Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do not I see any data for the last month?
A: Try expanding the Transaction Date filter to "Last Year" or a custom range. It's possible no data has been created in the last 30 days.
Q: Why is the cell blank?
A: The source system had no data for that field. This is intentional and does not indicate an error.
Q: Why do not I see all updates for a part?
A: Ensure your Transaction Date filter covers the full period you wish to examine.
Q: Why can't I see the Reports tab at all?
A: There are three things that must be true before the Reports tab appears:
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The Reporting feature flag must be enabled for your organization (this is handled by Siemens Asset Managment Software).
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Your role must have the Reporting menu option turned on.
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Even once the Tab is visible, you will only see reports tied to the modules your role permits. If the tab is missing entirely, contact your administrator to confirm your role has Reporting access enabled.
Q: Why do I see some reports but not others?
A: Report visibility is tied to your module permissions (e.g., if your role includes viewing parts access, you will see inventory reports. If it does not, those reports will not appear in your list.) For reports that span multiple modules (e.g., a report covering both work orders and assets), you only need access to one of those modules to see it.
Q: I applied my filters, but the report did not update. What happened?
A: Check whether you clicked Apply after setting your date range. The date filter has its own Apply button, but the report will not refresh until you also click the main Apply button at the top of the filter panel. Both steps are required.
Q: My exported file looks different from what I see on screen. Is something wrong?
A: No. For dashboard-style reports (e.g., WO Status Analysis, Labor Time vs. Cost Analysis), exports pull the underlying raw data rather than the formatted view. The exported file may include additional columns or a different structure than the charts and tables displayed on screen. This is expected behavior.
Q: How do I sort by more than one column?
A: Hold Shift + click a second column header to add it as a secondary sort. The first column you click sets the primary sort; each Shift + click adds a layer. A bolder arrow on the column header indicates the active sort of direction (up = A to Z or low to high, down = the reverse).
Q: Why is my data different from my colleague's when we run the same report?
A: Reports respect your role and site permissions. You will only see data for the modules and sites your role has access to. Two users running the same report may see different rows if they have different permission sets.
Q: How many recipients can I add when scheduling a report?
A: You can add up to 50 email addresses per scheduled report. Addresses can be entered manually (comma-separated) or selected from the user directory using the Select Emails button.
Q: There are two scroll bars on the right side of my screen. Which one do I use?
A: The outer scroll bar moves the full page. The inner scroll bar (inside the report table) scrolls through data rows. To scroll within the table, hover your cursor over the data rows and use your mouse wheel, trackpad, or keyboard arrow keys. The horizontal scroll bar at the bottom scrolls through columns inside the table.
Q: I saved a view but want to update the filters in it. How do I do that?
A: Adjust your filters to the new settings you want, then open the Save & Schedule menu and select Update View. This overwrites the saved view with your current configuration. To save a separate version, use Save New View instead.
Q: Why are labor costs blank?
A: Users without that Labor View permission will see this blank. This is by design. Admins control it in role/permission settings. The column is not hidden completely from the view in case the user needs to export and combine with other user exports.
Q: Is the data current? How often is it refreshed?
A: Reports update on a delay, not in real time. After you make a change in Asset Essentials, expect up to 90 minutes before it appears in a report.
Q: Why is my date range showing less data?
A: Most reports cap data at a 24-month maximum. The UI does not warn when a wider or older range is
selected. Help docs note the limit per report.
Q: Why are reports in a strange order?
A: Reports default to internal ID order, not alphabetical. Users can re- sort by column header each session.
Q: The export is taking a long time — is it broken?
A: Large exports can take up to 3 minutes. There is no progress bar today — the button shows a loading state, and they must remain on the page (navigating away disrupts the export). Tell clients to keep the page
open and wait – they can open a new browser tab with AE to continue working.
Q: Can I export a PDF or PNG of a chart?
A: For table reports: CSV/XLSX available today. For dashboard/chart reports: PDF/PNG export is in development. Workaround: screen capture tool.
Q: My scheduled report didn't arrive. Can I see the history?
A: No delivery history or failure notification exists today for users. Scheduled exports run after midnight in the user’s local time zone on the frequency they set (daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly). Ask client to verify email in schedule settings and check spam. Monitor for support volume patterns.
Q: The 'Category' filter shows options that return no results - why?
A: The Category column drives report permissions - it's not a true content category. It may show permission
types the user can't access. A future enhancement will filter this
