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1992-04-15
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RELATIONAL REPORT SCRIBE
Report Scribe requires very little from the user beyond pointing
at a desired action and hitting the ENTER key. It was designed this way
from the start.
The user can choose a report definition he or she has created from
the first screen. The report description is reviewed by moving the
light bar to the desired report definition and hitting ENTER. Fields
from the primary and secondary file, if one was used, are displayed
along with the active query if one was created for use with the report.
The report definition can then be run or deleted. Output can be sent
to the printer, screen, or to a disk file. Report parameters and the
query can be edited before running the report again.
CREATING A REPORT DEFINITION FOR THE FIRST TIME:
Report Scribe creates three distinct types of reports. A single file
report uses just one primary file. A relational report type one uses both a
primary and secondary file. There is one record in the secondary file for
each primary record. A relational report type two uses both a primary and
secondary file. There are multiple secondary records for each primary record.
Your data detemines which type of report you will need to create.
Creating a report is essentially the same process for all report types.
First, the report type is chosen and then report parameters are entered.
You can control things like the left margin, spaces between printed fields
on the report, page width, page length, etc. The only parameter that may
be confusing to the new user is the subtotal parameter.
Say, for example,you have a file of customer purchases like ORDER.DBF.
It is indexed on customer number and you are trying to total the purchases
for each customer and want a a grand total of all purchases. If you choose
the subtotal option on the report parameter screen Report Scribe will print
and sum all of the purchases for customer 100, display a subtotal, space,and
then begin printing and summing the purchases by customer 200 and so forth.
Create a single file report with the subtotal option for ORDER.DBF.
Total the QTY and SELL fields for practice. The subtotal option's use will
then become clear.
Report defintions may be saved and edited before they are rerun. You
will be able to make changes to everything contained on the Report Parameters
screen. In addition, you will be able to change the query should you decide
to select a different subset of records for your report.
You choose your primary and secondary files from a scrolling list. You
choose the fields you wish to include in the report and total from scrolling
lists. Nothing could be easier! Just remember the following:
1. A MAXIUM OF 27 FIELDS FROM EACH FILE MAY BE USED IN THE REPORT.
2. THREE CALCULATED FIELDS MAY BE DEFINED PER FILE.
3. MEMO FIELD PROCESSING IS LIMITED TO ONE MEMO FIELD IN A SINGLE FILE
REPORT.
4. FIELDS APPEAR ON THE PRINTED REPORT IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE
SELECTED.
5. IF YOU DO NOT ENTER A COLUMN HEADING FOR A FIELD THE FIELD NAME WILL
BE USED AS A COLUMN HEADING ON THE REPORT.
6. IF YOU ARE USING TOTALS, SUBTOTALS, AND/OR CALCULATED FIELDS EXPECT
YOUR REPORT TO BE WIDER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE SELECTED FIELDS ALONE.
EXTRA SPACE IS ALLOCATED TO A FIELD BEING TOTALLED AND TO A CALC FIELD
BEYOND THAT WHICH IS DISPLAYED BY THE FIELD SELECTION SCREEN.
7. WHEN CREATING RELATIONAL REPORTS OR WHEN SELECTING THE SUBTOTAL OPTION
BE CERTAIN TO SELECT KEY FIELD OF PRIMARY FILE AS FIRST PRIMARY FIELD
SELECTED! (** Very Important **)
8. PRIMARY & SECONDARY FILE KEYS MUST BE IDENTICAL WHEN CREATING RELATIONAL
REPORTS. (** Very Important **)
CREATING A MAIL LABEL DEFINITION FOR THE FIRST TIME:
Report Scribe permits the creation of standard, large, or cheshire
format mailing labels. Simply take the Process Mail Label option from
the main menu. You will be asked to choose a primary file and primary
file index. Next you will be given the opportunity to query the primary
file if you desire. In this manner you can select to filter out certain
zipcodes or cities according to your preferences and needs.
You will then enter the label module. Choose the create option from
within the label module. Assign the label file a unique and meaningful name.
Select the modify contents option. Press F2 to choose field names for each
line of the label you wish to create. Follow the prompts and press F10 when
you are done. Be sure to choose the proper format and dimensions from within
the dimensions selection.
By experimenting with the other options you'll find that you can tag
select records and print only them if you choose. You can now print your
mail labels and recall the new label definition you've just created whenever
you wish. Just remember the following:
1. Be certain to choose the proper format and dimension from within the
dimension option. You can make adjustments to the default sizes as you
wish. Maximum label size is 24x60.
2. Create index files keyed on the fields by which you want to order your
label printout. If you want labels to be printed in zipcode order then
be sure to create an index file keyed on zipcode etc.
3. Make use of the test pattern and correct your alignment before beginning
a large label run. (** Very Important **)
4. Make use of the query builder to select or filter your primary file when
printing labels if you don't wish to create a label for every record in
your file.
5. You can pause and stop printer output with ALT-C if your label run jams
in the printer. It's not the most sophisticated way to do so, but it
certainly works and no harm will be done to your files. Remember, even
if you use ALT-C to pause and stop output to the printer the printer will
only stop after its buffer is empty.
6. A sample label definition (MAIL.LBL) is provided on your diskette. You
can experiment with changes and printing by selecting it. First select
the Process Mailing Labels option from the report creation menu. Then
select MAIL.DBF and MAIL.NDX as your primary file and index.
DUPLICATE FIELD CHECKING
Take the Duplicate Record Check option from the Main Menu.
Simply select the field or fields for dupe checking. The report of
duplicates can be viewed on the screen, sent to a disk file, or the
output can be sent to a printer.