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Trace: VisionX Reports

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VisionX Reports

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Version: 5.0 / 2018-02-06

Introduction

The VisionX reports module allows the user to create reports in the following formats: Word RTF (documents), Excel (spreadsheets), XML and PDF. Reports are used to provide selected data for the user to download. For certain report types, this data can then be edited locally and uploaded back into the application.

The report templates can easily be edited to adjust content or graphics, and modified to match the user's corporate design.

The following chapters provide a detailed description of the creation and integration of the different report types, as well as examples of their use.

Basics

Reports are created, edited, added to workscreens, and deleted in the application's menu. As mentioned above, there are four different types of reports:

  • Documents (Word RTF Format)
  • Spreadsheets (Excel XLS Format)
  • XML
  • PDF (Documents and spreadsheets)

When a report is created, a template is automatically generated in the respective format. This template can be downloaded, edited, and then uploaded as a modified template. The modified template is then used to created the respective report and is filled with data from the selected tables or records.

The templates use tags as tags for the actual data. These tags can be placed anywhere in the document, and can be deleted and later added again. This allows for easy and quick generation of reports from any of the application's tables. Reports are conveniently displayed through the use of actions, such as the click of a button.

Requirements

To generate a report, a workscreen first has to be created that contains the required database tables. These tables are then used to populate the report. If the data shown in the report is to be restricted by certain filter criteria, those criteria have to be defined in the workscreen. For example, the filter criteria could be one of the following:

  • Only display data for the current year
  • Only display data for the specified user, …

Detailed information regarding workscreens and filter can be found in the VisionX documentation.

Step by step "Create/Edit Report"

Once all the requirements have been met, we can begin generating the report. The “Reports” wizard in the application's menu is used to create new or edit existing reports.

Create Report Wizard - New or Existing Report

Since reports are managed by workscreen, the first step in the wizard is the selection of a workscreen.

In the second step, creating a new report or editing an existing report can be chosen.

One of the following report formats is selected in step three:

  • Document (=Word RTF Format)
  • Spreadsheet (=Excel XLS Format)
  • XML
  • PDF (Documents and spreadsheets)

Depending on the VisionX license, certain formats may not be accessible, or additional formats may be available.

In addition, one of the following report layouts can be chosen:

  • Simple List

    A table is displayed as a simple list. The current data filter is applied.

  • List with Details

    A table is displayed as a list, in which for each master record a list of all detail records is shown. The current data filter is applied.

  • Form (with Details)

    The currently selected master record is displayed as a form, below which detail tables can be shown.

Create Report Wizard - Select Layout

In the next step, the master table (highest level table in the report) can be selected.

Create Report Wizard - Select Master Table

Depending on the layout, a number of options can be selected. This is particularly relevant for the “List with Details” format. The following options are available:

  • Checkbox “Show records only for selected master”

    If this option is checked, only the selected master record and the respective detail records are displayed in the report.

  • Checkbox “Show master records only for its selected master”

    If this options is checked, all detail records are displayed for all visible master records.

  • None of the two options are checked

    If there is another level above the master record, no restrictions apply to this additional level.

    E.g.: For the report, State (master) and City (detail) are selected; the table State has a master table Country. In this case, the report shows all states (for all countries!) and every city for each state

Create Report Wizard - Select Columns

In the last step, the columns that are to be displayed in the report can be chosen for each table.

Create Report Wizard - Assign "Show Report" to a button

In this step, the newly created report can be assigned to a button. An action is automatically created, or an existing action is edited, to show the report.

The “Reports” wizard can also be used to edit existing reports.

Edit Report Wizard - Change Layout

To edit an existing report, the report template is downloaded and edited using Microsoft Word, Excel, XML, or any other suitable editor and then uploaded back to the application. The templates are based on tags, which are populated with data from the database tables when the report is created.

Manage reports

All examples used on the following pages are based on the sample application “Contacts”, which is included with VisionX. The report wizard is started by selecting “Report” in the application's menu.

Select workscreen

As mentioned previously, every report is based on an existing workscreen, which has to be selected when the report is created. The report can then be made available for down- and upload.

Manage Reports - Select Workscreen

Select option

In the next step, the following choices are available under “Select Option”:

  • Create a new report
  • Edit an existing report
    • Edit the template of an existing report
    • Review the list of buttons that use the report in their actions. These can also be edited directly. *Overview of all columns used in the report and their respective tags
  • Delete an existing report *All links to buttons are deleted

Manage Reports - Select Option

Select layout

When a new report is created, the format and a standard layout can be selected. The following formats are available:

  • Document (= Word RTF Format)
  • Document as PDF
  • Spreadsheet (= Excel XLS Format)
  • Spreadsheet as PDF
  • XML

Manage Reports - Select Layout

Simple list

A “simple list” displays the data from a table in list form. Example:

  • Workscreen: Contacts
  • Type: Document
  • Layout: Simple List
  • Table: Contacts
  • Columns: Salutation, Academic Title, Firstname, Lastname, Street, Filename, Image

Manage Reports - Simple List

List with detail information

A report of the type “List with Detail Information” displays a master table with exactly one detail table in list form. Example:

  • Workscreen: Contacts
  • Type: Document
  • Layout: List with Detail Information
  • Table: Contacts and Conteduc
  • Columns: Salutation, Academic Title, Firstname, Lastname, Filename, Image
  • Option “Show detail records only for selected master”: not selected
  • Option “Start a new page for every master record”: not selected

Manage Reports - List with detail information

Detailed Form

A report of the type “Detailed Form” allows for the display of a master table as a form, with or without one or more detail tables. In the report wizard, the master table is selected first. Then the detail tables can be selected, if required. In the final step, the columns that are displayed in the report are specified.

Manage Reports - Detailed Form

Select data

Depending on the report type, a varying number of tables can be selected.

Simple List

Exactly one table can be selected.

Manage Reports - Select Datasource

List with detail information

Exactly one master table with a exactly one detail table can be selected.

Manage Reports - Select Datasource

Detailed Form

For a detailed form report, a master table can be selected, as well as any number of detail tables. The master table is chosen in the first step:

Manage Reports - Select Datasource

In the next step, the detail tables are selected:

Manage Reports - Select Columns

Select columns

In the following step determines which columns are displayed in the report. Columns can be selected for the master table and for all selected detail tables. There is an additional column for the detail tables that is not selected by default. This column represents a reference to the master table; selecting it is optional.

Manage Reports - Select Master/Detail Columns

Customize Appearance

The final option is related to the placement of the master records. If this option is selected, each master record is placed on a new page (for documents) or on a new sheet (for spreadsheets). The option is not selected by default, in which case the master records are placed continuously on the same page.

Manage Reports - Customize Appearance

Edit report (template)

After a report has been created, it can be edited at any time. To do this, “Reports” is selected in the application's menu. After the workscreen for which the report was created is chosen, “Edit an existing Report” is selected, as well as the report that is to be edited.

After the selection, the following actions can be taken:

  • Download template: to download the report template in the respective format (.rtf, .xls, .xml)
  • Change template…: to upload a modified template
  • Buttons using the report: the respective action (show report, download report …) can be edited by clicking on one of the buttons used by the report

Edit Report Template - Select Layout

To change a template, it is downloaded and saved locally. It is then opened in the respective program (Word, Excel,…) for editing.

Report - Document Template

Existing text, such as column labels, can be edited and reformatted in the template. In addition, additional text or pictures can be added to the template, and the overall formatting (font, etc.) can be modified.

Tags are replaced by data when the report is created. Columns can be deleted and added again. For detailed information regarding tags please see Tags.

Report - Document Template with customizations

After the template has been edited, it is uploaded back into the application using the “Change Template…” button. It is important to note that the master record with its corresponding detail record is also located within a loop tag, which cannot be deleted.

In the example above, the loop tag is placed in the template using font size 1. If the font size is increased, the loop tag is displayed above and below the master record.

Report - Document Template with highlighted loops

Example:

  • Workscreen: Contacts
  • Type: Document
  • Layout: List with Detail Information
  • Tables: Contacts and Conteduc
  • Columns: All columns were selected
  • Option “Show records only for selected master”: selected
  • Option “Start a new page for every master record”: not selected

Report - Document with data

Report - Document with customizations and with data

Column Overview

If a column that was deleted from the report is to be added back at a later time, the respective tag tag can be found in the column overview. This overview is displayed after selecting “Edit an existing Report”. All columns of the tables used in the report are shown.

Edit Report - Column Overview

Tags

Any column can be added to the report using the defined tags. A tag consists of the Column Name in [ ] brackets. The predefined tag can be found in the previously discussed Column Overview.

Formatting

Depending on the column type (number, date, …), the output value can be formatted automatically. The format is defined in the tag as follows:

  • [COLUMNNAME(TYPE=FORMAT)]

    E.g.: [SOCIALSECNR(NUMBER=0000)]

    This results in the display of a four digit number, where unused digits are populated with zeros. For example, the number “1” is shown in the report as “0001”.

The following types/formats are available:

  • [COLUMNNAME(CHECKBOX)]

  • [COLUMNNAME(CHECKBOX=Yes,No)]

  • [COLUMNNAME(DATE=d. MMMM yyyy)]

    Additional information regarding the format can be found here: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/text/SimpleDateFormat.html

  • [COLUMNNAME(NUMBER=#,##0.00)]

    Additional information regarding the format can be found here: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/text/DecimalFormat.html

Important:

For spreadsheet reports, the format should NOT be specified in the tag, since it would be interpreted as text. The format for the cell should be set in the template.

Loops

For list type reports (simple list, list with detail information), all columns that are displayed in the report have to be defined within a loop tag. This loop tag has the following format for the beginning and end of the loop:

  • [LOOP@tablename]

    E.g.: [LOOP@contacts]

A complete loop for a table would be defined as follows:

[LOOP@contacts] [SALU_SALUTATION] [FIRSTNAME] [LASTNAME] [LOOP@contacts]

Between the beginning and end of the loop, additional text, formatting, etc. can be added, which will then be inserted at the specified location for each record.

The following should be noted:

  • The master table's loop tag always has to be opened first
  • The master table's loop tag always has to be closed after the detail loops

A loop tag for the master record is not required for reports of the type “detailed form”. Columns in the master table can be accessed directly:

  • [tablename!COLUMNNAME]

    E.g. [contacts!FIRSTNAME]

In addition, it is possible to individually access specific row numbers. This makes it easier to display individual detail records. In addition, the reference remains within the spreadsheet.

The following format is used to access individual row numbers:

  • [LOOP@tablename#rownumber]

    E.g. [LOOP@contacts#1][FIRSTNAME][LASTNAME][LOOP@contacts#1]

If only one value in the table is required, the following abbreviated form can be used:

  • [tablename#rownumber!COLUMNNAME]

    E.g. [contacts#0!FIRSTNAME]

Spreadsheet example

Report - Spreadsheet Template

The report will then be displayed as follows:

Report - Spreadsheet with data

XML example

Report - XML Template

The report will then be displayed as follows:

Report - XML with data

Actions

To display a report, it has to be associated with an action in the respective workscreen. For example, the report can be displayed at the click of a button or upon the selection of a specified filter criteria.

The following actions are available:

Show Report

The specified report is displayed, either in a browser or using the related program (e.g. word, excel), depending on how the PC is configured.

Parameters: [List of all reports of the workscreen]

Example: Show Report | Form Report Contacts

Download Report

The specified report is downloaded. It can then be saved to the local hard drive and opened from there.

Parameters: [List of all reports of the workscreen]

Example: Download Report | Form Report Contacts

Save Report

The specified report is saved in a table. The save location is determined by two parameters: The report's file name is saved in a text column of the table; the file itself is saved in the current row of a table column of the type Image or File.

Parameters: [File name: List of all columns of all tables in the workscreen], [File: List of all columns of all tables in the workscreen] | [List of all reports in the workscreen]

Example: Save Report | [Contacts.Filename] | [Contacts.Image] | Form Report Contacts

Hint: This function can be used to save reports that are created by the application in a table. E.g.: lists, proposals and other business reports.

Import Report (merge)

The specified report is imported. All of the report's data is transferred to the respected rows and fields of the workscreen. If the “Merge” option is selected, only modified, deleted or new information is imported. Data that already exists is not added separately. If the “Insert” option is selected, all data rows, including existing rows (tested for similarity) are transferred. This functionality is only available for XLSX (Excel) and XML reports that were created using VisionX. Of course the report templates can be edited. This is command is used to import offline forms into the application.

Parameters: [List of all commands of the workscreen]

Example: Show Report| Import Report (merge) | Form Report Contacts (xls)

Import Report (insert)

See “Import Report (merge)” above

Upload

In general, only reports of the type Spreadsheet and XML can be uploaded back into a workscreen after they have been modified locally. Requirements for successful upload:

XML

  • Valid XML is required, since otherwise it cannot be read/parsed

Spreadsheet

  • An empty row is required after each End Loop tag. This empty row also has to be added for rows that were filled in or expanded. If it is not added, the end of the table is not recognized.
  • Only field containing values can be changed. If, for example, a label or the document style is modified, the uploaded file will no longer match the template and will generate an error message.

Differences between the report types

Document and XML

Formatting

If a particular format is required for an output value, it has to be specified separately. See Formatting.

Spreadsheet

Problems with file contents

File contents (both files and images) cannot be displayed in a spreadsheet and result in an error message. The respective columns should be removed from a spreadsheet report, either during the creation of the report or by subsequent editing of the template.

PDF reports

The creation of PDF reports is a little more involved compared to the creation of document or spreadsheet reports. A PDF report is created like a document or spreadsheet report but is afterwards converted into a PDF by using a PDF Conversion Service.

This has the advantage that the report templates are easily editable with Word or Excel. With the conversion an “immutable” document is created which can be easily archived and is better suited for being send as information to clients.

The conversion itself is carried out by a PDF Conversion Service. This service must be provided by the customer and requires a Windows (Server) system in combination with a conversion software. This software is offered in combination with VisionX depending on the choosen license.

The PDF Conversion Service must be configured once in VisionX. This can be done in the VisionX Preferences.

VisionX - Preferences Button

Just the name and the address of the server is required for completing the configuration.

PDF Conversion Service - Preferences

After the PDF Conversion Service has been configured, the PDF options become available when creating new reports.

Create specification

The application's menu contains the “Specification” option, which can be used to create the database documentation or the specification for the workscreens.

For further information on how to create specifications see the the VisionX documentation.

The specification template uses the same mechanism as all the other reports. It can therefore be edited easily.

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