Consultor Eletrônico

Sharing RESULTS reports without overwriting .qd

920527-elp01

INTRODUCTION:
=============
This Knowledgebase entry describes how you can share reports,
labels, and data export definitions among users when using
Version 6 or Version 7 character RESULTS.

WHY YOU NEED TO DO THIS:
========================
Although RESULTS is primarily as a personal productivity tool,
sometimes users need to share the output definitions built through
RESULTS. This entry describes how to
set up shared RESULTS definitions. Note that this capability
is only supported for Version 6, 7 and 8 character RESULTS.

PROCEDURAL APPROACH:
====================
During the design/creation phase of using RESULTS, each user MUST
have his or her own directory. RESULTS does not support multiple
users updating the same Query Definition (.qd) file.
RESULTS does not prevent the users from overwriting each other's
work if they do attempt to share a .qd file in update mode.

Since the reports, labels, and exports do not contain user-specific
characters in their file names, each user must have a separate
file system directory.

Also, each RESULTS session creates temporary files (_qbf*.p and
_qbf*.d). With the exception of CTOS installations, RESULTS puts
temporary files in the current working directory,
and if several users share the same directory, they stomp on each
others' temporary files!

However, once you have defined standard reports, labels, and/or data
export formats, they can be shared IN READ-ONLY MODE. You can read
any report directory of any other user, provided you know the name
and location of the <user>.qd file.

Create a sharable user directory and copy the .qd and all
rep?????.p, lbl?????.p, and exp?????.p files into that common
location, accessible by each user.

To read in the shared definitions, select the first entry on the
"Get" scrolling list. It will be:
"<<get report (or label or export) from another directory>>".

You then see a dialog box asking for a different .qd file than
the one you are currently using. Type in the file name of the
shared .qd file. RESULTS will search the PROPATH directories
to find it. You can then access all the entries
in that directory list. Select an item from that list, and
it will load as if it had been defined locally.

NOTE: It is not possible to start RESULTS in one directory, and
have it perform the Initial Build writing to another directory.
Initial Build writes to the current directory only. Application
Rebuild, on the other hand, will rebuild files wherever it finds
them in the PROPATH.

ONLINE PROCEDURES OR UTILITIES:
===============================
None.

REFERENCES TO WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION:
====================================
See the PROGRESS RESULTS Manual V6, Section 8.9.1 Contents of a User
Directory.
"Although more than one user can access information in the
same database, users must have their own directories to hold
their generated reports, labels, and export formats. . . .
If RESULTS cannot find the .qd file [for this user] in the
PROPATH, it creates one in the current directory. Each user
has [his or her] own .qd file, because if two users try to
change the same .qd file at the same time, problems can arise.
For example, the file can become corrupt."

See also PROGRESS RESULTS Manual, Appendix D, RESULTS FILES.

Progress Software Technical Support Note # 4825