Report Generator: troubleshooting

Something looks wrong in your report? Find what you see in the tables below and follow the fix.

Check these three things first. They solve most problems:

The Alt Text or text contains the element ID inside ${…}, for example ${Chart_1}. An ID without ${ } is ignored.
The element is on the same dashboard tab as the report. Elements on other tabs are not found.
The element shows data on the dashboard with the current filters.

Messages and problems on the slides

What you see	Why	How to fix
A chart is missing from the slide (no message)	The ID in the chart's Alt Text does not match any element on the report's tab, or the element has no data.	Copy the ID from the dashboard again and paste it into the Alt Text as `${ID}`. Check the report's tab. Check that the element shows data.
Orange box: No dashboard widget found for this element.	A text box's Alt Text points to an element that is not on the report's tab.	Fix the ID, or move the report to the tab with the element.
Orange text: No dashboard widget found for element "${…}".	An ID typed inside a text box or table cell does not match any element on the report's tab.	Fix the ID in the text.
Red box: Source dashboard chart is of number type. It cannot be rendered into presentation chart element.	A number (KPI) element is linked to a PowerPoint chart.	Link the number to a text box instead.
Red box: Source dashboard chart is of type …, which cannot be used for rendering presentation chart / table.	The dashboard element and the PowerPoint shape don't fit together, for example a chart linked to a PowerPoint table.	Use a PowerPoint chart for a chart and a PowerPoint table for a grid or table. See Best practices.
Red box: Unsupported target chart type, typeId = …	The PowerPoint chart type is not supported (for example 3-D column, treemap, waterfall, histogram).	Change the chart type in PowerPoint: right-click the chart → Change Chart Type → choose a 2-D bar, column, line, area, pie, doughnut, funnel or radar chart.
Red box: Result has failed. Cannot render chart / table: …	The element shows an error on the dashboard.	Open the dashboard and fix the element first.
A picture is not replaced	The picture's Alt Text has no `${ID}`, or there is no image for the selected option.	Put `${image element ID}` in the picture's Alt Text. Check the image bundle on the dashboard.
A logo looks stretched	The image always fills the placeholder frame exactly.	Make the placeholder picture the same shape (width : height) as your logos.
A table runs off the slide	The table gets one row per row on the dashboard. Its height is not limited.	Show fewer rows on the dashboard, or leave enough space below the table.
Colors differ from the template	Series colors always come from the dashboard.	Change the colors on the dashboard or in the project color palette.
A slide is missing	A slide that cannot be built is left out. With a script, the slide may not be listed in `slides`, or its number may not exist in the template.	Check the placeholders on that slide. Check the slide numbers in the script.
Slides show the dashboard's current selection, not the option in the script's `set`	The control ID or the option in `set` doesn't match the dashboard. `set` ignores it without a message.	Copy the control ID from the dashboard again. Write the option exactly as in the control, including capital letters.

Messages when you upload or export

What you see	Why	How to fix
The file name turns red in the upload window	Wrong file type. The template must end with `.pptx` (lowercase). The script must end with `.yml`.	Save the template as PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx). Rename a `.yaml` script to `.yml`.
Not allowed to load templates of more than 10.0 Mb	The template is too large.	In PowerPoint, compress pictures (Picture Format → Compress Pictures) and remove unused slides and media.
Report template is not set	The report has no template.	Open the report in EDIT mode and upload a `.pptx` file.
failed to decode template file data, that could be broken file	The file is not a valid PowerPoint presentation.	Open it in PowerPoint, choose Save As → PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx) and upload it again.
cannot parse YAML script: …	The script has a syntax error. Most often it is indented with tab characters.	Indent with spaces only. See automation with YAML script.
… control "…" not found	A control ID in a `forcontrol` (`alias`) does not exist on the report's tab.	Copy the control ID from the dashboard again.
Report generator: Mentioned in script option "…" was not found in dashboard control "…"	An option in `items` is not in the control. The report is created without it.	Check the spelling of the option against the control.
… is not allowed at the top level or … is not allowed as a child of …	The script uses an unknown command.	Use only `slides`, `forcontrol` and `set`.