CHAPTER 7 LESSON B Creating Database Reports

Lesson B Objectives  Describe the components of a report  Modify report components  Modify the format of master-detail reports  Create parameters to allow the user to customize report data 2

Report Components  In order to make more advanced modifications to reports, it is necessary to understand and work with the underlying components  These include the Data Model, Paper Layout view, and report frames 3

The Data Model Window  The Data Model window shows the SQL query for a report and the report record groups  A report record group contains the data fields retrieved by the query  The Data Model button is used to open the Data Model window. 4

The Data Model Window  The Data Model window is shown in Figure  As shown in the figure, a data link connects the query with the record group showing the relationship between them  Generally a report record group is named G_first_query_field  The Property Inspector is used to view and edit properties of objects in the Data Model window 5

The Data Model Window 6

 A group filter is used to limit the amount of data returned by a query  It is applied by setting the Filter Type property for the report record group using the Property Inspector  The property can be set to:  First (returns a specified number from the beginning of the query results)  Last (same as first, but from the end of the results)  or PL/SQL  The PL/SQL option specifies that a PL/SQL function will be used to evaluate each record to determine whether it should be returned The Data Model Window 7

Understanding Report Objects  In the Paper Layout view, repeating rows are used to display a list of data  In a set of repeating rows, the data fields are the same but the data for each row is different  A report has three sections: header, body, and trailer.  The header section is displayed at the beginning of the entire report, and the trailer at the end  The body contains the report data  Buttons on the toolbar are used to navigate between the sections. Within the report body, both the margins, and body of the report can be edited 8

 The Paper Layout window displays layout fields that correspond to the report record group columns in the Data Model  Each field is named F_column_name by default. Understanding Report Objects 9

Report Frames  As in the Paper Layout Template Editor window, frames are used to group related components in the Paper Layout window  Frames are not always easily seen because they appear one on top of the other  Each record group in a report has a group frame  It contains a repeating frame and a header frame (which is optional)  The repeating frame encloses repeating data rows  Repeating frames have variable sizing—they shrink and grow depending on the amount of data found in the database  The header frame contains the column headings for a record group. 10

 Objects cannot be moved outside of their enclosing frames  If a developer attempts to do this, an error will appear  The best way to select a frame is to select an object within the frame, then press the Select Parent Frame button  The Property Inspector can be used to verify the name of the selected frame  The Property Inspector can also be used to modify frame properties Report Frames 11

Components of a Master-Detail Report  A master-detail report contains multiple record groups and group frames 12

Master-Detail Data Model  Each group created on the Groups page of the Report Wizard represents a report record group in the Data Model for a master-detail report 13

Master-Detail Report Frames  The frames of the report are stacked on top of each other  The Select Parent Frame button is used to select each frame  As usual, the Property Inspector should be used to verify the name of the selected frame 14

Modifying Master-Detail Report Properties  Page breaks can be created by setting the Maximum Records per Page Property; a value of 1 means that only one record will be printed on each page 15

 When moving form objects, it is important not to move an item outside of its frame  Reports Builder has a feature called confine mode, which prevents a developer from accidentally moving an item outside of its parent frame  When this mode is on, it is impossible to move the object out of its frame  It is best to leave confine mode on. Modifying Master-Detail Report Properties 16

 Flex mode causes a frame to become larger when an object is moved outside of the frame borders  In addition, flex mode causes surrounding frames to be resized as well  It is a good idea to use flex mode when making frames longer but not when making them wider  This is because there is normally extra space at the end of the form but not on the sides  It should be noted that flex mode overrides confine mode, and will resize frames whether confine mode is enabled or disabled Modifying Master-Detail Report Properties 17

 A field’s elasticity determines whether the field remains a fixed size or can expand and contract based on the data displayed in the field  There are several options for field elasticity  The elasticity is indicated by markings that appear on the field edges  The options for elasticity are vertical, horizontal, or fixed Modifying Master-Detail Report Properties 18

 Contract elasticity means the field will get smaller to match the data, while Expand means it will get larger to match the data  Variable elasticity means that the field will get smaller or larger as needed  Mixed elasticity means that the horizontal and vertical elasticity settings are different  Elasticity is adjusted using the Property Inspector Modifying Master-Detail Report Properties 19

Report Parameters  Report parameters specify how a report appears or control the report behavior as it runs  There are two types of report parameters:  System parameters control the appearance of the report and the report application environment  User parameters provide data values that will be used in report queries 20

System Parameters  The report system parameters are summarized in Table 7-3 in the book  The Property Inspector is used to modify system parameters  In most cases, the default values for system parameters are used. 21

User Parameters  Users select user parameters from a parameter list  The parameter value is inserted into the query that generates the report data  The procedure for creating user parameters includes creating the parameter, creating the parameter list, and using the parameter in the report search query 22

 A user parameter is created using the Object Navigator  Once it has been created, the values are set using the Property Inspector  The parameter object name is used to reference the parameter within Reports Builder  It also appears next to the parameter list when prompting the user to select the parameter value  When displaying the parameter object name as a label, uppercase is converted to mixed case and underscores (_) are converted to spaces  Therefore, the parameter object name TERM_DESCRIPTION becomes Term Description. User Parameters 23

 The parameter data type must match the data type of the database column for which the parameter is used in the search query  It is better to use number fields as user parameters than character fields due to the extra spaces sometimes inserted into character fields by Oracle 10g applications  When using a number field, the parameter list can be configured to display associated character data. User Parameters 24

 The List of Values property for the user parameter controls the parameter list  It can contain either a static list or an SQL query that generates a dynamic list  If a List of Values is not specified, the user will be able to enter any text value User Parameters 25

 The report query must be modified to include a reference to the user parameter  The parameter value selected by the user is inserted into the query using the syntax :parameter_name. User Parameters 26

 When a report has a user parameter, the parameter form is displayed before the report is generated  This form contains the Lists of Values, allowing the user to select the parameters User Parameters 27

Customizing the Report Parameter Form  The report parameter form can be customized to display different text, additional images, and different formatting from the standard parameter form  The Parameter Form Builder is used to modify the parameter form  The Reports Builder Paper Parameter Form Builder is used to adjust the display of the parameter form 28