Tools for Building Reports

You can use the following tools for building form designs:

  • Lines
  • Boxes
  • Logos, Pictures, and Objects
  • Fields

Note: To undo changes to a form, on the Edit menu, click Undo.

To move a selection:

  1. In 13-3 Report Writer, open the report in which you want to move a selection.
  2. Select the item you want to move.
  3. Drag the selection to the desired location.
  4. To move multiple selections at the same time, hold down the [Ctrl] key and drag the mouse over the objects to be selected.

Lines

  1. In 13-3 Report Writer, open the report in which you want to draw a line.
  2. In the Insert menu, click Line.
  3. Click in the grid to draw the line and drag the pointer.
  1. Select the line object using Edit > Select Objects.
  2. Right-click on the box and select Properties.
  3. Modify the box object properties. You can modify the following properties:
    • Line Width
    • Line Type
    • Solid
    • Dash
    • Dot
    • Dot-Dash
    • Forecolor (controls the color of the border)
    • Position and Size
    • Row: Sets the row number for the object
    • Top: Sets the top position relative to the band line
    • Left: Sets the left position relative to the left side of the page
    • Width: Sets the width of the line
    • Height: Sets the height of the line

Boxes

Note: You can insert a text box directly inside a box or detail area box, or drag an existing text box and drop it into a box or detail area box.

  1. In 13-3 Report Writer, open the report in which you want to draw a box.
  2. On the Insert menu, click Box.
  3. Click in the location where you want to place one corner of the box and drag the pointer diagonally to the size you want.
  1. Select the box object using Edit > Select Objects.
  2. Right-click on the box and select Properties.
  3. Modify the box object properties. You can modify the following properties:
    • Line Width
    • Line Type
    • Solid
    • Dash
    • Dot
    • Dot-Dash
    • Forecolor (controls the color of the border)
    • Backcolor (controls the color of the interior)
    • Position and Size
    • Page: Sets the page number for the object
    • Top: Sets the top position relative to the band line
    • Left: Sets the left position relative to the left side of the page
    • Width: Sets the width of the line
    • Height: Sets the height of the line

Logos, Pictures, and Objects

  1. In 13-3 Report Writer, open the report into which you want to insert a graphic.
  2. On the Insert menu, click Picture.
  3. The Assign Picture dialog box appears.
  4. Select the bitmap file that you want to insert.
  5. Click Open.
  6. On the Edit menu, click Select Objects, then click the picture and move to the appropriate area on the form.

This procedure adds a company logo to all report forms that share the same logo. The sample logo available in Sage 100 Contractor calls one specific file from the \Program Files (or Program Files (x86))\Sage\Sage 100 Contractor\Report Forms folder and inserts it in all reports that display a logo. You can rename your logo file to this name and it will be displayed in those reports automatically.

  1. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the \Program Files (or Program Files (x86))\Sage\Sage 100 Contractor\Report Forms folder on the local drive where you installed Sage 100 Contractor or the drive from which you print.
  2. Rename the existing sample logo from logo.bmp to originallogo.bmp.
  3. Copy your own logo file into the folder, and rename it logo.bmp.
  4. Your logo will now automatically display in reports that use a logo.

Note: If you re-install Sage 100 Contractor, Sage 100 Contractor saves the logo.bmp file with the most recent date. It will not overwrite your file.

Important! You may need to stretch or shrink your logo on the reports.

  1. In 13-3 Report Writer, open the report in which you want to reproportion a graphic or object.
  2. Drag the picture in the direction that you want to stretch or shrink it.
  3. Click the image to change its proportions.
  1. In 13-3 Report Writer, open the report in which you want to delete an object.
  2. Click the object or text block that you want to delete.
  3. Right click on the object or text box, then click Delete.

Fields

Fields are special codes that instruct Sage 100 Contractor to replace the field with information from a database. For example, you might want to include the job number on a report for payable invoices. You can insert the ACPINV.JOBNUM field in the report design. Then, when you generate the report, Sage 100 Contractor fills in the appropriate information for you.

With fields, you can create form designs and report designs to automatically add or update information in your reports and documents. Fields provide you access to data throughout Sage 100 Contractor. Because you can place fields in both report designs and form designs, you need to determine which fields are necessary and then decide where to insert them. It is a good idea to place most all fields in the report design if possible, as this lets you reuse a small number of form designs for a variety of reports.

Like other objects in a form or report design, you can set object properties for fields. When you generate a report or document, Sage 100 Contractor inserts the information indicated by the field. If the database does not contain information requested by the field, Sage 100 Contractor leaves the field blank in the resulting report or document. However, you can set the property of a field to print a zero rather than leaving the field blank.

Notes:  

  • For each field you want to insert, create a new text box.
  • You can format text or graphics by setting the object properties.
  1. In 13-3 Report Writer, open the report into which you want to insert fields.
  2. On the Insert menu, click Text.
  3. Insert the pointer where you want to place the text.
  4. On the Insert menu, click Fields.
  5. In the Tables by Menu section, click the table that you want to use.
  6. In the Fields in {table name} section, double-click the field that you want to use.