Report files contain:

Data linesSpacingReport headingsColumn titlesSummary totalsContain more than one record type so

they are processed as multiple record-type files using Data Definition Wizard.

Report file examples

Detail records and header recordsMulti-line detail recordsMulti-line fieldsDetail lines containing header

information

Report definition dialog boxes

Field definition dialog boxRecord definition dialog box

Field Definition dialog boxAdvanced Options Description

Starts on line Starting line number that a field occurs on a multi-line selection

Starts in column Starting position of the field

Field width Length of the field

Decimals Number of decimal places in a numeric field

Format Date input formats or numeric output formats

Convert to single Multiple-line character field is to be processed as a single concatenated field

Fill if blank Data is to be copied from the preceding record into subsequent blank records in the new flattened data file

Ends on blank line Excludes trailing blank lines from variable-height field definitions

Width The column width in reports and views

Alternate column title The column title for reports and views

Suppress totals Prevents the values in this field from being totaled. ACL automatically totals numeric fields in reports. Some numeric fields contain information that is not to be totaled, such as unit prices or quantities.

Control total The input and output totals of a control total field are included in the file history. Control Total is used as a check to verify that files that are used over a period of time are complete and consistent from one session to the next. It is also used to reconcile data to external sources.

Record Definition dialog box

Option Description

Record type Header, Detail, or Footer. Only one Detail record can exist in a file, but you can define multiple Header and Footer records.

Transparent Prevents a Header or Footer record from splitting a Detail record. This is useful if lines from a multi-line Detail record are separated by a page break containing headers and footers.

Record name Name of the record

Lines in record Number of lines that the record spans

Include or Exclude Include or exclude records with specific criteria

Match on Matching criteria

Text Search text or a custom map

Line The line of the record to be tested with the filter

Start or Range Position or range to be tested with the filter

Logic Ends the filter criteria or lets you add another expression to it

Match on Pull-Down Menu

Menu Item DescriptionExact match Search for an exact match of the specified text in the specified line and start position

Alpha Search for alphabetic characters (A-Z, a-z) in a specified line and range

Numeric Search for numeric characters (0-9) in a specified line or range

Blank Search for blanks in a specified line and range

Non-blank Search for any characters that are not in the specified line and range

Find in line Search for the specified text anywhere in the specified line

Find in range Search for the specified text in the specified line and range

Custom map Search for the mapping criteria in the text box in the specified line and starting position