PDA

View Full Version : Visual Report Writer Beta II available for download



Vincent Oorsprong
14-Jan-2010, 07:16 AM
Data Access is pleased to announce that the Visual Report Writer Beta II 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.

The readme for Beta II can be read online by following this link (http://www.dataaccess.eu/Include/ElectosFileStreaming.asp?FileId=929).

Please register (http://www.dataaccess.nl/IframeText.asp?pageid=1957) 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 June 1st 2010.

Supported platforms
- Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (and higher) (32 bit)
- Microsoft Windows XP SP (and higher) 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 with the release of Beta I. This means that you cannot use reports created with previous Alpha versions of Visual Report Writer anymore. As of Beta II, even if the structure may change, support for older formats will be supported for future versions. Reports built with Beta II, will run with future releases.

Before you uninstall your Alpha IV build, please note that Beta I can be installed side-by-side. This will allow you to more easily reproduce any reports you may have built with the previous pre-release of Visual Report Writer.

Documentation
Beta I was the first pre-release that delivered documentation. It is still preliminary documentation that will be the basis for the help-system. Layout-improvements, proof-reading and cosmetics enhancements are scheduled, but we did not want to further delay the beta process over this. We kindly ask you to let us know of any conceptual flaws or omissions that you may find in the documentation.

Integration library
Visual Report Writer Beta I came with a new Integration library. Minor changes have been made for Beta II. This library allows you to seamlessly integrate Visual Report Writer reports with your Visual DataFlex 15.0 applications. The library contains an Integration Wizard and classes for integrating and viewing Visual Report Writer reports.

During installation you can specify the location of the Integration library. We suggest you install the library in a subfolder of the main Visual DataFlex directory, this allows you to add the library using relative pathing. To use the Integration library and Integration Wizard in your Visual DataFlex projects and Workspaces you must first add the library. You can do this by opening the Visual DataFlex Studio and select the ‘Maintain Libraries…’ option from the ‘Tools’ menu. Next, you can use the ‘Add Library’ button and open the ‘Visual Report Writer.sws’ file. After selecting the .sws file and clicking the ‘Ok’ button the library is added to the currently selected workspace.

To use the Integration Wizard, simply choose the ‘View/Report’ option from the ‘File’ menu and select the ‘VRW Integration Wizard’ icon.

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