What's New in R&R Version 10

Consolidated Installation and Utility Programs

Version 10 includes both the Xbase (RRW.EXE) and SQL Report Designer (RSW.EXE) along with the rights to distribute runtime components for either or both. The executable files for each version do continue to remain separate.

The default installation directory for Version 10 is \program files\RRVER10

The default program group for Version 10 is R&R Version 10

The utility programs Report Librarian, Runtime Shortcut Maker, Report Converter, Rapid Runner and Data Dictionary combine elements from both editions into single executables. Librarian now lists all Xbase and SQL reports and will launch them using that applicable report designer.

You can easily import V9 Librarian entries into V10 Librarian using its the build-in upload utility. And you can now create Rapid Runner report sets that contain both Xbase and SQL runtime reports. And the consolidated Data Dictionary catalogs table/fields from both Xbase and SQL data sources.

 Redesigned and Enhanced Data Dictionary Editor

An entirely new data dictionary editor has been included with R&R V10 that catalogs table, fields and indexes (V9 and prior only had fields), and provides for extended notations, specifications and other information about those reporting elements.

Existing pre-Version 10 dictionary entries may be incorporated using a utility function. Data Dictionary works with Report Librarian user accounts so that each Librarian user has their own dictionary and can share those entries with other users.

The new editor program is installed in the RL subdirectory and is called DATADICT.EXE. The editor is used to manage and update dictionary entries. The population of the dictionary files is not performed directly within the editor but is done automatically from within the Report Designer as described in the next section.

Dictionary data is stored in a set of FoxPro data files that are installed in the \RL subdirectory.

 Integration of Data Dictionary with Report Designer

Version 10 automatically populates its Data Dictionary as you work inside the Report Designer. So it learns your file structures as you build and modify reports. When you select a table within Report Designer, Data Dictionary seamlessly works behind the scenes to catalog selected tables, their fields and any applicable indexes by calling a set of dictionary cataloging programs that take report information and write it to the appropriate data dictionary tables. And from any field on the layout you can right click, select Dictionary and then view and even edit the dictionary entry for that field. This feature lets you build knowledge and usage about each field

 To see this feature in action, open the Version 10 report designer and create a new instant report. Then right click on a field on the layout and select dictionary. This will launch the Field Detail dictionary screen where you can Edit and then add a dictionary description that will then be available in any report using that table field.

You can also add calculated fields to the dictionary for future use using the new Add to Dict button in the calculated field dialog and then make those fields available to other reports and users.

 We have also added a Context-sensitive “Join Help” button in the Database Relation/Join dialog that allows you to see how the selected tables have been joined in other reports. In effect, R&R “learns” your databases and opens them up for more people to build reports.

 In addition to the dictionary creation enhancements, we have also added additional dictionary driven formatting control. When placing a field in the layout, R&R will check if any settings have been made in the data dictionary editor for field size, alignment and style. For example, if you have a numeric field defined in the table with 12 integer and 5 decimal places, you can specify in dictionary to have Report Designer automatically present that field as comma, 6 integer places, 2 decimals. This also works great for long character fields that you prefer truncated. For table selection, you can define default table aliases in the dictionary that become the default alias any time that table is selected in a report. 

Like the Report Librarian, the Version 10 data dictionary is user specific and uses the same user login table as the Librarian. If you launch the report designer directly the default login name is ADMIN just as for Librarian. If you launch the Report Designer from Report Librarian, the data dictionary owner name will be the Librarian login name.

 

Field List Enhancements/Sorted field listings

A new setting has been added to the Field Lists section of the Options-Preferences menu.

If you check the box Sort Field names, the order in which field names will display in any field listings in will be in non-case sensitive A-Z order with the table alias for the field displayed after the field name. 

In addition to the global setting, you can also make on the fly adjustments within field dialogs. We have added three Sort Names radio buttons to dialogs containing field listings so you can adjust the order of field lists as you work. When a field listing is presented such as in the Insert Field dialog, the default radio button will be either A-Z or table depending on whether the Sort Field Names box was checked in Options Preferences. You can change the display order on the fly by changing the radio button selection.

If the A-Z button is selected

All field names are displayed in non-case sensitive alphabetical order.

If the Table button is selected

Fields are presented in R&R classic mode. Each table’s field name is indented beneath the name of the table. Each table name is followed by an ellipsis (…). For multi-table reports, the field list for each table can be "collapsed" so that only the table name appears. Initially, all field names are displayed. To collapse the field list for a table, click on the table name; to expand the list, click the table name again.

If the Type button is selected

Field names are indented beneath their field type. The available field types are Database fields, Calculations, Totals and ParameteRRs. The order of presentation within these types will depend on whether the Options Preferences Sort Field Names box has been checked.

 

Field Copy button

Version 10 includes a Copy button within the calculated, parameteRR and total field dialogs that allows you to use an existing field calculated expression as the basis for a new field. When you click the Copy button on the selected field, a copy of that field is created with an empty field name so you can enter a new field name and make any edit changes and then save the new field.

 

Drag/Drop from field lists

Version 10 allows you to drag fields to the layout directly from the calculated, parameteRR and total field dialogs without needing to close the current dialog before being able to place the field on the layout. Just select the field and drag it into position on the layout.

 

Right Click Total creation

When you right click on a field on layout, the menu list now includes a choice of Total. Selecting Total immediately opens a New Total dialog with the current field selected as the field to total. You can then make any required changes and save the total and even immediately drag it to the layout.

 

Variable Graphics

In Version 10 you can add images to a report that change on a record level basis.

The Insert Picture menu choice is now split into Insert Picture from File and Insert Picture from Field.  Picture from File behaves as does the earlier Insert Picture. Selecting Insert Picture from Field displays the Insert Field dialog where you can select a database or calculated character field whose contents represent the path/filename of the picture to insert. To create a placeholder for the actual image file, a file called BLANK.BMP is now installed in the R&R program directory. When the report is run, the contents of file referenced in the table will be used in the report. So if you have a parts database, you could place a partID field on the layout and then print an image of each part on a record band in the report.

 

Query/Filter dialog enhancements

A series of updated prompts make it easier to specify the compared to values for selecting records. You no longer need to put quotes around character entries or curly braces around dates, and in-the-range and in-the-list options will present a series of entry boxes rather than requiring you to enter a comma separated list.

 

Modifications to Relations/Join dialog

The following changes have been made to the Database Relation Edit dialog:

·        In the Xbase version, A Calc button has been added next to the linking field box to allow you to build a calculation and then select it from the Relate From linking field list.

·        In the Xbase version, the key expression for the Relate Through index is now scrollable so that you can see the full index expression.

·        In both Xbase and SQL, a Join Help button has been added to allow you to view a report that shows how the selected tables have been linked in other reports.

 

Line Properties enhancement

A Calc button has been added to the logical field box to allow you to build a calculation and then select it from the Logical field list.

Additional line and shading choices

Version·10·now·supports·12.5,  25,·37.5,·50,·and·75·%·gray·box·shading.

We have also added several dashed line styles.

Saved MAPI options

In Version 10 Report Designer, any MAPI Option selections that you make are now retained. So if you make selections, exit the File Export menu and then return to the Export menu and again check the send via MAPI box, your previous Mail Option selections such as burst level and send to field will still be present. These setting also are saved with the report so if you routinely email burst reports, you will no longer need to reselect your options each time you run the report. Note however that the Send via MAPI button remains by default un-checked when Export dialog is opened, so you do need to re-check the button to enable the Options.

Note that Send via MAPI remains as a Designer only feature in Version 10.

ParameteRR driven Xbase Scope

In Version 10 Xbase you can now select a ParameteRR field to define the range of master file records that will be used in a report. This allows you to have both speed and flexibility in record selection.

ParameteRR Timeout

ParameteRR fields are a great feature but they do require interactive user input.  So if you have set a batch of reports to run in turn overnight, you might come in the next day to find that report 1 is still waiting on its ParameteRR value entry screen.  To overcome this problem, we have added a timeout feature to the parameteRR screen.  If a ParameteRR screen is open for two minutes without user interaction, we now display a brief notice box saying that the screen will close unless the OK button is selected.

If OK is not selected, the report is run using the current parameteRR default values. This allows you to then use the same report for unattended production and production on demand.

 Extended Date Support

Version 10 extends the upper limit for date fields from 12/31/2400 to 12/31/2999.

Export to Excel Format

Version 10 now exports directly to Microsoft Excel format (.XLS) when exporting to worksheet format.

System User Defined Functions

In addition to the standard RR.UDF (for SQL RSW.UDF) user defined function library, Version 10 also support a second system user defined function file called SYSRR.UDF (for SQL SYSRSW.UDF). The system UDF is a read only user function library whose functions can be read and used in reports but whose definitions cannot be edited. Having this secondary UDF library allows developers to distribute a custom UDF file to their users while still allowing those users to maintain their own user-defined functions.

To create a system UDF file, you first create your functions in the Report Designer which will write them to RR.UDF (RSW.UDF for SQL). Then using Windows Explorer, you simply rename RR.UDF to SYSRR.UDF or SYSRSW.UDF.

When R&R is opened it will first read any user functions from system UDF file followed by those from standard UDF file. Functions from each will then appear in any R&R function listing.  In the Calculations User Function dialog, functions from both files will be listed and their expressions will appear in the Expression box but the Edit and Delete buttons will not be available for those functions that reside in system UDF file.

Report Preview Refresh

On the preview toolbar we have added a new ç Restart report button. When this button is selected, the report will be restarted and if there are ParameteRRs, the ParameteRR value entry screen will be presented so you can change values and re run the report so that you can change your view of the data on the fly.

Append to Existing tables using Rapid Runner

A new Consolidate DBF export option has been added to Rapid Runner that lets you output to an existing DBF. Using the feature, you can combine as many data tables into a single table – for example, the sales journals for dozens of outlets for a retail store – whether the source data tables have the same structure or not. R&R can perform all the ETL functions (extraction, translation and load) without a single line of code. You can even use Rapid Runner to run reports based on the combined data file. All of this functionality can be scheduled in Rapid Runner for unattended processing. And since you can combine Xbase and SQL reports into a single Version 10 Rapid Runner set to allow you to easily combine desktop and server data from a variety of sources into a single report.

 

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