Views Analysis Options
‘Views’ in Ostendo provides facility for Users to define their own analysis of data within the Ostendo database, view that information, and output to various media. Whenever a ‘View’ is run the relevant information is returned from which you can carry out the following functions.
Analysis Options
The main Analysis screen shows the retrieved information from your database. The extracted records can be ‘sliced and diced’ in the following manner.
Search & Sort
The following features are available that allow you to sort and filter thedisplayed data.
Moving and Hiding Columns
You may also move columns as well as take unwanted columns from the display
Grouping
You may wish to Group ‘like’ records. To do this simply drag the requiredcolumn headinginto the area at the top of the screen where it states ‘Drag a column header here to group by that column’. (If this area is not visible then you should ‘Right Click’ on any column heading and select ‘Group By Box’)
The screen will now group all records where the content of the ‘Grouped’ field is the same.
Summary Totals
For each Group you may wish to display summary totals. To do this, expand a Group by clicking on the‘+’ indicator to display the individual records. At the bottom of the Group List is a blank area. If this area is not visible then ‘Right Click’ on a column heading and select ‘Group Footers’.
Now go to this blank area under any column and ‘right click’ the mouse to display the following options. These can be accessed depending upon the type of field (For example, you cannot ‘Sum’ a Date field)
The selected column will now display the summary information
Grand Totals
You may also wish to display grand totals for the displayed data. To do this you should see a blank area at the end of the displayed list. If this area is not visible then ‘Right Click’ on any column Heading and select ‘Footer’.
As with Group Footers, you can go to the blank area under any column and ‘right click’ the mouse to display the options.
Print Options
Whenever you click on the Printer Icon on the top toolbar you have the option to:
- Immediately print the displayed data
- View the ‘report’ from which you may further change the ‘Look and Feel’ prior to finally sending to the printer.
The following options are available from the ‘Preview’ option
File Menu
Design
By clicking on the ‘Design’ icon you can define the way the Report is to be presented and has facilities to address the report’s:-
View: predefine what can be viewed when printing the document. The options include:-
Behaviors: Defines what data is to be printed such as:-
Formatting: Define how the printed document appears such as:-
Styles: Define Font, Colour, and Texture of Bands, Captions, Headers, Footers, etc
Preview: Define previewing options such as:-
Cards: Lets you define the format of the Card view with details such as:-
Title Properties: By clicking on this button you can enter a Report Title in addition to formatting the Font, Colour and Alignment of the title on the document
Reloading Saved Reports
On the displayed panel select the previously saved report (with extension .rps). If you now select the ‘Open’ button in that panel the saved report will be displayed.
Unloading current Reports
If you have more than one report open then you can release the current report by selecting the ‘Unload’ option. You may also enable this option by keying Ctrl-F4.
Save
This option allows you to save the current report for future recall. Upon selecting this option a panel will appear and a new document created prefilled with ‘New Report’. This file name can be amended if required.
This option displays the normal pre: print panel as set up on your PC. From there you can print the report.
Page Setup
This option brings up a screen with 4 panels that allow you to format the page setup of the report. The panels are:-
Page: Define paper details such as:-
Margins: Define margins on each page such as:-
Header/Footer: Define details for Header and Footer such as:-
Scaling: Defines the number and position of report pages per printed page
Options
The Report Options is selected from the drop: down list under File on the top toolbar. It lets you define additional Report options that you may wish to use, such as:-
View Options Menu
View Options are selected from the drop: down list under View on the top toolbar. It enables you to set various switches relating to how the display is presented. The options are:-
Margins: If this is checked then the report will have its top, bottom and side margins displayed. You may also use Ctrl-M to perform this function.
Flat Toolbar Button: If this is checked then the main Toolbar will be displayed in flat format. If not checked then it will have ‘shadows’ to each icon
Large Toolbar Button: If this is checked then the main Toolbar will be displayed in a larger format.
Margins Bar: If this is checked then a bar will appear below the main Toolbar showing the position and dimensions of the margins.
Status Bar: If this is checked then a document status bar will be displayed at the bottom of the screen
Thumbnails: If this is checked then a panel will appear on the right of the screen showing thumbnails of the current report. If you select a thumbnail then the actual page will be displayed on the left.
Zoom: If this is checked then you can zoom in on the current document in the following forms:-
Page Header: If this is checked then the Page Headers will be displayed
Page Footers: If this is checked then the Page Footers will be displayed
Format Options Menu
Format Options are selected from the drop: down list under Format on the top toolbar. It enables you to define the following options prior to printing or saving
Title: You have the option to give the report a title if it does not already have one. This will appear at the top of the report.
Date and Time: If the Page Setup has ‘Date and Time Printed’ on the Header or Footer then you can specify the format of that date and time prior to printing
Page Numbering: If the Page Setup has ‘Page#’ on the Header or Footer then you can specify the format and start number of the page prior to printing
Fit to Page: If this is selected then all the selected data will be printed on a single page across the width. This may cause unreadable printout so you should consider either hiding unwanted fields or unselecting this option.
Background: If this is selected then a panel will appear for you to select a background colour and effect.
Go Menu
The ‘Go’ drop-down presents the following options
First Page: Go to first page of the Report
Previous Page: Go to previous page in this Report
Next Page: Go to first page in this Report
Last Page: Go to last page in this Report
Email Options
Generates a Portable Document Format (PDF) document of the displayed information and then opens up the Emailing routine on your PC with this PDF document as an attachment
XLS
Generates an XLS (spreadsheet) from the displayed information and then opens up the Emailing routine on your PC with this XLS document as an attachment
HTML
Generates an HTML format and displays this in the ‘body’ of the generated email
XML
Generates an XML document, which can be called and displayed as a standard Web form. It also creates an XSL document showing the source document from the displayed information. The program then opens up the Emailing routine on your PC with the XML and XSL documents attached.
CSV
Generates an CSV (Comma Separated Value) document from the displayed information and then opens up the Emailing routine on your PC with this CSV document as an attachment
Exporting the Analysis View
The following options are available for you to export the View. The option can be selected from the top toolbar
Export as PDF
Generates a Portable Document Format (PDF) document. This file can then printed and/or attached to an email
Export to Excel
If this is selected then a panel will appear for you to save the current displayed data as an Excel Spreadsheet. You may then call up Excel and manipulate the data as required.
Export to HTML
If this is selected then a panel will appear for you to save the current displayed data as an HTML file. This file can then be called and displayed as a standard Web form using your Browser.
Export to XML
If this is selected then a panel will appear for you to save the current displayed data as an XML file. Two files are created.
This file can then be called and displayed as a standard Web form using your Browser.
Export to CSV
If this is selected then a panel will appear for you to save the current displayed data as a Comma Separated Value file. This can be used as an import format to external systems. You may also call up the CSV file in Excel (File Type = .csv) and manipulate the data as required.
Mail Merge
If this is selected then the displayed information will be exported to a .csv file that forms the basis of generating a Word Document to print out the information in that document. A separate tutorial is available that describes how to set up and run this feature