Overview
User seats determine how individuals can access and work within the Buxton Platform. While users can generally work with maps, layers, and other SCOUT functionality, their assigned reporting level determines whether they can create and run reports.
There are two primary user reporting levels: Reporting Users and Viewing Users. Reporting Users can create and run reports, while Viewing Users can view reports created by others but cannot run reports themselves.
If a reporting option is unavailable or greyed out in SCOUT, your assigned user level may be the reason. However, some reporting options can also be unavailable because of the configuration of the report or template.
Reporting Users
Reporting Users have full reporting capabilities within the application. They can create, run, and view standard reports and work throughout SCOUT. Reporting Users can also run site scores when the organization has purchased a Buxton site score model.
Viewing Users
Viewing Users can open and review reports created by other users but cannot create or run reports themselves. Outside of reporting, Viewing Users can continue to work within SCOUT and use available platform functionality. For example, they can independently create and save maps and layers for their own analysis or for collaboration with other users. Although a Viewing User can create a map, they cannot run a report based on that map. A Reporting User must run the report when reporting functionality is required.
Compare Reporting and Viewing Users
The following table summarizes the primary differences between the two reporting levels.
Capability | Reporting User | Viewing User |
Site Scores | Run if purchased | View only |
Standard Reports | Run and view | View only |
Work in SCOUT | Yes | Yes |
Maps and Layers | Create and save | Create and save |
Run Reports | Yes | No |
Note: Site scoring capabilities depend on whether your organization has purchased a Buxton site score model.
Troubleshoot Unavailable Reporting Options
If an option for creating, running, or comparing reports is greyed out or unavailable, first determine whether the issue is related to your user permissions or the report template configuration.
Reporting Options Are Greyed Out: If you cannot create or run a report, your account may be assigned the Viewing User role. Viewing Users do not have reporting permissions, so report creation and execution options are unavailable. Contact an administrator for your account if you need to request access to a role with reporting permissions.
Compare in Report Is Unavailable: If Compare in Report is unavailable when working with multiple geographies, the issue may be related to the configuration of your custom report template rather than your user permissions. Review the sections included in the template and confirm that each section supports comparison. If the template contains a section that cannot be used for side-by-side comparisons, remove that section and try the Compare option again. If the option remains unavailable after reviewing your template and permissions, contact your account administrator or Buxton Support for additional assistance.
Legacy User Reporting Levels
Some legacy Buxton clients may have different user reporting levels. These accounts may include Power Users, BI Users, and Viewing Users.
User Type | Site Scores | Standard Reports | Work in SCOUT |
Power User | Run and view | Run and view | Yes |
BI User | View only | Run and view | Yes |
Viewing User | View only | View only | Yes |
Buxton can further configure access to specific platform functionality based on an organization's needs. Additional permission controls may be enabled for individual users at the client's request.
Learn More
Review our report options here.
Tags: User Type, Reporting Access