Reports are very similar to queries except that when you create a report it is laid out in a printable format (hard copy).

To create a report in OOBase click on the Reports icon on the left hand side and then click on 'Use Wizard to Create Report'.

The first dialogue box of the Report Wizard appears as in Figure 33.

This screen allows you to select the Table or Query you want to use to base your report on. Click on the arrow in the box underneath Tables of Queries and select the appropriate one.

Next you need to select the fields. You will see them listed in the Available Fields box. Click on the first field you want in your report and click the arrow > to put it into the box with the heading Fields in Report. Click on the next field and do the same until all the fields you want are displayed on the right hand side.

Click on the Next button to go to the second screen of the Wizard (Figure ).

This screen checks to see how you want to label the fields in the report. You can leave the labels as they are and click Next.

Figure 35 gives you the option to add grouping levels. This means that you can group records according to the values in one or more fields. You select the fields by clicking on them and clicking the arrow > to move them into the Groupings box. You can group up to four fields in a report. If you do not wanting Grouping leave this box as it is and click on Next.

The screens lets you choose how you want the data to be sorted based on specific fields. For example in Figure 36 above the data will be sorted according to the Name field from A-Z (Ascending). A second field could be specified and so on with up to four fields. If you don't need to sort the data into any particular order then leave this screen as it is and click on Next.

You can choose an appearance for your report by selecting the layout of the data aqnd the layout of the headers and footers as per Figure 37 above.

You can also choose whether you want the report to print in Portrait or Landscape by clicking on the relevant option. When you have made your decision click on Next.

The screen in Figure 38 shows the final screen of the report wizard. All you need to do here is to select whether you want a static or a dynamic report and how you want to proceed after creating the report. A Static report will create a document that will contain the same data from the time the report was created every time you open it whereas a Dynamic report will create a template which, when opened, will create a template which it will fill with the current data contents.

If there is nothing you want to change click on Finish and OOBase will create the report.

You can change the arrangements of the data fields and headings when you are creating the report in the Report Wizard and also when you have finished creating it.

In the wizard you have the option to move fields around in the first screen as in Figure 39.

Sort data in a table, form,

If you click on the field name and then click on the up or down arrows on the right you can change the position of that field in the report.

When you get to the last screen of the creation of the report you also have the option to Modify the report before you click on Finish (see Figure 38). This enables you to edit the page styles for the first and subsequent pages, paragraph styles, number formats, printed label fields etc.

Alternatively, if you have already created the report, simply right-click on the report name and choose Edit. This will open up the report in writer format and allow you to change the design as in the previous paragraph.

Grouping data was covered in 5.5.1.1. See Figures 35 and 36.

FIX ME

Modifying the text in the headers and footers would be done by right-clicking on the report and choosing edit. The same procedure as mentioned in 5.5.1.2.

You delete a report the same way as a table, form or query by right-clicking on the report name and choosing delete.

To save the report click on the save button. Once you have saved it and can click on File > Close.