Computer-based systems, software, and methods are provided for implementing a spreadsheet-based programming language adapted for report generation. The system comprises: a networked computer comprising a processor, an operating system configured to perform executable instructions, and a memory device; a computer program including instructions executable by a digital processing device to create an environment to implement a spreadsheet-based programming language for report generation, wherein the environment comprises: a plurality of template spreadsheets containing template worksheets and metadata worksheets comprising a definition of one or more external datasets, search filters and sort filters; a software module for storing the structure of one or more designated, external datasets within a spreadsheet, wherein references to each dataset are created through cell-based formulas; a software module to interpret procedural functions, which are designated via tags in a report design template; a software module for executing cross-database queries and a software module for generating reports.