Creating a New Report

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Creating a New Report

This topic describes how to create a completely new report.

Reference

If you want to use the Report Wizard to create a new report, refer to "Using the Report Wizard".
If you want to edit an existing report and save it as a new report, refer to "Loading an Existing Report".

To create a new report:

Select REPORTS | REPORT GENERATOR.

Micronet displays Report Generator - (Untitled) screen.

Select FILE | NEW.

Complete the following fields:

	Field	Value
	Name	This is the filename for the new report. Each report must have a unique name. This remains as (Untitled) until you save the report.
	Group	If the report belongs to a specific report group, enter the group name. The group name determines the report’s functionality (e.g. INV for an invoice), allowing you to select from a number of reports with the same group name when executing the report. It also determines the report's location in the menus. For example, if a report begins with "USER", it will be listed when a user selects REPORTS \| USER REPORTS.
	File	Select the base or core Micronet data file which contains data necessary to produce the report. It must also provide linkage or have a relationship to other data files which contain the data necessary to produce the report.

Technical Tip

The selection of the base data file is also influenced by the index to be used on the report. For example, to do a sales history inquiry on items, the Debtors Invoice Line file becomes the base file and the item index is selected.

Description

Enter a description of the report (the report title).

Define the layout of the report.

The first step to creating a report is to define the line types, as they control the report layout. Fields are then added to these line types.

Refer to "Defining the Report Layout"

Define the report relations.

The next step is to add the relations (data files) which are used in the report and have a relationship with the base file.

Relations can be added to the relation list and can expand like a tree structure. For example, the debtors invoice header relation is linked to the debtors invoice line relation, and the debtors invoice line relation links to the debtors invoice serial file.

Refer to "Options - Relations".

Add fields to the report.

You can add the following field types to any line type of the report except for the question line type:

Text - This is a text field which appears on the report, for example, the word "Page" which is printed on the top right hand corner of each page of the report.

Accumulator - Accumulators are used to accumulate numeric fields. Accumulators can be used on groups of records or all records. They can be created from fields in data files or calculation fields which exist on the report.

Variable - Variables reference the fields which make up the data files (relations). Variables can also have drills associated with them. Drills are used to go further into reports or file update routines from the output of a report. Drills can only be used if the report is sent to the screen.

Calculation - This is a field which is the result of the calculation expression of one or more fields used in the report.

Special - Special fields are those which are commonly used in reports, such as page number, report title, company name, date, etc.
Image - Image fields are for images you want displayed on your report such as a company logo or signatures captured via a signature capture device.
Language text - Language text fields are for information that is to be printed in a language other than English, such as customer or supplier addresses.

Refer to "Edit - Add Field".

Sort and order the report.

Data on reports can appear in any order required. There are two methods of sorting information:

selecting an index - this lists all the indexes for the base relation

adding a sort table entry - this adds an entry into the sort table.

Refer to "Options - Index" and "Options - Sort".

Select data for the report.

There are two ways to select which records to include or exclude from being displayed on the report:

Data Selection - this not only allows you to enter a condition to include or exclude particular records from the report, it also gives you the ability to display the detail section in different formats depending on the specified conditions. This is done by using the alternate detail line types.

Select - conditions are entered and, if a record is valid against all conditions, then that record is displayed on the report.

Refer to "Options - Detail Selection".

Define any user defined questions.

These are questions which are asked at the start of report execution. For example, prompting for a range such as:

enter starting debtors number
enter ending debtors number.

Refer to "Report Header Questions".

Complete miscellaneous tasks.

Miscellaneous tasks include:

entering control breaks - control breaks are used when records with the same control break value are to be grouped together. Grouping records together is done by displaying a control header and footer whenever there is a change in the control break value. For example, Micronet displays a control header and footer whenever there is a change in the Debtor field.

entering blank lines - specifying whether blank lines can appear in any of the different line types of the report.

setting options - setting report parameters and options

selecting font faces and sizes - selecting a font and font size for the report to be printed in.

Refer to "Options - Control Breaks", "Options - Blank Lines", "Options - Options" and "Options - Fonts and Margins".