[Reporting] Optimize PDF Reports

[Erikg346]

Describe the feature:

Currently, I have been attempting to use Canvas to build PDF reports using data in Elastic. Generating reports has not been easy.

1. Optimize building the actual PDF report:
   I just want to create a report that is just a table of results that (extends to as many pages as needed) based on the query provided.

I attempted this but the issue is it doesn't extend to other pages. This what I discovered:
I created a markdown table with "Users | Count" using ESSQL. The issue is the results retrieved don't all fit on one page, and it can't extend the results to another page. I was referred to use a data table but that has pending issue #17950 (comment) where the pagination doesn't work with PDF.

2. Optimize reporting for email:
   The only way to alert with attachments is using a watcher. Watcher alerts allow more customization but Watcher UI is not as built out as Alerts UI. It would be great if the standard alerts could easily add attachments.

Overall, I feel like it shouldn't be this difficult to create a PDF report with table results.

Describe a specific use case for the feature:
Users want business reports created to show the same information in the dashboards. Competitors can also generate simple reports via email more easy and with less of hassle.
Example 1:

Example 2:

[elasticmachine]

Pinging @elastic/kibana-presentation (Team:Presentation)

[elasticmachine]

Pinging @elastic/kibana-reporting-services (Team:Reporting Services)

[nickpeihl]

Hi @Erikg346, thanks for filing this issue.

Optimize building the actual PDF report:
I just want to create a report that is just a table of results that (extends to as many pages as needed) based on the query provided.

I attempted this but the issue is it doesn't extend to other pages. This what I discovered:
I created a markdown table with "Users | Count" using ESSQL. The issue is the results retrieved don't all fit on one page, and it can't extend the results to another page. I was referred to use a data table but that has pending issue #17950 (comment) where the pagination doesn't work with PDF.

If I understand correctly, you are using Markdown in Canvas to create a custom styled report. But the number of rows in the table are exceeding the size of the Canvas page which causes the PDF report to be cut off. Unfortunately, I do not see a way for Canvas to paginate tables in Markdown. The PDF reports are tied directly to what is seen on the screen. You can customize Canvas font size and page size (e.g. US Letter) which might help you fit more data on the page. Based on this, I don't see how we could make any changes to Canvas to accommodate your feature request.

As you've pointed out, the data table visualization also only includes the first page of items in the PDF reports.

Optimize reporting for email:
The only way to alert with attachments is using a watcher. Watcher alerts allow more customization but Watcher UI is not as built out as Alerts UI. It would be great if the standard alerts could easily add attachments.

I'm going to ask @elastic/kibana-reporting-services to weigh in on this request as they are the domain experts.

[tsullivan]

I just want to create a report that is just a table of results that (extends to as many pages as needed) based on the query provided.

There are two distinct issues to track this common request:

• [Reporting] Full data table content must be contained in the pdf generated #17950 - this talks about finding a way to get the screenshot to include all the table data if the dashboard or canvas includes a data table
• [Reporting] Exporting raw data from table-based visualizations #30982 - this talks about creating a new kind of Reporting method that will export all of the data for a table, other than what is offered in Discover.

The only way to alert with attachments is using a watcher. Watcher alerts allow more customization but Watcher UI is not as built out as Alerts UI. It would be great if the standard alerts could easily add attachments.

Related: #79905

[tsullivan]

Based on the issue description, it sounds like #30982 is the existing issue most relevant to what is being asked.

Closing in favor of #30982