# Get Started With the Standalone Report Designer

Learn how you can get started with the standalone report designer in ActiveReportsJS.

## Content

The Standalone Report Designer is a cross-platform desktop application that is the primary tool for creating new or modifying report templates.

### Installation

To install the Standalone Report Designer, download the package for your operating system, extract the downloaded archive, locate the installer file in the `designer` folder, make it executable, if necessary, and run.

| Operating System | Download link | Installer file | Installer Type |
| ---------------- | ------------- | -------------- | -------------- |
| Windows | [Download Windows package](https://cdn.mescius.com/activereportsjs/release/ActiveReportsJS_6.0_Win.zip) | ActiveReportsJS-Designer.exe | [Windows Installer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Installer) |
| macOS | [Download macOS package](https://cdn.mescius.com/activereportsjs/release/ActiveReportsJS_6.0_Mac.zip) | ActiveReportsJS-Designer.dmg | [Apple Disk Image](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Disk_Image) |
| Desktop Linux | [Download Linux Package](https://cdn.mescius.com/activereportsjs/release/ActiveReportsJS_6.0_Linux.zip) | ActiveReportsJS-Designer.AppImage | [App Image](https://appimage.org/) |

### Configuration

When creating reports for your application, it is important to ensure consistent report output across the standalone report designer, browsers on report readers' machines, and exported PDF documents. The best way to achieve that is to establish the proper [Font Configuration](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/GettingStarted/FontConfiguration#configure-the-standalone-designer-application).

You might also want to turn on the standalone report designer's debug mode if something goes wrong. Check the [Troubleshooting page](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/GettingStarted/Troubleshooting#how-can-i-debug-data-requests-in-the-standalone-designer-application) for detailed information.

In addition, you can configure the [report item templates](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/DeveloperGuide/ActiveReportsJSDesignerComponent/custom-init-templates) for the standalone report designer application. After the first run, the app creates the `Defaults` folder within the `app files` directory:

* Windows : `%AppData%\ActiveReportsJS Designer`
* macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/ActiveReportsJS Designer`
* Linux: `~/.config/ActiveReportsJS Designer`

The `Defaults` folder contains the following report item templates:

* `cplImperialTemplates.rdlx-json`: Continuous Page Layout Report Items Template with imperial units
* `fplImperialTemplates.rdlx-json`: Fixed Page Layout Report Items Template with imperial units
* `cplMetricTemplates.rdlx-json`: Continuous Page Layout Report Items Template with metric units
* `fplMetricTemplates.rdlx-json`: Fixed Page Layout Report Items Template with metric units

### AI Assistance Configuration

The standalone report designer [can generate report items](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/ReportAuthorGuide/Report-Designer-Interface#explore-function){:target="_blank"} — tables, tablixes, and charts — directly from your data using AI. Only the structure of your data — the dataset's field names and types — is sent to the AI provider; the actual data values never leave your machine. This capability is off by default and requires connecting the designer to an AI provider.
To enable it, add an `ai-config.json` file to the same `app files` directory described above:

* Windows: `%AppData%\ActiveReportsJS Designer`
* macOS: `~/Library/Application Support/ActiveReportsJS Designer`
* Linux: `~/.config/ActiveReportsJS Designer`

The file must contain a `provider` property along with the connection settings required by that provider. Supported providers are `openAI`, `azureOpenAI`, `google`, and `ollama`:
**OpenAI**

```json
{
  "Provider": "OpenAI",
  "ApiKey": "9JwEkCBx...",
  "Model": "gpt-4o",
  "Timeout": "90000",
}
```

**Azure OpenAI**

```json
{
  "Provider": "AzureOpenAI",
  "ApiKey": "9JwEkCBx...",
  "Model": "gpt-4o",
  "Timeout": "90000",
  "DeploymentName": "gpt-4o-deployment",
  "Endpoint": "..."
}
```

**Google Gemini**

```json
{
  "Provider": "gemini",
  "ApiKey": "AQ.Ab8R...",
  "Model": "gemini-3.7-flash",
  "Timeout": "90000",
}
```

**Ollama (local)**

```json
{
  "Provider": "ollama",
  "Model": "qwen2.5",
  "Timeout": "90000",
  "Endpoint": "http://localhost:11434",
}
```

`apiKey` and `model` are specific to the selected provider. Azure OpenAI additionally requires `endpoint` and `deploymentName`; Ollama runs against a local server and needs no `apiKey`, but requires `endpoint` instead.
Once `ai-config.json` is in place, restart the standalone report designer, and the AI-assisted actions become available in the [report designer interface](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/ReportAuthorGuide/Report-Designer-Interface#explore-function).

>type=warning
> **Security tip:** `ai-config.json` stores your AI provider's API key in plain text. Keep it out of source control and any location shared between users.

### User Interface

The user interface of the standalone report designer consists of multiple parts.

* The [report designer interface](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/ReportAuthorGuide/Report-Designer-Interface) to create report templates
* The [report viewer interface](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/ReportAuthorGuide/Report-Viewer-Interface) to preview report output
* The `Main Menu` that includes the following items

![](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/e637becb-8cbc-4561-bac1-84462097b057/reportauthor-guide/GetStartedWithStandaloneReportDesigner/UISchema.png)

### Open, Save, and Save As buttons

These buttons are shortcuts for the standard `Open`, `Save` and `Save As...` commands of the [File menu](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/ReportAuthorGuide/QuickStart/Get-Started-With-Designer-App#file-menu).

### Preview button

This button switches the standalone report designer to preview mode to read the report output. You can return to the design mode by clicking the `Left Arrow` icon located in the top-left corner. Check the [Report Viewer Interface](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/ReportAuthorGuide/Report-Viewer-Interface) documentation to learn how to navigate a report output.
DOC-DETAILS-TAG-OPEN
DOC-SUMMARY-TAG-OPEN
Expand to watch switching between design and preview modes in action
DOC-SUMMARY-TAG-CLOSE
![](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/e637becb-8cbc-4561-bac1-84462097b057/reportauthor-guide/GetStartedWithStandaloneReportDesigner/SwitchDesignAndPreview.gif)
DOC-DETAILS-TAG-CLOSE

### File Menu

The `File Menu` opens the sidebar that allows you:

* To create a `New` report selecting from [Continuous Layout](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/ReportAuthorGuide/report-configuration/Report-Layouts#continuous-page-layout) and [Fixed Layout](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/ReportAuthorGuide/report-configuration/Report-Layouts#fixed-page-layout) templates.
* To `Open` the existing report template.
* To `Save[As...]` the current report template.
* To read the information `About` the product version and set the license key. See the [Licensing Page](/activereportsjs/docs/v6.2/GettingStarted/Licensing#licensing-the-designer-application) for more information.

![](https://cdn.mescius.io/document-site-files/images/e637becb-8cbc-4561-bac1-84462097b057/reportauthor-guide/GetStartedWithStandaloneReportDesigner/FileMenu.png)