¶ Exporting SAP Lumira Reports to PDF, Excel, and CSV
In the SAP analytics ecosystem, SAP Lumira is a powerful self-service data visualization and reporting tool that enables users to create insightful dashboards and stories. While interactive dashboards are great for on-screen analysis, exporting reports to common file formats like PDF, Excel, and CSV is essential for sharing, offline review, and further data processing.
This article explores how SAP Lumira supports exporting reports and the best practices for exporting to PDF, Excel, and CSV formats.
Exporting reports serves several important purposes:
- Sharing insights with stakeholders who may not have access to SAP Lumira.
- Archiving reports for audit and compliance purposes.
- Offline analysis and presentation in meetings without internet access.
- Data extraction for additional processing in tools like Microsoft Excel or statistical software.
- Cross-platform compatibility ensuring your reports can be viewed and utilized outside the SAP environment.
Exporting to PDF creates a static, paginated snapshot of your Lumira story or visualization that preserves layout and formatting.
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Open your story or dashboard in SAP Lumira Desktop or SAP Lumira Server.
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Go to the File menu or the export icon.
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Select Export as PDF.
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Choose the export options:
- Select specific pages or the entire story.
- Define page orientation (portrait or landscape).
- Set page size and scaling options.
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Click Export and save the PDF file.
- Design your dashboard for print-friendly layouts to avoid cut-off visuals.
- Use page breaks thoughtfully to separate logical sections.
- Include titles, legends, and annotations for clarity.
- PDF is best for finalized reports intended for presentation or distribution.
Exporting to Excel allows users to manipulate data, perform calculations, or create custom reports outside of Lumira.
- In the visualization or data view, click the Export option.
- Select Export to Excel.
- Lumira exports the underlying dataset or chart data into an Excel (.xlsx) file.
- Open the file in Microsoft Excel or compatible spreadsheet software.
- Excel exports preserve the tabular structure of data but may not maintain visual formatting.
- You can export raw data behind a visualization or aggregated data depending on selection.
- Useful for users who want to build custom reports or combine data with other sources.
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a plain-text format widely used for data exchange between systems.
- Navigate to the data table or visualization.
- Select Export → Export to CSV.
- Save the CSV file locally.
- Lightweight and simple format.
- Compatible with almost all data processing and analytics tools.
- Ideal for exporting large datasets or raw data.
- CSV files do not retain formatting, formulas, or hierarchies.
- Data types may be simplified (e.g., dates and numbers treated as text).
- Ensure correct delimiter settings based on regional settings (comma, semicolon).
- Data Volume: Large datasets may take longer to export and result in large file sizes.
- Security: Exported files might contain sensitive data; ensure proper access controls.
- Version Compatibility: Make sure users have compatible software versions to open exported files.
- Interactive Elements: Exported files (especially PDFs and Excel) lose interactive features available in Lumira stories.
Exporting SAP Lumira reports to PDF, Excel, and CSV formats extends the reach and utility of your data analytics efforts. Whether sharing polished, printable reports, providing raw data for further analysis, or enabling offline access, mastering export options is essential for SAP Lumira users.
By understanding the strengths and best use cases of each format, SAP professionals can ensure that their insights are communicated effectively across various audiences and tools.