The Report Wizards allow you to...
| • | Use a simple, intuitive interface to quickly create and save an unlimited number of reports. |
| • | Optionally specify totals or averages for numeric columns. |
| • | Select from an existing sort or create ad-hoc sorting on up to three levels. |
| • | Create group headings, footings and/or sub totaling on group breaks. |
| • | Create summary reports by suppressing report detail printing. |
| • | Automatically adjust the report width to landscape mode when necessary. |
Report Selection Dialog
All saved reports with the same report classification are displayed on this dialog in alphabetic order. You may quickly jump to a report by typing the first letter of the report description. As you highlight a specific report, details pertaining to the report are displayed on the lower portion of the dialog.
New...
Allows for the creation of a new report. At times, the Copy command may be a better alternative.
Copy...
Copies the highlighted report then asks for a new report name.
Modify...
Allows for the modification of the highlighted report's layout options.
Rename...
Allows for the modification of the highlighted report's name.
Delete
Deletes the highlighted report.
Select
Selects the highlighted report for execution.
Columns Printed
Displays the list of columns selected for the highlighted report. Columns preceded by a + are total columns. Columns preceded by a @ are average columns.
Sort Order
Displays the list of fields selected for the highlighted report's custom sort order. Fields appearing in <brackets> are in descending order.
Report Column Layout
The Report Column Layout dialog is the first of three potential steps when creating or modifying a report. From this dialog you will select the columns to appear in the report, their layout from left to right and which columns should be totaled or averaged.
The list on the left represents those fields (columns) which are available while the list on the right displays those fields which have been selected for the report. The text displayed in these lists will become the column heading(s) in the report. Selected fields will be printed from left to right as they appear from top to bottom. When the Column Layout has been completed press the Next button to continue.
You may design the report's layout using the following techniques.
To add fields to the report...
| • | Highlight a field in the left list and press the Add -> button to move the field from the available field list to the selected field list. |
| • | Double-click any field in the available field list to move the field to the selected field list. |
| • | Drag-and-drop any field from the available field list to the selected field list. |
To remove fields from the report...
| • | Highlight a field in the right list and press the <- Remove button to move the field from the selected field list to the available field list. |
| • | Double-click any field in the selected field list to move the field to the available field list. |
| • | Drag-and-drop any field from the selected field list to the available field list. |
To change the column layout
| • | Selected fields will be printed from left to right as they appear from top to bottom in the selected field list. |
| • | Click to move a column up (or to the left in the report). |
| • | Click to move a column down (or to the right in the report). |
To enable column totals or averages...
| • | Highlight a field in the right list. The Average and Total checkboxes will normally be enabled if the highlighted column is numeric. |
| • | Click the Total checkbox to enable column totaling or the Average checkbox to average all values in the column. |
| • | To change a column from Total to Average (or vice versa) deselect the current option and both options will once again become enabled. |
Report Sort Order
The Report Sort Order dialog is the second of three potential steps when creating or modifying a report.
Default Sort Order
This option uses the default sort order specified by the developer of this application. When this option has been selected group heading and footing options will not be available.
Predefined Sort Order
This option will provide a list of sort orders that have been pre-defined by the developer of this application. This option is the most desirable of the three because it allows group heading and footing options. Pre-defined sort orders are usually faster than custom sort orders defined with the next option.
Custom Sort Order
This option allows you to display the report in any desired order. When enabled, this option will allow you to invoke the Report Wizard's ad-hoc sort designer. The sort designer will allow you to create up to three sort levels. Each level may be ascending or descending and the entire sort may be case sensitive or insensitive.
NOTE: When using Custom Sort Orders this application will normally attempt to optimize the performance of the user defined sort. However, the sort processing can potentially be time consuming when large amounts of data need to be sorted for your report.
Sort Designer
This dialog allows you to create up to three sort levels for a custom sort "ad-hoc" sort. Each level may be ascending or descending and the overall sort may optionally invoke case sensitivity.
Sort View by (Then by)
These options allow selection of a field for up to three sort levels.
Ascending or Descending
Where Ascending is "Top to Bottom" and Descending is "Bottom to Top". When viewing alphabetic data, Ascending will start with A and end with Z where Descending would start with Z and end with A. When viewing numeric data, Ascending will start with 1 and progressively move higher while Descending would start with the highest value and progressively move toward 1.
Ignore Distinction Between Upper and Lower Case
This option should normally be enabled and will sort both upper and lower case letters the same.
Group Heading and Footing Options
This Group Heading and Footing Options dialog is the last of three potential steps when creating or modifying a report. This dialog is comprised of several options which control group break characteristics as well as the suppression of report detail rows.
A group break occurs each time the breaking field's value changes. This enables the report to subdivide itself into sections (with subtotals and/or to start a new page) as they pertain to a specific group.
Break Levels
When a non-default sort order is selected you may customize up to two group break levels. The first break level represents the first field in your sort order. Likewise, the second break level represents the second field in your sort order. The following options allow the customization of each these group breaks.
Group Identifier in Heading
When enabled, this option will create a group heading break and print the value of the group field in the group heading.
Group Identifier in Footing
When enabled, this option will create a group footing break and print the value of the group field in the group footing.
Group Totals
When enabled, this option will create a group footing break and print the totals (or averages) for those fields where totaling (or averaging) has been enabled by the end-user.
New Page After Group
When enabled, this option will force a new page after the group break.
Suppress Report Detail Rows
This option will prevent report detail rows from printing thereby printing group footings and/or headings only. This feature is quite useful for producing summary level reports. This option is not available unless a group heading or footing has previously been enabled.
Special Feature Note
When the sort order allows two break levels and the first break level options are not enabled. If you choose to place the second break level's group identifier in the header or footer, the first break level's identifier will also be printed with the second break level.
Report Design Considerations
Field Selection
| • | Fields will be displayed left to right in the report as they appear top to bottom in the selection list. |
| • | The report will automatically adjust to landscape mode when appropriate. |
| • | When the width of all fields exceeds landscape width, the report will attempt the "best fit" within landscape. Notification will occur when this condition exists. |
Totals and Averages
| • | Any numeric field may be set to total or to average. |
| • | Totals will appear (for the selected columns) at the end of the report and are optionally available in the group footing options. |
Sorting
| • | Custom sorting on large databases may be very time consuming. For the fastest results, use a predefined sort option. |
| • | Select sort options that allow for the appropriate grouping, totals and summary reports. |
Grouping
Grouping options can play a significant role in the overall appearance of the report.
The following grouping options manifest in a report as follows;
| • | Place totals in either group footing to create report subtotals for each group. |
| • | Omit report detail to produce summary reports based on group the group footing subtotal and label. |
| • | Place group labels in the 2nd level but not the first level and both (1st and 2nd level) labels will print on the summary row. |
Group Breaks - Defined
Group breaks are triggered when a sort value in the database has changed. This value is referred to as a group identifier in Report Wizard. Each group may have an associated heading and/or footing. The group heading appears before the group, the group footing appears after the group.
Report Wizard allows several options for up to two group break levels. The group identifier may be printed within the group heading or footing. Applicable group totals may be printed in the group footing.
Sort Levels - Defined
Sort levels will determine the sequence of your data appears in the report. These sequence is normally alphabetical for characters and sequential for numbers. Report Wizard allows the user to define up to four sort levels for each report. Grouping options are available on the first two levels.