Useful reports and reliable counts
Version 1.1 by BibOS Admin on 2026/11/14 19:03
Define the question first, then validate the result against familiar examples.
Check the official Koha manual for your installed version.
Start with a question
Koha provides reporting tools, including guided reports and saved SQL reports. A useful report starts with a clear definition of what it counts. Titles, copies, checkouts and unique borrowers answer different questions.
Write a short report brief
- Name the question and the person who will use the result.
- Define the date range, branches, item types and relevant statuses.
- State whether the output counts records, items, transactions or people.
- List the columns needed and avoid including personal details without a reason.
- Compare a small result with records your team already knows.
Keep the report reproducible
Save the meaning of each filter alongside the report. Record when it was run and which reporting period it covers.
Review report permissions and any public exposure separately. For SQL reports, ask a person familiar with your installed Koha schema to review the query. A report copied from another installation may reflect different fields or local policies.