1. What is it good for?
Many years ago eDeveloper (then named Magic) used to come bundled with a report generator. This was an amazing tool, basically allowing end users to create their own reports by letting them run existing reports, create new reports, delete reports, duplicate reports, load reports created by others, view the results of an existing report, or print a report, based on warehouse type views created by developers. Some of you may have missed the new report generator that was slipped into eDeveloper V10.1. It sort of snuck in the side door with the 10.1 version and very little noise has been made about it to date. So let's correct that now: the report generator is back and its more powerful than ever. There are two other ways to deal with report generation that are documented in the Help files for eDeveloper. But the new Report Generator has its own help files from which I will summarize.
2. So, how do I use it?
2.1. Loading
- Create a component and then zoom to select the ReportingGenerator.eci application from the Add_On directory.
- In the task you want to work with, set the Print Data property in the Options tab of the Task Properties dialog box to Yes.
- Run the program that you want to print data from.
- Press CTRL+P to open the Report Generator. The Select Report screen opens.
2.2. Using the Generator
The Select Report screen helps you manage reports with the following options (available as buttons or options in the File menu):
- New - Opens the Report Creation wizard where you can create a new report.
- Edit - Lets you edit the report that you have selected.
- Delete - Deletes the report that you have selected.
- Duplicate - Copies the report that you have selected.
- Load - Lets you use reports created by others for the same eDeveloper program. You do this by moving reports to a visible place on your computer and then clicking the Load icon. This enables you to select the required report. This option is in the File menu.
- Preview - Provides a preview of the report that you have selected.
- Print - Prints the report that you have selected.
2.2.1. Report Creation Wizard
The Report Generator is equipped with a wizard that helps you create your report easily, step by step. Click New in the Select Report screen to activate the Report Creation wizard.
The Report Creation wizard contains six simple steps, but you do not have to complete all six steps to create a report. You may complete your report and exit the wizard at any time by clicking Finish or Close.
If you click Finish, the wizard closes, the Design screen opens, and the information you have entered in the wizard screens is automatically saved.
If you click Close, the wizard closes, the Design screen opens, but the information you have entered will not be saved unless you click Save.
The six steps of the Report Generation Wizard are:
2.2.1.1. Setting
The Setting step lets you define your report name and layout.
The report default name is the name of the eDeveloper program where the Report Generator is activated
2.2.1.2. Columns
The Columns step lets you select the variables you want to display, and their order, in the report table.
The left part of the screen shows the available columns, which includes all the fields selected in the eDeveloper program. The right part of the screen shows the columns you selected to be included in your report.
On the Columns screen you can perform the operations listed below:
- Rename a column by clicking on the column, and then clicking the
button. Enter a new name in the Column Properties dialog box and click OK.Note: This only changes the column name for the current report. - Change the Date Format by marking a Date column you would like to change and pressing the button. You can edit the column name and change its date format in the Column Properties dialog box and click OK.Note: The default format for Date columns is dd/mm/yyyy.
- Select all columns by pressing
the button. - Select a variable by using one of the following methods:
Drag a variable from the Available Items list to the Selected Items list.
Select a variable and click the
button.
Double-click on a variable in the Available Items list. - Unselect all columns by pressing the
button. - Unselect a column by marking the column and pressing the
button. - Move a column up by marking it and clicking the
button. - Move a column down by marking it and clicking the
button
2.2.1.3. Sections
The Sections step lets you divide your report into subsections that are similar to the grouping in eDeveloper.
On the Sections screen you can perform the operations listed below:
- Define Section Properties – Click on the section whose properties you want to define, and then click the button to:
- Change the title of a section.
- Choose if you want to start the section on a new page.
- Choose if you want to print the section title on every page. - Select a column by using one of the following methods:
- Drag a variable from the Available Items list to the Selected Items list.
- Select a variable and click the button.
- Double-click on a variable in the Available Items list. - Unselect all columns by pressing the button.
- Unselect a column by marking the column and pressing the button.
- Move a column up by marking it and clicking the button.
- Move a column down by marking it and clicking the button.
2.2.1.4. Sorting
The Sorting step lets you define the sort order of the report.
On the Sorting screen you can perform the operations listed below:
- Change the Sort order by selecting a column and pressing the button to open the Sort Properties dialog box and select the change.Note: The default sort order of a column is ascending.
- Select the columns by using one of the following methods:
- Drag a column from the Available Items list to the Selected Items list.
- Select a column and click the button.
- Double-click on a column in the Available items list. - Unselect all columns by pressing the button.
- Unselect a column by marking the column and pressing the button.
- Move a column up by marking it and clicking the button.
- Move a column down by marking it and clicking the button.
2.2.1.5. Filtering
The Filtering step lets you define an expression that will filter the report result.
Create a filtering expression by dragging and dropping Functions, Operations, or Variables (variable names are preceded by ~) from the right list to the left working area.
Click Test to check if the expression you created is valid.
2.2.1.6. Accumulators
The Accumulators step lets you create Accumulators for your report, such as the total salaries amount or employee count.
Create a new Accumulator by selecting a column from the Available Items list on the left and moving it to the Selected Items list on the right.
On the Accumulators screen you can perform the operations listed below:
- Define the Accumulator type by selecting an accumulator and clicking the button.Note: The default type for numeric data is SUM, and the default type for all other data is Count.
- Select the Accumulators by using one of the following methods:
- Drag a column from the Available Items list to the Selected Items list.
- Select a column and click the button.
- Double-click on a column in the Available items list. - Unselect all Accumulators by pressing the button.
- Unselect an Accumulator by marking the column and pressing the button.
- Move an Accumulator up by marking it and clicking the button.
- Move an Accumulator down by marking it and clicking the button.
The main screen of the Report Generator is the design screen, which lets you graphically design and save the report.
To help you create a better report with less effort, the Design screen contains the tools listed below:
2.2.2.1. Drawing Aids Palette
The Drawing Aids palette helps you arrange the Elements and Variables you have added to the report. The buttons on this palette identify the available operations, and a ToolTip describes each operation.
2.2.2.2. Elements List Palette
The Elements List palette lets you add elements to your report. There are three types of Elements:
- Variables – All the fields you selected in the invoking eDeveloper program with the names you gave them.
- Added Variables – The variables you added to the report using the Variables Management Tool.
- Internal Elements that help you design your report properly, including:
Rectangle
Image
Line
Simple Text
Report Title
Date
Page Number
The Report Generator Design toolbar lets you perform the operations needed to create your report. The toolbar buttons include:
Saves your report with the changes you made. 
Displays the report you created. 
Print the report. 
Similar to the Wizard’s Setting screen. 
See Variables Management Tool. 
Similar to the Wizard’s Columns screen. 
Similar to the Wizard’s Sections screen. 
Similar to the Wizard’s Sorting screen. 
Similar to the Wizard’s Filtering screen. 
Similar to the Wizard’s Accumulators screen. 
Lets you redesign the screen according to the default values. When you press this button, all the changes you made will be lost 
Displays the Elements List Palette. - Displays the Drawing Aides Palette.
2.2.2.4. Variables Management Tool
Click on the Report Generator Design Toolbar to add and remove Variables and User Questions to your report.
Adding Variables:
- To add a new variable, press the Add Variable button, enter the variable name, select the variable type, and click OK to open a Column Properties dialog box.
- Create an expression by dragging and dropping Functions, Operations, or Variables (variable names are preceded by ~) from the right list to the left working area.
- Click Test to check if the expression you created is valid.
- Click OK to complete the new variable creation.
- Adding User Questions
The User Questions mechanism lets you ask the user who will run the report questions that will influence the report result data. Click the Add User Question button, enter the Name and Question type in the Add New Variable dialog box, and click OK to continue. You can later find your question by this name in the Expression Editor.
In the User Question dialog box, enter the question you want the user to see and the default value of the answer. - Removing Variables and User Questions
To remove a variable or user question you added to the report, select the variable you want to remove, and click the Remove variable button. - The Remove variable button is only applicable for variables and user questions you created in the Report Generator.
No more simple reports hustle. The new report generator allows developers to create a view using main application entities linked to each other. The column names can be changed to user friendly names in the Dataview tab. Users can then create simple reports based on that view, allowing developers to concentrate on what they do best.
