Vincent Oorsprong
8-Sep-2009, 09:16 AM
First shown at Synergy 2009 in New Orleans, the new Visual Report Writer Alpha IV is now available for public download!
Developers are encouraged to preview this latest software from Data Access - developed in Visual DataFlex - and to getting acquainted with it, test it, and help us to release the best software possible.
Please register (http://www.dataaccess.nl/IframeText.asp?pageid=1766) for the program and download the installation files, and read the documentation carefully. We look forward to your input to help us make this a great product!
This version of Visual Report Writer expires December 1 2009.
Supported platforms
- Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows XP SP Professional 2 (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or higher (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (32 bit)
Note: Microsoft Windows 2000 SP 4 is not supported.
Using existing reports
The internal report structure (the format of the .vrw file) has changed. This means that once you’ve saved an existing report or created a new report in this Alpha you can no longer open the report in older versions of Visual Report Writer.
Using Subreports
To create a subreport link you must use a formula and use global variable(s) to pass the selection information to the subreport. For example, to create a report which shows the description of the ‘ship_via’ field from the standard order entry sample:</font></p>
Create a new report based on the ‘orderhea’ table.
Insert a calculated field in the ‘details’ section of the report with the following formula and (optionally) suppress the calculated field:
dim sShipping as global
let sShipping = {OrderHea.Ship_Via}
return sShipping
Create a subreport (‘Insert’ menu, option ‘Subreport’, option ‘Create new report’ and click in the details section.
Create a report based on the ‘Codemast’ table and add the ‘Description’ field.
Open the subreport by double-clicking the field.
Add a selection formula to the subreport by choosing ‘Selection Formula’ from the ‘Report’ menu.
Add the following formula:
dim sShipping as global // optional declaration
return ({CodeMast.Type} = "SHIPPING" and {CodeMast.Code} = sShipping)
Note: You must make sure the formula in the main report is executed before the subreport. To verify this check the order in the Report Explorer window. To change the order you can use the ‘To Front’ and ‘To Back’ options available from the ‘Format’ menu.
Changes from Alpha III
Added ability to link tables on multiple fields.
String fields in the embedded database are now trimmed by default.
Added ability to open individual .dat and .int files.
Added CSV export format and added export options to PDF export.
Added ability to use subreports.
Bugfixes, Please read the ‘Alpha IV readme.rtf’ file for the complete list
Reporting bugs, comments and suggestions
Please report bugs to support@dataaccess.eu. Make sure to provide as much detail as possible to define and reproduce the problem that you are reporting.
For further communications and information, use this forum
A special note about “suggestions”...
Visual Report Writer is a new product and in its first version intended to be only a basic report writer. Please focus any suggestions on how the current capabilities of the product could be enhanced or on any missing features you feel are essential to fulfilling “basic” reporting requirements. Suggestions for more advanced functionality will be kept in a “wish-list” for future releases.
Best regards,
Data Access Worldwide
Developers are encouraged to preview this latest software from Data Access - developed in Visual DataFlex - and to getting acquainted with it, test it, and help us to release the best software possible.
Please register (http://www.dataaccess.nl/IframeText.asp?pageid=1766) for the program and download the installation files, and read the documentation carefully. We look forward to your input to help us make this a great product!
This version of Visual Report Writer expires December 1 2009.
Supported platforms
- Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows XP SP Professional 2 (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium or higher (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (32 bit)
Note: Microsoft Windows 2000 SP 4 is not supported.
Using existing reports
The internal report structure (the format of the .vrw file) has changed. This means that once you’ve saved an existing report or created a new report in this Alpha you can no longer open the report in older versions of Visual Report Writer.
Using Subreports
To create a subreport link you must use a formula and use global variable(s) to pass the selection information to the subreport. For example, to create a report which shows the description of the ‘ship_via’ field from the standard order entry sample:</font></p>
Create a new report based on the ‘orderhea’ table.
Insert a calculated field in the ‘details’ section of the report with the following formula and (optionally) suppress the calculated field:
dim sShipping as global
let sShipping = {OrderHea.Ship_Via}
return sShipping
Create a subreport (‘Insert’ menu, option ‘Subreport’, option ‘Create new report’ and click in the details section.
Create a report based on the ‘Codemast’ table and add the ‘Description’ field.
Open the subreport by double-clicking the field.
Add a selection formula to the subreport by choosing ‘Selection Formula’ from the ‘Report’ menu.
Add the following formula:
dim sShipping as global // optional declaration
return ({CodeMast.Type} = "SHIPPING" and {CodeMast.Code} = sShipping)
Note: You must make sure the formula in the main report is executed before the subreport. To verify this check the order in the Report Explorer window. To change the order you can use the ‘To Front’ and ‘To Back’ options available from the ‘Format’ menu.
Changes from Alpha III
Added ability to link tables on multiple fields.
String fields in the embedded database are now trimmed by default.
Added ability to open individual .dat and .int files.
Added CSV export format and added export options to PDF export.
Added ability to use subreports.
Bugfixes, Please read the ‘Alpha IV readme.rtf’ file for the complete list
Reporting bugs, comments and suggestions
Please report bugs to support@dataaccess.eu. Make sure to provide as much detail as possible to define and reproduce the problem that you are reporting.
For further communications and information, use this forum
A special note about “suggestions”...
Visual Report Writer is a new product and in its first version intended to be only a basic report writer. Please focus any suggestions on how the current capabilities of the product could be enhanced or on any missing features you feel are essential to fulfilling “basic” reporting requirements. Suggestions for more advanced functionality will be kept in a “wish-list” for future releases.
Best regards,
Data Access Worldwide