Getting Started with WP Activity Log Reports

WP Activity Log includes a Reports module that enables you to run different types of reports. Reports are very useful to quickly and succinctly digest multiple log entries or even present information to stakeholders in a way that can be easily disseminated.

Accessing the Reports module

To access the Reports module, first navigate to WP Activity Log > Reports. 

On the left side of the page, which is highlighted in green in the screenshot below, you’ll find the Reports navigation menu. The rest of the page, highlighted in red, is dedicated to the Reports working area.

The Reports navigation menu includes the following options:

• Generate reports/configure periodic reports: Here, you’ll find everything you need to run ad-hoc reports and set up periodic reports
• Generate statistics reports: This is where you can run statistics reports from
• White labeling: All of the white labeling options live here
• Reports settings: All of the reports’ settings live here
• Configured periodic reports: Here, you’ll find a library of all configured periodic reports
• Generated & saved reports: And finally, this is where all previously generated reports, as well as saved reports, live

Generating reports and configuring periodic reports

At the heart of the WP Activity Log Reports module is the reporting engine, which enables you to run different kinds of reports based on the criteria you set. Reports can be run ad-hoc or configured to run periodically.

By default, reports include all available data. This means that if you do not set any of the available filters and run a report, you will get a report with all of the data available in the log database.

Filters, thus, enable you to narrow down reports to show the data you want to see. You can create different reports with different filters so that each report displays specific information only.
To generate reports and configure periodic reports, navigate to WP Activity Log > Reports and then click on Generate reports/configure period reports.

Reports Filters

Reports come with different filters, many of which you’ll find in the Log Viewer header. Each filter has the following options:

All objects: No filtering is applied, and all data is included

These specific objects: Only results matching the specified objects are included in the report

All expect these objects: All results except the ones that match the specified objects are included in the report

Available filters include:

• Users: Filter by the user or users who performed the activity or activities 
• Roles: Filter by the user role or roles who performed the activity or activities 
• IPs: Filter by the IP address
• Objects: Filter by the type of object that was modified by the activity 
• Event types: Filter by the type of activity event
• Post titles: Filter by post titles
• Post types: Filter by post types
• Post statuses: Filter by post statuses
• Alert IDs: Filter by activity ID
• Alert Group(s): Filter by alert group or groups
• Severity: Filter by severity level

Date range: Select the start date and end date of the activities that you would like to include in the report. Leave these empty to include all available data.

Report tag: Tags are a free-text optional setting designed to make reports easily identifiable and can be customized to suit your requirements.

Report tile: Title to show in the report 

Comment: Add any comments you would like to include in the report here

Metadata: Select this option to include report metadata in the report itself.

If you’re running a one-off ad-hoc report, you can now go straight ahead to the very bottom of the page and click on Generate Report. WP Activity Log will generate the report for you and make it available in the Generated & saved reports section.

If you want to configure the report to run periodically, first click on the Periodic report slider to the right and then fill in the following:

Report name: Enter a name for the report

Send report to email: Enter the email address you would like to send the report to or add multiple email addresses separated by a commaPeriod of the report: Choose how frequently you would like the report to be sent

Once you’ve made your selections, click on Save Report. WP Activity Log will save the report in the Configured periodic reports section.

When are periodic reports sent?

Periodic reports are sent at the following times:

• Daily reports are sent at 12:00 AM at the start of the following day
• Weekly reports are sent on the first day of the following week at 12:00 AM 
• Monthly reports are sent on the first day of the following month at 12:00 AM
• Quarterly reports are sent on the first day of the following quarter at 12:00 AM

It is important to note that the times indicated above are when the corn jobs that run the report start. Depending on the amount of data, the corn job may take a few minutes to complete.

Generating Statistics reports

Statistics reports enable you to run ad-hoc statistical reports for different types of events. Here, you’ll find several preset reports that you can run very easily, thanks to the intuitive interface.
To get started, navigate to WP Activity Log > Reports and then click on Generate statistics reports from the right-hand menu. Next, fill in the following:

• Start date: Select the start date of the period you would like to base your statistics report on
• End date: Select the end date of the period you would like to base your statistics report on
• Time period: Select the time period you would like to sort the data by
• Report type: Choose the type of statistics report you would like to run
• Report tag: Provide a friendly name for the report

Once ready, click on Generate report to generate the report. The report will automatically be filed under Generated & saved reports.

Reports can be configured and customized to meet your operational and branding requirements. Read our How to configure and customize WP Activity Log reports guide to learn how.