Adding Defined Fields in WebReports

Trouble Viewing Images? Right-click on any image and select "Open in new tab" to view a larger version. You can also zoom in using Ctrl + Mouse Wheel for easier readability.

Article Goal

Learn how to add Defined Fields in WebReports, which can be used to apply user-specific data restrictions or return custom values in VDM Views.

What Are Defined Fields?

Defined Fields in WebReports are user-specific values (e.g., region, department, account ID) that can be used to personalize or secure VDM Views. These fields are passed into Views at runtime—either as returnable columns or as filters using FSGS or database functions.

Tip: Defined Fields allow you to create one shared View that behaves differently depending on the currently logged-in WebReports user.

Why Use Defined Fields?

• Enforce data security and filtering based on user roles or regions

• Avoid creating and maintaining multiple Views for different users

• Allow dynamic View behavior and filter logic

• Support reusable logic with Query Identifiers

Use Case: Instead of creating five different Views for five sales regions, you can add one defined field (@RegionID) to control access—automatically filtering data based on each user's profile.

Where Do You Add Defined Fields?

Defined Fields can be added on the Defined Fields page located under the Management tab in WebReports.

Video Tutorial:

Steps to Add Defined Fields in WebReports

Step 1: Navigate to the Defined Fields Page

• Log into WebReports

• Click on Defined Fields under the Management tab in the navigation bar

Step 2: Add a New Defined Field

• Click the Add button under the Execute section

Step 3: Enter the Field Details

• Name: The internal display name of the field

• Query Identifier: A unique keyword that will be referenced in VDM

• Description: Optional, but useful for explaining what the field is used for

Tip: The Query Identifier is what you will reference in your Views—for example, '@RegionID' when creating filters or database functions in VDM.

Step 4: Save the Defined Field

• Click the Save button to finalize and store the new field

What’s Next?

After adding a Defined Field, you can assign specific values to it per user using Step 2 – Assigning Defined Fields. This step ensures that each WebReports user receives the correct value when running Views.

Article Summary

Defined Fields in WebReports are powerful tools for customizing and securing VDM Views based on the logged-in user's identity. By adding Defined Fields and assigning them per user, you create a flexible system where one View can serve multiple users—each with personalized results. Setup is quick, scalable, and ideal for enterprise reporting needs.

Use Case: A healthcare admin assigns each user a defined field for their department. This ensures that every report run through WebReports only returns data relevant to the user’s assigned department.