EverNext Reporting

Connect WordPress to external MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL databases and build stunning reports, charts, and dashboards — no coding required.

Overview

EverNext Reporting bridges the gap between WordPress and your business data. Whether you're running an e-commerce store, managing a CRM, or tracking inventory in an external system, EverNext Reporting lets you visualize that data directly in WordPress.

Key Features

  • Multi-Database Support — Connect to MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL databases
  • Visual Query Builder — Build queries without writing SQL
  • 14+ Chart Types — Bar, line, pie, gauge, KPI cards, tables, and more
  • Dashboard Builder — Drag-and-drop layouts with global filters
  • Scheduled Email Reports — Automate Excel delivery on any schedule
  • Enterprise Security — AES-256 encryption and role-based access

Installation

Requirements

  • WordPress 5.8 or higher
  • PHP 7.4 or higher
  • MySQL 5.7+ / MariaDB 10.3+ / PostgreSQL 12+ (for external connections)

Installing from WordPress Admin

  1. Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress admin
  2. Search for "EverNext Reporting"
  3. Click Install Now, then Activate
  4. Navigate to EverNext Reporting in the admin menu to get started

Manual Installation

  1. Download the plugin ZIP file from your account or WordPress.org
  2. Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
  3. Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
  4. Activate the plugin

Pro Tip: After activation, you'll see a setup wizard to help you connect your first database and create your first report.

Connecting Databases

EverNext Reporting connects to external databases — it does not modify your WordPress database. All connections are read-only by default for security.

Adding a Database Connection

  1. Go to EverNext Reporting → Connections
  2. Click Add New Connection
  3. Select your database type (MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL)
  4. Enter your connection details:
    • Host — Database server hostname or IP
    • Port — Default: 3306 (MySQL/MariaDB) or 5432 (PostgreSQL)
    • Database Name — The specific database to connect to
    • Username — Database user with SELECT permissions
    • Password — Database user password
  5. Click Test Connection to verify
  6. Save the connection

SSL/TLS Connections

For secure connections, enable SSL in the connection settings. You can optionally provide:

  • CA Certificate
  • Client Certificate
  • Client Key

Security Note: Always use a database user with minimal permissions (SELECT only). Never use your root database credentials.

Creating Reports

Using the Visual Query Builder

The visual query builder lets you create reports without writing SQL:

  1. Go to EverNext Reporting → Reports → Add New
  2. Select your database connection
  3. Choose a table from the dropdown
  4. Select the columns you want to display
  5. Add filters to narrow your data (optional)
  6. Configure sorting and grouping
  7. Choose a chart type for visualization
  8. Click Preview to see your report
  9. Save and publish

Using SQL Mode

Power users can switch to SQL mode for complex queries:

  1. Click the SQL Mode toggle in the report editor
  2. Write your SELECT query in the editor
  3. Use the Run Query button to test
  4. Map columns to chart axes as needed
SELECT DATE(created_at) AS date, SUM (amount) AS total
FROM orders
WHERE status = 'completed'
GROUP BY DATE(created_at)
ORDER BY date DESC

Calculated Fields

Add calculated fields to transform your data:

  • Math operations — Add, subtract, multiply, divide columns
  • Date functions — Extract year, month, day, format dates
  • Text functions — Concatenate, uppercase, substring
  • Conditional logic — IF/THEN/ELSE expressions

Chart Types

EverNext Reporting includes 14+ chart types to visualize your data:

Bar Charts

Vertical and horizontal bars for comparing categories. Supports stacked and grouped modes.

Line Charts

Track trends over time. Supports multiple series, area fills, and smooth curves.

Pie & Donut Charts

Show proportions and percentages. Configurable labels and legends.

Gauge Charts

Display KPIs against targets. Perfect for metrics like completion rates or quotas.

KPI Cards

Single-value displays with trend indicators. Great for dashboards.

Data Tables

Sortable, searchable tables with pagination. Export to CSV or Excel.

Area Charts

Like line charts with filled regions. Great for cumulative data.

Scatter Plots

Plot correlations between two variables. Optional trend lines.

Conditional Formatting

Apply visual rules to highlight important data:

  • Color cells based on value thresholds
  • Add icons for status indicators
  • Highlight rows matching conditions
  • Data bars within table cells

Building Dashboards

Combine multiple reports into interactive dashboards:

Creating a Dashboard

  1. Go to EverNext Reporting → Dashboards → Add New
  2. Give your dashboard a name
  3. Drag reports from the sidebar onto the canvas
  4. Resize and arrange reports in the grid layout
  5. Add global filters that apply to all reports
  6. Save and publish

Global Filters

Global filters let users interact with the entire dashboard:

  • Date Range Picker — Filter all reports by date
  • Dropdown Filters — Select categories, statuses, etc.
  • Search Box — Text search across reports

Layout Options

  • Flexible grid with 12-column layout
  • Drag to reorder and resize
  • Responsive breakpoints for mobile/tablet
  • Full-screen presentation mode

Scheduled Reports

Automate report delivery via email with Excel attachments:

Setting Up a Schedule

  1. Open any report and click Schedule
  2. Choose frequency: hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly
  3. Set the specific time and day(s)
  4. Add recipient email addresses
  5. Customize the email subject and message
  6. Choose export format (Excel or CSV)
  7. Enable the schedule

Schedule Options

Hourly

Run every hour or at specific hours of the day.

Daily

Run once per day at a specific time.

Weekly

Run on specific days of the week.

Monthly

Run on a specific day of each month.

Note: Scheduled reports require WP-Cron to be running. For high-frequency schedules, consider using a real cron job.

Shortcode Embedding

Embed reports and dashboards anywhere on your WordPress site using shortcodes:

Report Shortcode

[evernext_report id= "123" ]

Dashboard Shortcode

[evernext_dashboard id= "456" ]

Shortcode Parameters

Parameter Description Example
id Report or dashboard ID (required) id="123"
height Container height height="400px"
filter_* Pre-set filter values filter_status="active"
hide_title Hide the report title hide_title="true"
hide_filters Hide filter controls hide_filters="true"

Dynamic Filters

Pass dynamic values using URL parameters or user meta:

[evernext_report id= "123" filter_user_id= "{current_user_id}" ]

Security

EverNext Reporting is built with enterprise security in mind:

Credential Encryption

All database credentials are encrypted using AES-256 encryption before being stored in WordPress. Credentials are never logged or exposed in error messages.

Read-Only Queries

All queries are validated to ensure they are read-only (SELECT statements only). INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, DROP, and other modifying statements are blocked.

Role-Based Access Control

Control who can access what:

  • Administrators — Full access to all features
  • Report Editors — Create and edit reports
  • Report Viewers — View published reports only
  • Custom Roles — Define your own permission sets

Report-Level Permissions

Set visibility for individual reports:

  • Public (anyone)
  • Logged-in users only
  • Specific roles
  • Specific users

Best Practices:

  • Use dedicated database users with SELECT-only permissions
  • Enable SSL for database connections when possible
  • Regularly audit report access and permissions
  • Don't expose sensitive data in public reports

Troubleshooting

"Connection failed" error

Check the following:

  • Verify the hostname/IP is correct and reachable from your server
  • Confirm the port is correct (3306 for MySQL, 5432 for PostgreSQL)
  • Ensure the database user has permission to connect from your server's IP
  • Check if a firewall is blocking the connection

"Access denied" error

The database credentials are incorrect or the user lacks permissions:

  • Double-check username and password
  • Ensure the user has SELECT permission on the target database
  • Try connecting with a database client to verify credentials

Reports loading slowly

Optimize your queries:

  • Add indexes to columns used in WHERE, ORDER BY, and GROUP BY
  • Limit the number of rows returned
  • Avoid SELECT * — only select needed columns
  • Enable report caching in settings

Scheduled reports not sending

Check your WP-Cron setup:

  • Ensure WP-Cron is not disabled in wp-config.php
  • For reliable scheduling, set up a real server cron job
  • Check the email settings in WordPress
  • Verify recipient email addresses are correct

FAQ

Can I connect to my WordPress database?

Yes, though EverNext Reporting is designed for external databases. If you need to report on WordPress data, you can connect using your WordPress database credentials.

How many databases can I connect?

There's no limit on the number of database connections. Connect as many as you need.

Does it work with cloud databases?

Yes! EverNext Reporting works with any MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL database, including Amazon RDS, Google Cloud SQL, Azure Database, PlanetScale, and more.

Can users interact with reports?

Yes. Reports can include filters, sorting, and search functionality. Users can also export data to Excel or CSV.

Is there an API?

Yes, EverNext Reporting includes a REST API for programmatic access to reports and dashboards.

Will it slow down my site?

No. Reports only query the database when viewed or refreshed. Enable caching to minimize database load for frequently-viewed reports.

Still have questions?

Our support team is happy to help.

Contact Support