Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All Rights Reserved


Chapter 2 The Report Generator : Reporting Basics

Reporting Basics
Many basic reports can be handled using the Report Generator. To generate a report, you must specify only where the source data is coming from and how you want the information to appear. The Report Generator can then automatically generate output based on this information.
What is the Output of the Report Generator?
Through the Report Generator, TIBCO Object Service Broker generates the following:
 
The output that can be directed to a printer, screen, data set, or file. The default report name is the one that you select at the beginning of the process. It can be changed at the final stage.
Contains the underlying definitions and relationships of the report. It is stored under the report name by default. The generated report definition can be expanded in the Report Definer.
Governs the flow of data and directs the output. The saving of this rule is optional; it is saved in your local library under a name that you provide.
Who Owns the Generated Objects?
Initially, there are no promotion rights assigned to the objects created with the Report Generator (reports, rules, report tables). These rights can be obtained (that is, saved) using the definer tool associated with that object. The first time that an object is saved, the promotion rights are assigned to the saver. Alternatively, the rights can be obtained using the MANAGE_RIGHTS tool. For more information, refer to TIBCO Object Service Broker Shareable Tools and TIBCO Object Service Broker Managing Deployment.
Generating a Basic Framework for a Report
The Report Generator can also be used to create a base framework for a report, for example, using a definition and a rule to insert data into the report.
Parts of a Report
The parts described in the following table make up the external composition of a report. Three of these (the Title Elements, Subtotals, and Grand Totals) are automatically generated by the Report Generator.
Fields supplying visual and logical breaks in the report. Can be applied vertically or horizontally.
The parts are constructed from the reporting information that you supply throughout the reporting process while in the Report Generator.
Sample Report
The following report gives a listing of selected managers and their employees. It groups the employees by their department and displays their names, positions, and salaries. A subtotal of all the employee salaries for each manager is also given, as is a grand total of all the salaries of these selected groups.

 
04/MAR/2000 Report:MAN_DEP_SAL Page 1
Manager:JOHN DUBINSKY
Department:EDUCATION
Name Position Salary
---------------------- --------------- -------------
STEVENSON EDUCATOR $700.00
DHILLON EDUCATOR $685.00
Department:PUBLICATIONS
CROFTON TECH. WRITER $675.00
POIRIER TECH. WRITER $695.00
Subtotal $2,755.00
Manager:SUSAN SIMONS
Department:RESEARCH
HRODEK ANALYST $710.00
CANNON ANALYST $700.00
BOIVIN ANALYST $710.00
KIMURA JR. PROGRAMMER $575.00
WONG SENIOR ANALYST $800.00
SCHULTZ SENIOR ANALYST $820.00
SMITH TESTER $600.00
Subtotal $4,915.00
Total $7,670.00

 
Elements in the Sample Report
This sample report is composed of the following elements:
Title Area

 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
04/MAR/2000 Report:MAN_DEP_SAL Page 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------

 
Break Fields

 
----------------------------
Manager:JOHN DUBINSKY
Department:EDUCATION
----------------------------

 
Print Fields

 
------------------------------------------------------
Name Position Salary
---------------------- --------------- -------------
STEVENSON EDUCATOR $700.00
DHILLON EDUCATOR $685.00

 
Break Within a Break

 
------------------------
Department:PUBLICATIONS
------------------------
CROFTON TECH. WRITER $675.00
POIRIER TECH. WRITER $695.00
------------------------------------------------------

 
Subtotals

 
------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal $2,755.00
------------------------------------------------------
Manager:SUSAN SIMONS
Department:RESEARCH
HRODEK ANALYST $710.00
. . .
. . .
 
Subtotal $4,915.00

 
Grand Total

 
-----------------------------------------------------
Total $7,670.00
-----------------------------------------------------

 
Using the Report Generator Screens
How to Enter Information in the Screens
There are two ways of entering information into the screens of the Report Generator:
Report Generator Screens Illustration
The Report Generator consists of a main screen and several sub-screens. The following diagram illustrates the Report Generator sub-screens:
What Each Screen Displays
Each screen in the Report Generator displays different information and presents a different phase of report building, as summarized in the following table:
 
Field names for each of the selected tables and how they are to be printed and used.
How to Move Between Screens
There are two ways of moving between screens in the Report Generator:
Moving at the Sub-screen Level
In addition, when you are in one of the sub-screens, you can move to a screen directly by using its Home key. These keys are summarized in the table below:
These keys are available at the sub-screen level as a shortcut for experienced users. They do not appear with the available PF keys on the reporting screens. Pressing PF1 displays a full listing.
The Main Report Generator Screen
Function of the Main Screen
The main Report Generator screen is the first screen encountered when you enter the Report Generator from the workbench. From this screen, you do the following:
Main Report Generator Screen

 
<< REPORT GENERATOR >>
Report Name: MAN_DEP_SAL Report Type: DETAIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_ Select Table(s) _ Specify Parameter(s) _ Relate Tables
_ Selection Criteria _ Print/Control Fields _ Report Functions
_ Customize/Execute Report
********************** SAMPLE REPORT **********************
$PRINTDATE $RPTTIME Report: $THE_REPORT_N
Last Name Position Salary
---------------------- -------------- ---------
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PFKEYS: 1=HELP 3=END 12=END 22=DELETE RPT
Type in ’S’ to select an optional action then press <Enter>

 
The following sections describe the different areas of the main Report Generator screen.
The Report Identification Area
The heading area at the top of the Report Generator screen contains two fields, the Report Name field and the Report Type field.
Report Name Field
The Report Name field appears in the top left hand corner of the screen and is protected. For information on changing the name of your report, refer to Renaming the Report.
Report Type Field
This field displays the type of report you are producing. The following list describes the three TIBCO Object Service Broker report types:
Reporting Options Area
The Reporting Options area consists of a menu with seven items. Each menu item represents one of the Report Generator sub-screens. To select a screen from the Reporting Options menu, type an S in the line command field next to the desired screen and press Enter.
Sample Report Area
In the Sample Report area you can view the format of the report you are creating. The Sample Report area displays the automatically generated report date, report time, report name, page functions, and positions. The XXXs in the Sample Report indicate areas formatted for data text. Refer to Task G, Finalize the appearance of the report for more details on altering the format of your report.

Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All Rights Reserved