Before you build any custom widget or tabular report, you must select a Data source. In Commusoft, data sources are also known as "objects."
Your chosen data source is the most important decision you will make when building a report, because it permanently determines exactly which fields and metrics are available for you to use.
The object hierarchy explained
Commusoft organizes your data into a strict hierarchy consisting of "parents" and "children."
Think of a Customer as a parent. A single customer can have multiple Jobs attached to them. Those jobs are the children of the customer. In turn, a single Job can have multiple Invoices attached to it, making the invoices the children of the job.
The Golden Rule: When you select a data source, you gain access to all the data within that specific object, plus all the data from its parents. You do not gain access to the data of its children.
Applying the rule
Because you cannot look "down" the hierarchy at child data, you must always select the lowest level of detail you need to report on as your primary data source.
Example 1: Reporting on Jobs
If you want to build a report tracking how many jobs were completed this month, you would select Jobs as your data source.
What you can see: All job details (the object), plus the associated Customer and Property details (the parents).
What you cannot see: Invoice totals or individual line items (the children).
Example 2: Reporting on Profitability
If you want to build a report tracking financial profitability, selecting Jobs as your data source will not work, because the financial data lives inside the invoices. You must go lower down the hierarchy. Therefore, you would select Invoice/credits as your data source.
What you can see: All invoice totals (the object), plus the Job details, Customer details, and Property details (the parents).
What happens next?
Now that you understand how to select the correct data source, you are ready to start building your own custom widgets and tabular reports.
If you are unsure where to begin, return to the main Analytics guide to see our recommended order.
Common questions
Why are some fields missing when I try to add a column or group?
Why are some fields missing when I try to add a column or group?
If a field is missing or unavailable in the builder, it means that field belongs to a "child" object that sits below your currently selected data source in the hierarchy. You will need to create a new report and select a lower-level data source to access those fields.
Can I change the data source of a report after I create it?
Can I change the data source of a report after I create it?
No. Because the data source dictates the entire structure of the report, it is permanently locked once you click Continue in the first step of the builder. If you selected the wrong data source, you must build a new widget or report from scratch.
🤖 Still need help? Ask AI:den, our 24/7 AI agent.
➡️ Click your Profile icon → Get support → Ask a question
AI:den can guide you or connect you with our team if needed.