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Administrator Guide
Last Updated: 2026-03-13
Concept: Examples of Report-Building Methods

Concept: Examples of Report-Building Methods

You typically build Workday reports by either:
  • Starting from a business object to define your population first.
  • Starting from a specific record to establish the underlying data structure.
Your choice depends on your primary goal: Do you want to explore how different pieces of data connect or do you want to start with a specific list of records.

Link Method

You can use this method when you need to span across different areas of Workday, and link separate objects, such as workers and their dependents into a single view. This is a good way to map complex relationships and ensure that multilayered data stays accurate and organized.
Scenario: You need to build a report that shows a list of all active employees and their dependents. You’re familiar with data structure but need to find the right source.
  1. Identify the relevant business objects. Use the Worker business object for employee information and the Dependent business object for dependent information.
  2. On the
    Related Business Objects
     tab of the
    Business Object Details
     report, confirm that Dependent is a multi-instance RBO.
  3. To see a list of employees with their dependents listed under them, choose a data source such as All Active Employees. The PBO is Employee, and the report will show a primary row for each employee.
  4. Use the
    Report Fields
    report to find the specific fields you want to include, such as
    Legal Name
     from the Worker object and
    Full Name
     and
    Date of Birth
     from the Dependent object.
  5. Build your report using the advanced report type. Select your chosen data source and add the fields from both the PBO and the RBO to your report's columns.

Search Method

You can use this method to discover which fields to use by looking at a live example in Workday. By starting with a specific employee, you can see how their Job Profile and Location appear on their profile, and then use that information to find the right fields for your report.
Scenario: You need to build a report that shows each employee's name, job profile, and location. You are new to data structures, or navigating the UI is easier than the data model.
  1. From the related actions menu of an employee, select
    Reporting > Report Fields and Values
    to view all available fields with their current values for that specific worker. You can search this list for job profile and location to confirm the exact field names and see how data is formatted.
  2. Access the
    Business Object Details
     report and select
    Worker
     on the
    Business Object
    prompt to view a complete list of every field available on the Worker business object.
  3. Access the
    Data Sources
     report and filter by the Worker business object to view all available data sources that are built on the Worker business object. Review the descriptions to find the one that best fits your needs.