Genero Report Writer provides a GUI interface to design reports that are based on data
typically retrieved from a database; the layout of the report is specified using the drag-and-drop
report designer. Gathering the data for the report is separated from the layout, enhancing security,
allowing reuse, and providing an interface that protects the report from changes to the actual data
storage.
Report Creation
- You write an application to retrieve the data; the data may come from a database, from a data
file, from an XML file, or from a Web service. This application retrieves the report data and
outputs it to Genero Report Writer. The application can be coded by hand, or can be generated using
the Business Application Modeler.
- Once the application is created, you use a tool to extract the data schema for the report. The
data schema is used to populate the Data View in the Genero Report Designer. From the Data View,
data objects can be dragged and dropped onto the design page.
- You design the report
layout using Genero Report Designer, dragging and dropping the report elements (including
data objects) onto the report design page. This creates a Report Design Document
(4rp file).
- You can specify the default report output options using the Report Designer menu, or you can use
language-specific APIs in your application to modify the output options.
- End-to-end streaming (see How It
Works) from the Genero DVM to the Genero Report Viewer provides
"print-as-you-go" processing; the data is produced on the fly.
The Report Design Document
The Report Design Document (4rp) specifies the appearance of the report and
its data:
- Report elements (containers (such as Mini Page and Horizontal Box), and their child elements (such as Word
Box, Image
Box, and data objects)
can be dragged and dropped onto the report page and re-arranged.
- Properties in the Properties
View describe the report element. The default values for element properties can be changed,
or calculated using expressions. An expression can be used to change the appearance of the element, or change it
conditionally; for example, an expression might turn the background color red if the value for the
report element is greater than 1000.
- The report design elements can contain values that are based on other values in the report; for
example, totals and subtotals.
- Various Report Design Documents can be created using the data schema from a single
4gl file.
- A Report Design Document can be output in different formats.
See Designing a
Report.
The Report Output
A Genero report is based on XML
standards (XML reports, XML data, SVG output). Since the data is in XML format, you can have
multiple views of the same data. The report can be output to various formats, or directly to a
printer or other output devices.
You can use Genero Report Writer to create reports for a
variety of purposes. For example, you can produce:
- Lists
- Reports with a customized format, such as invoices, corporate documents, or accounting
reports
- Reports that include images
- Reports on pre-printed forms
- Labels
- Business Graphs (such as MapCharts, Category Charts, and XY Charts)
- XML documents
- HTML documents
- Excel spreadsheets
- Documents in Microsoft™ RTF format
- ASCII-based reports, to print legacy Genero reports "as is"
The rapid delivery of pages, with no need for temporary files or temporary tables, consumes
less memory and speeds up the printing of very large reports.
See
Configuring Fonts
and Printers for tips about printers, fonts, and custom paper sources.