Yes, I've used the Report Library and I find it very confusing and extremely hard to find the report I need. The naming conventions for the reports do not seem to be standardized and many times the name doesn't seem to tell you what the report actually returns. I've taken the Reporting class, along with most of the other classes offered and it did explain how the use the system. I just don't think the system is very good as it currently functions.
I am used to the reporting functionality in Shelby which allowed you to filter the data for any report on any available field in the database. So if I wanted to search for all males, between the ages of X and X, who are assigned to a certain class, and who meet certain requirements (and who have red hair if you have that information recorded) I could do so without having to submit a request for a new report that will allow me to filter on those fields. F1 doesn't allow me to do this, or at least I haven't found out how to do it.
Shelby had stock reports like F1 does, but it also allowed the user to format their own custom reports that could be exported to an Excel or CSV file and manipulate the data. F1 only allows me to get the data in the stock formats that are already there or at least I haven't found out a way to export custom data. Yes, I realize that F1 has the query builder functionality under the People tab, but not all fields in the database are searchable in the query builder. And yes, I realize that F1 has the Data Exchange capability, but that is yet another function that my users have to learn to use instead of being able to export the data directly from the report generator the way they could in Shelby.
Like I said before, I see vast potential for ministry in F1 but this potential is being hindered by the fact that getting the requested information out of the system is such a confusing process. Maybe this has to do with the fact that we don't understand the system fully yet, but I dont' think so. I've heard from other users that their biggest issue is with the reporting. I've even heard of churches that have reverted to their previous CMS simply because of the difficulty with reporting.
Rob Guilliams
Director of Computer Services
Highview Baptist Church
Louisville, KY