Source Report
In Salesforce Reporting Snapshots, the specific report whose results are captured at each scheduled execution, with columns mapped to fields on a target custom object for historical trend storage.
Definition
In Salesforce Reporting Snapshots, the specific report whose results are captured at each scheduled execution, with columns mapped to fields on a target custom object for historical trend storage.
In plain English
“A Source Report in Salesforce Reporting Snapshots is the specific report whose results get captured at each scheduled execution. Its columns are mapped to fields on a target custom object for historical data tracking. It's the data input side of the snapshot process.”
Worked example
Cottonwood Capital's daily Reporting Snapshot of Opportunities depends on a Source Report - a report defined in Salesforce that runs at the snapshot's scheduled time. The Source Report is named "Active Opportunities by Stage and Owner" and returns one row per Opportunity matching the criteria. Each row's columns (Opportunity Id, Owner, Stage, Amount, Created Date) map to fields on the Reporting Snapshot Target Object. When the Source Report's filter changes (say, the team adds a region filter), every subsequent snapshot reflects the updated source. The Source Report is the data input; the Target Object is the historical-storage output.
Why Source Report matters
In Salesforce Reporting Snapshots, the Source Report is the specific report whose results are captured at each scheduled execution, with columns mapped to fields on a target custom object for historical data tracking. The source report defines what data gets captured: its filters control which records are included and its columns determine what information each snapshot row contains.
Source report quality directly affects snapshot value. Well-designed source reports produce clean, useful historical data; poorly-designed ones produce noise. Mature snapshot implementations maintain dedicated source reports that are designed specifically for snapshot capture rather than repurposing existing analytical reports.
How organizations use Source Report
Maintains dedicated source reports designed specifically for their snapshot capture needs.
Designs source report columns with downstream analytics in mind.
Treats source report design as foundational to snapshot data quality.
Test your knowledge
Q1. What is a Source Report?
Q2. What determines what gets captured?
Q3. Should you use existing analytical reports?
Discussion
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