Overview
Some reports sent by email are delivered as a link instead of a PDF attachment.
When a user clicks a report link, the system now displays a dedicated PDF generation screen that clearly shows the report is being prepared. This removes confusion and improves confidence that the report is loading correctly.
When report links are used
Not all report emails include a PDF attachment.
A report is sent as a link when:
- the report file is too large to attach to an email, or
- an administrator has configured reports to be delivered as links instead of attachments.
In both cases, the email experience is the same: the user receives an email with a link to access the report.
What happens when a user clicks the report link
When the report link is clicked:
- a new browser tab opens,
- the system displays a PDF generation screen,
- the screen shows the report name, site, and date range,
- a progress indicator confirms the report is actively being generated.
Once generation is complete, the PDF opens or downloads automatically in the browser.
This makes it clear that the system is working and prevents confusion during longer report generation times.
Why this behavior was improved
Previously, clicking a report link opened a generic loading screen with no indication that a PDF was being generated.
Because the screen looked similar to a timeout or error state, users could not tell whether:
- the link was working,
- the report was still generating,
- or the page had failed to load.
The new behavior removes that ambiguity by clearly showing what is happening.
Who this affects
This behavior applies to any user who receives a report email containing a link, including:
- managers,
- clients,
- administrators,
- and operational staff.
No configuration changes are required.
What this does not change
This update does not:
- change which reports are sent,
- affect reports delivered as PDF attachments,
- require users to take any action.
Reports that are small enough to be attached continue to arrive as PDFs in the email.