Black Box 4/BlackBox.cdr/clipper/cl501rpt.arj/REPORT.DOC

Text File | 1992-04-15 | 6.8 KB | 130 lines

            A LINKABLE RELATIONAL REPORT WRITER FOR CLIPPER 5.01


 NOTE: A registered version of Gary Prefontaine's SuperLib shareware
       function library was used in the development of the report writer.
       The subset of these functions which is called by the report writer
       has been included in REPORT.LIB with the gracious permission of
       Gary Prefontaine.  It is only with this expressed permission that
       the report writer could be made available in linkable form.


       Report Writer 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. You can pass your own corporate logo or title to the report writer
  as a parameter.  Simply DO _d_rpt WITH "Your Corporate Logo" from within
  your Clipper program.  Please refer to DEMO.PRG for an example of usage.

      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.


  CREATING A REPORT DEFINITION FOR THE FIRST TIME:

     Report Writer 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 Writer 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.

      You choose your primary and secondary files from a scolling list.  You
  choose the fields you wish to include in the report 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 Writer permits the creation of standard, large, or cheshire
  format mailing labels.  Simply take the Process Mail Labelst 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.

  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.NTX as your primary file and index.