AX financial modules. To create financial reports, you will need to use Microsoft FRx.
Using FRx, you can create many types of financial reports, from simple income statements and balance sheets to cash flow reports and multi-company reports. The reports can be viewed, printed, sent by e-mail, or exported to an Excel worksheet.
For more information about creating financial reports, see your FRx documentation.
