/platform-report-generate

name: platform-report-generate
description: "Use this skill when users need to create, generate, or validate Salesforce Lightning Report metadata. Trigger when users mention reports, creating reports, report metadata, .report-meta.xml files, tabular reports, summary reports, matrix reports, joined reports, report columns, report groupings, report filters, report charts, cross-filters, bucket fields, report formulas, or report time frame filters. Also use when users say things like 'create a report', 'generate a report', 'build a report on Accounts', 'add a chart to my report', or when they encounter deployment errors for .report-meta.xml files. Do NOT trigger for: creating or modifying Custom Report Type metadata (.reportType-meta.xml — use platform-custom-report-type-generate), creating dashboards, creating list views, running or viewing existing reports in the UI, or SOQL queries."
metadata:
  version: "1.0"
  minApiVersion: "60.0"
  relatedSkills:
    - "platform-custom-report-type-generate"
  mcpTools:
    salesforce-api-context:
      tools: ["get_metadata_type_sections", "get_metadata_type_context", "get_metadata_type_shape"]
      semver: ">=1.0.0"

Overview

Lightning Reports define how Salesforce data is queried, grouped, filtered, and displayed. Each report is a single `.report-meta.xml` file placed under `reports/<FolderName>/` within the project's source directory (check `sfdx-project.json` → `packageDirectories[].path` for the source root).

Critical Rules (Read First)

**TOP DEPLOYMENT KILLERS — check these BEFORE generating any report:** 1. **Grouping fields in columns** — Fields in `<groupingsDown>` or `<groupingsAcross>` must NEVER also appear in `<columns>` 2. **Wrong column names** — Column names are report-type-specific. ALWAYS call MCP tools to verify (see `references/column-names.md`) 3. **Wrong scope** — LeadList uses `org`, not `organization` 4. **Filter column dot notation** — Filter `<column>` values use FLAT names (`INDUSTRY`, `TYPE`) NOT dot notation (`ACCOUNT.INDUSTRY` is INVALID) 5. **Multi-value picklist filters** — Use ONE `<criteriaItems>` with comma-separated `<value>` (e.g., `Technology,Financial Services`). Do NOT split into multiple criteriaItems with booleanFilter

Rule 1: Format Determines Required Elements

| Format | `<groupingsDown>` | `<groupingsAcross>` | `<block>` | |--------|-------------------|---------------------|-----------| | `Tabular` | Not allowed | Not allowed | No | | `Summary` | At least 1 (max 3) | Not allowed | No | | `Matrix` | At least 1 (max 3) | At least 1 (max 3) | No | | `Joined` | Not at top level | Not at top level | At least 2 (max 5) |

Rule 2: Use Platform Column Names

Report metadata uses **platform report column names**, NOT raw API field names. **ALWAYS call `get_metadata_type_sections` or `get_metadata_type_context` to confirm valid column names.** See `references/column-names.md` for common mappings per report type.

Rule 3: Valid Report Type Required

`<reportType>` must be a standard API name (e.g., `Opportunity`, `AccountList`, `CaseList`, `LeadList`, `AccountContactRole`) or a deployed custom report type developer name.

Rule 4–5: Chart & Aggregates Require Summary/Matrix

Charts and `<aggregateTypes>` (Sum, Average, etc.) only work in Summary and Matrix reports.

Rule 6–8: Limits

• Max **3 cross-filters** per report, each with up to **5 criteria items**
• `<filterLogic>` must reference all filters sequentially (e.g., `1 AND (2 OR 3)`)
• Joined reports: 2–5 blocks, each block format must be Summary or Matrix (not Tabular)

Rule 9: Folder Structure

Reports must live inside a folder with a corresponding folder metadata file:

<sourceDir>/reports/<FolderName>/<ReportName>.report-meta.xml
<sourceDir>/reports/<FolderName>-meta.xml

Determine `<sourceDir>` from `sfdx-project.json` (commonly `force-app/main/default`, but this is configurable).

Rule 10–11: Date Columns & Scope

• Date columns use platform names (`CLOSE_DATE`, not `CloseDate`)
• LeadList scope is `org`; Opportunity/AccountList/CaseList use `organization`

Rule 12–13: Description & Groupings

• `<description>` max **255 characters**
• Grouping fields must NOT appear in `<columns>` — automatic deployment failure

Rule 14: Folder Metadata Requires `<sharedTo>`

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<ReportFolder xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <folderShares>
        <accessLevel>Manage</accessLevel>
        <sharedTo>AllInternalUsers</sharedTo>
        <sharedToType>Group</sharedToType>
    </folderShares>
    <name>My Report Folder</name>
</ReportFolder>

Rule 15: Valid Date Intervals Only

Use `INTERVAL_CURRENT` for "this quarter", `INTERVAL_CURY` for "this year", `INTERVAL_LAST30` for last 30 days. Do NOT use `INTERVAL_CURQ` — it is not valid. See `references/date-intervals.md` for the full list.

Top-Level Elements

| Element | Required | Notes | |---------|----------|-------| | `<name>` | Yes | Report name (max 40 chars) | | `<reportType>` | Yes | Report type API name | | `<format>` | Yes | `Tabular`, `Summary`, `Matrix`, or `Joined` | | `<scope>` | Recommended | `organization` (or `org` for LeadList) | | `<columns>` | Yes | Field columns — each has `<field>` and optional `<aggregateTypes>` | | `<filter>` | No | Contains `<criteriaItems>` with `<column>`, `<operator>`, `<value>` | | `<groupingsDown>` | Conditional | Row groupings: `<field>`, `<dateGranularity>`, `<sortOrder>` | | `<groupingsAcross>` | Conditional | Column groupings (Matrix only) | | `<timeFrameFilter>` | Recommended | `<dateColumn>`, `<interval>`, optional `<startDate>`/`<endDate>` | | `<chart>` | No | See `references/chart-types.md` | | `<buckets>` | No | Bucket field definitions | | `<crossFilters>` | No | Cross-object filters (`with`/`without`) | | `<showDetails>` | Recommended | `true`/`false` | | `<showGrandTotal>` | Recommended | `true`/`false` | | `<showSubTotals>` | Recommend