Advanced Report Writer

Form: Create Custom Report

The File menu > Advanced Report Writer command is used to create a custom report by extracting and/or combining information from an existing database(s), an Excel spreadsheet(s), text files, or from a new database file created from within the Create Custom Report form. Clicking the File menu > Advanced Report Writer command displays the Create Custom Report form.

• Select the Current Database File: Initiate the report creation process using one of the following options:

• • Find Existing DB File: Select an MS Access file (*.mdb) to be included in the report.

  • Convert Excel File: Select an MS Excel file (*.xls) to convert to a DB file to be included in the report.

  • Convert Text File: Select a text file (*.txt) to convert to a DB file to be included in the report.

  • Create New DB File: Select the tables to be included in a new DB file that can then be used in the report.   

Note: The Access DB, Excel or Text file accessed must have been created by exporting it from SAFE using the appropriate File menu > Export Model command.

• Report File Type: Select one of the following three options for the report file type:

• • RTF: Creates a report using RTF (rich text format). A check in the Open Report in Microsoft Word check box will automatically open the report in Word after the Create Report button has been clicked.

  • TXT: Creates a report using text format. A check in the Open report in default text check box will automatically open the report in the default text editor after the Create Report button has been clicked. A check in the Send data directly to Printer check box will cause the report to automatically be printed after the Create Report button has been clicked.

  • HTML: Creates a report using HTML (hyper-text markup language). A check in the Open report in Internet Explorer check box will automatically open the report in Internet Explorer after the Create Report button has been clicked.

Note: The RTF, TXT and HTML files are saved when the Create Report button is clicked; those files can then be edited using the appropriate program. The settings selected in creating the report are not saved until the Save Named Report button has been clicked. Saving the settings makes it possible to use the Create Custom Report form to edit the report after it has been generated (e.g., add additional files to the report from other models).

• Report Setup: When an Access database, Excel spreadsheet, or text file is selected for inclusion in the report, the various tables in the file are listed in this area. Highlight one or more of the tables and click the Add Selected DB Table(s) To Report button to specify that the table be included in the report. The table(s) selected will appear in the Items Included in Report display area of the form.

• Add Additional Items to Report: The buttons can be used to access forms to specify Section Headings, Text, Pictures, Page Breaks, Blank Lines and detailed design output to supplement the tables in the report. Items added will be inserted into the report at the location identified in the Insertion Point for Items Added to Report area.

• Insertion Point for Items Added to Report: Select one of the two following options to control how additional information is added to the report:

• • After Selected: Use this option to add items to a report at a location other than the end of the report.

  1. 1. In the Items Included in Report area, highlight a table, heading, text, picture, page break or blank line that is to precede the item or tables to be added

     2. Add the item or table using the appropriate button in either the Add Additional Items to Report area or the Add Selected DB Table(s) To Report button.

  • At End of List: This is the default. When this option is used, any items added to the report using the buttons in the Add Additional Items to Report area or the Add Selected DB Table(s) To Report button will be added to the end of the report.

• Apply to Entire Report: Click the following buttons to set up the report, apply and save table formats, and clear table filtering and sorting:

• • Report Setup: Specify various setup options on the Report Setup form.

  • Apply Formats: Select a previously defined style sheet file (*.fmt) from the Table Formats File form and apply it to all tables in the report.

  • Save Formats: Save any or all of the formats specified for tables in the report in a single style sheet on the Table Formats File form. Individual table formats are specified using the Modify/Show Database Table Format form.

  • Default Formats: Apply program default style sheets to all tables in the report.

  • Clear Filters Only: Remove any field filtering criteria from all tables in the report.

  • Clear Sorts Only: Remove any table sorting criteria from all tables in the report.

• Items Included in Report: Items included in the report, and their order in the report, are listed here. Highlight an item, and click the Modify/Show button to modify the item using the Report Table form. Highlight an item, and click the Remove button to remove the item from the report. Highlight a table in the list and click the Show Table button to display the table - formatting, filtering and sorting of the table may be done on the table form.

• The Save Named Report button displays the Named Reports form. Use the form to specify the name of the Named Report or delete a Named Report.

• Use the Open Named Report button to access a previously saved Named Report.

• Click the Change Source DB button to display the Report Item – Filename form; use that form to change the source of the data being used in the report.

After the items to be included in the report have been selected, and the format of the report has been established, click the Create Report button to generate the report in the specified RTF, TXT or HTML format.