ConnectWise Report Writer Fields

The Fields tab is where you build the actual report: choose which columns appear, how they’re sorted and grouped, and what totals and formatting to apply. It’s one of several tabs in the Report Designer.

Fields tab controls

Control	What it does
Field	Lists all available fields from the Data Sources tab. Bold entries are table or data source names. Data types appear next to each field.
Description	Auto-populates with the field name. Edit this to change the column heading in the report output.
Sort	Sorts the report in ascending order by the selected field. To sort descending, use the Sort (z-a) option in advanced properties.
VG	Groups the field into subheadings, making it easier to scan related data.
Arithmetic (A)	Performs basic calculations (+, −, ×, %) and text concatenation.
Function	Applies text, date/time, or numeric functions to the field based on its data type.
Format	Sets the display format for the field’s values. See Format options below.
Add Subtotals	Adds column totals for all numeric columns. Control subtotal behavior per field using Subtotal Function in that field’s advanced settings.
Quick Add	Adds multiple fields at once from a list.
Add Pivot	Generates an analytical data grid pivoted on a grouping you define — for example, displaying yearly totals for a money column.
Remove All	Removes all selected fields.
Design Form	Opens the Design Form editor.

The row-level icon buttons let you delete a row, insert a row above or below, reorder rows, and open advanced properties for that row.

Format options

Different formats are available depending on the field’s data type and any function applied.

Format	Output
. . .	Raw value as stored in the database
0,000	Whole number
0,000.00	Two decimal places
$0.00	Currency with two decimal places
$/100	Value divided by 100, displayed as currency
0.0	One decimal place
0.00	Two decimal places
0.000	Three decimal places
0%	Percentage
% of Group	Row value as a percentage of the group total
% of Group (with rounding)	Same as % of Group, rounded to the nearest tenth
Gauge	Linear gauge instead of a number
Gauge (variable)	Linear gauge with variable bounds — the next two numeric fields set the lower and upper boundaries
Dash Gauge	Linear gauge that changes format based on values

Group results by date

1. Go to System > Report Writer > New > Report.
2. On the Data Sources tab, select your data sources.
3. Go to the Fields tab and select your fields.
4. For the date field, select a grouping function — for example, Group(Year) — in the Function column.
5. For a second field, select Count in the Function column.
6. Complete the rest of the report as usual.

Create a pivot chart

1. Go to System > Report Writer > New > Report.
2. On the Data Sources tab, select your data sources.
3. Go to the Fields tab and select your fields.
4. Select Add Pivot, then choose the column headings that will appear across the top of the chart from the Add Pivots for drop-down.
5. Complete the rest of the report as usual.

Create a drill-through report

A drill-through report links one report to another, so readers can select a value to see the underlying detail.

1. Go to System > Report Writer and open the report you want to add a drill-through to.
2. Go to the Misc tab and select a field from the Drill Down Key drop-down — for example, Project Name.
3. Go to the Fields tab and select Advanced Settings for the field you set as the drill-down key.
4. In the Advanced Properties dialog, select your target report from the Subreport drop-down.
5. In the Drill Down Style drop-down, select Popup.
6. Select OK, then select Save.

Embed a subreport

Unlike a drill-through, an embedded subreport displays its data inline in the main report — no link required.

1. Go to System > Report Writer and open the subreport you want to embed.
2. Go to the Misc tab and enter a value in the Drill-Down Key field.
3. Select Save.
4. Open the main report and go to the Fields tab.
5. Add a column for the drill-down key you set on the subreport.
6. Select Advanced Settings for that field.
7. In the Subreport drop-down, select the subreport.
8. In the Drill Down Style drop-down, select Embedded.
9. Select OK, then save the main report.

Note: ConnectWise’s standard invoice output uses embedded subreports — one for products, one for time, one for expenses. If a detail section is missing from your invoice, the subreport links in Invoice Standard are likely disconnected. See Embed Subreports in an Invoice Template to reconnect them.