REPORTING TOOLS


Generating REPORTS  using Oracle Developer 2000
AIM: To design reports  using Oracle Developer 2000

Introduction
Tabular report shows data in a table format. It is similar in concept to the idea of an Oracle table. Oracle, by default, returns output from your select statement in tabular format.

Hands-on
In this Hands-On, your client is a stock broker that keeps track of its customer stock transactions. You have been assigned to write the reports based on their reports layout requirements.
Your client wants you to create a simple listing report to show list of the stock trades by using stocks table for their brokerage company

Your tasks are:
1- Write a tabular report.
2- Apply user layout Format mask.
3- Run the report.
4- Test the repot.

You will learn how to: use report wizard, object navigator, report builder, “date model”, property palette, work on query and group box, see report style, use tabular style, navigating through report’s record, change the format mask for dollar, numeric and date items.

Open Report Builder tool
Open the "Report Builder" tool.

Connect to database
In the Object Navigator, highlight "Database Objects,” choose "File," then select the "Connect" option.
In the ‘Connect’ window, login as “iself” password schooling, then click “CONNECT.”

Save a report
In the Object Navigator, highlight the "untitled" report, choose “File,” and select the “Save as” option.
In the ‘Save as’ window, make sure to save the report in the ISELF folder and name it "rpt01_stock_history,” report number 1 stock history.

Data Model
In the Object Navigator, double click on the "Data Model" icon.

Create SQL box
In the Data Model window, click on the "SQL Query" icon. Then drag the plus sign cursor and click it anywhere in the “Data Model” screen where you wish your object to be.

In the ‘SQL Query Statement’ window, write a query to read all the stocks record sorted by their symbol.
(SQL Query Statement)
SELECT * FROM stocks
ORDER BY symbol
Click “OK.”

Change SQL box’s name
In the Data Model window, in the “SQL” box, right click on the ‘Q_1’ and open its property palette.
In its property palette, change the name to Q_STOCKS. Then close the window.

Change GROUP box’s name
In the Data Model, right click on the group box (G_SYMBOL) and open its property palette.
In the Group property palette, change the name to ‘G_STOCKS,’ and close the window.

Open Report Wizard
In the Data Model, click on the ‘Report Wizard’ icon on the horizontal tool bar.
In the Style tab, on the Report Wizard window, type ‘Stock History’ in the Title box and choose the report style as ‘Tabular.’
Notice that when you change the report style a layout of that report will be displayed on the screen.
Choose a different style to display its layout of its report style.

Data, Fields, Totals, Labels and Template tabs
Click “NEXT” to go to the Data tab. In the ‘SQL Query Statement’ verify your query.
Click “NEXT” to navigate to the Fields tab, select the fields that you would like to be display in your report. Select all the columns to be display.
Click “NEXT” to navigate to Totals tab, select the fields for which you would like to calculate totals. We have none in this hands-on exercise.

Click “NEXT” to open the Labels tab, modify the labels and widths for your fields and totals as desired.
Click “NEXT” again to go to the Template tab, and choose a template for your report. Your report will inherit the template’s colors, fonts, line widths, and structure.
Use the default template and click “finish.”

Running a report
Now, you should have your output report on the screen.

Resize an object
Maximize the output report and format the report layout. To resize an object , select it and drag its handler to the preferred size.

Move an object
To move an object, select and drag it while the cursor is on the object.

This is a simple report.
Navigate through the output
To navigate through the output report in the Report Editor - Live Pre-viewer, click on the "next page" or "previous page" icon on the horizontal toolbar.
Do the same with the "first page" or "last page" icon.

Use the “zoom in” and “zoom out” icon to preview the report.

Know report’s functions
To know each icon functionalities, drag your cursor on it and a tooltip will display its function.

Change Format Mask
To change the "format mask" of a column, the column should be selected. Then go to the toolbar and click on the “$” icon, "add decimal place," and the “right justify” format to the all currency columns (Todays Low, Todays High, and current price)

Select the “traded today” column, and click on the ‘,0’ icon (apply commas), and make it right justify.
Also, you can change any attributes of field by opening its property palette. To open an object’s property palette, right click on it and select the Property Palette option.
Right click on the "trade date" column and open its "property palette."
Change the date "Format Mask" property and make it “year 2000 complaint (MM-DD-RR).”