In order for the report to work it must be compiled. This process will generate a program which the system will use to run the report whenever it is needed. If the report is ever changed by you, then it has to be compiled again so that the program can be updated with the changes made.
What do you want to do?
Tip: You can compile the
report by clicking the Check report icon (represented by a
tick)from the Tool bar. Alternatively you can select the Tools
option from the Menu bar and then select the Check option.
If errors have been made in the construction of the report, normally
in the derived field section, then compilation errors will show on
the screen.
Although they look strange, the compilation error messages are quite
easy to track. At the start of each line of the error message there
will be an indication of the location of the problem. It will give a
derived field name or perhaps a line of selection criteria. Once this
is recognised, you will know where to look to solve the problem. Next
look for an message on the screen just below the line being
displayed. Wherever this points to will be the location of the
compilation error.
It will take a little time to get used to reading these errors.
However, once you can recognise the source of the problem you are a
long way towards solving it.
Problems generally occur because you have forgotten to surround
character values with quote marks or, on selection, they forget to
explicitly itemise the selection rules.
Thus the following entries would generate an error during compiling
the report:
If a derived field such as this were typed in:
( !1_NAME = SMITH ? "YES" : "NO" )
An error would be generated because as well as surrounding the YES
and NO with quote marks, you should have put similar punctuation
around the name SMITH.
( !1_NAME = "SMITH" ? "YES" : "NO" )
This second version will not generate an error message.
A common error with the select tab rules is as follows:
!1_AREA >= "A001" AND <= "F001"
An error would be generated because for each item of selection there
needs to be three components; a field, an operator and a value. In
the above example there are two items of selection on one line and
the field name is missing from the second. Therefore the following
version would be correct.
!1_AREA >= "A001" AND !1_AREA <= "F001"
Once any compilation errors have been rectified, the report
definition should be re-compiled, by again clicking on the Check
report icon button (represented by a tick) or by clicking on Tools
and then Check.
If no further errors occur you may then choose to:
Test run the Report by either clicking on the Test run report icon
(represented by a blank page with a magnifying glass over it) or
clicking on Tools and Run.
Save the report by clicking on the save report icon (represented by a diskette)
Exit the Report Generator by clicking on the Exit
Report Generator icon (represented by an open door with an arrow
pointing into it). This will return you to the main Report Generator menu.
Click the Exit Report Generator
icon (represented by an open door with an arrow pointing into it).
Alternatively select the File
option and then select the Exit option.
The main Report Generator menu
will be displayed.
Select the File option.
Select the Delete option.
Confirm the report is to be deleted by clicking the Delete button.
The description will be destroyed and the screen will return to the
Report ID prompt.
Warning: Make sure that you
want to destroy the report before clicking on the Delete button.
Click the Check report icon (represented by a tick).
Alternatively select the Tools
option and then select the Check option.
Note: This option generates
the programme code from the text report.
Click the Test run report icon (represented by a blank page with a
magnifying glass over it). Alternatively select the Tools
option and then select the Run option.
Note: This option allows the
report to be run from within the definition forms, rather than from
the main module report menu. After the report is run, you are
returned to the report definition process.
Click the save report icon (represented by a diskette). Alternatively
select the File option and
then select the Save option.
Tip: It is possible to save
a report without compiling it. This is useful if you wish to save a
report before all the relevant sections are completed.
Compilation errors
Derived field compile error example
Select tab rules error example
Exit
Delete
Compile
Test Run
Save only
