Before entering this option, check that the correct printer is named on the menu status line. On entering the Ad-Hoc enquiries option, you are prompted to select which file to enquire about in a standard search window. Select an option and click the OK button. The file choice is a list of accrual module files, if you wish to enquire about a file in a different module go to that module or use the system utilities Ad-Hoc enquiries (if you have the right priority). If you wish to base your enquiry on more than one file use the Report Generator
Having selected the file containing the records you wish to examine, the main Ad-Hoc Enquires form appears. What it asks you to do is to clearly define the information you are seeking in language which the system understands.
The two main boxes are titled Formulate query and Execute query. You can type into the formulate query box directly or you can use the buttons on the right labelled Verbs, Fields, Keys, If, and, or ,and Commands to make text appear in it. If you are new to Ad hoc enquires it is best to use these buttons at first. After filling in a formulate query click the Check Query button.
At this point the Execute enquiry box is filled in. If at least part of your query is valid the Proceed button is highlighted. At this stage you can click the Proceed button to see the results.
Note: For further information on this topic see Adhoc Enquiries on-line help.
A number of reports are already set up on this menu. They perform standard commercial tasks. It is important to note that these reports have themselves been set up with the Report Generator and placed on the menu. You can create and store reports of this complexity yourself using the Report Generator sub-system. Bear in mind that the pre-set reports may vary from one Autoline installation to another, depending on what reports the consultant was asked to set up.
When you have finished filling the prompts for a given report, the system displays the following options.
Cancel: Click the Cancel button to return to the menu.
OK: Click the OK button to print the report at the printer named on the menu Status line.
