Data and Analytics for Small Business
Reports versus dashboards
Know the difference cold: reports are the query and data display; dashboards visualize report results in components and refresh on a schedule or on demand. Report types (standard or custom) define which objects can be combined and how. A classic trap: a dashboard component shows stale data because the running user's refresh schedule has not fired, or because the viewer lacks access to the underlying report.
Report formats and filters
Understand the four formats: tabular (simple list), summary (grouped with subtotals), matrix (grouped by rows and columns), and joined (multiple blocks). Know filter logic, cross filters, and that row-level formulas calculate per row while summary formulas aggregate. Bucket fields group values into ranges.
Data quality and management
Duplicate rules and matching rules prevent and flag duplicates; validation rules enforce data entry standards. For loading data, know Data Import Wizard for simple loads and Data Loader for larger or automated loads. Traps: validation rules block imports, and required fields must be mapped or the load fails.
Worked rule of thumb
When a report returns no rows, check in order: report type object coverage, filters, sharing/visibility of the running user, and whether the field is populated. Most 'empty report' questions are a filter or a running-user visibility issue.