Kbase 15060: Report Builder new features for V8
| Autor |
Progress Software Corporation - Progress |
| Acesso |
Público |
| Publicação |
5/10/1998 |
|
Report Builder new features for V8
Question
What new features does Report Builder contain in V8?
Answer
Multi-database support:
----------------------
RB can integrate data from multiple databases in a single
report.
Outer joins:
-----------
RB can organize report data using outer joins.
Using the sports database as an example, if a report
is created that lists all customers and the orders for
each customer, customers without orders can be displayed
in the report.
Data-driven images:
------------------
RB can display the contents of different image files that
vary from record band to record band. For example, RB can
use a product code number to calculate a file name
containing a bitmap image of a picture of the part to
create a product catalog, or it could read employee
photographs for an employee profile report. Also, if a DLL
routine is called before each record band is printed, and
the DLL creates a bitmap file (e.g. to store a business
graph), the RB report can read and display the contents of
the DLL-generated file.
Internationalization:
--------------------
RB has been readied for translation into different
languages.
RB has been modifed to run cleanly using any
PROGRESS-supported single-byte character sets/codepages
(CAUTION: Although some customers have reported using
Report Builder successfully in double-byte environments, we
have not specifically engineered the product to do so yet)
Computer Based Training:
-----------------------
A CBT module has been created for Report Builder; CBT is a
self-help system that actually shows the user how RB is
used to perform various tasks. Using CBT is like watching
over the shoulder of an experienced Report Builder user. A
CBT "teaser" course will be included with the product, and
it demonstrates how to use the most basic RB functions. A
complete RB CBT is available from training.
Report Builder Report Engine:
----------------------------
Many enhancements here, including:
Formerly invoked through a 4GL .p file, the report engine
is now a Windows executable, so RB reports can now be
invoked directly from the Windows desktop without having to
also start up a PROGRESS application to launch the RB
report engine.
RB report parameters can be stored in a table in a
database, and the RB report engine can be asked to batch
print some or all of the reports listed/defined within the
table.This improves adminstration, and also performance by
eliminating the time required to start the RB report engine
& connect to the database for each report.
Report Builder recognizes PROGRESS command line parameters:
----------------------------------------------------------
RB will recognize PROGRESS command line parameters, like
which date formats to use, which databases to connect to,
etc.
Miscellaneous:
-------------
-RB report designers can define their own symbols to
display for unknown values as an alternative to PROGRESS's
default symbol of "?"
-Aggregate fields can optionally be set to ignore any
unknown values encountered in a column being averaged,
totaled, min'd, max'd etc.
-RB performance benefit, in some cases, from PROGRESS Field
List enhancement (against all databases) & SQL-pass through
enhancement (against ORACLE only) made to SQL Engine
-Support for new bitmap image file types including Kodak
Photo CD.
Progress Software Technical Support Note # 15060