When creating a new report, you must first select a Report Type. Report Type defines which Objects and Fields of data can be used within a Report. For example, if you want to create a report that contains data from a Prospect record, you would select a report type of ‘Prospect’.
Report Types can encompass more than one type of record. It is important to note if your Report Type is using a “with” object relationship or a “with or without” object relationship. Here are venn diagram examples of a “with” Report Type versus a “with or without” Report Type:
WITH WITH or WITHOUT
For example, since Lead Sources are linked (or related to) Prospect records, you can select a report type of ‘Lead Sources with Prospect’ if you’d like to create a report that analyzes data across both Prospect records and Lead Source records.
This video demonstrates how to recognize a Managed Report Type vs an Unmanaged Report Type. It explains how to Add Custom Fields to Unmanaged Report Types as well as how to Create new Custom Report Types for specific object relationships, in this example: Sales with Projects with Project Activities. The video briefly explains "with” object relationship vs a “with or without” object relationship.
Keep in mind, some Report Types are Editable!
Is the Report Type Managed or Unmanaged?
From the List of Report Types, you will see an icon that looks like an envelope with a blue arrow next to any Managed Report Types.
NOTE: Unmanaged Report Types can easily be Edited. You can simply add your new Custom Fields to the existing Report Type. See also: How to Edit Existing Report Types to add Custom Fields
Example: Of the Report Types shown below, only Loans and Lead Sources with w/o Appointments with w/o Sales Report Types are Editable. The other Report Types shown here are Managed (as indicated by the icons).
