There are several terms which have a special meaning in the context of ad hoc reporting.
An ad hoc layout is the basis for any report in ad hoc reporting. The layout defines the style of a report and the elements, which can be set and modified by the user.
The ad hoc report is what the user creates by selecting an ad hoc layout and setting it's elements. The ad hoc report does not refer to the result which is generated when then users renders the ad hoc report!
A Dataview defines a view on a data source. Dataviews hide away the complexity of database access, filtering and formula definitions and will present only a plain list of fields to the user. Data Views are very useful to increase the usability and security of your ad hoc service.
The ad hoc reporting swing- or remote interface presents the properties of an ad hoc layout in form of several pages. Each page has a special purpose like selecting an ad hoc layout, defining the fields to display or setting up a chart.