The Pentaho Business Analytics Suite download includes sample reports and a sample database called Steel Wheels. Steel Wheels is included so that you can quickly use the software and explore the Pentaho BA Suite.
The following table helps you decide what tools to use for your needs and provides links to the corresponding articles.
| Explore Considerations | Choose Options | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Reports | Analyzer Reports | Dashboard Designer | |
| Summary | Interactive Reports is a web-based design interface which is used to create both simple and on-demand operational reports without depending on IT or report developers. | Analyzer Reports is an intuitive analytical visualization tool that filters and drills down into business information contained in Pentaho analysis data sources. | Dashboard Designer allows users to create dashboards with little or no training. The dashboard is several different reports brought together inside one screen. |
| Expertise | Knowledge of basic computer functions, such as operating systems and web browsers. | Knowledge of basic computer functions, such as operating systems and web browsers. | Knowledge of basic computer functions, such as operating systems and web browsers. |
| Recommendation | Use Interactive Reports if you want to create a tabular report that answers an immediate business question, looks professional, can be printed quickly, and provides significant control over formatting elements such as fonts, column width or sorting, background colors, and more. | Use Analyzer Reports if you want to compile data quickly while visually exploring your data, perform advanced sorting and filtering of your data, and want to see chart visualizations that include detailed stop-lighting. | Use Dashboard Designer if you want to create an interface to view many different reports at once, have quick access to web pages that you visit often, or view dynamic charts and graphs within a space while you create reports in another. |