Working with reports
Using the builder
A guided walk-through of the configurator — what each field does and how the live preview behaves.
The builder lives at beaconreports.ca/build and is the only screen where you actually shape a report. It's split into two sides: a live preview on the left, and a sidebar of editable fields on the right.
1. Choose the template
Tabs across the top of the builder list all eight templates. Click a tab and the preview switches to that template's layout. Your branding (logo, department name, title) carries across when you switch, so it's fine to try a few before deciding.
2. Add your branding
The top of the sidebar is the branding block. Three fields:
- Department logo— drag a PNG or SVG file in, or click to browse. We'll size it to the cover's logo slot. PNG with a transparent background works best.
- Department name — the legal department name as it should appear on the cover. Most chiefs use the same form as on official letterhead.
- Report title— defaults to the template's standard title. Override it if your reporting voice differs.
As you type, the live preview updates in place. There's no "preview" button — what you see is what you'll get.
3. (Professional only) Pick your KPI cards
Below the branding block is the KPI card picker. The Professional Edition includes 25 KPI cards across five sections:
- Roster — head-count and assignment cards.
- Payroll — pay-period totals, overtime, and exception cards.
- Accruals — vacation, sick, banked, and trend cards.
- Trades — requested, approved, and reciprocity cards.
- Staffing — coverage, minimum-staffing, and leave cards.
Each section is collapsible. Check the cards you want; uncheck the rest. The dashboard zone of the preview rearranges itself as you go.
Free Edition orders skip this step — the KPI cards stay locked at placeholder values regardless of what you tick.
4. Review the preview
Before you submit, scan the preview one more time:
- Is the logo crisp at the size shown?
- Is the department name spelled exactly as you want it on the cover?
- Does the title match what you'll call the report internally?
- (Professional) Are the dashboard cards the ones you actually want?
5. Submit the order
Click Submit order. We'll capture the spec, send a confirmation email with your order reference, and (for Professional orders) email an invoice within minutes. Once the invoice is paid the finished report file is emailed to you — usually within minutes of payment confirmation.
What we collect, and why
The builder collects the bare minimum: your email (to deliver the report), the department name and title (printed on the cover), the logo (rendered on the cover), and — for Professional orders — your KPI card selection. See the privacy policy for full retention, vendor list, and PIPA disclosures.