R:BASE 11 Help

 

NOTE: From inside the Report Designer, you can launch the Report Designer help file by pressing the [Shift]+[F1] hot keys.

 

•Sub-Totals and Totals

To calculate sub-totals and totals of table columns, Aggregate Variables have always been used to perform this job. Now, the R:BASE 11 for Windows Report Designer has a built-in object called DB Calc, which performs these same functions on table columns without creating the extra overhead of variables. You can replace your Variable Label objects with DB Calc objects in instances where the Variables Object results will not be used further down in the report.

 

 

•#DATE, #TIME, #PAGE, Document, and Page Information

The R:BASE 11 for Windows Report Designer now has a System Variable control, which allows an object to be placed for the current DATE, TIME, Document Name, Print DATE and TIME, or one of many Page Numbering options. All Variable Label objects whose expression value consists of a system variable (#DATE, #TIME) should be deleted and replaced with a System Variable control. Any Variable Label objects whose expression value consists of the #PAGE system variable, you must delete the variable object and replace that object with a System Variable control.

 

 

•Report Variables

Report variables that perform calculations or combine a number of values should be enclosed in parenthesis. If error messages are displayed for variables performing calculations, like the one below,

 

2 : CURRENCY    vTotal = price * quantity

 

add parenthesis as follows:

 

2 : CURRENCY    vTotal = (price * quantity)

 

 

•Report Totals

To be sure report totals are calculating correctly on all NULL and not NULL records, make sure the ZERO setting is ON. Check the setting under "Settings" > "Configuration Settings".

 

 

•Printer Control Codes

If DOS or machine printer control codes are used in R:BASE Report variables, they can no longer be stored in the Report Variables. A control code would appear in the variable list with an expression as follows: <27 40 115 49 83>

 

If the control code were used to alter the text on the report (e.g. bold, underline, etc.), the control code must be deleted. There are many new features in the Windows interface that replace control codes for altering report text objects. The R:BASE 11 for Windows version allows you to perform these font changes must easier.

 

If control codes listed in the report control hardware for paper feeds or to open a cash drawer, then document down the exact code and review the "PCC Label" Control in the Report Designer. This control will support the same functionality used previously.

 

 

•Picture Format

For a report object, [] may be displayed in the report preview. In R:BASE for DOS and R:BASE for Windows versions prior to 7.x, a "Picture Format" option was available. The option allowed the justification of the value and several formatting options based upon the data type of the object. For example, to add the justification a [>], or [<] was used to right/left justify.

 

In R:BASE 11, this feature is called "Display Format", which still offers several formatting options for report objects based upon the data type of the object. While the formatting option is still supported, the justification option is no longer supported in the previous context, within the "Display Format" settings. To right/left/center justify text of an object, use the "Format" tool bar which supports many text formatting options.

 

If you see [] listed in your report preview for a report object, you must right click on the object, select "Display Format", and remove the [] characters.

 

 

•Page Setup

For DOS to Windows conversions, the default page size setting is set to it's largest values in order to make sure no objects are lost in the conversion process. You must make sure you alter your page settings back to your desired values in order for your reports to print correctly.

 

To alter the page size settings, follow the below instructions:

 

 

From this dialog, you can also adjust your report margins from the "Margins" tab.

 

After making any changes, make sure that all of your report objects are located within the defined page size settings and margins. Otherwise, R:BASE will display a warning that "Controls beyond the new page width will be deleted." In this case, select "Cancel" to avoid losing any controls. Then move your controls within your desired page settings and then make your page size setting changes again.

 

 

•Report Preview Tip

The "Report Preview" tab will display a preview of your report as it may appear when you send the report to the printer or screen. Before selecting the tab, you must make sure that there are no errors listed in your Report variables, otherwise, you will receive an error message for every error listed multiplied by the number of records displayed in the Report Preview window.  

 

What you can do to limit the number of rows displayed in the Report Preview window, thus limiting the number error messages. To do so, alter the Report Default settings for how many rows are displayed when previewing a report.

 

 

 

•Lookup Variable Tip

Within the R:BASE 11 Report Designer there is an option to run a series of commands (or Action) for a report before the Report Designer is launched. In the Report Designer, choose "Report" from the Menu bar, the select "Actions" > "On Before Design...".

 

This will run a series of commands, which can include the creation of variables that Lookup Variables are based upon, to avoid annoying error messages when the form is opened in the designer. An example of a lookup variable based upon another variable would be...

 

1 : TEXT    vCompany = Company IN Customer WHERE CustID = .vCustID

 

The error message appears because the variable vCustID is not defined. Adding the following SET VAR command to the "On Before Design Action..." will alleviate this error message:

 

SET VAR vCustID INTEGER

 

The "On Before Design..." action is located under "Report" > "Actions" on the main Menu Bar.