What is the first step to take when running a report?

The first step in running a report is to select the report you wish to generate. This is a crucial initial action because the specific report chosen determines the kind of data and metrics that will be analyzed and presented. Each report is designed to serve different purposes, such as tracking financial performance, customer activity, or operational efficiency. Until a report is selected, there is no framework or context for which parameters can be set or what data needs to be accessed or saved.

After selecting the report, the next steps would typically involve setting parameters to refine the data being retrieved, clicking the save button to preserve any customized settings or outputs, and accessing shared functions if collaboration on reports is needed. However, none of these actions can occur until the appropriate report has been identified and selected. Therefore, initiating the process by choosing the correct report lays the foundation for all subsequent actions.