OpenEdge Reporting:<br />Query/Results for UNIX Common menu options

The following list describes the menu options that work the same in two or more modules. In these descriptions, a definition is a report, label, or data export definition, depending on the selected module.

Get

Gets an existing definition. You can get a definition you defined and saved, or if you have permission, you can get a copy of a definition from someone else’s directory.

This option opens a scrolling window displaying descriptions of all the layouts you have saved. You can press the MODE key (F9 or CTRL-T) to toggle the list from the descriptions, to the originating database names, to the program names.

An asterisk (*) marks the definitions you can load with the connected databases. (Depending on the version that was used to create definitions, a question mark (?) might mark the definitions to show that Results did not save the names of the databases used to create the definitions.) A counter in the lower-right corner of the window displays the number of definitions in your directory. When you select a definition, the system updates the information in the windows to reflect the proper settings.

The Get option also checks the files accessed in the definition to determine if anything has changed since you last ran it. If such a change has taken place, Get warns you and modifies the definition as best it can to reflect the changes.

Put

You have the option of saving the definition under an already saved name or under a new name. You save your definition using a description (up to 48 characters long) rather than an actual operating system filename. In this way, you can give meaning to the file description and the definition is automatically saved under an acceptable name for your operating system. See Chapter 9, "Database Administration," for details on how Results stores your reports in the operating system directory.

Run

Runs the definition as it is currently laid out in the Layout screen. You can preview it on the screen, print it to a file, or route it directly to a printing device. This option produces different results depending on if there is information defined or displayed on the screen:

Case 1 — When no information is in the Layout screen, a window with a list of existing definitions (if any) appears and prompts you to choose one to load and run. You can also load a copy from another directory, if you have permission. (See the "Get" section.) Once you select a report, a list of run destinations appears. See "Case 2 — When there is information in the Layout screen, a window opens for you to select the definition’s destination. (For example, it can list TERMINAL, FILE, PRINTER.) When you select TERMINAL, Results runs the information on your screen." section for details.

Case 2 — When there is information in the Layout screen, a window opens for you to select the definition’s destination. (For example, it can list TERMINAL, FILE, PRINTER.) When you select TERMINAL, Results runs the information on your screen.

Where

Builds a WHERE clause enabling you to select a subset of records. You need to have at least one active file before you can define a WHERE clause criteria. (In the Query module, you need a form on the screen. In the other user modules, use the Define option to select active files. See the description of the "Define" section for details.)

The Where option in the Reports, Data Exports, and Label modules works the same way as it does in the Query module, with a few important exceptions. For example, in the Query module you do not have to select active files, and there is no Ask Mode. See the "Menu options for the Query module" section for details on these exceptions.

The WHERE clause builder windows appear on the screen. The first one, Choose a Field, is a scrolling list that prompts you to select a field to start the WHERE clause expression. This list contains the field names of all the fields in the active file. You can toggle between field names and field labels by pressing the MODE key (F9 or CTRL-T).

Once you choose a field, a scrolling window appears that displays all of the allowable operators for the field type. (Operators can include: Equal, Not Equal, Begins, and so forth.) Select an operator, and then enter a value to compare with the field.

In all modules except Query, you can invoke Ask Mode by pressing PUT (F6 or CTRL-P) and entering a prompt that will display when you run the report.

You can continue to add values to compare or enter additional selection criteria on other fields.You can join comparisons using the AND or the OR operators.

When you finish building the WHERE clause, a message appears prompting if you want to enter more selection criteria. If you select No, you exit from the WHERE clause builder. To see the records that meet the criteria, select the Run option. If you are working with more than one active file, you can select the Where option again and build a WHERE clause for each file, if you want. When you run the report, the subset of records you get are true for all of the WHERE clauses. (That is, they act as if they are joined by an AND operator.)

If you choose the same file again, you have three options. You can build a new WHERE clause, you can delete the WHERE clause, or you can edit the WHERE clause using Expert Mode (unless the WHERE clause uses Ask Mode). To perform any of these processes, select the Where option again. If you have WHERE clauses defined for more than one active file, highlight the WHERE clause you want to work with.

To build a new WHERE clause, enter the new criteria when the windows appear. The new criteria will overwrite the existing criteria. Repeat the process for each WHERE clause you want to overwrite.

To edit a WHERE clause, press GET (F5 or CTRL-G) to enter Expert Mode before you select any fields. (If you select fields first, you delete the existing WHERE clause.) Repeat the process for each WHERE clause you want to edit. You can access Expert Mode from anywhere within the WHERE clause builder windows by pressing GET (F5 or CTRL-G). Expert Mode enables you to enter selection criteria directly, without having to go through the set of scrolling lists you normally use to build a WHERE clause. Expert Mode also enables you to change the default order of evaluation by grouping comparisons with parentheses. See Appendix F, "Order of Evaluation," for more information about evaluating expressions in WHERE clauses. Make sure you use field names instead of labels when you define WHERE clauses in Expert Mode.

To delete the WHERE clause definition, press END (F4 or CTRL-E) when the WHERE clause builder windows appear. Repeat the process for each WHERE clause you want to delete.

Order

This option works the same way in the Reports, Labels, and Data Export modules. (In Reports, it has an additional feature that you can use in conjunction with the Totals and Subtotals option to create totals for break groups (sections). For more information about that, see the Order option description in Chapter 5, " Reports Module.")

When you select this option, a scrolling list appears that shows all the non-array fields from the active files. (You cannot order records by array fields.) When you select a field to order on, the screen marks it with a number to represent its place in the ordering sequence. When you select a field that is already marked, the screen unmarks it and resequences the other number markers automatically. You can order the information by a field not in the layout.

When you finish selecting the fields you want and press GO (F1 or CTRL-X), another window pops up with the selected fields in it. (The field names are prefixed by filenames; this shows what file the field comes from.) In this window you define whether each field will be in ascending (increasing) or descending (decreasing) order.

Clear

Clears the settings in the information and layout windows and return to the default settings. If there are settings on the screen, a dialogue box appears that prompts you to confirm if you really want to delete the current settings. You must clear any existing settings from the screen before you can create a new definition.

If there are no settings on the screen, this option enables you to delete any existing definitions. If you select Clear when there are no settings on the screen (but there are definitions saved), a window appears with a list of definitions you can delete. You mark the reports you want to delete by highlighting them and pressing RETURN. You can unmark a definition by selecting it again.

Info

Displays the database name, filename, any selection criteria you used to define the current working set (or subset) of data, as well as order definition for the records.

Module

Switches to a different Results module without going back to the main menu. It also enables you to transport file, field, order, and WHERE clause criteria information to other modules.

User

Transfers to a customized option. You only see this option if an application developer has included an optional program to perform an action. This option is hidden by default. If you have this option, see supplemental documentation provided by the application developer that describes this function.

Exit Results

Exits the previous level. For example, from the Full Set of records, this option enables you to exit to the Results main menu. From a Subset, it exits to the Full Set.