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Overview

With Broadstripes, it’s easy to use the Reports feature to print your organizing information as a list. Here are a few reasons you might want to print a list:
  • Bring your information with you in hard copy to house visits and check-in meetings
  • Quick reference or to record information when you don’t have a computer
  • A tool for non-Broadstripes users to view and collect information
There are different types of lists that you can choose from, but we’ll focus here on the Basic List. The Basic List is a printed version of your records using whatever layout you choose for your organizing project. For instance, if your layout includes name, home address, and a checkbox indicating attendance at an upcoming event, that is what your printed list will display. Learn more about working with layouts in the save a layout article.

Using a printed list in your workflow

You can use the information displayed on a printed list in the same way you’d use it in the Broadstripes app. For instance, if you take a printed list with you on a house visit, use the informational columns on the list (name, home address) to find who you’re looking for. Once you have talked to people, use the attendance checkboxes on the list to manually record information about your conversations. Later, when you are back at your computer, you can use the notes you took on the printed list to update Broadstripes. Using the same layout in Broadstripes to update this data that you used when you printed your list greatly simplifies your task of data entry.
  1. Start by running a search for the contacts on your list. Learn about running a search in the search by workplace or create and save a search articles.
  2. When your search results appear, click all in the toolbar to include all the displayed results in your printed list. Toolbar showing the all button, selection count, and Reports menu
  3. All contacts will be selected (indicated by a selection count badge like 413 selected). You can also click page to select only the contacts on the current page, or individually uncheck any contact you want to exclude.
  4. Click the Reports menu and choose Basic List (PDF). Reports dropdown menu showing Basic List PDF and other report options
  5. The Report options dialog opens. Give the report a Title and choose a Column Layout to determine which columns of data will be included in your printed list. For more information about using layouts, see the choose a layout or save a layout articles. Report options dialog with title, layout, orientation, paper size, and formatting options The dialog includes the following options:
    OptionDescription
    TitleThe title that appears at the top of your printed list
    Column LayoutChoose a saved layout to determine which columns appear on the list
    OrientationPortrait (lengthwise) or Landscape (widthwise)
    Paper SizeSelect a paper size — US-Letter (8.5” × 11”) is the default, with options for Legal, Ledger, Tabloid, and more
    Shrink to fitAutomatically fits the list to the selected paper size. Recommended in most cases
    Large fontGenerates the list in a bigger font. Works best with few columns
    Wall Chart ModeFormats the list as a wall chart to be hung up in an office. Automatically switches to Landscape orientation
    Show Followers or EmployeesLists everyone that a given person leads or manages. Sub-options let you include people followers, organization followers, and add page breaks to keep each person’s followers on the same page
    Include BarcodeAdds a barcode column using an external system ID. Only needed if you are entering data from a canvass using scanners
    ScheduleOptionally schedule the report to be generated at a future time, or set up a recurring schedule
  6. Click Generate. Broadstripes will create a PDF report that downloads automatically.
  7. You’ll see a message that your PDF report is being created. You have two choices:
    • Stay on the current page and wait for the report’s download dialog to appear.
    • Leave the current page and check in later. Click Reports in the sidebar to go to the Reports page where you can download any requested report at any time. A badge on the Reports link shows how many reports are ready for download.
  8. Once you’ve downloaded your PDF list, open and print it just as you would any other PDF document.