Salesforce Report on Reports: Clean Up Your Org with This Custom Report
Salesforce Report on Reports: Clean Up Your Org with This Custom Report
“Can’t see the wood for the trees?” If you’re a Salesforce Admin, you’ve probably felt this way staring at hundreds of reports — many outdated, unused, or unclear in purpose. This article will walk you through creating a Salesforce report on reports to bring clarity and control to your reporting chaos.
Why Create a Salesforce Report on Reports?
Every admin has been there:
- Endless lists of reports
- No idea what’s still relevant
- Wasted time searching for that one important report
The solution? Create a custom report type that audits your reports — a true report audit in Salesforce.
Step-by-Step: How to run a report audit in Salesforce
You’ll start by creating a custom report type:
- Go to Setup > Report Types > New
- Primary Object: Reports
- Secondary Object: Dashboard Components
- Save the report type and give it a clear name like: Report Usage Audit
Create the Report
- Go to Reports and click New Report
- Select your new custom report type
- Include these columns:
Report NameFolder NameCreated DateLast Run DateDashboard Component(if available)
How to Use It
Once your report is live, you can:
- Filter by Last Run to find reports that haven’t been touched in years
- Group by Report Type to see which custom types are unused
- Use Dashboard Component to find reports embedded in dashboards
Why This Matters
Running a salesforce report on reports helps you:
- Clean up unused reports
- Spot redundant or obsolete data sets
- Track dashboard component usage
- Improve performance and admin hygiene
FAQs
What is the “Reports” report type in Salesforce?
It’s a standard report type that shows metadata about reports — like names, folders, creators, and last run dates.
Can I schedule a “Report on Reports”?
Yes! Just like any other report, you can schedule it to be emailed regularly to admins or power users.
Who can access the “Reports” report type?
Only users with permission to manage reports and access report folders can use this report type.
Can I use it to audit dashboard components?
Not directly — but you can combine this with a dashboard audit manually or use installed packages to get deeper insights.
What’s the benefit of adding Dashboard Components as a secondary object?
It shows which reports are being used in dashboards — preventing accidental deletions of high-visibility assets.
Can I use the standard Reports report type instead?
Yes, but adding the Dashboard Component relationship gives you more insight into where each report is surfaced.
Can I filter by who last ran the report?
Absolutely. Add the “Last Run By” field if you want to track who’s actively using reports in your org.
Need More Admin Tips?
Check out my other guide on dynamic search in Salesforce screen flows.
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Need Help? Learn More from Salesforce
Want to explore more about report types or metadata? Check out the official Salesforce guide on report types.
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