Progress
Report Builder
Tutorial


Glossary

Aggregate Field

A user-defined field that computes summary information about a set of records in the report.

ASCII

A seven-bit code representing upper and lower case letters, numbers, symbols, and punctuation marks. ASCII is an acronym for the American Standard Code for Information Interchange.

Band

An area on the report layout that controls where Report Builder displays and prints data. Bands consist of one or more band lines.

Band Area

The area at the left edge of the report layout where Report Builder identifies the band type.

Band Line

A horizontal bar within a band on which you place fields, lines, rectangles, and images.

Band Line Properties

The properties that specify additional information about how to present data on the band line.

Before-image File

A file that ensures database integrity by keeping track of the status of your database in the event that a transaction is not completed or a system failure occurs. Unless you explicitly place this file somewhere else with the Before Image File Name (-g) startup parameter, the BI file is located in the same directory as your DB file. You can think of the before-image file as a pretransaction image of the database records your application is modifying.

Built-in Function

A Report Builder-provided formula that performs a calculation, conversion, or specified operation such as returning the system date or the current page number.

Calculated Field

A user-defined field that calculates values as Report Builder generates the report.

Composite Record

The record resulting from joining the tables used in a report.

Composite Table

The records resulting from all the joins in a report definition.

Controlling Table

The table used to initiate a join.

Cross-tab Report

A report that provides totals for both rows and columns of data.

Field Width Indicator

The representation of a field’s width on the report layout. By default, Report Builder indicates a field’s position and width on the layout with a shaded area. However, you can modify the field width indicator by changing the shading color or simply using an outline box.

Filter

Conditions that allow you to narrow the focus of a report to the specific data you want to display. Filters can consist of one or more conditions that specify what data Report Builder is to retrieve for the report.

Font Point Size

A font’s height measured in printers’ points (1 point = 1/72 inch) which is the standard unit of measurement used by professional printers.

Footer

Text or data placed at the bottom of each page in a report. There are two types of footers in Report Builder reports: page footers and group footers.

Group Footer

Text or data on the group footer band lines that replaces the text or data in the page footer on the last page of a group. Also see Page Footer.

Group Header

Text or data on the group header band lines that replaces the text or data in the page header on the first page of a new group. Also see Page Footer.

Header

Text or data placed at the top of each page in a report. There are two types of headers in Report Builder reports: page headers and group headers.

Inner Join

A join that includes only those records that have matching values in both tables. Records from either table that do not have a match in the other table are not included in the report.

Instant Layout Option

The Report Builder option that creates a basic, usable report layout which you can customize as needed. You can use the Instant Layout at any point while creating the report definition.

Join

A user-defined connection between tables that allows Report Builder to gather data from more than one table for a report. When you join tables, you establish a connection between two tables.

Join Field Pair

A pair of fields Report Builder uses to join two tables. The pair is made up of one field from the controlling table and one from the related table.

Left Outer Join

A join that includes all records in the Controlling Table regardless of whether there are any matching records in the related table. Report Builder includes all the records in the controlling table and any records from the related table that match the join field value in the controlling table. When there is no match for a controlling table record, Report Builder sets the related table fields to UNKNOWN.

Master Table

The database table that Report Builder uses as the initial source of data for the report.

Memo Field

A portion of text in an unformatted text file that you include in the report layout. You can attach the unformatted text file (memo file) to the report, and then include memo fields in the report layout as you would any other type of field.

Memo File

Unformatted text file that contains the text you want to include in a report. Unformatted means that the file does not contain format information from the text editor or word processing program in which you created or edited the file.

Outer Join

A join that includes all the records in one table regardless of whether there are any matching records in the other table. Report Builder supports two types of outer joins: left and right. Also see Left Outer Join and Right Outer Join.

Page Footer

Text or data on the page footer band lines that appears at the bottom of each page of a report. The page footer can be replaced by the group footer on the last page of a group. Also see Group Footer.

Page Header

Text or data on the page header band lines appears at the top of each page in a report. The page header can be replaced by the group header on the first page of a new group. Also see Group Footer.

Parameter

An argument to a built-in or user-defined function. It can be a constant value, field, or expression. The parameters to a function provide the actual values that the function processes.

Proportional Font

A font that has characters of different widths.

Related Table

The table that you join to the controlling table when you define a join. All tables in a report except the master table are called related tables.

Report

An organized display of data from a database.

Report Definition

A named set of report characteristics that tells Report Builder where to find the data and how to display and print the data.

Report Layout

The schematic representation of the report that contains the fields, text, and any lines, rectangles or images that will appear in the report.

Report Library

An operating system file that can contain one or more report definitions.

Right Outer Join

A join that includes all the records in the Related Table regardless of whether there are any matching records in the controlling table. Report Builder includes all the records in the related table and any records from the controlling table in which the join field value matches the related table join field value. When there is no matching controlling table record, Report Builder gives its fields the UNKNOWN value.

Server-evaluatable Field

A calculated field you can use in a sort, join, or filter that the database server, rather than Report Builder, is capable of evaluating.

Server-evaluatable Filter

A filter that the database server, rather than Report Builder, evaluates.

Text Field

A text string that you enter on the report layout, such as a column label or report title.

User-defined Field

A field that you create within a report, such as an aggregate, calculated, or memo field.

User-defined Function (UDF)

A function you create to supplement Report Builder’s built-in functions. You specify the function’s expression and the number and types of parameters it requires, then use the UDF in a calculated field expression as you would any built-in function. You can use a UDF in multiple reports.

Working Database

The connected database that is currently in use. Multiple databases can be connected at any time, but only one is the current, working database.


Copyright © 2004 Progress Software Corporation
www.progress.com
Voice: (781) 280-4000
Fax: (781) 280-4095