C H A P T E R

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CHAPTER 7 Using Report Builder
A GUIDE TO ORACLE8
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Reports

• Snapshot summary of database data
• Viewed on screen
• Printed on paper
• Printed to a file and distributed electronically

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Reports

• A report can
• Display SQL query data
• Display summary columns
• Display calculated values based on formulas
  applied to database data
• Be formatted to look like an invoice or other
  business document

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Type of Reports

• Tabular (table-format)
• Form-like (looks like a form)
• Mailing labels
• Form letters
• Matrix
• Data value appears at the intersection of a
  column and row heading

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Types of Reports

• Master-detail Group left

Figure 7-2
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Types of Reports

• Master-detail Group above

Figure 7-3
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Creating a Report Using the Report Wizard

• Enter the SQL query to retrieve the report data
• Choose the display fields
• Specify the report master-detail groups
• Specify the field prompts
• Select a predefined template

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Predefined Templates

• Specifies report appearance characteristics
• Font sizes, types and colors
• Graphic images
• Background shading
• Page numbering
• Date report is created

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Report file types

• Reports .rdf
• Templates .tdf

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Using Format Masks in Reports

• Format masks can be applied to
• NUMBER fields
• DATE fields
• Format masks cannot be applied to text fields

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Report Builder Windows

• Live Previewer Shows how report will look when
  displayed or printed

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Report Builder Windows

• Layout Model Shows reports components
  symbolically

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Report Builder Windows

• Data Model Shows report data components

Query
Record groups
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Repositioning Report Objects

• Confine mode
• When on, you cannot drag an object outside of its
  confining frames
• To toggle confine mode on and off, click the
  Confine Mode button

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Repositioning Report Objects

• Flex mode
• When on, confining frames are automatically
  resized when you move an enclosed object
• Works well when moving objects lower on the
  report page
• Doesn't work well when moving objects to the
  right edge of the report page, because resized
  frames might extend beyond report page boundaries
• To toggle flex mode on and off, click the Flex
  Mode button

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Adjusting the Spacing Between Report Columns

• Elasticity property Determines column width and
  height
• Fixed Column always has size shown on layout
• Contracting Column will contract if data value
  is smaller than layout field, but column will
  truncate larger values
• Expanding Column will expand if data value is
  larger than layout field, and will display blank
  space for smaller values
• Variable Column will expand or contract as
  needed

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