There are two ways to extract data from the platform using Processes: Process Reports and Calculation Log exports. Both use Process Logic workbooks to control what is extracted and how it is presented, but they serve different purposes.
A Process Report is a formatted output file generated by a Process and made available for download from the execution record. It can contain Excel tables, charts, and multiple pages. Reports can also be attached to emails and distributed automatically as part of a workflow.
A Calculation Log export uses the Calculation Log itself as the export mechanism. The Process reads data from the database, loads it into the workbook, and the resulting workbook — accessible via the Calculation Log — contains the exported data. No Process Outputs are defined; the workbook is the output.
Process Reports
Prepare the Process Logic workbook
The workbook must be in .xlsx format (not .xls). It should include:
Named ranges or worksheets to receive input data from the database (via Process Inputs).
A result status cell (
ES_RESULT).One or more report worksheets containing the data and charts to be exported.
Formulas that copy or transform data from input worksheets into the report worksheets.
Optionally, a named cell for each report defining the output filename. The filename can be generated dynamically using a formula — for example, including a date in the filename.
Place graphed data on separate worksheets unless the data must also appear in the report. Chart-sheets (charts not embedded in a standard worksheet) are not supported — charts must be embedded within a normal worksheet and included within the defined report range.
Create the Process
Create a Spreadsheet Process in the standard way — see Create and Configure a Process. Configure Process Inputs, Process Parameters, and Process Outputs as needed for the calculation logic. The Process Report configuration is an additional step on top of standard Process configuration.
Define Process Reports
Navigate to Process Configuration \> Processes and select the Process.
In the Process Report Specification section, click Edit.
Enter the number of Process Report records to create and click Add.
For each report:
Format — the output file format:
Excel (.xlsx)— Excel workbookCSVorCSV (Windows)— CSV file (Windows variant uses Windows line endings)TextorText (Windows)— plain textPDF (pdf) / Excel (xlsx)— generates both PDF and Excel versions simultaneously
Report Range — the defined name representing the rows and columns to export. This may be a worksheet name or a named range. Direct cell references such as Sheet1!A1:Z26 are not supported — use a named range.
Report Filename Location — the defined name of a cell containing the filename, a spreadsheet reference such as Sheet1!A1, or a literal filename. If using a formula to generate a dynamic filename, define it as a named cell and reference that name here.
Enter an Audit Comment and click Save and Refresh.
When the Process executes, report files are available in the Process Execution Report panel on the execution record and from the Process History screen.
Multi-tab reports
To output multiple ranges into a single Excel file, create multiple Process Report records with the same Report Filename Location. Each range must come from a different worksheet in the workbook. The platform combines them into one file.
PDF generation
When using the PDF format, first test the layout by exporting to Excel and saving as PDF locally. Check page breaks, pagination, and formatting. Once the layout is correct, change the format to PDF (pdf) / Excel (xlsx) so both formats are generated by the platform on every run.
Distributing reports by email
To distribute a report automatically, configure the Process to write to EU_OUTGOING_MAIL and EU_OUTGOING_ATTACHMENT. The attachment object references the report file generated by the Process Report Specification. See Special Platform Objects for how these objects work.
Calculation Log data export
The Calculation Log can be used as a lightweight data extraction mechanism. Configure a Spreadsheet Process that reads data from the database via Process Inputs, loads it into the workbook, and does not define any Process Outputs. The workbook — downloaded via the Calculation Log — contains the extracted data.
Logging Level
For this to work, the Logging Level must not be Silent. Use Normal to include the workbook (with data) and a HTML summary. Use Verbose to also include input and output data as XML files. Do not use Silent — it produces no log.
Configure the export Process
Create a Spreadsheet Process — see Create and Configure a Process.
Set the Logging Level to Normal or Verbose.
Configure Process Inputs for each object whose data you want to export. See Process Inputs and Filters.
Add Process Parameters if the user needs to specify a date range or other filter criteria at runtime.
In the Process Logic workbook, define named ranges to receive the input data, a
ES_RESULTcell set toSuccess, and any layout or formatting needed in the output workbook.Do not configure Process Outputs. The workbook is the output.
When the Process runs, the Calculation Log contains the populated workbook with the extracted data. The user downloads the log, extracts the zip, and opens the workbook. See Process History and Calculation Logs for how to access and download Calculation Logs.