This is a tool that is located on the Reports section of the Reports tab.
Function
The Advanced Reports interface () provides a set of tools to create user defined reports.
Sections
The Advanced Reports interface consists of 8 components: (1) Report Title, (2) Data Dropdown, (3) Precision and Identity Column Controls, (4) Query Builder, (5) Available Output Columns, (6) Output Field Controls, (7) Selected Output Columns, and (8) Query Buttons. The image below corresponds to this numbered list.
(1) Report Title
The Report Title section allows users to specify a name for a set of report criteria for future recall. In the provided textbox, the user can enter an appropriate name that characterizes the selected report elements.
(2) Data Dropdown
This section hosts the Data Table dropdown control. This control is used to select the Inventory Data set to use when generating the report on this interface.
(3) Precision and Identity Column Controls
There are two controls in this section. These two controls apply general settings to the output report.
Control | Used To... |
Decimal Places Textbox | Set the maximum number of decimal places displayed for numeric values in the output report. Data with higher precision will be rounded to this specified decimal place. |
Identity Columns Button | Automatically add a preconfigured set of columns to the Selected Output Columns list at the bottom of the form. Route ID, From Measure, and To Measure are added when the Identity Columns button is pressed. |
(4) Query Builder
The Query Builder section is used to specify a combination of available data elements for creating a custom query and report. Below are some of the controls that aid this process.
Control | Used To... |
Category Dropdown | Select the Business data types. |
Item Dropdown | Select an Item refined by the Category selection. |
Logical Dropdown | Provide query operators (equal, exists, etc.). |
Value Dropdown | Select valid values for the data column or type in where set values do not exist. |
Add/Item (+ and X) Buttons | Add additional criteria to the query (+) or remove criteria from a query (X). The remove option is not presented in the first row since the Advanced Report must have at least one search criteria. |
Join Dropdown | Group or create conditional queries; used in conjunction with the parentheses controls. |
Parentheses Textboxes | Group or create conditional queries; used in conjunction with the join control. |
Reset Criteria Button | Clear all criteria and reset the form. |
Enter SQL Button | Switch the query criteria window to a SQL entry window. In this mode, the Enter SQL button will change to “Enter Criteria” which can be used to switch back to the traditional query builder mode. |
Data Item Assistance Link | Show the Database Name and Item Type for a selected Data Item in a pop-up window. |
Verify SQL Button | Validate the entered SQL statement when in SQL entry mode. |
Run Report Button | Execute the query based on the selected criteria. At least one output column must be selected to enable the Run Report button. |
(5) Available Output Columns
The Available Output Columns list is used to select the data items to include in reports. Data items are under specific categories which can be expanded and collapsed using the "+" and "-" buttons. This list can be used in conjunction with the Output Field Controls and Selected Output Columns to customize the output of reports.
(6) Output Field Controls
The following controls are used in conjunction with the Available Output Columns list and Selected Output Columns list to customize report outputs.
Control | Used To... |
Add Button | Add fields from the Available Output Columns list to the Selected Output Columns list. |
Remove Button | Remove a field from the Selected Output Columns list. |
Remove All Button | Remove all fields from the Selected Output Columns list. |
(7) Selected Output Columns
The Selected Output Columns box is used to specify the data columns to be included in the output report. The box will be initially blank until columns are loaded using the Identity Column Control or the Output Field Controls. There are column sorting controls offered in this section:
Control | Used To... |
Sort Order Up/Down Arrows | Indicates that the currently selected item is in ascending (up arrow) or descending (down arrow) sort mode. This arrow is located in the actual table, and its current direction can be changed by clicking the arrow. |
Reorder the Report Column Sequence: Double Up Arrows | Move a selected item to the top of the list. |
Reorder the Report Column Sequence: Up Arrow | Move a selected item up one row in the list. |
Reorder the Report Column Sequence: Down Arrow | Move a selected item down one row in the list. |
Reorder the Report Column Sequence: Double Down Arrows | Move a selected item to the bottom of the list. |
(8) Query Buttons
The Query Buttons are used to load previous queries and save current queries.
Control | Used To... |
Load Query Button | Load a previously saved query into the interface to generate its report again. |
Save Query Button | Save the created query; this action will make the query available in "Load Query." |
Output Report
Once an Advanced Report query is executed, the results are displayed in a separate pop-up window. The Report Name, Search Criteria, Run Date, and Number of Records will be displayed at the top of the report. There are also some controls included at the top of the report. These are:
Control | Used To... |
Map Symbol Color Dropdown | Select from a picklist of colors to display results on a map. |
Map Link | Toggle to the Map Frame and highlight the selected records in the desired map symbol color. |
Print Link | Open the Windows Print Dialog to customize and print the results. |
View in Excel Link | Prompt the user to open the file in Excel or save the results locally in Excel format. |
Run a Report
The Advanced Report interface is composed of many sections, controls, and series of actions. The steps below clarify the workflow that allows users to run a report:
- Enter a Report Title (optional).
- Choose a Data set in the dropdown.
- Enter the number of Decimal Places to be displayed in the report.
- Enter criteria in the Query Builder.
- The Category, Item, and Logical fields are required.
- The Value field must be filled if the Logical selection is Equals, Contains, Does Not Contain, Ends With, or Begins With.
- Use the plus sign in the Add/Remove column to add more criteria rows.
- Use the Join and Parentheses fields to group criteria rows together.
- Add columns to the output report.
- Use the "+" sign in the Available Output Columns list to find columns; then, click the desired column name and the "Add" button to place the columns in the "Selected Output Columns" list.
- Alternatively, use the "Identity Columns" button at the top of the interface to add a preconfigured grouping of columns to the "Selected Output Columns" list.
- Click "Run Report."
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