 Contents

Tasks explains actions you can perform with the Runtime Viewer.

Menu Commands provides a list of available menu commands.


 Runtime Viewer Menu Commands

See Also

The Runtime Viewer allows you to access many, but not all, of The ReportSmith menu commands. Each command appears in the following list. To see a description, double-click on a command.

File Menu

File | Open

File | Connections

File | Disconnect

File | Close

File | Close All

File | Save As

File | Print

File | Print Setup

File | Options

File | Exit

Edit Menu

Edit | Copy

View Menu

View | Toolbar

View | Ruler

View | Zoom

Window Menu

Window | Tile

Window | Cascade

Window | Arrange Icons

Help Menu

Help | Index

Help | About


See Also

Overview of Runtime Setup

Overview of the Runtime Viewer


Overview of the Runtime Viewer

See Also

ReportSmith provides a Runtime Viewer that lets an unlimited number of users execute, view and print reports without owning the full product. Users can execute, view, and print reports, but they cannot create or modify them.

The Runtime Viewer supports all functions that ReportSmith performs through Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) and most ReportBasic commands.

The Runtime Viewer allows you to:

Set up dialog boxes containing options that end users can fill in to customize their reports, such as sorting, selections, range of records, and pass this information to the Runtime.

Set up multiple buttons in a front-end application, such as a Print Summary Report button or a Print Sales Report button to automatically print frequently used reports.

Prompt for report variables, display user-defined dialog boxes, and respond to DDE messages.

The menus and toolbar contain commands which you can use to open, view, and print reports. In the Runtime Viewer, you can:

Open multiple reports at one time.

Scroll and page through a report.

Use the Zoom buttons to view reports.

Use the Save button to export date to different file formats such as Excel, Lotus and ASCII text.

Set Options for the Runtime Viewer.


See Also

Overview of Runtime Setup

Runtime Viewer Menu Commands


Overview of Runtime Setup

See Also

To set up the Runtime Viewer for end-users, follow these steps:

Tip:	To make system administration easier and to ensure that Runtime operates smoothly for the end-user, set up the ReportSmith configuration files so that they are compatible with your reports.

1.	Install Runtime.

2.	Setup necessary drivers. For Runtime to operate, you need to set up the user's environment similar to the environment in which the reports were created, including data source names, named connections, Dynamic Data Access options and global macros.

Note:	See Getting Started for how to set up data sources, and for a list of system requirements.


See Also

Installing the Runtime Viewer


Installing the Runtime Viewer

See Also

To install Runtime:

1.	Insert Disk 1 into the floppy drive and choose File | Run from the Windows Program Manager.

2.	In the Run dialog box, type A:\INSTALL (or B:\INSTALL) and choose OK.

3.	Follow the instructions in the dialog boxes as they appear. For questions, press the Help button.

4.	When prompted, insert the specified disk into the floppy drive and press Enter. You will be prompted to choose the type of installation you want.

5.	After installation, INSTALL prompts you to open the Release Notes, which contain important late-breaking information. To read them, choose View | Release Notes, or Exit to return to the Program Manager.

You are now ready to use the ReportSmith Runtime Viewer.


See Also

Overview of Runtime Setup

Setting Up Runtime Configuration Files


Using the Runtime Viewer

To open the Runtime Viewer, double-click on the Runtime Viewer icon in the ReportSmith program group.


Exporting Data from the Runtime Viewer

You can export data from the Runtime Viewer for use in other applications with File | Save As. However, you cannot save changes to the report format using the Runtime viewer. To modify a report, use the full ReportSmith product.

To export data, press the Save button, or choose File | Save As, and navigate to the location of your file. Choose a file type from the List Files of Type list, and press OK.


Setting Runtime Options

See Also

You can set Dynamic Data Access (DDA) parameters in the Runtime Viewer.

To set Runtime Options, choose File | Options. Click options you want and press OK. Each option available in the Options dialog box is listed below:

Client memory

Client disk

On server

Automatic

Minimize report data memory usage

Limit report data memory usage to %

Limit report data memory usage to KB

Buffer

Connection file

Picture file search path


See Also

Runtime Viewer Menu Commands


Setting Up Runtime Configuration Files

We suggest that you create standard files to make Runtime system administration easier. Set up the following files the Windows directory for a standard end user environment. Each file is described below.

File Name	Contents

RS_SQLIF.INI	ODBC Options for local databases.

RPTSMITH.CON	Named connections

RS_RUN.INI	Dynamic Data Access Options (see next section)

RPTSMITH.GMC	Global macros that are used in the reports you are distributing, or that will be executed through It should be installed in the MACRO subdirectory of the directory in which youve installed Runtime, not the Windows directory

RS_SQLIF.INI

ReportSmith provides a default RS_SQLIF.INI file. It contains setup parameters for the ODBC drivers provided with ReportSmith.

For detailed information regarding the parameters you can set, read the Technical Notes provided with ReportSmith in the RS_SQLIF.TXT file.

RPTSMITH.CON

ReportSmith sets up one default connection called video that is used by our sample reports. You can use named connections to setup connections in this file to reduce the amount of information the end user enters.

The format of this file is:

[ConnectNamesSection]
ConnectNames=video,oracle,sqlsrvr
[video]
Type=40
DataFilePath=C:\RPTSMITH\video\
Server=MYdBase
[oracle]
Type=7
Server=x:orasrv7
UserId=scott
Password=
[sqlsrvr]
Type=6
Server=sqlsrvr
UserId=SA
Password=

RS_RUN.INI

This file is similar to the RPTSMITH.INI file in the full ReportSmith product. There are certain parameters in this file that you may want to set for your users:

Option	Description

Units	Units of measure for report layout. Values:
0 = Inches (default)
1 = Centimeters

Granularity	Granularity. Enter a number (default: 300).

ConnectionFile	Path and filename for named connections. Enter the name of the connection file,for example, C:\WIN\RPTSMITH.CON.

Iconic	To set whether to show the RUNTIME icon or not. Values:
0 = do not iconify ReportSmith
1 = iconify ReportSmith (default)

ShowAboutBox	Show About Box. Values:
0 = do not show about box
1 = show about box (default)

RPTSMITH.GMC

This file stores global macros. The location of this file is specified in the RS_RUN.INI file. You can either distribute a copy that contains the global macros used in your reports, or you can have the RS_RUN.INI file point to a common LAN location for this file.


Sample Runtime DDE Code

The following code fragments show samples of how you can take full advantage of Runtime. The first example illustrates loading a report from a Visual Basic application; the second illustrates loading a report from a PowerBuilder application.

Loading a report from Visual Basic:

Sub Command1_Click()
q$-Chr$(34)
Label.LinkTopic=RS_RUNTIME|Command
Label1.LinkMode=2
DDE Command$=LoadReport+q$+text1.Text+q$+,+q$+q$
Second Command$=PrintReport0,0+q$+q$+,,+q$+q$
ThirdCommand$=CloseReport(0)
DDECommand$=DDECommand$+ll+SecondCommand$+ll+ThirdCommand$
Label1.LinkExecuteDDECommand$
End Sub

Sub Command2_Click()
Command2.Caption=Launching!Runtime
x=Shell (C:\INDIGO\RS_RUN.EXE)
Command2.Caption=Launch ReportSmith Runtime
End Sub

Driving Runtime using a PowerBuilder application:

cb_dde button
int handle,handle2,handle3
string reportcommand,
reportcommand1,reportcommand2,reportcommand3,reportcommand4
handle=OpenChannel(RS_RUNTIME,Command)
if handle<1 then run (c:\rptsmith\rptsmith.exe,Minimized!)
CloseChannel(handle)
reportcommand2=DIM NewData as DataSet
reportcommand3=NewData.Connect
6,+char(34)+sqlsrvr+Char(34)+,+Char(34)+sa+Char(34)+,+Char(34)+Char(34)+,+Char(34)+Char(34)
NewData.connect7,x:orasrv,scott,tiger,
reportcommand1=LoadReport
?+Char(34)+C:\rptsmith\sample.rpt+Char(34)+,+Char(34)+Char(34)
reportcommand=
reportcommand2+||+reportcommand3+||+reportcommand1+||+
reportcommand4
handle2=OpenChannel(ReportSmith,Command)
ExecRemote(reportcommand,handle2)
CloseChannel(handle2)


Tasks

Overview of the Runtime Viewer

Installing the Runtime Viewer

Using the Runtime Viewer

Exporting Data from the Runtime Viewer

Setting Runtime Options

Setting Up Runtime Configuration Files

Sample Runtime DDE Code


File | Open

Choose File | Open to open a report. If necessary, navigate to the location of a report using the Drive and Directory list boxes.


File | Connections

Choose File | Connections to create or edit a named connection for a database table. When you choose this command, the Connections dialog box appears.

Note:	Click on the parts of the dialog box for further help.

Using the Connection Box

Using the Connections dialog box does not allow you to connect to a database. Rather, it lets you conveniently choose a connection and password to your database. You can define your name and the server name once in the connection box and ReportSmith remembers it for you. ReportSmith will prompt you for your password the next time you access your server.

Note:	For security purposes, ReportSmith does not store database passwords with user-defined connections.


Connection Name

Enter the name of a connection. This name should be the name your system administrator set up for the connection.


Data File Path

Enter the data path for your connection if you are making a connection to a local data source. If your data source is on a server enter the connection name, user ID and password, if required.


Connection Type

Select a connection type first, before entering information about the new connection. Click on the arrow to the right of the Type box to see the list of available types. You can scroll through the list, then click on the connection type you want.


Connections List

Lists all established connections. When you create a new connection, its name appears in the Connections box the next time you choose File | Connections. Select a connection from the list to modify any of the required information about the connection, for instance, the server name, or user ID.


New

Starts the set up for a new connection. Click on the New button before entering information about the new connection.


Delete

Cancels a connection highlighted in the Connections box.


Save

Saves the information for a new connection.


File | Disconnect

See Also

Choose File | Disconnect to sever connections to database servers. When you use this command, the Disconnect dialog box appears.

Note:	Click on the parts of the dialog box for further help.

To disconnect from a data source, select it from the Open Connections list and press the Disconnect button. Connections to data sources exist until you exit ReportSmith or until you sever connections via the Disconnect dialog box. Use the Disconnect command to free up connections to databases when you're done using them. You cannot disconnect from a data source if you have a report open which uses that connection.


See Also

File | Connections


Disconnect

Connections to data sources exist until you select File | Exit or until you sever them using this button.


Open Connections

This list shows all open connections. To disconnect from a data source, select it from the Open Connections list and press the Disconnect button.


File | Close

See Also

Choose this command to close an open report. If you have saved the report, ReportSmith closes it. If you haven't saved your report, ReportSmith displays a prompt asking you if you'd like to save it. Choose Yes to save your report.

You may also use the Close button on the Report Control menu.


See Also

File | Save As


Close All

Choose File | Close All to close all open reports.

Tip:	Choose File | Save All to save all open reports before using the File | Close All.


File | Save As

Choose File | Save As to save the active report under a different name or place it in a different directory. When you select this command, the Save Report dialog box appears.

Note:	Click on the parts of the dialog box for further help.

Tip:	If you use the file extension, .RPT, for all reports, you can view all reports in the current directory by typing an asterisk (*), a period (.), and RPT (the three-character extension).


File

Displays the database filename of the open report. This report is also selected in the Files/Tables list. The current directory for the open report is listed in the Directories list.


List Files of Type

Press the down arrow to display a list of file types, such as .RPT files or .BMP files that you want ReportSmith to display in the File Name list box. To display all types of files in a directory, select the display All Files option.


Directories

Choose the directory path where you want to store your file in the Directories list box. For example, to store reports in the C:\RPTSMITH\VIDEO directory, double-click on RPTSMITH to display subdirectories, and select VIDEO.


Drives

Choose the drive where you want to store your report. Press the down arrow to display a list of choices.


File | Print

Choose File | Print to print a range of pages, an entire report, or the current page.


File | Print Setup

When you choose File | Print Setup ReportSmith displays the Choose Printer dialog box. This dialog box is also accessible from the Setup button in the Print dialog box.

Note:	Click on the parts of the dialog box for further help.

Choose this command to establish and change the printer connection and printing options The options that appear in this dialog box depend on the printers you've installed in Windows.

Once you've selected a printer and clicked on OK, another dialog box appears. Available options depend on the selected printer, but typically you set paper source and paper size in this dialog box. Click on the Help button if you need help setting up your printer.

The following options typically appear for most printers:

Option	Description

Paper Source	Has the following choices to tell the printer:
Default Tray	To use the default printer tray when printing the first page of the report.
Upper Tray	To use the upper tray when printing the first page of the report.
Lower Tray	To use the lower tray when printing the first page of the report.
Manual Feed	You want to manually feed each page when printing the report.
Envelope Feed	You will print an address on an envelope before printing the report.

Paper Size	Choose the paper size you want to use from the drop-down list.

Orientation	Click on the Portrait and Landscape option buttons in the Print Setup dialog box to print your report horizontally or vertically. This setting is the default for reports unless you use the Page Setup dialog box to change the orientation for a report. The page setup options override the print setup options for a report.

Copies	Choose or enter the number of copies you wish to print.


Installed Printers

Select the printer you want to use from the list of installed printers. Refer to your Windows documentation and your printer documentation for specifics on installing printers.


File | Exit

Choose this command to end your ReportSmith session and return to Windows. If you have already saved your active reports, ReportSmith closes them and ends the session. If you have not saved active reports, ReportSmith prompts you to save before exiting.


Replace Connections dialog box

See Also

The Replace Connections dialog box appears when you try to open a report with a missing ODBC connection or when you are sharing a report whose data is based on an existing link to an ODBC driver. In order to open such a report, you must first re-establish a connection.

The missing data source connection is listed in the Unable to Connect to Data Source box. Select a replacement connection in the Select Replacement box, then select a named connection if one exists, from the Named Connections list.


See Also

File | Connections


OK

Closes the dialog box and completes the command.


Cancel

Discards the options you've selected and closes the dialog box.


Close

Closes the dialog box without reversing any completed changes.


Done

Press the Done button after you have made all your selections.


Help

Use the Help button to access instructions related to this dialog box.


Window | New Window

Opens a new report window with the same report as the active window. The new window then becomes the active window for you to work in. This command is useful for working simultaneously on different portions of a large report. You can open as many windows as can be listed on the Windows menu for the screen area. Changes made in a report in the active window occur in all the open windows.


Window | Tile

Select Window | Tile to view more than one report at once. ReportSmith arranges open reports as non-overlapping tiles.

Tip:	Use this command to visually link two reports so you can easily compare fields and determine the common fields.


Window | Cascade

Use Window | Cascade to display title bars of open reports and to arrange a set of reports as cascading windows. You can then quickly display a report by clicking the mouse in its title bar.


Window | Arrange Icons

Choose Window | Arrange Icons to arrange iconified reports and other icons at the bottom of your workplace.


View | Toolbar

Choose View | Toolbar to display or hide the ReportSmith toolbar. A check mark next to this command indicates that the toolbar is active and visible.

The toolbar contains buttons for shortcuts to the most common ReportSmith Runtime commands: Open, Save, Print, and Zoom.


View | Ruler

Choose View | Ruler to display or hide the ruler. A check mark beside this command indicates that it is active and visible.

The rulers are moveable. To move them closer to your report, press the mouse at their intersection and drag them into place, or grab just one ruler and drag it into place.

Dotted lines appear on the ruler to indicate the position of any selected report object. In addition, the ruler displays a line at the current mouse position.

Tip:	Rulers are part of a report window. You can display them in some report windows and hide them in others.


See Also

Tools | Options


View | Zoom

Choose this command to scale the editing view of your report by setting the zoom percentage to a specific setting. Use this command to edit a magnified section or, by reducing the image, to see a whole page while you're formatting a report. When you use this command the Zoom dialog box appears:

Note:	Click on the parts of the dialog box for further help.

For example, if you want to view your report at 175% you can use this command to set the zoom percentage to a specific setting or you can use one of the default settings.


Magnification

Click to select a pre-set magnification, or use the arrow keys in the Custom spin box to select your own magnification, or select one of the zoom buttons from the toolbar:

Shows entire report page in page layout view.

Shows the report at 100% in normal view.

Shows the full width of the report page.


Zoom 200%

Shows the report page at twice its actual size.


Zoom 100%

Shows the report page at its actual size.


Zoom 75%

Shows the report page at three-fourths its actual size.


Zoom 50%

Shows the report page at one-half its actual size.


Custom spin box
Custom

Shows the report page at the percentage you enter. You must enter between the range of 25 and 200 percent. Click on the arrows to select the desired magnification.


Zoom To Fit in Window

Select either the Page Width or Whole Page button to set how much of the report you want to view.


Page Width button
Page Width

Displays only the section of the report page where you selected a column.


Whole Page button
Whole Page

Displays the entire report page in the report window. Use this button to preview your report before printing.


File | Options

Choose File | Options to display the Runtime Viewer Options dialog box.

Note:	Click on the parts of the dialog box for further help.

Click on an option and enter information into text boxes that corresponds to what you want to do: set Dynamic Data Access parameters, choose where to locate connection information, and point to graphics files in the Picture File Search Path.


Client Memory

Loads the result of your query into the client memory.


Client Disk

Loads the result of your query onto the client disk.


On Server

The result of your query remains on the server.


Automatic

Lets ReportSmith choose where to place the data according to the size of the result set generated by your query: client memory, client disk, or the server.


Minimize Report Data Memory Usage

Minimizes memory on your PC used by ReportSmith.


Limit Report Data Memory Usage to%

Limits usage of available memory to a user-defined percentage.


Limit Report Data Memory Usage to KB

Limits usage of available memory to a specific amount of memory. You can choose just one of two options: limiting memory usage to either a percentage or kilobytes.


Client Disk

Always loads the data set onto disk. Specify the data path for the disk in the RPTSMITH.INI file.


On Server

All the records are left on the server except the number of records specified in the Buffer options.


Buffer

Set the buffer for the maximum file load you want to deliver into a report.


Automatic

Lets ReportSmith evaluate where to place the data set. Default: Automatic.


Connection File

The name of the file where user-defined connections are stored.


Picture File Search Path

Enter one or more directory paths for ReportSmith to search for graphics files. To enter more than one directory, separate them with semicolons. This is the directory path that ReportSmith searches when you're using the Display as Picture command. ReportSmith will search these directories for a picture in the order you list them here. If you leave this box blank, by default ReportSmith searches the current directory.


Connection File

A connection file stores the connections you set and name with the File | Connections. This option sets the location and name of each connection file.

The default Connection file name is RPTSMITH.CON, which ReportSmith stores in your Windows working directory. If your Windows working directory is on a local area network (LAN), give the Connection file for each workstation a unique file name, with a three-character .CON file extension. For this option, place the text cursor in the text box to enter the drive, directory, and file name for the Connection file.


Program Startup

The options you select in the Program Startup control which dialog boxes or tools appear when you start the ReportSmith application. Click on one of the following:

Option	Description

Open Report	ReportSmith automatically displays the Open Report dialog box when the application opens.

New Report	ReportSmith automatically displays the Table Open dialog box for you to choose a table or file to create a new report.

None	ReportSmith opens to the report window, with no dialog boxes displayed. You then select the command you want.


Units

Sets the default measurement system ReportSmith uses to inches or centimeters. For example, if you select inches, the rulers on the ReportSmith screen display inches as the measurement scale.


List Fields Alphabetically

Turn on this option to alphabetically list field names in any table. This option is saved in the RPTSMITH.INI. The next time you start ReportSmith and place a table in your report the field names will be alphabetized. Columns may still be reordered manually by dragging and dropping them into place from within the Table Columns dialog box.


Index Command

Choose Help | Index to display an index of online Help topics. Choose a topic and ReportSmith instantly displays relevant information on your screen.

Click on the Contents button to return to the main screen from anywhere in the Help system.


About Command

Help | About displays program information, the ReportSmith version currently in use, and the copyright screen.


Edit | Copy

Choose this command to copy selected text or graphics to the Clipboard. Note that when you copy selected text, the text on your report remains unaffected. It is temporarily stored on the Clipboard until you choose Cut or Copy again.