Dynamic vs Manual Reports

What this helps you do: Understand the difference between Dynamic and Manual reports so your reports stay up to date—and you don’t accidentally send outdated information.

How it works

Every report is created in one of two modes:

Dynamic (default and recommended)
Manual

The mode determines whether your report automatically updates when data changes.

In Reports 2.0, new reports default to Dynamic to prevent accidental static reports.

Dynamic reports (recommended)

Dynamic reports are filter-driven and automatically stay current.

Instead of selecting individual items, you define rules—like groups, dates, priorities, or statuses—and the report updates as the data changes.

Dynamic reports automatically update when:

New bills are added to your selected groups
Bill status, priority, position, or assignee changes
Meetings are added, removed, or updated
Dates roll forward (e.g., “This week” → next week)

Dynamic reports are best for:

Weekly or recurring client reports
Ongoing monitoring (e.g., “all high-priority bills”)
Calendars that need to stay current
98–99% of real-world reporting use cases

Manual reports

Manual reports are fixed snapshots of specific bills or meetings.

They do not update when underlying data changes.

If a bill moves, a new bill is added to a group, or a meeting changes, the manual report stays exactly the same.

Manual reports are best for:

One-time packets tied to a specific date or event
Historical records (“what the list looked like on this day”)
Situations where you intentionally want a frozen list

Key differences at a glance

Feature	Dynamic	Manual
Driven by filters	Yes	No
Automatically updates	Yes	No
Best for recurring reports	Yes	No
Best for snapshots	No	Yes
Default in Reports 2.0	Yes	No

Important things to know

You cannot convert a manual report into a dynamic report later.
If your report feels “out of date,” it’s often because it was created as Manual.
Dynamic reports reduce the need to rebuild or re-save reports over time.

Common questions

Is “Manual” the same as “Static”?
Yes. The UI uses Dynamic vs Manual, but manual reports behave like static snapshots.

Why do reports default to Dynamic?
Most users want reports that stay current. Defaulting to Dynamic prevents accidental static reports.

When should I choose Manual on purpose?
Only when you explicitly need a frozen list—such as a packet tied to a specific hearing, date, or deliverable.