Report Writer

Select a task from any task inbox to open the associated report in Report Writer. To prevent data loss and saving errors, a report can only be open in one browser tab at a time. If you open the same report in multiple tabs, an error message appears, indicating that all but one tab should be closed before you continue working.
The screenshot displays an error message, which states that the report is open in multiple tabs that need to be closed before work can continue.

The Report Writer screen is split into five areas:

The header at the top of the screen, includes the following information and options:

  • A dropdown arrow that appears if multiple reports are associated with the incident.
    • Select this arrow to reveal the other reports and quickly switch between them.
  • Report metadata, including:
    • If the task is flagged as Urgent
    • Report type and ID
    • Author: Select this name to view the report history.
    • District
  • Report status: (In Progress, In Review, etc.)
  • Save progress
  • Icon to open and close the sidebar
  • More Actions [...] menu to take various actions on the report
  • X button to close the report: Reports are auto-saved, so you can close at any time without losing your work

The screenshot shows the Report Writer interface with an urgent report in progress. The top header is highlighted with a yellow box. It displays the report's title, author, and status, with options for saving progress, accessing menus, and exiting. The left navigation menu lists various sections. The main panel shows the Overview section with required fields. On the right, the sidebar lists errors related to missing required fields.

Depending on the type of report, you can do the following from the More Actions [...] menu:

Note

The options that appear in this menu depend on your organization's specific configuration, as well as which privileges have been granted to you. Contact your administrator for more information.

Use the Add buttons in the navigation menu to add new sections (composed of multiple fields) in the central report writing area where you can enter information.
The screenshot shows the Report Writing interface focused on the Vehicles section. in the left navigation menu, the Add Vehicle option is highlighted under Vehicles. On the main panel, a search bar allows input for license plate, make, model, or VIN, but no suggestions are currently displayed. Below the search bar, an option to add a new vehicle is visible, along with an Actions menu in the upper-right corner.

These sections vary depending on the type of report, but often include:

  • Overview
  • Offenses
  • Names: Person and Organization
  • Vehicles
  • Property
  • Narrative
  • Files

To remove a section from a report, open the section and select Actions > Remove.
The screenshot shows Report Writer. The navigation menu on the left shows a person’s basic details in a Names section. A yellow arrow points from the person's name in the left menu to the main section, indicating that their portion of the report is open. An Actions menu is expanded in the upper-right corner, with the Remove Person option highlighted.

Central report writing area

Add information in the central report writing area by completing empty fields. Some fields display conditionally; they only appear once you've added other information to the report. Required fields, which are set by your organization, are outlined in red.

When you select a field and a drop-down menu appears, you must select an option from the list. Typing any other information in these fields will not be saved. See Keyboard shortcuts for information about quickly entering information into reports.
The screenshot shows the Vehicle Information section in the Report Writer interface. A dropdown menu under a red Required header labeled Role is expanded, displaying various role options such as Arson Vehicle, Attempt Stolen Vehicle, and Cited. The menu provides a scrollable list of additional role options for selection.

This video explains how to maximize report writing efficiency.

Open the Actions menu to take the following actions. These options vary depending on the type of report and the section within the report:

The screenshot shows the Report Writer interface open to the Vehicles section. The main panel includes details for a specific vehicle. In the upper-right corner, the Actions menu is highlighted and expanded, showing options to remove the vehicle, view the vehicle profile, or manage restrictions.

Expand the sidebar on the right to view validation errors or leave comments. Based on your organization's configuration, additional options may appear in this sidebar.

Comments created in the sidebar are associated with that section of the report. For example, if you leave a comment on a vehicle, then switch to view a person, the comment does not display. When you switch back to the vehicle section, the comment appears again. A comment icon appears in the left navigation menu, indicating which sections contain comments.

Once created, a comment cannot be deleted manually by a user. When the report is submitted for review, the comments can be seen by the report reviewers.

Your organization can configure if and when comments are automatically deleted. Comments can be deleted:

  • When a report is finalized
  • When a report moves between states (e.g., Review 1 > Review 2)

Contact your Axon representative or Axon support for assistance in configuring these comment deletion settings.

Warning

If your organization uses these settings to delete comments, when a comment is deleted, it is irreversibly removed from the system and cannot be recovered or retrieved by any user or administrator. Organizations with legal obligations to retain or disclose comment content should ensure that any necessary information entered in comments is documented directly in the report before it is finalized.

The screenshot shows the Report Writer interface open to a Vehicle section. On the left, a comment icon appears beside the Vehicle section. On the right, the comment panel is visible with a Create Comment button and an existing comment.

The footer options vary depending on the report state:

  • All states
    • Update the report finalization due date
  • Draft state
    • Submit the report for review or finalization
  • Review state

The image shows two layered screenshots of the Report Writer interface. In the top screenshot, the footer displays the report finalized due date with an option to edit and a Submit button on the right. In the bottom screenshot, another report footer shows the report is assigned for review with options to reassign, edit the finalized due date, and buttons labeled Reject, Approve, and Edit Report, highlighted at the bottom.

Auto-save

Report Writer includes an auto-save feature specifically designed to protect the information you enter into your report. As you enter information into Report Writer, the system automatically saves your work every few seconds.

The messages in the upper right corner of the screen display the status of your report:

  • Progress Saved: Indicates all information that you've entered into the report up until that point has been saved
  • Syncing: Indicates the system is currently saving information you entered into the report since the last time the report saved

Screenshot showing the Saving and Process saved status.

If your device disconnects from the internet, your data may be saved if:

  • You do not close the browser window or tab where you are writing your report
  • You do not leave the Report Writer page to open a different page in Axon Records or Axon Standards

If the above conditions are true, once you regain internet connectivity, your report will automatically upload any information saved to your device to the cloud. Following this, the auto-save feature will continue to function as usual.

Warning

There is a risk of data loss if your device loses internet connectivity. To minimize this risk, a stable internet connection is recommended for whenever you are working on a report.

You can tell you are offline if a banner appears at the top of your screen informing you the network connection was lost. You will also see a change in the status message in the top right corner of the screen. The status text will turn red and display the last time your report was successfully saved.

Screenshot showing the lost network connection banner and disconnected status.

Validation errors

Required report fields, which are set by your organization, are outlined in red. Some required fields display conditionally; they only appear once you've added other information to the report.

If you leave a required field empty, a validation error displays in the sidebar on the right side of the screen. Select an error message to jump to that field in the report.

Incident reports contain many required fields for information relating to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), which is replacing the Uniform Crime Reporting System Summary (UCR) system. NIBRS is designed to collect data on each single crime incident, including information on each offense and arrest within that incident.

For more information about NIBRS requirements, see the NIBRS user manual or contact the UCR program manager for your state.

Administrators can specify for each report type if the report can be submitted if validation errors are present, or if the report author must first fix all errors before submitting the report for review.

For more information, see Report submission settings.
The Report Writer screen shows a report in progress. The main section highlights several required fields in red, such as report purpose, incident dates and times, zip code, and other indicators. These fields are enclosed in a yellow box. On the right side, an overview panel lists the same required fields with red warning icons. Additional sections in the left navigation menu, such as offenses, names, vehicles, and narratives, are also present, with some sections showing warning icons for missing required information. At the top right, a highlighted icon indicates errors are present in the report.

Keyboard shortcuts

Axon's Report Writer has keyboard shortcuts to help you write reports quickly and efficiently.

Field navigation

Move through the various fields in your report using these shortcuts:

  • Tab: Go to the next field.
  • Shift + Tab: Go back to the previous field.
  • Enter: After information by pressing Enter on blue links.
    Shows how to tab and press enter to add information to a report.
    Remove information by pressing Enter on red Remove links.
    Shows how to tab and press enter to remove information from a report.

Date fields

Simplify entering a date using the following autofill shortcuts:

  • T: Insert today's date and time.
  • Y: Insert yesterday's date.


Drop-down menus

  • Use the numeric or abbreviation shortcuts, followed by Enter or Tab.
  • Navigate through the menu using the arrow keys.

The options in many drop-down menus are prefaced with either a number or an abbreviation. You can quickly select an option by typing that number or abbreviation then pressing Enter or Tab.

Alternatively, use the up and down arrow keys to scroll through drop-down menu options.
Shows how dropdown menu options have an abbreviation for quick entry.Shows how dropdown menu options have an abbreviation for quick entry.

Text formatting

To make changes to the font or move text to another spot in a text field, use these formatting commands:

  • CTRL + B (Windows) / CMD + B (Mac): Bold text.
  • CTRL + I (Windows) / CMD + I (Mac): Italicize text.
  • CTRL + C (Windows) / CMD + C (Mac): Copy text.
  • CTRL + V (Windows) / CMD + V (Mac): Paste text

This video explains how to maximize report writing efficiency.