Adding composition lines in a Report

From the -CE Lines tab of the Report editor, you can call Data Elements, describe the Data Element call, create structure calls, and create and define new Data Element calls.

About this task

The -CE Lines tab consists of an editable table, buttons that are associated with the table, and sections that you use to specify the information for each element of the Report. If you are familiar with the -CE of a Report, you can specify the information directly in the table columns. Some of the fields in the table include drop-down lists. When you move your cursor to a value of the list, the label associated with the value is displayed in a tooltip. You can also complete the fields in the definition sections that open when you enter or select an element in the table. You must first call a structure in a Report. Then, you can add a Data Element or a continuation line that will be embedded in the structure.

Procedure

  1. To insert a structure in the -CE lines list, proceed as follows:
    1. If there is no call line (the table is empty), click Add structure.
    2. To create a structure after an existing call line, set your cursor on a line of the table to indicate the position of the structure. Then, click Add structure. A new structure call line is created. It is identified by Structure and an identifier whose default value is zero. You can modify this value in the Structure Definition section that opens when the structure call is created. You can also enter a new value directly in the Structure column of the table.
    Note: The possible actions with the buttons are also available in the contextual menu of the table.
  2. In a structure, call Data Elements. To create Data Element calls, proceed as follows:
    1. Set your cursor on a structure, click Add Data Element.
    2. The selection wizard that opens displays the list of the available Data Elements. Select one or several of them and press OK.

      This wizard displays the three Data Element formats in the following order: internal format, input format, and output format.

      You can select contiguous instances in the selection wizard. To select noncontiguous instances, select Multi-selection. Select each instance, with the help of the filtering pattern if necessary. Then, click Add to selection list. You can also double-click each instance to add it to the list. To remove an instance from the selection list, select the instance in the selection list and click Remove from selection list before you close the selection wizard.

      You can also call a Data Element that does not exist yet by clicking New Data Element. In the creation wizard that opens, enter its name and label and click OK. The new Data Element is then displayed in the selection wizard. If you select it and click OK, it is called in the -CE lines, under the selected structure that it belongs to.

    In the -CE lines, the Data Element is identified by Data Element and a name. Double-clicking the Data Element call line switches to its editor where you can see or modify the Data Element characteristics such as its format. You can change for another Data Element call in the table. To do so, click the cell where the Data Element name is displayed. In the dialog box that opens, select another Data Element. You can do the same in the dedicated field in the Data Element call section by clicking Modify. The other attribute that you can modify is the column number in the Column editable field.
  3. You can also create call lines for new Data Elements that are not declared in the location:
    1. Set your cursor on a structure and click Add undefined Data. A new call line is created under the selected structure, Unnamed Data Element defined by default with a value 1 for the column number.
    2. Enter the Data Element properties that identify the Data Element: the column, name, output format, and the Blank when zero clause. The values can be entered in the column cells or in the dedicated fields of the Undefined Data Element Definition section. The Blank when zero option can be checked in the table or in the definition section.
  4. You can create continuation lines in the table after a Data Element line. To do so, set your cursor in a line that contains a Data Element call and click Add a source line. A continuation line is created and embedded in the Data Element structure. You must then complete the columns that are dedicated to this line, and refer to the fields in the Structure definition section.
  5. Organizing the call lines in the table:
    1. You can delete instance calls. To do so, select one of them and click Remove. When you delete a Data Element, its dependent source is deleted too. A structure cannot be deleted globally. It must be deleted Data Element by Data Element.
    2. You can copy one or more call lines and paste them anywhere in the list. These choices are available from the menu (right-click the selection). Only Data Elements with the same level of indentation can be copied and pasted.
    3. You can change the sequence order of Data Elements within a structure or the order of structures in the -CE lines with the up or down button. A structure is moved with all the Data Elements that it contains. The same applies to a Data Element, which is moved with its source.
  6. Modify the display:
    1. The table is minimized by default, so you can see the Definition sections. Click Maximize to display only the table, in a full screen.
    2. All the table columns are displayed by default. To reduce the number of columns, right-click in the table and select Show columns > Select.
  7. Navigating in the table:
    1. When the focus is put in the table, press the arrows to move to the previous or next line.
    2. Put the focus in a line and press the Alt key or Right arrow key to move to the next editable cell where you can enter values.
    3. Press the left arrow key or Shift+Tab key to move to the previous editable cell.
    4. Press the Enter key to toggle between the editable cells in the same column and keep the edition mode.
    5. Press the escape key to leave the edition mode.
  8. To edit the column cells in the table, double-click or press F2. You can then enter the appropriate values directly in the cell or use a check box or dialog box to select a value. The input mode in a column cell depends on the type of element of the table. In the Name column cell of a Data Element, you can use a selection wizard to select a Data Element, whereas a check box is made available in the table to select the Blank when zero generation clause.

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