Reports Explorer - Advanced features

The Reports Explorer view contains many advanced features permitting you to add, import, export, schedule, modify or customize reports.

 

 

Advanced Features

Add a report

Add a report folder

Modify security to a report or report folder

Modify a report's name or description

Create a custom report based on an existing report

Update a custom or built-in report

Import a report file

Export a report file

Schedule a report to run automatically

 

Tip: Most actions described in the following instructions are available using your mouse's right click button.

 

To add a report:

  1. Select in which folder you would like to add the report.

  2. Click anywhere in the view's right pane.

  3. Click the Add Folder/Report button on the toolbar.

  4. Enter the report name (up to 100 characters).

  5. Enter a description for the report (up to 250 characters).

  6. Click the Browse button to locate the .RPT file.

  7. Locate the file and click Open.

  8. Click OK.

The report will now appear in the designated folder. The new report's security should be reviewed since, by default, the only security group having access to the new report is the same security group as the person who added the report.

  1. Click on the new report.

  2. Click the Report Security button on the toolbar.

  3. Add or remove security groups having access to this report by using the arrow buttons.

  4. Click OK.

Tip: We frequently add custom reports to our website that are available for downloading. To view a list of these reports go to: http://www.dovico.com/reports.html.

 

To add a report folder:

  1. Click on the folder (or subfolder) where the new folder will be added.

  2. Click the Add Folder/Report button on the toolbar.

  3. Enter the folder name (up to 100 characters).

  4. Click OK.

The new folder will now appear. The new folder's security should be reviewed since, by default, the only security group having access to the new folder is the same security group as the person who added the folder.

 

  1. Click on the new folder.

  2. Click the Report Security button on the toolbar.

  3. Add or remove security groups having access to this folder by using the arrow buttons.

  4. Click OK.

Note: Modifying security settings for a folder does not automatically adjust the security for the reports or subfolders within that folder. Security for each report or subfolder must be modified individually.

 

To modify a report or folder security setting:

  1. Click on the report or report folder that you would like to modify.

  2. Click the Reports Security button on the toolbar.

  3. Add or remove security groups having access to this report (or folder) by using the arrow buttons.

  4. Click OK.

Note: Modifying security settings for a folder does not automatically adjust the security for the reports or subfolders within that folder. Security for each report or subfolder must be individually modified.

 

To modify a report's name or description:

  1. Click on the report to modify.

  2. Click the Report Properties button on the toolbar.

  3. Modify the name and description as required.

  4. Click OK.
     

Note: The name and description fields use custom terminology. Please refer to the Developers section of DOVICO’s web site (www.dovico.com/developer.html)for a detailed explanation of how custom terminology is implemented within report titles and descriptions.

 

To update a custom or built-in report:

After modifying an existing custom or built-in report, it’s important to update the report in the database.

  1. Locate and click on the report that you would like to update.

  2. Click the Report Properties button on the toolbar.

  3. Check the Update check box.

  4. Click the Browse button and navigate to the new report (.rpt file).  

  5. Click on the new report and select Open.

  6. Click OK.

 

To create a custom report using an existing report:

Prerequisite: To create a custom report, you must have Crystal Reports version 9.0.

  1. Select the report to copy.

  2. Click the Create Custom Report button on the toolbar.

  3. Open the file.

  4. Crystal Reports will now open the report for editing.

  5. When you have completed editing the file, select File, Save.

  6. Add the custom report to any folder using the instructions in: To add a report or To update a custom report.

 

To export a report file:

This function exports an RXP file (a DOVICO specific file format). The export function is mainly used to export files so that they can be imported to other Report Explorer folders. To export a final (generated) report, simply run the report as normal and click the Export button at the top of the view.

  1. Select the report file to export.

  2. Click the Export report button on the toolbar.

  3. Click Save.

  4. Browse to a location to save the report and click Save.

Note: When exporting reports, you cannot export a report to which you do not have security access.

 

Tip: You can export all reports within a folder by selecting the report folder and clicking the Export report button on the toolbar.

 

To import a report file:

  1. Select the report folder where the report will be imported.

  2. Click the Import report button on the toolbar.

  3. Click the Browse button and navigate to the .rxp file and click Open.

  4. Click OK.
     

Notes:

  • When importing a reports folder, if the folder already exists, it will not overwrite the existing folder. It will skip this folder so that the existing folder can maintain its existing permission set.

  • When importing a report, you cannot replace a report for which you do not have access.

 

To schedule a report to run automatically:

You can schedule a report to run automatically from the Reports Explorer view.

  1. Right click on the report to schedule and select Schedule.

  2. Follow all report wizard instructions and click Finish.

  3. After the report is displayed, click the Add to report job button at the top to launch the Job Scheduler window.

  4. From the Job Scheduler window's Data tab, use the Name drop-down list to either select to add this report to a new job (Create a new job...) or select to add this report to an existing reporting job. All existing reporting jobs are displayed under the "Create a new job..." option.

  5. Use the Recipients, SMTP and Schedule tabs to complete the scheduled job's details. See Automatic Reporting for complete details on each tab.