|
|
Report
Builder
Here
is a short list of the Report Builder features available
in cpTracker:
User
Interface
-
The
report builder uses a word processing-styled interface,
with buttons commonly found for formatting text (right align,
left align, center align, etc)
-
Support
for Inch as well as for Metric coordinate system.
-
Ability
to export report pages in WMF format to Microsoft Word for
Print Preview, Edit, Save as *.doc format file, Printing
purposes, etc.
-
Ability
to customize the default properties of a new Frame.
-
It
is possible to set the percent values both for Horizontal
and/or Vertical scaling of a whole report page being generated.
Default percent value = 100%, effective increment/decrement
step = 5%. X and Y percent values are stored in the user's
WIN.INI file for each installed printer separately. This
unique Report Builder capability allows end-users to adjust
the actual size of report controls/whole report page on
a hard copy for an any specific printer, such as Laser,
Matrix and so on.
Accessing/Saving
Report(s)
-
Tree-styled
Report Manager screen will help you to arrange your reports
by means of classifying and grouping them by type and using
several folders to store report files (as many folders and
report types as the application developer defines).
-
You can create and manage an unlimited number of reports.
-
Quickly
create reports that are similar to an existing report by
opening a file, then saving the report to a new file name.
-
You
can use long filenames when saving reports.
Data
Creation/Manipulation
-
VIEW
structures used for simultaneous processing of several data
tables. Usable for both ISAM and SQL databases (cpTracker
is ISAM at the moment).
-
Effective and high speed filters for records using any available
fields from applications database file(s), including expressions
and functions of the Clarion programming language.
-
Sort
data using any available fields, including expressions and
functions of the Clarion programming language.
-
You
can easily build complex expressions with help of the built
in Data Dictionary. The Dictionary contains all the field
names, functions, operators, built-in variables and user
defined total variables/calculated fields which are allowed
for use in an expression. The Dictionary also shares a tree-style
hierarchical structure.
-
Supports
end-user creation of total variables of type Sum, Counter,
Average, Minimum, Maximum, Evaluate. Total variables can
be reset on the end of appropriate sorting group as well
as on the end of each page. These variables can be set up
to be evaluated at the start of report, at the each record,
at the end of a sorted group, at the end of page, at the
end of report.
-
Supports
end-user creation of "Calculated fields". They
are very similar to "Total variables" but always
use the Evaluate type and never being reset. You can accomplish
very complicated computations using any number of Total
variables and Calculated fields.
-
"Calculated fields” can be set up to evaluate
on the start of report as well. By means of dialog window
functions provided for by the application developer it is
possible to ask end-user for run-time entered values or
browse selection. The value being entered/selected will
be accepted to the “Calculated field”. Such
variables usually are used in defining filter expressions.
-
Using
the report Dictionary you can select an individual element
from array type data fields (up to 4 dimensions).
-
Print
the current date and time on a page. The Picture can change
the format of a date or time field to any desired format.
For example, you can change 02/21/00 to read “21 February,
2000” at report runtime.
-
Print
the current page number as well as the total number of pages
on each page header/footer.
-
Print the number of database records printed on the current
page (useful for page footer information).
-
Frame
contents may be formatted in accordance with a Picture.
The Picture can help you to change the format of text strings
easily. For example, if the social security number is stored
in the database as only numbers (123456789) you can reformat
it at runtime to print "properly" (123-45-6789).
-
Wizard
style dialog easily helps you build a Picture of any type
(Numeric, Date, Time, Pattern, etc.).
Data
Presentation/Formatting
-
Supporting
report sections (bands): Page header, Report header, Sorting
band, Group header, Detail, Group footer, Report footer,
and Page footer. Each band can contain an unlimited number
of Frames to represent information.
-
Frame contents may be a text string(s), or a formula. This
is similar to Microsoft Excel usage: if the frame contents
begins with the equal sign "=" then it means the
rest is the formula to evaluate. In that way you can reference
the only one variable as well as the expression containing
as many variables and functions as you want.
-
Use
borders around the Frames to make them standout. For example,
you can place a border around dollar totals at the bottom
of reports. You can also use all the Frames with borders
and join Frames side-by-side to get grid-style report. Frame
borders may have varying thickness and color. Also the whole
frame can be filled by selected color.
-
You
may select a font typeface, size, style and color for the
whole report or report section as well as for individual
frame. Use different fonts and font types to make key data
stand apart from other data.
-
Frame
contents are placed and aligned both vertically and horizontally.
-
You
can select multiple Frames at the same time for repositioning
or alignment operations.
-
Add
graphics to a report that are stored on your computer. This
is a GREAT feature commonly used for office letterhead,
computer-generated invoices, etc.
-
The
"Trailing Text" feature is helpful for a MEMO
field printing. This option is selectable as a property
of a report section (band). Text will be printed line-by-line
beneath the band with page overflow control. This feature
can handle a text of unlimited length.
-
The
"Mail Merge" feature can help you to combine raw
text with data fields.
|
