Autogenerate filename when creating report

Ideas
1

I find that when it comes to creating reports it can be time consuming because each time you have to name it otherwise it will overwrite your existing report. It also leads to confusion.

What I’ve seen other programs do (e.g. digiKam for renaming photos) is it allows you to have a template and it would be incredibly helpful if at least the person’s name was auto-populated in the filename.

So whenever you go to Reports > Text Reports > Complete Individual Report (example) you could have this:

{report name} - {person of interest} {date generated}.pdf

report, complete individual, John SMITH, 2026-08-27 18_05.pdf

By allowing variable to be selected it then allows you to have a more streamlined workflow. Any user can then adjust to their needs/liking.

I realize programming this is not always ease. Let’s say:

  • version 1: at least the filename adds the name of the filter person automatically, date, time
  • version 2: work on implementing a template system that is customizable

Screenshot of how it looks now:

2026-08-27 export window
2026-08-27 export window690×620 44 KB

Mock-up of how it can look:

2026-08-27 filename template
2026-08-27 filename template1025×755 108 KB

Thank you for considering this and let’s get the ideas flowing.

2

The automated backup system and Family Tree creation already have different “unique naming” systems. As does the ID generation system.

I wonder if any of the code be re-purposed?

And there are contextual parameter patterning features used in other Report option fields.

So we ought to stick with those conventions.

Also, in the Name display format editor, there’s a dialog that hides some of the complexity of the parameter formatting. But it trades it for a different kind of complexity. Worth discussing where the sweet spot might be.