Report Design

Report Layout Editor

The Report Layout Editor is where stationery layouts for standard reports can be customised. These reports typically have a pre-defined datasource that cannot be modified (but is affected by pre-defined parameters that the end-user can set), but the layout can be modified to add or remove data fields provided by the datasource, change grouping, sorting, fonts and colours, or in some cases, like the Inventory Documents (Purchase Orders, Quotes, Invoices, etc.) or the Supplier and Customer Statements, can be completely redesigned.

Stationery Layouts may be shared between Evolution Companies or be made available only for specified Companies, and can be configured to be the default layout whenever a particular report is previewed or printed. Multiple layouts created for a Report Category can be selected at the time a report is printed if they are available for that Company.

Report Layouts may also be exported and imported from the Report Layout Editor context menu.

Report Writer

The Report Writer is where new reports can be created from scratch. Data tables and fields may be selected using a model designer, or raw SQL queries may be executed to fetch data. A facility to prompt the user for parameters is provided and these parameters can be included in the query fetching the data. The results may then be grouped, sorted and laid out to produce the desired report.

Report Writer Reports may also be exported and imported.

Report Runner

The Report Runner is where reports created with the Report Writer can be run by an end-user. The user may be prompted for any parameters the report has defined and then the results will be presented in the final form as designed. The generated report may then be printed or exported.